Book Reviews 1 -- Lifelong Learning

“Hi. My name is Francis, and I’m a bookaholic.”

PART 1. INTRODUCTION

Some people collect stamps. Some collect clothes and shoes. Some collect cars. I have a friend who collects music and films in the form of CDs and DVDs, and he collects them with insatiable fervor as if his life depended on it. In my case, I collect books.

There is so much scholarly pleasure to be derived from reading books, especially books that edify, fascinate, and calm you down – or even give you life-changing “a-ha” moments. I’ve never actually encountered the word “bookaholic” before, and “bookworm” is the word normally used, but there is so much natural “high” that one can enjoy in reading a good book, and it can actually be intoxicating and addictive, that “bookaholic” seemed the best word to describe it.

Many of us belong to a certain profession or discipline, with its own body of knowledge. As a student of Business and Finance I have read the “Competitive Advantage of Nations” by Michael E. Porter, the “Principles of Corporate Finance” by Richard A. Brealey and Stewart C. Myers, etc. But said books are required reading, and thus they are not what I am referring to here, although I also enjoyed reading them. Here, I am talking about books that I read because when I first saw them on the bookshelf of a bookstore or a library, it was “love at first scan,” and I eventually I fell in love with them with the kind of love that lasts a lifetime.

In my 20s I would thoroughly read at least one book a month. Sometimes I would even read two or three books at a time, because when my mind gets saturated with reading several pages of one book I can always move on to the next book. The height of my bookaholism was from 1989 to 1993, when I lived in Hong Kong and all I did was work in the office during the day and read a book at night. It was Heaven. However, now that I am in my 40s, much to my chagrin I get to read less – not because I am less inclined to read, but because it has already become difficult to find books that contain new and interesting knowledge.

But as it is usually the case, it is quality and not quantity that matters. In this case, quality pertains to three elements: (1) the content of the book, (2) the manner by which it is read, and (3) the way by which its teachings are practiced and applied to daily life.

• Quality of Content

The best books are that one that edify you, or even outright change your life for the better. It is also said that the best books are the ones that you can read again and again, and each time you do you still always find something that can help you. One of the best examples of which, particularly for Christians, is of course The Holy Bible.

Finding the right books is not an easy quest. I have purchased (or borrowed from libraries) quite a few books that seemed impressive at first but turned out to be not so fruitful after a thorough reading. There are also quite a few books that have been highly publicized and recommended, and which I have consequently also read, but they did not really contain anything new or more profound compared to the other books that I have previously read. However, I will not name any of these books, because I wouldn’t want to undermine the faith in these books by those who have read and cherished them. Besides, what may work for others may not work for me, and vice-versa. Moreover, a bookworm who was born – and who started reading books – many years ahead of me, might also find some of my favorite books to be nothing new or more profound.

There are even books that are really bad for you if they are all that you read on a certain topic. In 1992 I read the book “Where Have The Wooly Mammoths Gone?” by Ted S. Frost, which was meant to be a “survival guide for small businesses.” To someone who has not yet read many books on Management, this book would seem brilliant. However, when I later pursued my Master in Management and read many other books on the subject, I realized that Frost’s book basically advised entrepreneurs to get the most out of their employees to the point of taking advantage of them. This book is not anymore in print (n.b., just like the wooly mammoths, it is gone), which is perhaps evidence of its myopic view and inevitable failure as a book. It is essential therefore that one reads many books on a particular subject if he or she hopes to truly understand it.

Moreover, sometimes different authors will have different thoughts on a particular topic. Indeed, not only can different authors have different thoughts, but they can even have downright opposing thoughts on the topic. (The same thing sometimes applies to teachers and mentors.) Pertinently, if the topic is personally important to you, and you cannot immediately determine who is correct or more correct, and you cannot immediately decide whom to believe, then you just have to pray for guidance and let go, and let time and experience reveal the truth to you. I once read that “the person with strongest intellect is able to reconcile opposing thoughts without losing himself.” However, in time I have also learned that just as important as – or perhaps even more important than – having a strong intellect is having patience, humility, and faith. Some things come only with time and experience. Indeed, there is wisdom that can come only with age (n.b., if one ages gracefully), and no amount of books or academic degrees can compensate.

• Quality of Reading

“How to Read a Book” by Mortimer Adler is the first book on the list here below because it sets the tone by immediately establishing the fact that reading books is serious business. Prof. Adler advises that when reading a book, one should do so very thoroughly and analytically, practically conversing with it, to the point that it is as if the author has become physically present and has taken the role of an active mentor.

I must emphasize however that one does not have to possess either above average intelligence or advanced academic degrees in order to have a penchant for books. I have my learning difficulties too, which I will elaborate later on when I discuss the book “Study Smart.” I also deliberately wrote this article way before I expect to obtain my PhD, just to show that it is a passion for books that made me predisposed to work on a PhD and not the other way around. After all, it is the growth that matters much more than the credentials. I know of a few people who let obtaining a masterate or a doctorate get into their heads, and therefore end up regressing instead of growing after supposedly having become more educated, which is quite sad and ironic.

