Altruism Out The Window !!!

 

Now this is a must read book, written by a 17 year old teenager. 

You can also order through Shoppee by clicking here 

You can read one of the interviews done with the author by clicking on - The Vibes

PUTTING others before yourself or performing actions for the greater good have always been taught as a noble mission. 

It is a milestone of success for society when it comes to human development. But eighteen-year-old Arif Imran brings challenging perspectives to deconstruct the values of self-sacrifice through his book, 'Altruism: Out the Window'.

https://www.thevibes.com/articles/culture/14993/altruism-societys-antidote-or-poison

Book Review15; "The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China"

I bought this book way back in 1998 and have read it three times since.

I happened to read it again last week and I realise how very relevant it still is today. It is an interesting book but you have to read and think about what you read to enjoy it.

Ralph D. Sawyer presents us with an Eastern tradition of strategic thought that emphasizes outwitting one's opponent through speed, stealth, flexibility and a minimum of force - an approach very different from that stressed in the West, where the advantages of brute strength have overshadowed more subtle methods.

The book discusses T'ai Kung's Six Secret Teachings, the methods of the Ssu-ma, the famous Sun-tzu's Art of War, Wu-tzu, Wei Liao-tzu and the three stragetgies of Huang Shih-kung,

I would recommend this book to anyone in planning and strategic thinking positions, to psychology students, political science students or if you simply want fun reading.

Peace !

Book Intro14: A Doctor in the House by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

This is the long awaited memoir by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

I had to place an order for it and wait two weeks before I could get a copy. When I got it, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. It is about 800 pages thick but I managed to finish it in three days.

The book gives Mahathir’s own insight into his childhood, education, growing up both as a young man and a politician and finally his view of Malaysia’s development throughout his 22 years. I suppose it is easier to read when you know how his mind works!

The book is interesting reading because it is written typically Mahathir style – simple to understand and direct to the point. 

As usual, you get the feeling while you are reading the book that it does not matter to him whether you agree or disagree with what he has written. He just wants to state his views as he sees it. I actually like this attitude! For example, he writes “This is the problem with the Americans – they want their defence industry to make money and be commercially successful. So they are eager to sell their arms”. Or describing Anwar as “He appeared to be all things to all people”.

What I found impressive about the book is actually the simple manner in which it is written. He also recounts and analyses various vital events in the Nation’s history without complex language. Keeping in mind that this is the memoir of a former Prime Minster who has served almost 22 years, recounting diverse historical events is not an easy task. He discusses various political and national issues that arose during his premiership in a candid manner, sometimes probably too candid for some.

I find this book important to be read by everyone as it will give an insight into a Malaysian Prime Minister’s mind, particularly one who had undergone major political challenges during his time.

The title of the book is probably apt because he is the first doctor in the House of Commons (Dewan Rakyat) who became a Prime Minister.

It is surely a must read book.

Peace !

Book Review: Who amongst us is a Rapera?

The Malay Mail did a review of the book "Rapera -urgently wanted".

"For him, there is a strong need for citizens to have their own thoughts and ideas regarding national is­sues where at times, these issues are strictly determined by the rules of various political groups in power today.

He hopes that through the intro­duction of the Rapera concept, citi­zens will no longer sit back and watch the country's changes pass them by. Instead they should evolve and be better citizens who can help encour­age a better nation in general.

Reading his book, one would probably be stirred emotionally and mentally as Jay questions many hard-hitting issues happening within Malaysian politics and lifestyle.

Some may say that his book may seem a little controversial for their taste buds as he writes honestly and transparently regarding subject mat­ters that he feels could be better ex­ecuted or evaluated by authorities".

You may read the whole review and interview here - TheMalayMailonline

Peace !

BookReview12: Islamization and Activism in Malaysia - Julian CH Lee

This book is written by a young, brilliant academic - Dr Julian C.H. Lee.

This thoughtful and timely book deals in depth with some of the most important debates surrounding inter- ethnic life in contemporary Malaysia. He examines for example, the Islamic State debate in the light of the democratic and multi-religious setting of Malaysia.

Julian guides us though the minefields of politics, religion and ethnicity with adeptness and clarity. He courageously and interestingly tackles the legal issues of conflict of jurisdiction between the civil and syariah courts by discussing related cases that have been considered before the Malaysian Courts.

