They say every once in a while you come across a book which changes your life forever. Well "The monk who sold his ferrari " is not that book. (Nor have I ever come across such a book.) The good thing about this book is that it is a didactic tale. The worst thing about this book is that it is a didactic tale.(No typing glitch here.) If you are into self help books, you’ll probably lap this up. But if you are like me, you’ll read this book with a pinch of salt. (A lot of salt, if I may add.)
The book is a first person narrative told by a young advocate. He narrate the story of his boss (yes, the one and the only: the monk whio sold his ferrari), a high notch gucci-armani-ferrari lawyer who abdicates his high life to follow the path of the Indian mystics.The conversation between the two advocates forms the book. The monk shares his experience with the healthy and happy life. He speaks of the practical ways to have a fuller life. The great laws of the Himalayan holy men.
The life goes so fast. In this dog-eat-dog world people always end up stepping on each other to reach the zenith (If indeed there is such a thing.) And in this dog race people forget what life is all about. In this mad rush to accure wealth and success people tend to forget the small minute treasures of life. Robin Sharma through this tale tells us : "hey man take a break".
Though the book reads like a moral science lecture, it does make certain (brownie) point. It prods us to sit up and notice. Where are the childhood dreams? Where is the hop skip jump in the everyday life? When do we have the time to take the deep breath? The monk advices: take your breath before you stop breathing.
(Did someone say: the west is west. that east is east. and the twain shall never meet. Robin proves him wrong. He also tries to say that India is more than just the place of snake-charmers and lotus-eaters. Personally I love snakes and regularly eat lots of lotus.)