Leglessbird leisure guide

China: A Macro History (East Gate Books) (buy from Amazon) by Ray Huang

Type: History
Author: Ray Huang
My rating: 5

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
The Chinese history from a Macro prospective. It talks about the tax system, the economical system of China.

My review:
Very interesting reading, taking a very different angle than the history book that I was taught as a kid. Instead of glorifying what the emperors had done during their era, the book examines the economic impact and the government systems.

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson (buy from Amazon) by Mitch Albom

Posted by Vivian L.

Type: Relationship Self-improvement
Author: Mitch Albom
My rating: 5

Book introduction:
'tuesdays with Morrie' is a book about Mitch Albom who got the chance to rediscover Morrie Schwartz in the last months of Morrie's life, who was once the college professor who taught him like 20 years ago. The relationship turned out to be lessons on 'how to live'. It's a real story detailing their moments shared together in the last months of the old man and how Mitch rediscovered his own life through the lessons.

My review:
I truly love this book. It touches you deeply into your heart. Being busy in our everyday life, perhaps we have already forgotten how we once were, how innocent, yet very positive and energetic about our world, things around us. As the years passed, we seem to have lost of track of our dreams, our direction in life, this book sort of awakens and inspire you in every aspect of your life. There are quite a lot of proverbs that are really enlightening. Have we ever wonder what are the important things in our life? Is it, death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness or a meaningful life? That worths a thought!

The Tao of Coaching: Boost Your Effectiveness at Work by Inspiring and Developing Those Around You (buy from Amazon) by Max Landsberg

Type: Self-improvement
Author: Max Landsberg
My rating: 3
Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
How to coach people, motivate others and achieve more?

My review:
A book that I was given during my Mckinsey days. The concept is most important to consulting work.

Leading at the Edge : Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition (buy from Amazon) by Catherine McCarthy

Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Dennis N. T. Perkins
My rating: 4

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
A book on leadership lessons using the 1914 Antarctica exploration led by Sir Ernest Shackleton on a boat called the "Endurance". A remarkable journey, the boat was soon trapped by the ice and the crew was strangled in the most harsh region on the globe. Under Sir Ernest's amazing leadship, the crew was able to survive for over 2 years and eventually reached safety with no loss of a single life. His unique style of leadership skill was able to hold the team together and keep their spirit alive, how to eliminate doubts and achieve incredible results. The book analyses these outstanding qualities and citing more turn-around examples of modern corporations.

My review:
A remarkable story that has been quoted countless times. This book gives a good summary on the lessons that we can learn and leadership skills that can be applied in modern society, in organisations of any kind.

What Color Is Your Parachute Workbook: How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career (buy from Amazon) by Richard Nelson Bolles

Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Richard N. Bolles
My rating: 3

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
This book recommends some exercises and approaches to identify your ideal career. It also suggests how you can get there. You may generate some new ideas about your next move and what actions you should take now.

My review:
Though the ideas are not new, the book does give some insights on searching the desired career. Don't waste your time on paths that lead to no where, focus on your networks.

"Are you approaching your job hunt as a
LIFE-CHANGING career move?"
YOU SHOULD! But how? Spend some time to really understand yourself and devise a strategy that suits you! Also learn about the myths of job hunting.

Is there something wrong with your job hunting process? Read this example:

A typical job hunting process
1. Search on mass-internet job site
2. Read classified in newspaper
3. Contact head-hunters
4. Ask network for referral

Employer filling a position
1. Look from within his organisation
2. Ask trusted network for referral
3. Engage head-hunters
4. Advertise in newspaper or mass job site

So you see how a typical job hunting process is out of step to the employers' procedure in finding talents. Many people waste precious time in endless search on mass jobs site and classified AND they convince themselves that they are making good progress by browsing a long list of job openings that match their so called "keywords". Instead they should catch the jobs at a much earlier stage - the "Network referral" stage. Not only you are able to catch the better jobs, you actually have a higher chance of finding the RIGHT job! - Because, your network has done the screening for you and your prospective employers, not to mention the important "trust" element in a referral.

Isn't it time you adopt the correct approach? I wish you every success!

Who Moved My Cheese? (buy from Amazon) by Spencer Johnson
Posted by irene

Type: Self-improvement
Author: Spencer Johnson
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
A story of rat finding cheese to imply our changes in life.

My review:
Encouraging to how we handle changes in life

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (buy from Amazon) by Stephen R. Covey

Type: Self-improvement
Author: Stephen R. Covey
My rating: 5

Book introduction:
What's the secret of succeeful people? Being "Highly effective". Stephen Covey concludes that it can be summarised in 7 habits that these people keep practicing through their business and personal life. And the 7 habits are divided into 3 stages. Before that we must learn that everyone has a different perspective or paradigm of his/her world, we must also learn to respect and appreciate other people's paradigm. Paradigm change is a very powerful event that can allow us to approach things in a fresh and better angles.

Now the 3 stages of dependencies...

Stage 1: Dependant
When we are still a "Dependant", we need support from others. We need to prepare to change ourselves into "Independant" people, so we are able to take care of ourselves.

Habit 1: Proactive
Don't sit around, be proactive in what you pursue and what you need to accomplish.

Habit 2: Start with the end in mind
Think clearly what the end result you are trying achieve before you start doing it.

Habit 3: First thing first
Priorities "to-do" things by "Urgent/Not Urgent", "Important/Not Important". Focus on "Not Urgent and Important" things (thus fewer and fewer items will fall into the "Urgent and Important" category).

Full story »

Don't Move (buy from Amazon)
Type: Drama, Italy 2004

Director: Sergio Castellitto

My rating: 3
Key actors/actresses:

Pen?lope Cruz .... Italia
Sergio Castellitto .... Timoteo
Claudia Gerini .... Elsa
Lina Bernardi .... Nora (Elsa's mother)

Posted by Dominic
Story:
Timoteo is a surgent, his daughter Elsa had a traffic accident and is fighting for her life in the hospital, while waiting and praying for his daughter next to the operating thearter, Timnoteo thinks of the time before Elsa was born, in particular, a woman whom he loved called Italia. Their relationship started with Timoteo raping Italia...

My review:
"Don't move" describes a mid-life surgent torned between his present and past, life and death situation, family and adultary affairs. Well scripted, directed and act by Sergio Castellitto who played "Timoteo".

The "Turn your USB drive into your mobile office" presentation can be downloaded here.

Hope you find the document useful.

Dominic

Address and tel.no
Cuisine: Japanese in Causeway Bay
My rating: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Price per person: HK$ 150

Address and tel.no
2/F, 8 Russell St, Causeway Bay

+852 2834-4438

Review:
I have been to here more than 5 times for the sake of convenience. However I try to avoid going after 8pm because it's noisy and usually there is a queue. I like the regular change of menu. Everything meets expectation here.