His findings and descriptions are clearly and accessibly presented and his dispassionate explorations of both complicated legal matters and sensitive religious issues are handled with rigour and thoughtfulness.

The book is readily available in all major bookshops and is now going for 2nd reprint.

Publisher: Institute of South East Asian Studies Publications, Singapore.
Year of first Publication : 2010
Price      :  RM38.00

Peace !

BookReview11: "THE QURAN AND I" by Anas Zubedy

Title The Quran and I

Author: Anas Zubedy

Description 216 pages full color

Retail price RM36.40

Publisher: Zubedy Ideahouse

When I got hold of this book, I thought it will be a heavy reading book that will delve deeply into the Quran. I was wrong. It is an easy reading book into the journey of Anas Zubedy, the author. He recollects his childhood, the people and the things that have influenced him, including the Quran as he grew up.

He writes in such a way that you end up feeling that you are with him as he recounts those moments. It is like a live broadcast. It is a very personal book and a good insight into the life a Malaysian Muslim. Reading the book, you can feel Anas’s honesty in the relating his past events. Some of his experiences are touching and the more sensitive reader may shed a tear or two when reading one of his chapters. The book is also a reminder that youths can be sensitive though adults may take them for granted.

I was impressed with the quality of the paper and the effort made to make the book “light and easy” spiced with expressive photographs.

This book was launched last week and I believe it is available in all major bookshops.

Happy reading.

Peace !

 

BookIntro10: SEX SLAVES

This book seems to destroy the myth that it is the morally corrupt western sex tourists that led to the development of the sex trade in Asia. While they certainly have played a vital part in the growth of the sex industry, Louise Brown puts forward evidence to show that the primary customers of sex workers are essentially Asian men. She also persuasively argues that the "Asian hypocrisy" towards moral values, the fact of a male dominated Asian society, repressive attitudes towards women by Asian men and such have actually encouraged and developed the sex trade in Asian countries.

She records many of the real instances of young girls and women who have been cheated into prostitution or worse sold off by their parents to brothels or "sex agents" who traffic "sex products" across borders. These are disturbing and heart wrenching accounts to read.

Her research covers, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore,Vietnam, Philippines, etc.


This is a good book to read by almost everyone who is concerned about girls and women who are caught up in sexual slavery. I would particularly recommend this book to be read by all social workers, activists, and the religious clergy whether they are called priests, rabbis, fathers or ulamak. As they say, with knowledge of the facts, remedial actions may be taken.

Be prepared to cry or to be angry or to be sad when you read the book...but be prepared also to something or anything you can.

[Book is published by Virago Press, London]
Peace.

BOOK REVIEW9: THE REPUBLIC BY PLATO

I recall one bored evening when I was in Form Five where I strolled in and out of the many second-hand book shops along Macalister Road, Penang. I came across this book. Read it and re-read it. As a teenager this book shocked me for weeks. I never knew that many things which I had accepted as normal are actually "things" set up by experimenting adults.

I did not even realise that I could question so - called accepted concepts. This book challenged my teenage mind's acceptance of so many things and so many things I was unhappy with. It also opened my mind to the fact that not all adults are thinking people as I had assumed all were. This is one the books that changed my life radically.

Plato was born in 427 B.C. Plato was born into a distinguished family with many political connections. Though he had all the opportunities to be active in politics (since his friends and family members were), he withdrew because he was disgusted with the wickedness of the politics of his time. He also was very upset that the State had put his friend Socrates to death on a charge of impiety and corrupting the young. He had seen that even though Socrates himself had the opportunity for political power, he had risked it by also refusing to be part of any political ploys that not benefit the people of Athens. Plato, apparently met Socrates when Plato was about 23 years of age.

Socrates wrote nothing. But he was always engaged in dialogue with whosoever engaged him. Someone who had met Socrates wrote that Socrates was a wisest man in Greece. Socrates knew that he was not and set out to prove the person wrong. His method of doing so was to cross examine people he met about their beliefs, and their ethical belief in particular, since for a Greek, 'wisdom' had a strong ethical meaning. And his questions would commonly take the form of asking people what they meant when they referred to common ethical questions like self-control, or justice or fairness. He found that they did not really know, or at any rate could not give a satisfactory account of what they meant; and to that extent he was wiser than they - he was aware of his ignorance, they were not.

