Author: Robin S. Sharma
Rating: 4/5
Notable Quotes:
“We might not be able to controls the weather or the traffic or the moods of all those around us. But, we most certainly can control our attitude towards these events. We all have the power to determine what we will think about in any given moment”
“Lasting happiness comes from steady working to accomplish your goals and advancing confidently in the direction of your life’s purpose”
Summary (less than 100 words):
The monk who sold his Ferrari is the story of a litigator who sold everything and goes and lives with the Sages of Sivana. The story is him telling one of his old friends all he has learnt while being there. He speaks of the secret to happiness and shares insights on how to live a happy and fulfilling life. He goes speaks of the 10 Rituals of Radiant Living:
- Ritual of solitude- Ensuring your daily routine includes a mandatory period of peace.
- Ritual of Physicality- Power of physical care. As you care for your body you care for your mind.
- Ritual of Live Nourishment- Eat a balanced diet, try and avoid “dead” food.
- Ritual of Abundant Knowledge- Life long learning and expanding your knowledge base.
- Ritual of Personal Reflection- Take tie to get to know yourself.
- Ritual of Early Awakening- 6 hours of sleep is enough, wake up early and get things done.
- Ritual of Music- Listen to music everyday. Music is a great motivator.
- Ritual of the Spoken Word- Mantras and other things you say affect your outside world.
- Ritual of a Congruent Character – Take daily, incremental action to build character.
- Ritual of Simplicity- Live a simple life, focus on priorities (truly meaningful activities)
He speaks of Dharma – Sanskrit for “life’s purpose”. The book is extremely motivating and shares a lot of knowledge about fulfilling your dreams and reaching your destiny. He speaks of the importance of embracing the present and respecing your time.He also says one should constantly practice Kaizen.
Kaizen is Japanese and translates into "Constant and neverending improvemet"
“be brave, set no limits on the working of your imagination. Never be a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.”
Interesting things you learnt:
- You are always in controls! Events that happen around you are out of your controls but you are in control of your reaction to those events.
- It is extremely important to look after your body and mind. This is done through excercise, a good diet, sleep and personal reflection
Owen Venter 