Book Review: Forge Ahead

 Forge Ahead by Frank Vitale is a book about creating a winning strategy

in business, life, and wrestling. It begins with an essential need for success, anywhere - show up and be actively present. Then comes the need to be involved at all times, going above and beyond every issue to keep delivering results. Need to motivate one's team comes next, followed by an important lesson - a failure is not a loss, it’s a lesson that can put every adversity to good use. Discipline and service can help you find a purpose, the ultimate drive, the book exhorts. After mentioning the need for acknowledging the strength in our differences, the book concludes by saying - while there is no single formula for success, leading with your strengths is the key.

This book is ideas flowing in a streamline path. It presents a big task of succeeding in business and in every aspect of our life as all about going forward. It also gives an easy solution to this, constantly create a forward momentum. With a conversational style, and with logical transition of ideas and topics between chapters, I find this book a real page-turner.

Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health

National Academy of Sciences - Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health (2025)

It says, a review is a must, for various reasons. Like, currently there are no published clinical trials for most important health outcomes, so even the substantial evidence base noted above is challenged by threats of bias inherent in observational studies. I think, the prevailing public opinion being one that tends to paint it in a different color, we need to pay attention to this report.

I found this report addressing many issues that are linked to alcohol consumption. Like, what is the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and growth, body size and composition, obesity etc? What are the accompanying risks, of cancer, weight loss, cardio-vascular issues (CVD), or others that can lead to a morbid condition?

The report reaches quite a few conclusions. High risk of breast cancer is associated with moderate drinking. But no connection could be found in respect of any other type of cancer. Moderate drinking was found to be lowering the risk of myocardial infraction, non fatal stroke, CVD morbidity etc. No connection could be established between moderate drinking and cognitive decline. In short, the report concludes that compared to never consuming alcohol, moderate drinking is associated with lower all-cause morbidity.

The report also contains extensive charts that list the details of all kind of evidence considered by the reporting team for arriving at these conclusions.

I think, this report makes it urgent. As I wrote in my hub, we need to have a more sober approach on matters related to alcohol.

Book Review: Odyssey Moscow

 

Odyssey Moscow by Michael Calvey begins with his arrest and incarceration by the KGB, as one of the consequences of his business deals. Now, sitting in his prison-cell, he goes through his past, from his school days, his apprenticeships, his foray into journalism, and the connection with Russia. Many an event in the transition of USSR into a free-market based economy, of which the author is a witness, is narrated in these pages. So also, the prevailing sentiments of betrayal and lawlessness that pervades into almost all state-run establishments of Russia. And also, few more accounts of contemporary relevance, like an insider-peep into the making of Ukraine.
This book is a page-turner. Mike Calvey ventures deep into his own feelings, and also into the enigma that galvanized the Russian business into a thriving one. While recounting his experience and that of his cell-mates, what comes out are the chilling details of a justice system that is many a time, arbitrary and unfair. It also brings out in to the open, many notable aspects of Russian life, like the paranoia about their mobile phones, for fear of someone monitoring them. An excellent read, indeed.

Book Review: The Science of Right

 The Science of Right by Immanuel Kant is an interesting work. It starts with a definition - right is a voluntary action by one that can harmonize with the voluntary actions by every other one. Author then goes on to discuss its elements, like living rightly, doing harm to no one, and assigning to all what is theirs. Further divisions are also introduced, like natural right, acquired right, or that for a good name after death. The next part of the book deals with the rights of a state along with its duties.
I liked the presentation of the idea of constitution, where, the best one is that in which not men but laws exercise the power. It is an exhaustive discussion too, which addresses almost all the issues, a state might have to face. Like, how to deal with a gift, what to do in case of theft, or where is public right. And it introduces the executive, legislature, and judiciary as the different arms of a state to do all of these. While mentioning the need for changes, the book warns about making only a gradual reform and in accordance with fixed principles, if there should be perpetual peace.

Book Review: Spheres of Influence

 Spheres  of Influence by Brad Englert

The book can boast of a good collection of operating principles that apply to all business relationships. Understand their goals and aspirations, as well as expectations, and it will genuinely lead one to success. It is covered in two parts, one discussing the internal sphere of influence, and the other the external one. In 4 chapters, Part 1 of the book examines the internal issues from one's boss to one's friends and co-workers. The three chapters of part 2 traces the pivotal roles, customers, influences, and trade partners play. Real-life examples illustrate convincingly, almost all the new ideas presented.

Since we are in a world where most of our life is spent in professional interactions and joint activities, meaningful connections mean a lot. This book, with actionable insights, practical advice, and fitting anecdotes, lays down a clear path. The professional in one can follow it and become a partner to all, whether in managing expectations, resolving issues, or in fostering companionship. Also, adopting collaborative strategies and neutralizing hurdles can work wonders with productivity, and bring out the professional in one. A successful career, then becomes something unstoppable.

Book Review: The Lean-Agile Dilemma

The Lean-Agile Dilemma: Product Management Inside a Chunky Corporate by Katie Tamblin

The book begins with a discussion, contrasting startups. How, the freedom to innovate drives growth, while the chunky corporate remain focused on stability in order to flourish. It then goes into the challenges of maintaining a product direction and a vision that can guide in establishing priorities. Followed by another discussion that addresses the  question of adapting to and reacting appropriately to market disruptions, and how to handle data to make it play its part well. The significance of products, customers, and good communication that links all, is then examined. After pointing out the irreplaceable need of good inter-departmental cohesion, the book concludes with a bunch of valuable advice that covers the full book.

This book addresses a common issue with the corporate environment that causes tension, missed deadlines, and inefficient working practices. With new insights about things like re-platforming or new product development, it can help product and technology leaders navigate software development projects at organizations facing multiple constraints. I think, chunky corporate have a lot to gain from this book. They have an opportunity to imbibe the final thoughts of this book and be in safe havens in a perpetually unstable world.  

Book Review: Prolegomena to any future metaphysics

Prolegomena to any future metaphysics by Kant.

This book is actually an introduction to the metaphysics, we humans should be having among us, so says the author. So, to begin with,the book defines and establishes metaphysics as a collection of ideas we derive, not from our experience, not from our internal feelings or calculations, but apriori from pure reason. The discussion then hovers around a few questions like how to make science possible, or what role can metaphysics play. It then takes up an important issue of making metaphysics gel with science, while retaining all its speculative character. All this can transform it into a study of pure reason, the book concludes.

Though it took some time to make out, I find all the ideas presented in these pages linked in a rather intuitive way.