Cinnamon Zone: Books and Literature

الرسالة الأخيرة

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:15:00 GMT

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للطفـــل ســـوف أعطي الأجنحة، لكنني سأدعه يتعلّم التحليق وحده، وللكهول سأعلّمهم ان الموت لا يأتي بسبب السنّ بل بفعل النسيان

لقد تعلمت منكم كثيراً أيها البشر... تعلمت ان الجميع يريدون العيش في القمة غير مدركين أن سرّ السعادة في كيف نهبط من فوق. وتعلّمت ان المولود الجديد حين يشد على اصبع أبيه للمرّة الأولى يعني انه أمسك بها الى الأبد. تعلّمت أن الإنسان يحق له أن ينظر من فوق الى الآخر فقط حين يجب أن يساعده على الوقوف

بل تعلمت منكم أكثر! لكن، قليلاً ما سيسعفني ذلك، فما ان انهي توضيب معارفي سأكون على شفير الوداع

قل دائماً ما تشعر به وافعل ما تفكّر فيه

احفظوا قربكم ممن يحبكم وتحبّون، قولوا لهم همساً انكم في حاجة اليهم، احبوهم واهتموا بهم، وخذوا الوقت الكافي كي تقولوا: نفهمكم، سامحونا، من فضلكم، شكراً، وكل كلمات الحب التي تعرفونها

لن يتذكر أحد أفكاركم المضمرة، فاطلبوا من الربّ القوة والحكمة للتعبير عنها. وبرهنوا لأصدقائكم وأحبائكم محبتكم لهم

غابرييل غارسيا ماركيز، من رسالة كتبها على فراش المرض-

Are books too expensive?

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:32:00 GMT

You see a girl, wearing fashionable clothes, driving a brand new car, carrying the latest mobile phones, going out often, spending money here and there, yet when it comes to books, 8 JD's is too much!!

Are books really too expensive? Or is it about people viewing books as a stack of paper?

I don't mean to be judgmental, and I know not everyone can afford to buy a book for 10 or 15 JD's, but I'm talking about the whole mindset of those who can afford it. Some people are not willing to spend their hard-earned money on a book, but they are willing to buy expensive clothes because they think "it's worth it". Some people think that since they can borrow the book, they don't have to buy it. Well, this seems practical, but personally I can't imagine reading a book then giving it back. That's why I don't borrow books; for I feel there's some kind of bond established between you and that book, not to mention that you may want to keep it for future reference. Moreover, in the long run, you might want to build a library and leave it to your children and grandchildren.

Books are not merely ink on stacks of papers. They are someone else's thoughts, mental effort, emotions, self poured into paper, a flow of consciousness with a streak of sub-consciousness…

Maybe if we look at books this way, we might change our mind about what is and what is not worthwhile. And if that ever happens, I'm pretty sure it's not the only thing that's going to change.

Why History Won't Remember You

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:41:00 GMT

The other day I heard this Ad on radio, it goes like this:

بتتذكر تاني أغنى رجل في العالم؟

طبعا لأ! لأنه التاريخ بيذكر الأوائل فقط

(Do you remember the second richest man in History? Of course you don't, because History glorifies the first, not the runner up!)

Well, with all due respect but, says who? Being ranked first or second is all about comparison, and I think it's very destructive to depend on that to determine your success. Why not just do your best regardless of the rest? If you open any personal success book, the first thing you'll read is probably the definition of success, which is: there's no definition for success. Success differs according to each person's perspective, goals,, dreams and potential. I remember that bit of Top Gear, the car show, in which they receive a letter form a person challenging to drive the car in their track and record a time that overtakes the last person on the list. At first you might be like: what's the big deal? But I think you'll think differently when you know that the man was blind. And he not only overtook the last person, but the last two persons. What seemed like an easy task for any professional driver was a huge success for this man. I'm not saying we criss-cross cpmpetition and throw it out the window, it's important to hav ecompetition, but that is very differnet from envy, sour grapes and trying to imitate others and be like them. Every person is a unique being, you don't have to be compared with others in order to stand out. Not to mention than it's not always as accurate as you think, it's rather complicated. You know they say there are two ways to have the tallest building in a neighborhood: Either by building the tallest building, or demolishing all the buildings around. Constant comparisons might lead you to the latter. I think you all heard that funny story about Charlie Chaplain participating in a look-alike contest and coming in the second place! This tells you this: who decides who's first anyway?

Anyway, the aforementioned Ad reminded me of this bit I read once in a book called Tuesdays with Morrie…

"It is 1979, a basketball game in the Brandies gym. The team is doing well, and the student section begins a chant, "We're number one! We're number one!" Morrie is sitting nearby. He is puzzled by the cheer. At one point, in the midst of "We're number one!" he rises and yells, "What's wrong with being number two?"

The students look at him. They stop chanting. He sits down, smiling and triumphant."

أفراح الروح

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:19:00 GMT

Updated

كتاب من أجمل ما قرأت... يقدم فهماً مختلفاً لمعاني الحياة والموت والإنسانية، ودليل رائع يمكن

الاسترشاد به في بناء العلاقات مع الآخرين... أفراح الروح للسيد قطب، كتاب صغير لا يتعدى الثمان صفحات لكن فيه من الفائدة ما يفوق حجمه بكثير

Upload the electronic version of the book here:

http://www.uploading.com/files/KBBIW67F/AfrahAlRooh.pdf.html

The hunger to be understood

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:57:00 GMT

Few needs of the human heart are greater than the need to be understood- to have a voice that is heard, respected, and valued- to have influence. Most believe that the key to influence is communication- getting your point across clearly and speaking persuasively. In fact, if you think about it, don't you find that, while others are speaking to you, instead of really listening to understand, you are often busy preparing your response? The real beginning of influence comes as others sense you are being influenced by them- when they feel understood by you- that you have listened deeply and sincerely, and that you are open. But most people are too vulnerable emotionally to listen deeply- to suspended their agenda long enough to focus on understanding before they communicate their own ideas. Our culture cries out for, even demands, understanding and influence. However, the principle of influence is governed by mutual understanding born of the commitment of at least one person to deep listening first.

From: the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey