Robin
Sharma
The
Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
India:
Jaico; 1999
208
pp; INR 199
ISBN:
9780062515674
Summary:
If self-help is your favourite genre, then this book would be an additional
dish of ‘paneer’ for you with almost the same taste as that of all its
comrades. However, if this is your first tryst with it, then I must applaud you
for your selection. There are a lot of takeaways from the book, especially
steps, rituals and strategies, which you could possibly write down, set in a
frame and put up on your study wall, or bedroom’s. Robin Sharma has been
extremely straightforward in motivating his readers to enhance the overall quality
of their lives and he has, undoubtedly, done a great job. The only thing I was
miffed at was how the dose of information gets too much for you to bite and
chew. A must read, if this is where you start.
What really clicked? I
was rather intrigued by the title, which initially turned me off as I thought I
should taste the “Ferrari-like” success first and then read this book in order
to relate better. As a matter of fact, this book will inspire you to give up
the thought of owning one in the first place.
My take:
Though all self-help books start with the same motive – to disseminate good
thoughts and ways – only a few are able to make it all sink in smoothly, not
making it sound like preaching. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari does
this job pretty well. Divided into thirteen chapters, this book breaks a story
the protagonist bases this book on down to pieces,
further discussing the significance and the message contained in each element
of the story.
The book talks about the life
experience of Julian, an established lawyer, who is the protagonist, and is
narrated by the author, who was once his assistant. Julian seems to have
achieved it all when he collapses in the middle of an ongoing session in a
crowded courtroom. This blow to his physical health also affects him mentally
and he, in search of the larger meaning of life, comes to India and learns
about the Sages of Sivana.
The rest of the book covers
Julian’s journey in India and how he learns the secrets to radiant and
enlightened living. These secrets are really no big secrets and merely
reiterate the lessons we have been learning since childhood. However, books
like these make sure that while we continue participating in the mad rat race,
we also take out time to stop and look around, calm ourselves down and
appreciate small things.
The author’s attempt to reach out
to his readers, helping them lead a better life, is indeed laudable. In this
conversation between two people (Julian and Robin), it is the reader who
benefits the most. There are pearls of wisdom spread all over the chapters and
are worth holding close all life. These snippets of knowledge not only
reinstate your faith in your abilities, but also help you in building a strong
character. Apart from sharing the ways in which how an ideal life should be
led, the author has also shared the techniques which make practicing them
easier. For instance, ‘the magic rule of 21’is a technique which could help a
person in adopting a habit, provided he repeats doing the same thing for 21
days straight.
This book helps in ironing out a
crumpled up life and also paves a way for an enhanced living. A must read for a
fresh air of positivity and inspiration.
Final Word: The
Monk Who Sold His Ferrari shall bring in a whole lot of positive
inspiration into your life. This self-help book not just adopts an indirect
method of preaching, but also makes it simpler for the readers to practice in
real life. Go for the read, as I am sure you wouldn't return empty-handed.