But the cure of ignorance is knowledge, and so in addition to showing that conventional moral notions were often confusing and contradictory, Socrates insisted on the importance in morals of knowledge. If only we knew what was right, the problems of morality would be comparatively simple; and in the quest of that knowledge he never ceased his constant cross examination of himself and others. It is from this book that I learnt that examination of oneself can lead to the discovery that what we thought we knew, we were actually ignorant of it!

Many, many years later I discovered the correct concept of this in the Quran -"conjecture". We live lives based on conjectures and due to lack of or absence of examination, we assumed it to be facts and norms. We confuse guesswork with facts and truths. Even worse, collective guesswork becomes norms for the society!

Since reading the book, I used to spend hours with Thinavan, a school mate every evening who will entertain me with examinations of various topics like, morality, justice, emotions, sex, "right and wrong" ,etc. I think I carried this attitude through life and sometimes, it does cause problems at home! (people do not like being questioned). It also made me my constant critic.

Back to the book,, if you are looking for a mental adventure into the process of inquiry, a discovery of how foolish our thinking can be, a shocking experience of how we transmit illogical and irrational thoughts from one generation to the next, then this is the book to give you that 'high'.

In this book, Plato records, Socrates's dialogues and conversations with various people on various subjects like education, the philosophical ruler, imperfect societies, the soul, the reward of goodness in life, etc. To me, reading this book is like a roller coastal ride because the journey will be in your mind and heart.

You will enjoy it and if you have the patience to read it through and think about it - it will change your perspective of life radically!

PEACE !

BookIntro8: OBAMA: The Postmodern COUP.

Only a fool will not want to examine all three (not two) sides of a coin simply because one side makes him happy. Now that Obama has indeed won as expected many (and I thought it was another conspiracy theory!) years ago, let me introduce you this book. This book was published early this year. It argues that there are good reasons to believe that Obama was identified and recruited by Zbigniew Brzezinski at Columbia University between 1981 and 1983 at a time when Obama was studying politics with a specialty in international relations and a thesis topic involving Soviet nuclear disarmament. Even in the run-up to the presidency elections, while Obama freely admitted using illegal narcotics but has been extraordinarily secretive about his years in Columbia University in particular regarding his course, activities, professors or friends. Why?

The author writes that Brzezinski is the principal guru of the entire Obama campaign while also his foreign policy adviser, together with the involvement of his children, Mark Brzezinski (foreign policy), Matthew Brzezinski (supposedly investigative journalist), Ian Brzezinski(dep. assistant secretary of defence for Eastern Europe) and Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC.

The book also argues that if Obama was not available, the elitist bankers would have had to invent him. Obama apparently call for the bombing of Iran and Pakistan in 2004. Again in July 2007, he called for the bombing of Pakistan, writes the author. Obama's leading economic guru is Professor Austan Goolsbee, a member of the infamous Skull and Bones secret society, which brought the Bush elder to power.

The startling revelation is that Obama has never before won office in a contested election. When he ran for Illinios State Senate, pricey election lawyers helped him eliminate all his opponents by throwing them off the ballot. Once incumbent, his later re-election was mere formality.
The author gives further evidence and situations to show that Obama is a Manchurian candidate owned wholly by the Ford-Trilateral-Coucil on Foreign relations bankers' consortium. He is considered to be most thoroughgoing puppet candidate than Jimmy Carter because of his more lengthy indoctrination.

The appointment of Rahm Emanuel certainly show that Obama intends to get tough. This appointment also seems to support what has been written and forecasted about Obama long ago. If there is any truth in the book, then the Obama presidency will certainly be a new modern fascism being born - and looking at the frenzy, the hope, the media spread, the most expensive campaign and .... black Obama rising "suddenly" within white Democratic Party does give rise to questions.

Is the author hallucinating or is there truth? He says Obama will be compelled to be the puppet. Read the book and reach your own conclusions. ..and until then, as jln pakai tuncai a commentator) says "hold on the celebrations"!

BookIntro7: THINGS IN COMMON - SYED AKBAR ALI

I have read the book twice. I found it completely interesting, and easy to read. I suspect the book stores may shelve it under "religion" though in my view, it could very well be shelved under "logical thinking" or "current issues". From the outset, I must state that it is a challenging book. It challenges the mind of the reader to go beyond the "accepted" and to look at the evidence. You will certainly have to put aside whatever pre-conceived notions, prejudices, and purely faith-based world views to appreciate and enjoy the book.