• Quality of Practice

In reading many books, the point is not to merely acquire eclectic knowledge. The point is to acquire knowledge, and then based on such knowledge be able to think and arrive at certain beliefs, and then based on such beliefs be able to behave with consistency and integrity. There are people who quote book excerpts and concepts at every opportunity, precisely to indicate that they are well-read, but if you spend enough time with them you soon realize that they are unable to really think much less practice what they preach. (I will however not cite examples of such kind of people here, not even anonymously or by way of clues, because it just isn’t my style and I want to maintain the positive tenor of this article.)

Mentors are also of utmost importance. For instance, my interest in Christian Spirituality and Psychology is such that I couldn’t help but read about them as much as a layman possibly could, but the danger is that there are many quack authors and teachers out there, and therefore a self-taught layman like me could end up being misled, confused, or even turning into a quack myself. However, God has always blessed me by consistently sending me the right mentors and spiritual directors at the right time, in order to guide me and rein me in. For instance, in the realms of Christian Spirituality and Psychology, there have been Fr. Sylvain Rabiller, MEP (a Father of the “Missions Étrangères de Paris” or Foreign Missions of Paris, who was my confessor in Hong Kong), Dr. Jacinto C. Gavino Jr. (an Ateneo trained Pastoral Counselor, former Associate Dean of the Master in Management Program as well as former Associate Dean of Research at the Asian Institute of Management, who has been my mentor since my AIM days), and Fr. Francis Hubilla, OSB, (a Benedictine Father, clinical psychologist, and former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of San Beda College in Manila, who has also been my confessor and mentor).

As far as mentors in Leadership and Management are concerned, I have been equally blessed. For instance, at the Asian Institute of Management, apart from Dr. Gavino, there were also Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban and Prof. Kim Y. Wolf, who each also served as Associate Dean of the Master in Management Program. Let’s just say that I was such handful of a student that all three juggernauts, Profs. Panganiban, Wolf, and Gavino decided to “work on me” throughout my stay at AIM. For instance, I remember being summoned by Dr. Gavino to his office, so that he could advise me that “the burden of communication is on the communicator, not the listener,” because whenever I recited in class I usually ended by turning to my classmates to say “do you get it?” which I didn’t realize sounded arrogant and conceited. Prof. Panganiban on the other hand taught me how to balance my religious scruples vis-à-vis my need to toughen and wisen up in order to deal with office politics; in other words the proverbial “innocent as a dove but shrewd as a serpent” paradigm. Meanwhile, Prof. Wolf taught me that it’s okay to be different, but at the same time she also taught me that sometimes it is valid to sacrifice individual excellence for the sake of team excellence.

I was also blessed with the concerned supervision and support of other AIM professors such as: Prof. Mariano “Ning” S. Lagman and Dr. Errol B. Perez, fellow Lasallians and my professors in Operations Management and Management of Financial Institutions, respectively; Professors Rafael “Bing” J. Azanza and Enrico “Rico” C. Angtuaco, blue-blooded Ateneans, and my professors in Financial Management and Quantitative Decision Analysis; and Dr. Emmanuel V. Soriano, former President of the University of the Philippines, and my professor in Strategic Planning who was one of the first few people to encourage me to pursue a doctorate. (Before I forget, Dr. Gavino taught General Management and Public Administration, Prof. Panganiban taught Marketing Research and Management, and Prof. Wolf taught Organizational Development.) Thank God for mentors! Where would I be without them? I will cite a few other mentors in the course of this article, exceptional individuals who serve as very clear and consistent indications that there is indeed a God and that He is looking after me.

PART 2. PURPOSE AND CLASSIFICATIONS

Knowing the tremendous value of good books and the equally tremendous difficulty of finding them, I wrote this article for the benefit of my pamangkins (n.b., “pamangkin” is the Filipino word for both “nephew” and “niece”), Godchildren, and students. That is, I have listed here below the “Top 30” books, plus a few supplements, which I have found to be the best among the numerous books that I have read in a span of more than thirty years (therefore, 30+ books for 30+ years) so that my pamangkins et al will be well guided when their innate desire for books finally come to the fore, because I am hopeful that the innate desire is there.

Incidentally, I am primarily an accountant and business manager, by training and profession. I actually started writing this article many months ago, and inched my way writing it because I always had to prioritize office work. Whenever opportune I also teach in order to share my key learnings from corporate practice. I have taught Business courses, specifically Corporate Planning, Managerial Accounting, and Human Behavior in Organizations, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Consequently, the books that I would recommend for those courses can be found in the related course syllabi that I have written, and not here. This article is about books that are supposed to help one cope with life in general, well at least from my own personal perspective. As a result, although many of the books listed here are still related to Business, particularly the books on Leadership on Management, the bulk however is on Christian Spirituality. Pertinently, I hope it is understandable that I can only write about Christian Spirituality because I am a Christian, but let me emphasize to my non-Christian readers that I have nothing but respect for all other faiths and religions.

