Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn, by John C. Maxwell is not a book that will quote the same idioms that we have heard a million times. Never give up, Failure is not final and all the others you are tired of listening to. Its not a book that will tell you how to be a winner, it is more of turning not wins, into wins.
Maxwell, very briefly, but very often quote that the best teacher is not experience, it is the evaluated experience. He sets out a loose foundation, a framework to turn losses into gains.
The Traps or The Paths
The eleven elements could be called the traps that people tend to fall into, when they are struck by failure, or when they see things not going their way, or they could be called the path that the fallen take to build up back to where they were and where they want to be.
The eleven elements are general, and they are not a very strong piece of advice, its nothing you wouldn’t have heard of in a different book. However, how you learn the way to them, is what makes the book different.
Stand Apart
In Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn, unlike most authors, Maxwell explains terms with his personal experience. He shares his mishaps, failures and mistakes. It makes it easier for the reader to connect with Maxwell, owing to the relatable content and what does he mean when he takes an action.
His sensible insight and his way of looking back at things, while most say, never look back, is what keeps the reader bound to the text. The clear framing of all the topics over 13 distinct chapters with no repeated content, makes the read un-boring or rather, a pleasure.
Conclusion
Maxwell doesnt guide you to the mark of the victory, he just tells you that not winning: is inevitable and we shall learn from it to winning. And I say, not winning because according to him, failure is off the table. Since those who learn from their mistakes, win, well eventually.
Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn, by John C. Maxwell
book review by Pervaiz “P.K.” Karim CalcuttaKid.com
Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink is book with no sugar coating. Jocko an ex-Navy SEAL has kept his point direct and concise.
According to Jockos writing, discipline is a two-staged concept, the thought and the action.
The Thought
The book is divided neatly, Jocko first explains the process of his thought. The way you should look at your target and break into points of action. The thought should be under your control, and there should be only one target. Next, he tells to convert the plan into action.
Me Versus Me
The biggest problem between you and your goals is yourself. There is no way you can achieve something without overcoming yourself and the excuses you make to avoid things. Jocko says,
You are tired, Get to work.
You are sick, Get to work.
You are depressed, Get to work.
Its your friends birthday, Get to work.
There are no breaks in the life of a Navy SEAL and there shouldn’t be any in yours if you want to get somewhere. There is no reason why you should walk away from something you want, or only because it is easy to get.
The Content
The formatting of the book and the content is nothing like a self-help book writer will want to have. The font is huge and not standard Times, moreover it is printed in white on black paper. The book is a really fast read owing to the little text it has. The little text does not kill the feel, in fact, it emphasizes it – to the point, concise and harsh. There’s nothing like motivation. Its all about what you got to do and you have to do it.
Conclusion
The overall book is a great read. A quick, to the point with no sugar coating. Jocko takes your goal, makes a plan and tells you, You got to do this. There is no shortcut, no hack, nothing works. There is no procrastination, just get to work.
Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink
book review by Pervaiz “P.K.” Karim CalcuttaKid.com
