Ananthraman---Art of Living

Work Life & art of living (a o l) by ANANTHRAMAN.S ; 

Published by the Author ;Pages 159; Price Rs. 250/-

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The author of the book under review wears several hats. He is a Chemical Engineer, an Entrepreneur and a Compulsive Trainer. He successfully commercialised a spin off technology from Space Research. Presently he is Consultant in the world of quality, safety and environmental management systems.

The subject of his book is  Work Life Balance and Art of Living.

It all began with Dale Carnegie--the pioneer of courses in self improvement, salesmanship and interpersonal skills. He was the author of the iconic book "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Over 500 million copies of this book has been sold. One of the core ideas of his books is that it is possible to change other people's behaviour by changing one's own behaviour toward them.

There has been a steady stream of writers who have expounded identical causes. Foremost today is Stephen Covey whose most popular book is the "7 Habits of Highly Effective People". TIME  magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people. Covey promotes what he calls "The Character Ethic" aligning one's values with the so-called "universal and timeless" principles. He proclaims that values govern

  people's behaviour, but principles ultimately determine the consequences.

We do have an Indian version of this genre. Robin Sharma's books such as "The Leader Who Had No Title" have made him a global phenomenon helping people realise their highest potential. Among his successful disciples are Richard Branson, Bill Clinton and Jack Welch. 

According to Ananthraman, Work life balance has to do with relationships, happiness, behaviours, thoughts, values that bond one to another and is more a reflection of the inner world one lives in.

Art of Living is in balancing the Quality of Life with Quality of Living so as to lead a successful, wealthy,  healthy and happy life.

The book is in two parts .

Part One deals with some thoughts to improve Work  Life Balance.

Part Two deals with Prescriptions for Art of Living. These are the  distilled essence of the practitioners of Quality Life  and of the Philosophers who specialised in the Art of Living.

Work Life Balance relates to the quality of living and Life relates to quality of Life.

In personal life the author recommends--Speak less, speak to the point and speak not of your past, demand the least, detach attachment and determine others needs through empathetic understanding.Think positive at all times.

The second part on Art of Living contains Nuggets of Wisdom which if adopted religiously lead to a happy and healthy life.

Anathraman has provided 282 such nuggets--a few of which are given below.

52---AOL is in balancing the 4 Cs in promoting ideas--viz,Culture, Communication, Conflict and Confrontation.

174---We must accept the fact that each of us is different, but must let 'GO' of the 'E-GO' in us, AOL is in living life differently, same time allowing the 'E' to  vacate the space it occupies in 'E-GO'

214--AOL  is to stay healthy with 60 minutes. To fitness,6000 steps a day an hour of walking with thoughts under your control and eating right. This way you will sway with health and happiness.

The book is a well intentioned volume aimed at making life more liveable and joyous.

One does not know why 282 nuggets are provided--not more or less. One does not know--Why not 365 @1 per day or 104 @2 per fortnight.

The volumes cries out for a Good Editor. Nostrums get repeated--at times ad nauseam--the one to let    E out of EGO--five times-- 174/182/184/185/271. Surely the argument that " multiple dosage" lends emphasis is hardly tenable. Tautology is the surest step to tedium.

One major failing of the book is that it could have been made more arresting and racy by anecdotes from the worlds of history, science, sports, politics. The Art of Living has been made glorious by the Lives of Helen Keller, Robert Bruce, Baba Amte, Mahatma Gandhi, Kailash Satyarthi, Mother Teresa.  A few stories from their lives would have imparted an energising effect to the volume.

The book is warmly commended to all aspirants of a happy and heathy life. It is highly enriched intellectual pabulum.

P.P.Ramachandran.

19/01/2020.