The books are categorized, and the Top 30 books per category, are as follows:

I. Lifelong Learning – Pertains to 2 books or 6.67% of the Top 30 books.

II. Christian Spirituality – Pertains to 11 books or the bulk at 36.67%.

III. Logic and Psychology – Pertains to 5 books or 16.67%.

IV. Leadership and Management – Pertains to 9 books or 30%.

V. Teaching and Communication – Pertains to 3 books or 10%, all-in-all for a total of 100%.

However I did not plan it this way. I only realized the percentage distribution after I was nearly done writing this article. Moreover, apart from the Holy Bible which I rank as number one because it is definitely the most important book in the list, I would like to emphasize that the other twenty-nine books are not ranked. That is, they are all equally important. After all, they pertain to five different topics as aforementioned.

Furthermore, in keeping with my belief that it is best to read several books on a topic, I have supplemented the “Top 30” books by citing several other relevant books. Besides, it will not be a credible “Top 30” if I don’t provide any indication that I have actually read more than just 30 books. I also enclosed in parentheses the month and year (or at least the year) that I purchased and started reading each book, in order to demonstrate that reading is a lifetime exercise and that finding the right book is a matter of chance and serendipity. I similarly enclosed in parentheses the letters “rbf.,” meaning “read by Francis,” to specify that the month and year pertain to when I started reading the book, and not when it was published.

I realize however that not many people are incorrigible bookaholics like my self, and thus a recommended list of “Top 30” books, plus supplemental titles, may be a bit too much. Therefore right before the conclusion of this article I will enumerate five books that one can start reading in this journey that I call “bookaholism.” However, I urge the gentle reader not to scroll down and take a peek at those “Initial 5.” As I earlier said, apart from the Holy Bible which I consider the most important book in the list, the other twenty-nine are all equally important, and therefore it wouldn’t be good to take a peek at the “Initial 5” because it might prematurely undermine appreciation for the remaining twenty-five. Besides, a little suspense can be fun.

PART 3. THE TOP 30 

I. LIFELONG LEARNING

(1)HOW TO READ A BOOK
By Mortimer Adler

The first time I read the title of this book, I told myself that the author must be kidding. Anyone who picks up his book already knows how to read a book. Indeed, when I myself picked up this book I was already in college (n.b., I borrowed it from the library of De La Salle University when I was in the undergrad), and therefore I was sure that I already knew how to read a book.

However, after a quick scan of “How to Read a Book,” I soon realized that I did still have much to learn about the art of reading. As I earlier explained, Prof. Adler advised that it is best that one reads a book so thoroughly and analytically, practically conversing with it, to the point that it is as if the author has become physically present and has taken the role of an active mentor. It is important to thoroughly read even the table of contents, preface, foreword, afterword, footnotes, endnotes, even the author’s bio-data, and so forth. It is important to “talk back” to the book, scribbling your own thoughts on it, and highlighting important passages. Prof. Adler referred to this as “Analytical Reading.”

But of course not every book or written material can be read this way. Therefore Prof. Adler also discussed “Inspectional Reading,” which is the kind of reading that one employs when there is an urgent need to find key data and there is hardly any time to allow for a thorough reading.

Prof. Adler was apparently the ultimate bookaholic; indeed he was known for his own list of recommended books, which he formally referred to as “The Great Books of the Western World.” He even served as Chairman of the Board of Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (rbf. 1985)

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Speed Reading Made Easy
By Nila Banton Smith, PhD

(Please Note: While the foregoing “How to Read a Book” by Prof. Mortimer Adler is the first to be cited among the Top 30 Books, this book on “Speed Reading” by Dr. Nila Banton Smith is the first to be cited among the Supplemental Books.)

This book is a counterbalance to Prof. Adler’s book. “Speed Reading” is of course not as thorough as “Analytical Reading.” However, it is not as cursory as “Inspectional Reading” either, because while “Inspectional Reading” entails quick search for a few key data, “Speed Reading” on the other hand entails reading at optimum speed with optimum absorption and retention of the contents of an entire book.

Every technique has its own appropriate application. “Analytical Reading” is the technique I employed in reading twenty-nine of the “Top 30 Books” herein; the exception is “The 80/20 Principle” by Richard Koch, for reasons that I will explain later. “Inspectional Reading” is the technique I use whenever I need to quickly find key financial or statistical data in a business report. “Speed Reading” on the other hand is what helped me cope with business school, in fact I bought and read Dr. Smith’s book out of sheer necessity – right in the middle of attending the Master in Management program at the Asian Institute of Management. At AIM, on top of reading books and extensive literature on Management, we were required to read and discuss in class at least three case studies each day, and each case study was normally more than 40 pages of single-spaced packed data. (Practically half of the case studies came straight from Harvard Business School, and the other half were case studies written by AIM Faculty to suit the Asian context.) “Analytical Reading” all the time was therefore not feasible, “Inspectional Reading” on the other hand was inadequate, and thus “Speed Reading” had to be the occasional alternative. (rbf. December 1994)

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(2)
STUDY SMART (The Princeton Review)
By Theodore Silver, M.D., J.D.

The author of this book really knew how to “study smart.” After all, he is both a lawyer and a medical doctor.

One of the key learnings that I derived from this book is the fact that different people have different learning styles. Back in college I couldn’t help but often compare myself with my classmates, and marvel at how fast they seemed to absorb the lessons, and despair at my inability to catch up. It was confusing and discouraging, because on one hand I knew I possessed sufficient intelligence, but on the other hand it just didn’t seem like it in class.

