Welcome to the OBS Book Club

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This is probably one of the best self-help books. It enlightens me about the importance of building the right habits and how to make it easy to develop new ones. A major key takeaway I remember from this book is that in order to build a new habit successfully, it is good to stack it with our existing routine. For example, if it is my routine to have breakfast, and I want to build the habit of gratitude meditation daily, I stack it with my breakfast habit. I do my gratitude meditation right before my breakfast.

Running is My Therapy by Scott Douglas

As a runner, I was ecstatic to find a section of running books at Foyles bookstore while in London early this year. Among them, I picked this book because it is simple and spells out the benefits of running in good order. While I love to run, there are always moments when I feel lazy. Glancing through a few pages of this book has always motivated me to put on my shoes and go for a run. Most importantly, I got to know that running in greenery with a water view is best. I now make time to run in the Lake Garden during weekends.

The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma

I have always been an early riser, and this book resonates with me. The story involving an artist, an entrepreneur, and a tycoon was immersive. My biggest takeaway from this book is to allocate time to read daily by blocking the 5 AM to 6 AM routine.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I received this book as a birthday gift from my best friend during the pandemic. It was the perfect time, as being homebound gave me more time to read. It was both inspiring and serene to read the memoirs of the former First Lady.

Rapid Fire by Rafidah Aziz

Allow me to confess that I do not read the newspaper. I learned about the launch of this book from an Instagram feed by Natasha Zulkifli, a superwoman I greatly admire and who is also the daughter-in-law of Malaysia's Iron Lady. I loved the book so much that I reviewed it on social media in March 2022.

Growing up seeing Rafidah Aziz in the news and headlines, I am glad to have known her through this memoir. The entire book is simple, well-written, and down-to-earth, with spectacular quotes and references. It felt like she was telling me her story in person. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was not only inspiring but also amusing, as our nation's first Iron Lady has a great sense of humor.

Here are my takeaways:

1. Family First: Despite her hectic political career, she managed her time well and prioritized weekends for her family. She left all her titles at the door when she entered her home, focusing on her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother. Her grandson learned that his grandmother was a minister from his teacher.
2. Bravery and Astuteness in Policy: At an international conference in Switzerland, a newspaper rudely commented on the 1998 capital control measures by Tun Mahathir. Knowing the government's measures firsthand, she responded clearly and succinctly, receiving applause.
3. Loyalty and Unwavering Support: During the 1987 UMNO President contest, she penned a 22-page letter expressing her resolute support for Dr. Mahathir, ending with, "Even if you win by one vote, you win. And you will still be my Prime Minister." Dr. M echoed this sentiment in his speech the next day.
4. Strong Faith in Religion: Throughout the book, she frequently cites "Almighty," which strengthened my faith in Buddhism. Despite growing up in a convent and being exposed to Catholicism, she remained open and cherished Malaysia's diverse culture. We were truly blessed to have her as our Trade Minister for over two decades.