At Erudite Ingenuity staying current and relevant takes a great deal of time. We try to read a lot, ask questions, watch TED Talks, attend conferences, and just generally stay 'in-the-know'. To that end, we are starting a series on some of our favorite reads over the years. I am going to begin with a book that is fairly dense and not for the meek and mild. Awareness by Anthony De Mello is one of my top picks and has become sort of a reference book for me, meaning that I find myself rereading passages, grabbing it when I want to relax with a book, and just keeping it on my nightstand for comfort. It is written in the first person in short chapters with very simple points, which sounds pretty basic, but the book is pretty life-changing. I know, kind of dramatic, but it is...Somehow the author knows that we are all sleeping through life and he wants us to wake up!
When reading Awareness, you will feel like you are getting help with daily life in a bigger way than a self-help book might help you. The author attempts to deal with the bigger picture issues in life. The author commands that you are honest when delving into this read, and then he explores happiness and our desire for happiness. One of the best things that he recommends is that you stop worrying about what others think and simply spend time observing yourself. It sounds so simple, but it truly is not.
We are so taken up with what everyone thinks, what everyone recommends, how everyone else lives his/her life, that we miss the point of living and observing our own selves. Take the time to explore your own mind and don't let anyone else's mind interfere with that exploration. This book is one of Tim Ferris' favorites as well and he discusses it in his podcast. I recommend a listen. (Awareness by Anthony De Mello)