Largely the book discusses perceptions people hold about religion in general and Islam in particular. He then compares the perceptions with scriptural evidence that is, the Quran and the Bible. He freely quotes both the verses from the Quran and the Bible and leaves the reader to form his own conclusions. Whether you agree or disagree with him, you cannot avoid the fact that much thought and research has gone into what he has written. And he presents such complex arguments in a very simple, non-academic, readable manner..and in many occasion, true to Akbar Ali's style, with wit and humour.

People have generally underestimated the role of religion in society in some aspects and in other aspects, they have overestimated its influence. This books has succeeded in demonstrating and in inviting the thinking reader to understand instances where the presence of religion in life can be unsuspectingly pervasive. If you agree with this possible inference from his book, it may frighten you. Hence this book has the potential of causing a paradigm shift in the reader's minds.

He has organized the book into short chapters making it easy for the reader to select the topics he wants to read first. This, to me is Syed's best book so far.

I would also describe this book as paving the way for more "thinking books" in this land of ours where there is a dearth of good local books. If we truly want to achieve a civilized and knowledge based society, more such books should be encouraged. I would recommend this book, apart from the general readers, to those in political office, the academics and all those who are in the "business of religion".

Once you finish reading it and assuming you take the effort to understand it, you may realize that it has less to do with religion! It has more to do with us as Malaysians and us as human beings on the Grand Designer's beautiful earth.

The book will be available at all major bookshops from Monday and it is priced at RM39.90. Happy reading.

BookIntro6: JUDGING THE JUDGES

The author of this book, Dato’ NH Chan was formerly a Court of Appeal Judge. I remember telling my colleagues that every time I appear before him when he was sitting in the High Court; I felt that I was before an English Judge. His demeanor, his English and the way he carried himself on the bench was like an English gentleman Judge. I personally found it a pleasure to appear before him for he was patient, allowed time for questioning the witness and if I am not wrong, his was then the only High Court where you can get instantaneous notes of proceeding because there was a stenographer sitting while the trial is being conducted! So there is minimal room for inconsistencies between the Court’s recording and the lawyers’ recording of what transpired. (I think this should be implemented again in the Courts. Even though it may slow down the proceeding, but justice hastened may lead to justice denied or flawed).

Hence when this gentleman “English” Judge wrote a book I had to read it. I was not disappointed at all because it was written boldly and honestly. He writes that the most important qualification to be a judge is impartiality and the appearance of impartiality. I think the second point is often missed by a few Judges because I suppose as NH Chan points out in his book, Judges are, after all humans. The main aims of the book, among other things is to enable the reader to recognize the many cases in the Malaysian courts in which justice had not been seen to be done, to familiarize the ordinary man of the judge’s craft so that he knows whether a judge has been fair and unbiased in his conduct of the trial and to help the reader differentiate between the good and the bad judges (as written on the back of the book).

I like his style of writing. It is simple and yet does not sacrifice the language. I would rate this book as a must read book by citizens who are interested in the administration of justice, especially the students of law, lawyers and in particular, the judges themselves.

The book is available in major bookshops or you may contact Alpha Sigma Sdn Bhd (Tel: 03-78041672; Fax: 03-78041673). It was first published recently in 2007

BookIntro5: FEDERAL CONSTITUTION

This is not a book, really. It is a statute, a law passed by Parliament. The Constitution is the “highest law in the land” in that any other laws that are passed shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution. For this reason, it is often said that “the Constitution is supreme”.

The Constitution is an important documents that spells out various matters such as the “Fundamental Liberites”, “Citizenship”, the role and functions of the Federation, the conference of Rulers, relationship between the federation and the States, the judiciary, public services, protections for natives and States of Sabah and Sarawak, elections, etc.

All citizens should have a copy and it is easily available in any bookshop. It is vital to appreciate the important role of the Courts to safeguard the constitutional provisions. After all, in the event of a legal challenge by any citizen, it is the courts that must ultimately interpret the provisions of the Constitution.

The best of laws are useless if the citizen is unaware of it and thus do not protect it.

You can view the Federal Constitution here, but still buy a copy!