As I earlier mentioned, I have my own learning difficulties:

- The first has to do with my ability to listen. If, say, I am listening to a lecture (or speech or homily), and the speaker is supposed to make sense but does not – that is, if he is delivering his or her message in a manner that is not completely fluid and coherent – then my mind shuts down and refuses to listen, and even with all my might I cannot make it listen. It’s as if my mind has a mind of its own and I simply cannot make it listen. Hence, if the lecture matters to me, then I just have to read about it on my own, thus requiring extra time and work on my part to study. There are only two exceptions when this compulsion of refusing to listen does not overcome me. First, when the speaker happens to be a child or my student, because then I don’t expect him to immediately make sense (indeed I am the one who is supposed to make sense and teach him make sense). Second, when the speaker is someone I deeply care about, such as a member of my family, or a very close friend. Because then for me it is the person that matters, more than the message. Love does conquer all I suppose.

- The second has to do with my ability to read. When I read, I do not only do so to understand the material for my self. I also try “to understand how to understand” the material so that I can explain it to others. I need to know what a particular concept actually means and be able to visualize how it actually works in real life. I need checklists, clear and specific steps, and vivid examples of outputs. As you can imagine this makes reading a long and grueling process for me.

I have struggled with these learning difficulties all my life, and I know for a fact that a few people who do not understand how my mind operates have thought of me as a slow learner, and I have often wondered too if I were indeed one.

Study Smart was therefore a greatly liberating read because it taught me that I am not necessarily a slow learner. I just happen to have a different learning style. (rbf. December 1992)

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Intelligence and Personality – Their Assessment and Relationship
By Alice Heim, PhD

This was one of my Dad’s books from college, and if my memory serves me correctly I read this book when I was 12, and pertinently it may have been the first book I read among all the books cited in this list. It thus suggests that I have been a bookaholic for more than 30 years now.

Some of Dr. Heim’s findings may already be considered outdated, but many seem to still hold true. For instance, one chapter delved on the differences between genders as regards learning styles. It suggested that females tend to be more capable of sitting still and studying diligently or doing deskwork for a longer period, while males tend to more easily get restless and thus just have to get up more often. Speaking as an accountant whose profession entails a lot of deskwork, I have observed this to be true. (rbf. 1979)

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The Psychology of Learning Mathematics
By Richard R. Skemp, PhD

Have you ever experienced being asked a difficult question, but for some reasons you managed to instantly come up with the answer by doing a very quick mental computation, and yet when you were asked to explain the details behind your answer it took you considerable effort and time to do so? According to Dr. Skemp, the quick mental computation entails “Intuitive Intelligence,” while the act of explaining the step-by-step solution entails “Reflective Intelligence.” The two types of intelligences are just a couple of the many interesting and useful concepts discussed in the book.

However, for me personally, the key message of the book was the thesis that poor teaching on the part of the teacher, and not lack of intelligence on the part of the student, is usually the cause of inadequate Math skills or sheer Math phobia for the student. Learner-centered coaching, instead of subject-centered teaching, is of paramount importance. Dr. Silver, Dr. Heim, and Dr. Skemp all seem to share this conclusion. (rbf. January 1992)

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Brain Power: The 12-Week Mental Training Programme
By Marilyn vos Savant and Leonore Fleischer

This book was co-authored by two women with reportedly exceptionally high IQs, indeed Ms. Savant was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records under the category of "Highest IQ" from 1986 to 1989. It may be worth pointing out however that high IQ as an author’s credential may not be as compellingly impressive these days as it was decades ago, considering that IQ Tests have already come under question, and considering as well that new theories on intelligence assessment have already emerged such as “Multiple Intelligences” as authored by Howard Gardner, and “Emotional Intelligence” as popularized by Daniel Goleman. Nonetheless, in my humble opinion, the book “Brain Power” by itself is still a relevant and valid guide towards lifelong learning, and therefore is still highly recommendable.

In addition to books, “Brain Power” suggests that there are numerous other instruments for learning. Of course there are newspapers, magazines, films, television, and a host of other instruments. I for one recommend the “National Geographic” when it comes to magazine and television. (rbf. 1991)

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II. CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

(3)
THE HOLY BIBLE (THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE)
A Catholic bible by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine

The Book of Life. It is the one book I most often go back to whenever I need to find myself and regain strength. If there is only one book that I could keep, then of course this would be it.

I know it’s a lot to read therefore at the very least I recommend the Psalms, Proverbs, and the Gospels.

I myself have read it from cover to cover, both Old and New Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation (rbf. February to December 1990). I even re-read the New Testament, thus I have actually already read it twice. However, I recommend to anyone who has also already read the Holy Bible from cover to cover, or hasn’t done so yet but plans to do so, to similarly read “Will the Real God Please Stand Up” by Sister Carolyn Thomas, which I will discuss here below.

