Me and Books

Never would I have imagine I would be one day intoxicated enough to pick up or even like reading. Anyway, actually I just wanted to say, I spent almost RM200 within a week to buy the following books. I'm not a good critic on books. I just buy what I think I would like to read. So, here you go.

Heard of Blue Ocean Strategy almost a year ago. Has been wanting to buy it but it cost quite a lot, until recently during the Bookfest@Malaysia that I saw the book is selling at RM79.90 as compared to the retail price of RM118.90. Being the Malaysian who is influenced by the Singaporean kiasu-ism culture, of course I gasak ler.


Since I've exercised my kiasu-ism during the Bookfest, I thought to myself, I might as well exercise it to the max. So when I saw Winning, by Jack and Suzy Welch my hands were itchy and right away I took the book and throw it into the basket without 2nd thought.
Ok, for The Perfect Store, by Adam Cohen, I didn't buy it for using the kiasu-ism excuse. I've actually been wanting to buy this book since 2003. It was recommended by a lecturer of mine who recommended me some nice books. So I've been looking for this book since, until the day Borders open up in Malaysia that I saw it's available, then it took a year until the book which was suppose to be "in store" (as stated in the computer database) to appear "on the shelf". Then it came time when it was end-of-month-window-shopping which is obvious, empty pocket when I saw the book on the shelf. Then when I've got the money, the book which is still "in store" disappeared from the shelf again. Until I found it again last Sat in Borders over at The Curve. This time, though I have a half-empty pocket, I still decided to get it with the plastic card.

Bookfest @ Malaysia

http://www.bookfestmalaysia.com/
Date: 26 May - June 3
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Time: 10am - 10pm
Fees: RM2 (Age 18 and above only)


Went there on Saturday. It's huge. Got so much of books, some of them is really really cheap. Sweetie and I each spent bout RM150. Don't get the wrong idea, a lot of people think this is a chinese book fest, but actually it is a mixture. There's a lot of English books (fiction, business, etc).

By the way, for Japanese and Korean drama fanatic, you might wanna pay a visit there. Original DVDs and VCDs are so cheap.

Secret Santa

It's Christmas, my office area put on a really heart-warming tree last week. Since the tree was so heart-warming and doesn't have any decoration at the bottom of it, someone suggested to have the "Secret Santa" thingy. What's secret santa? It's actually getting everybody's name and put in a box. Once all the name is in the box, all will have to take turn to draw a name. Without announcing the name you draw, you will need to buy a X'mas gift (everyone agree to make sure the gift is below RM20). Then everyone is not supposed to sign off the X'mas card with their own name, instead is encouraged to sign off as "Your Secret Santa". Sounds fun, some people still wouldn't be able to guess who their secret santa is even after years.

So, I got the name of the person whom I should buy a gift for. Although it already passed Christmas, we all agree to exchange gift on Jan 2, due to last minute execution (hehehe). So I went gift hunting today.

I think book is the most ideal gift. After all, it's knowledge. And this is what I ended up with.

Yes, it's called SUMO (Shut Up, Move On). It took about an hour to decide. And I was still having doubt if this book makes a good gift. So when I reached home, I search in Amazon. It's 4.5 stars out of 5. I think it should be good. :P Actually heard of this SUMO word some time ago, thought it should be a nice book.

Alright, anyone in the office that sees this book, please keep a secret from the receipient aite. :X

Books shopping

Went to Borders on Sunday and bought books worth of RM130. First time in life I ever bought so much of books to read. It's been months since I pick up a book and start reading again.

This is how it happens. My aim to go to Borders was to get the Freakonomics, and have a look at George Soros' new book, called "The Age of Fallibility: Consequences of the War on Terror". I found my Freakonomics with a sticker written that buy 3 for the price of 2. Hence I proceed to the area where the books with this promotion is located. Looked around, seen none that I know of or interested in.

Then I continue to loiter around Borders and saw another book that caught my sight, iWoz. Picked the book up, read the back cover and find it interesting. I had always like to read bout successful ppl's biography and their journey to who they are today. Since this book come with another sticker of its own that say "20% off with purchase of any item", I took it as well.

Then when I met up with my sweetie who is loitering around in the bookstore as well. Asked her if she wanna take a look at the Buy 3 for 2 area have got something interesting for her. She took a look and saw the book "The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing" and it's quite interesting, so she decided to take that book. Since it's buy 2 free 1, or buy 3 for 2, I look around for another book and end up with another interesting book called "Blink".

And this is how I end up buy books worth of RM130. Was really excited when I got home. It's juz like when you go shopping and got yourself something and can't wait to reach home, open it up and try it on.

Charity Car Wash...

My company is organising a Charity Car Wash Drive for PAWS Animal Welfare Society this Saturday (3 August 2005). If anyone of you is seeing my blog, you can show your support by driving your car there from 10am - 6pm. The best thing about this drive is that the top people in my company will be washing anybody's car. These big shots include my company's Centre Manager, Heads of departments, VPs and AVPs. KUB's (the company that own A&W) CEO will also be there to wash some cars. It's going to be a fun day for family and friends because there will be some games, free root beers, etc, etc...

Ok now, back to my life. I'm moving house soon. I'm moving in together with my buddy, the ever-crazy one, Choo (aka Pikachu, ChooChoo, AhChoo). When we was spending our Merdeka Day countdown at our future neighbour, Adrian's house for a drink, we have already lost our way in our thoughts of how to decorate our house. What to buy? Where to place our sofa and carpet? How many should we invite for our house-warming party? And the list just goes on... Something to look forward to after a day of work.

Title: Do What You Are
Author: Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger

This is one of the book I read about lately. It was bought by my boss for our entire team to ensure that everyone in her department would read it through. What is it all about? It is about identifying your true self (since you were born, not someone you created on your way to Stardom) and choose the best working environment and job that suit your personality type. It's really interesting as your personality is being described in a 4-letter code (e.g ENTP, ISFP) and when people were told of your code, they will go flip through the book again to see and get to know you better. Friends you know you best enough of you already, will see whether it's true. "This book has been used by some of the great recruitment people in US", as described by my boss. It also enables a boss to know and understand his/her employees better and work out a plan for their development whilst motivating the team by letting them do something they enjoy. If any of you have read this book, please let me know your code by dropping me a comment, I will be glad to be able know you better. =)My code: ESTJ
A great site to read about this book and check out other's the personality type, is one of the official site which is http://www.personalitytype.com/. However though, this site can show you the brief of what you will get in the book, the best parts are all in the book.

Title: The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown

This is the second book that I read while I was away for my 6 days leave (in total 10 days inclusive of 2 weekends). I notice that a lot of people has already read about this book already. So, I will just cut the crap by not telling what this book tells, but instead what I feel about this book. I think the most interesting thing about this book is the author's ability to twist and turn the story in such exciting ways in TOTAL details. A lot of words and terms I never heard of. But I'm glad that I sit in front of my laptop and open up my dictionary to go through every word that I don't understand because it really explain a lot and could better shape your imagination on the stuff that was described in the novel. I'm glad this is the first novel that I have read. Many who have read this book do not know that they can find some of the illustration described in the novel at this site, http://www.danbrown.com/secrets/davinci_code/louvre.html.