Book Intro4: Translation of the QURAN

Translations from one language to another are by nature a challenging task. Nevertheless, such tasks need to be undertaken if knowledge is to be shared.

One such task was undertaken by a Penangite, the Mufti of Penang, Mr Ghulam Sarwar. He concluded the translation of the Quran while he was in London and published it in 1928. This month, Yayasan Restu launched the reprint of this translation for the first time in Malaysia. It comes in a handy, beautifully designed book form.

Thus far I have gone through about more than 30 translations – both English and Malay – and I will easily vote for this translation as the best. The English is simple, without losing the true meaning, and the sentences are well phrased. For anyone interested in understanding the Quran, I would recommend this piece of translation.

It is available at Selangor Islamic Arts Garden Complex, No. 2A, Persiaran Damai, Seksyen 16, Shah Alam (telephone no: 03-55119001/2/3). This complex, as I understand it welcomes both Muslims and Non-Muslims as it is also a research center.

With so much talk about “the process of Islamisation” going on, reading this translation is the first step to evaluate the process.

Book Intro3: THE WEB OF DEBT

Our money system is not what we have been led to believe. The creation of money has been "privatized" or taken over by a private money cartel. Except for coins, all of our money is nw created as loans advanced by private banking institutions. To find the interest, new loans must continually be taken out, expanding the money supply, inflating prices and robbing you of the value of your money.

This is among the books that will shock you and make you rethink of the ability of expedient, loud and sensational politicians amongst us to "lead the way.

Web of Debt unravels the deception and presents the financial abyss towards which we are heading. The author, Ellen Brown draws upon her experience as a litigating attorney, researcher and writer in the monetary field in writing this book. The book largely analyzes the deceptive "money system of US". Many do not know that the US Federal Reserve is a private company! Malaysians who are concerned about the money system and its effects on daily life will be interested to read this book.


My rating: Must read book for Raperas. (Politicians are exempted because it may be too much for their grey matter!)

BY the way, the KLCI index drop reported in the papers today will be no surprise to those who have read Matthias Chiang's books. He has predicted this long time ago and to use his phrase "the shit has not hit the ceiling yet!".

Book Intro2: THE COLLAPSE OF GLOBALISM and the reinvention of the World

This is a must read book for those who want to understand the real BASICS of what the much touted "globalisation" crusade that the West has been preaching and imposing on the rest of the world. John Ralston Saul is a novelist, historian and philosopher and received his PhD from King's College.

The book provides a vital analysis of why globalisation was never unavoidable and always destined to fail, and what will come in its place. It is completely shocking that we have for years tolerated politicians and bureaucrats who condone globalism without even understanding what it is.

Interestingly, John Ralston Saul has praise for Malaysia' policies in the late 1990s in particular how we challenged traditional economic understanding to combat and mitigate the effects of the currency speculators. He writes " Malaysia remained a pariah for about twelve months. Sometime in 1999, its pegged currency, tariffs and capital controls metamorphosed into normalcy for most bankers and bureaucrats. How? Why? Because regulations had worked. The country's foreign reserves had begun to grow. By 2002, Mahathir was lecturing the world on the need for a proper international financial system and describing the seven steps of global financial decline, which led to the crisis, ending with the rampage of the 'currency traders. By 2003, he was received as a hero at Davos..At last even the IMF leadership put thier seal of approval on his policies. The principle of reregulation has been demonstrated (by Mahathir)."

Of course I was pleasantly pleased to read that Malaysia challenged accepted economic principles and come out with its own model that saved the country from the aftermath of the currency pirates. This aside, it is a must read book.

I only wish the bureaucrats will stop hitting small balls with a big stick (golf) and learn to read and think before shooting their mouth and leaping. This goes for politicians too!

Book Intro! - 1

A friend recently emailed me and introduced me to a book written by Syed Akbar Ali titled "Malaysia and the Club of Doom" (MCD). He said that it is interesting and that I should read it. He also suggested that we start a book review on this Rapera blog. Good idea!

Actually, I love books and I have read Akbar's MCD last year.It is a good read and gives a fresh perspective of various issues from a Muslim's viewpoint. I think anyone interested in understanding the "phenomenon of Islamisation" in our country and other parts of the world should read the book to obtain an alternative view.

He has also published a book earlier called "To digress a little" in 2005.

Note: If you have any books to intro, please share.