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The Vatican II Weekday Missal
Prepared by the Daughters of St. Paul

Some people might not think of this as a “book” in the traditional sense, but it was to me. My copy was actually a Valentine’s Day present from my Mom (i.e., February 14, 1989), which was perhaps serendipitous because I was able to take it with me a few months later, specifically in May 1989, when I flew to Hong Kong where I lived and worked for the next five years. Being by myself and having nothing much else to do but work, and given the very convenient transportation system in the ultra-modern city, I was able to attend Holy Mass with much convenience and frequency. There was even a time when I served as lector during the 7am Mass at the Catholic Center in Central Hong Kong. Consequently, I was able to make the most out of my Missal.

With scriptural texts derived straight from The New American Bible, I enjoyed the Readings, Responsorial Psalms, Gospels, and the commentaries entitled “Meditation for Spiritual Growth.”

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The Vatican II Sunday Missal
Prepared by the Daughters of St. Paul

My Mom gave me the Weekday Missal, and I purchased the Sunday Missal for myself a year later, right there in Hong Kong. Of course I just had to complete the set. However, the fact that I bought it on the eve of another Valentine’s Day (i.e., February 13, 1990) was unplanned and purely coincidental. But then again, at the subconscious level, maybe it wasn’t.

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(4)
WILL THE REAL GOD PLEASE STAND UP: HEALING OUR DYSFUNCTIONAL IMAGES OF GOD
By Sr. Carolyn Thomas, S.C.N., PhD

Especially in the Old Testament, the Bible is full of conditional promises of rewards as well as frightening threats of punishment. Therefore in the hands of an intelligent, eloquent, and charismatic speaker the Bible can be a potent tool for brainwashing and manipulation.

We are very limited creatures, and we project on God our own limitations. But He is not a petty and vengeful God. Indeed He is so loving and understanding that He reaches out to us and talks to us in ways that we can understand, and He patiently waits for us to grow in understanding.

At any rate, if you want to protect your children from the slightest risk of being influenced by charlatans or being tempted to join dubious “religious organizations,” I suggest you get them Sister Thomas’ book. I even more strongly suggest that you read it yourself and discuss it with them. (rbf. November 1996)

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(5)
GIVING YOUR WORRIES TO GOD
By Linus Mundy

The shortest book I have ever read, and yet one of my “Top 30” favorite books of all time. Seven pages only, most people (probably even the author himself) would consider it a mere pamphlet, but in my book it is a book (no pun intended).

Indeed, through the years it is one of the books I go back to again and again for strength and inspiration. (rbf. 1991)

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(6)
THE WAY OF PERFECTION BY ST. TERESA OF AVILA
Translated by Edgar Allison Peers

Among others, this is a Carmelite handbook for contemplative prayer. “I only wish I could write with both hands, so as not to forget one thing while I am saying another,” wrote St. Teresa in the final paragraph of Chapter 20, because she obviously did have so much to teach. There’s nothing like reading the books of the masters, and St. Teresa was most definitely one of them. (rbf. January 1991)

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(7)
THE PERFECT JOY OF ST. FRANCIS
By Felix Timmermans

The only biographical book I have ever read. Needless to say, my namesake is also my personal patron saint. Therefore his life-story was of great interest to me.

Although I don’t possess even a small fraction of his holiness, I can identify with some of his thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It’s too personal a matter for me to elaborate here, but some day perhaps I will do so when I write my own book. (rbf. December 1989)

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The Confessions of St. Augustine
Translated by John K. Ryan

Acclaimed as a most important piece of Catholic literature, but if I were to remain true to myself then I must confess that this is the one book that I read thoroughly only until the middle, and then just scanned the rest of the way. Maybe someday, when I am more spiritually and intellectually mature, I will read it again, and do so thoroughly from cover to cover. (rbf. July 1990)

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(8)
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
By Thomas à Kempis

A must read for someone in religious life or seriously considering religious life. Greatly beneficial as well for any devout Catholic who actively serves in church. But must be read with a grain of salt by someone who operates in the corporate world where self-assertiveness is necessary. (rbf. April 1990)

I was once advised by a close family friend, Dr. Pacita Poblete (former Chairperson of the Psychology Department of St. Scholastica’s College, and my longest-time mentor next only to my own parents) that if in the corporate arena it is natural and necessary for me to assert my self and to compete, when it comes to serving at church it is an entirely different matter. When I was in first year college, I served as Lector during Sunday Holy Mass at our local parish church. Before I took on that responsibility, nobody seemed to be interested in it. But after I started reading at Mass in my capacity as Lector, and after people started to express their appreciation for the way I read, a few individuals began to express interest in becoming Lectors as well, and even started to “compete” with me for reading slots. What was supposed to be an opportunity for service and a source of strength was becoming an opportunity for conflict and a source of distress, so I decided to resign from being a lector and make a quiet exit. Years later, I narrated this event to Dr.Poblete, and she affirmed my decision to leave, because as she told me, “When it comes to serving in church, if there are others who want to serve and they can do so adequately (albeit they are not spiritually mature enough to realize that they are also being selfish about it), then let them. That way, there is more grace.” I imagine that Father Kempis would say the same thing to me.

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How Inscrutable His Ways! Memoirs 1951-1981By Archbishop Dominic Tang Yee-Ming, S.J.

This book was a present from Fr. Sylvain Rabiller, whom as I earlier mentioned was my confessor in Hong Kong. In it, the author wrote about the tremendous persecution and the many years of incarceration that he suffered in China. For me, reading this book evoked the same pious feelings that I had when I read “Of the Imitation of Christ.” Archbishop Dominic Tang was unequivocally a modern day Thomas à Kempis. (rbf. 1990)

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(9)WEEDS AMONG THE WHEAT: DISCERNMENT – WHERE PRAYER AND ACTION MEET
By Thomas H. Green, SJ, PhD

A book on prayer and discernment by way of Ignatian spirituality, “Weeds Among the Wheat” appeared when I needed it most. Searching for God can be a difficult and confusing endeavor, and it greatly helps to have a mentor like Father Tom Green, even if only through his books.

I just turned 22 years old when I was offered a job in Hong Kong, and being an ambitious “young man in a hurry,” I decided to take the job and I flew to Hong Kong in May 1989. It was my first time away from my family, not to mention my first time abroad. (I usually came home for Christmas, but returned to the Philippines for good in November 1993.) The price to pay for the ambition was loneliness, but I managed to convert loneliness to solitude. In order to do so, at the end of each day’s work at the office I would go straight home to seek refuge in prayer and books. I guess it was the Bedan in me, having obtained early childhood education at San Beda College in Manila, a school run by the Benedictine Fathers. “Ora et Labora,” or “Pray and Work,” is their motto.

Incidentally, I must point out that I equally value and highly recommend all the books written by Father Tom. It just so happens that Weeds Among The Wheat was the first that I read among his books, and thus it is the one that I am highlighting here. (rbf. September 1990)

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When the Well Runs Dry – Prayers Beyond the Beginnings
By Thomas H. Green, SJ, PhD

I cannot live without my Rosary. There was even a time that I prayed it so regularly and frequently that by the time I reached the fourth decade I would enter a trance-like state of deep meditation. It became almost addictive though, so much so that I sometimes prayed the Rosary for the sake of the fourth decade experience as much as for the sake of praying itself. However, through his book “When the Well Runs Dry,” Father Tom set me straight with his advice that “the mark of a good prayer life is not abundant consolation but growth in the virtues.” I have been conscious about this advice ever since. (rbf. November 1990)

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Prayer and Common Sense
By Thomas H. Green, SJ, PhD

“God is not found by denying our human loves and needs but by ordering them. As St. John of the Cross puts is, all of creation is good. The problem is not with creatures but with our disordered attachment to them.” This is one of the many gems of common sense that I learned from this book. I found and purchased Prayer and Common Sense on December 8, 1996, serendipitously perhaps because it happened to be the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. A week later, on December 15, I asked Father Tom to sign it for me.

A few years after I read “Weeds Among the Wheat” and “When the Well Runs Dry,” and after returning to the Philippines, I wrote Fr. Tom Green to ask if I may visit him. I just had to meet this holy and brilliant man whose books have guided, inspired, and strengthened me. You can just imagine therefore when, one day, the phone at home rang, and it was Father Tom on the line. I was beside myself with glee, no different from an avid fan who suddenly received a phone call from his idolized rockstar. Father Tom invited me to visit him at the Jesuits’ residence in the campus of the Ateneo De Manila University, and so of course I did, specifically on December 15 as aforementioned. We talked about his books, about prayer, and about life in general. He was very down-to-earth and kind.

Recently however, I learned from the internet that he passed away in 2009. I grieved for a moment, and I said a prayer for Father Tom. Indeed, although most of the authors (and editors) cited in this list are still very much alive and healthy (and I pray to God that they remain so for a long time to come), a handful have already passed. But living or departed, they have already shared their wisdom through their books, books that are treasure chests of wisdom, safely secured legacies that will for always live on.

Some day, if I play my cards right and behave properly, I hope to meet Father Tom again and talk with him some more. I may have met him in person only once, but as far as I am concerned, he was my mentor.

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SPIRITUALITY AND THE GENTLE LIFE
By Adrian Van Kaam, C.S.Sp., PhD

This book truly lived up to its title, because I literally felt my spirit very gently relax and calm down every time I read it. “Gentleness is the readiness to quiet down noise that threatens to cut us off from the voice of the Spirit,” it says. (rbf. 1990)

I usually couldn’t wait to get home from work so I could eat dinner, hit the shower, and get into bed where I would read books like “Spirituality and the Gentle Life” for about an hour until I fell asleep. This was my routine for most of the five years that I lived in Hong Kong. Such was the effect of books on me.

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(11)CELEBRATING THE SINGLE LIFE: A SPIRITUALITY FOR SINGLE PERSONS IN TODAY’S WORLD
By Susan Annette Muto, PhD

One of the most deeply moving books I have ever read. Many pages read like poetry, poetry that evoked a profound sense of peace, joy, completeness, and communion with the Master – in other words solitude. Single or not, I humbly recommend that this book is for you if you desire to develop the skill of solitude, because it is a skill.

Instead of a Bibliography at the end of the book, there were Annotated Suggested Readings at the end of each Chapter, thus you can be sure that she actually thoroughly read and considered every book or material that she cited. Indeed, “Celebrating the Single Life” is what originally inspired me to one day write a collective and annotated review of my favorite books, which now comes in the form of this article. I hope to someday write an entire book, and I hope to do so with the same depth and sophistication as Dr. Muto wrote hers. (rbf. November 1996)

Fr. Adrian Van Kaam and Dr. Susan Muto actually worked together, and in fact co-founded the Epiphany Association (please see http://www.epiphanyassociation.org/ ). If I am not mistaken, Father Adrian was even mentor to Dr. Muto.

Pertinently, if St. Augustine, St. Teresa of Avila, and Father Thomas à Kempis were some the masters of the Christian spiritual life during the earlier centuries, then in my humble opinion Dr. Susan Muto, Father Adrian Van Kaam, Sister Carolyn Thomas, Archbishop Dominic Tang, and Father Tom Green have been some of the masters of the Christian spiritual life in the 20th and 21st centuries.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul
By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

This actually pertains to a series of books, although I have so far read only three out of the many volumes. I bought and started reading the first book in September 1996. Then I started reading the fourth book or the fourth “helping,” which was given to me as a gift, in November 1999. I also bought and read the “Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul” in July 2005. “Chicken Soup” is wonderful bedtime reading because each book consists of short stories that you can finish right before bed. And each story is an inspirational “feel good” story that will cleanse your soul just in time for sleep.

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Songs of Victory – God Tales for Young and Old
By Nil Guillemette

I consider this book as the Catholic version of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” I only wish that “Songs of Victory” had several volumes and editions as well. (rbf. December 1997)

The book was actually a Christmas present fromPr of. Panganiban. Incidentally, apart from being former Associate Dean, she holds the distinction of having been the very first female to join AIM’s illustrious faculty. Moreover, together with her husband and family (please see http://www.cjpanganiban.ph/gallery/as-catholic-lay-leader/ ), Prof. Panganiban is a devoted servant of the church.

Another excellent material (but is not a book) for bedtime reading with its variety of enjoyable and down-to-earth articles is “Reader’s Digest,” which I obviously named this blog after. Previously there was also the “World Executive’s Digest” with its similarly down-to-earth articles that provided very practical and non-highfaluting lessons on management, but unfortunately it probably didn’t have a sufficient reading market and thus has already been phased out.

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THE PRAYER OF JABEZ: BREAKING THROUGH TO THE BLESSED LIFE
By Bruce Wilkinson, PhD

I recommend this book because it provides a fresh and clear perspective on Divine Providence.

My former San Beda MBA student, Mina Edonio, gave me this book. Its essential message is, “ask and you shall receive,” because God is a loving and generous God. (rbf. December 2002)

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(13)HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT AND WANT WHAT YOU HAVE: A PRACTICAL AND SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO PERSONAL SUCCESS
By John Gray, PhD

Like a few of the other books in this list, this book comes with a title that seems a bit too literal and rather “pop psychology.” But do not judge a book by its title, because once you get past the title you will discover a gem of a book. Dr. Gray’s book does not mention the “Law of Attraction” as explicitly as the books by Losier and Byrne (cited here below) do, although essentially that is what it is also all about. However, the concept is discussed in a more God-centric, extensive, and organized manner.

“We need to understand that we are not alone and that there is a higher power assisting us,” is one of the key lessons I learned from this book, and is a statement that I need to frequently remind myself so much so that I have already imbedded it in a screensaver on my computer. (rbf. April 1999)

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Law of Attraction
By Michael J. Losier

An excellent supplemental book to Dr. John Gray’s aforementioned book, because it offers another perspective to the message of “How to Get What You Want” by way of the “Law of Attraction.”

Basically, the “Law of Attraction” can be succinctly defined with the following statement, “I attract to my life whatever I give my attention, energy, and focus to, whether positive or negative.” (rbf. February 2008)

“The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, which I have also read, seems to be the most popular book on the subject. I can understand its popularity because it is shorter and easier to read than “How to Get What You Want,” and has a bit more style and drama than “Law of Attraction.” And of course, it doesn’t hurt that it was significantly endorsed by the queen of American TV, Oprah Winfrey. (rbf. May 2007)

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The Millionaire Next Door
By Thomas J. Stanley, PhD and William D. Danko, PhD

This is obviously not a book on Christian Spirituality, but I put it here to serve as a necessary and more practical perspective to counter-balance the metaphysical perspective of “How to Get What You Want,” “Law of Attraction,” and “The Secret.” This well-researched book about “The Millionaire Next Door” recommends the basic virtues of discipline, hard work, and frugality. It also delves on the reality that many people who appear wealthy are actually not, while your neighbor next door who is very simple and low-key may actually be more loaded than you think.

However, I have one criticism for “The Millionaire Next Door” and its campaign for frugality. Yes it is very true that frugality normally leads to accumulated wealth, no doubt about that. However, people have a tendency to take things to the extreme and therefore it may be wise for Drs. Stanley and Danko to also remind their readers to strike a balance. Let me explain by way of an actual situation. Back in Hong Kong I had a very close friend by the name of John. He also came from the Philippines, and just like me he was also in Hong Kong to do professional work. (However he was about eight years older than I was; indeed I was younger than the average Filipino professional who went to Hong Kong for corporate work). He came from a wealthy family, in fact his parents sent him to a university in the United States where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude at that. But the funny thing about John is that whenever he was at home he always turned all the lights on, and thus his apartment was normally very brightly lit. I asked him why this was so, and he told me that it was because when he was growing up his Father allowed only minimal lighting at their home, to the point that it was actually dark, in order to cut down on electricity and save money. Therefore, growing up with an apparent unfulfilled need for indoor lighting, John vowed that when he grows up and acquires his own home he will always keep it very well lit.

What is the point of accumulating wealth by means of frugality if you or your loved ones feel deprived and develop an inner sense of poverty? Therefore, it is always important to strike a balance. (rbf. 1999)

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III. LOGIC AND PSYCHOLOGY

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STRAIGHT AND CROOKED THINKING
By Robert Henry Thouless, PhD, and Christopher R. Thouless, PhD

Some people will find this article heroic, while others will dismiss it as neurotic; it all depends on their values. That is a reality that I am aware of, and can take in stride, thanks to “Straight and Crooked Thinking.” Originally written by Dr. Robert Henry Thouless, and updated by his grandson Dr. Christopher R. Thouless, this book is a must read. A must read.

Unlike most books that supposedly discuss Logic (particularly those that contain so many confusing and hard-to-recall rules and Latin jargons), the Thouless book is straightforward and practical, meant to be very understandable and actually useful.

Leaders (and aspiring leaders) in business, education, and government would do well to read this book. Many concerns and issues that aren’t supposed to be problems become problems because of crooked thinking. This book is a potent tool against them. (rbf. September 1992)

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(15)
FEELING GOOD: THE NEW MOOD THERAPY
By David D. Burns, M.D.

“Feeling Good,” another book I so highly recommend, is the psychological version of “Straight and Crooked Thinking.” This is precisely that reason that I listed the two books one after the other.

The crux of “Feeling Good” are the Ten (10) Cognitive Distortions, some of which are as follows:

- All-or-Nothing Thinking – Includes perfectionistic tendencies.

- Over-Generalization – Includes thinking that a certain condition or set-up is permanent.

- Labeling and Personalization – Pertains to both self and others.

- Should Statements – Pertains to both self and others (i.e., demands and expectations).

Incidentally, “Feeling Good” has a word for the most positive aspect of “bookaholism.” As I explained earlier, one of the reasons that I wrote this article is to review my cherished books and re-learn all the real important lessons that I have already learned in life, and in the process once again find my self. Pertinently, the word is “bibliotherapy.” (rbf. May 2009)

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(16)OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION: OR HOW TO THINK AND ACT RATIONALLY IN SPITE OF LIFE’S INEVITABLE HASSLES
By Albert Ellis, PhD and William J. Knaus, Ed.D

“Overcoming Procrastination” belongs to the same specie as “Feeling Good,” but it focuses on the problem of procrastination. The primary technique taught in this book is “Rational Emotive Therapy,” which is the solution to procrastination caused by absolutistic demands, self-downing, and Low frustration tolerance. (rbf. January 1985)

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(17)
HAPPINESS IS AN INSIDE JOB
By John Powell, SJ, PhD

“Accepting full responsibility for our actions, including our emotional and behavioral responses to all life situations, is the definitive step toward maturity … Growth begins where blaming ends.” This is one of my key learnings from this book.

When a person becomes an adult, he becomes most responsible for his own happiness and his life’s outcomes. Yes bad things sometimes happen and therefore to a certain extent it is valid to complain about them, and yes bad people sometimes show up and therefore to a certain extent it is valid to blame them. But one cannot indulge in self-pity nor linger in blaming. One has to grow up, dust himself off, forgive, learn, and move on. This is why I quickly and completely move on when it becomes clear that a professional or personal relationship has already run its course. As long as the purpose or mission behind the relationship is fulfilled, then as far as I am concerned “it’s all good.” (rbf. October 1990)

Father John wrote several other books. One of them which I also read was “Fully Human, Fully Alive.” In it I learned that “faith is a matter of experience, more than a matter of reason.” How true. (rbf. May 1995)

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A CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE TO MENTAL WELLNESS
By Richard Johnson, PhD

For a time, when I was much younger, I struggled with reconciling religious beliefs (faith) vis-à-vis psychological rationality (science). This book was a Godsend because it discussed psychological rationality from a Christian perspective, thus helping me move forward in reconciling the two belief systems. Albeit not completely, but significantly enough to be a breakthrough for me. (rbf. May 1991)

One of my favorite passages in the book is the explanation that “those who cannot grasp the idea that loss brings growth will stagnate in self-pity and perpetual anger, forever fixed on the unholy life-wrecking person or event that started their misery.” This statement is very consistent with the concept of maturity as defined in “Happiness Is An Inside Job,” and I cannot agree more.

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The Road Less Travelled
By M. Scott Peck, M.D.

This book so captivated me that I read it for two days straight; stopping only to eat, shower, and sleep. It talked about Discipline, Love, and Grace. (rbf. October 1992)

I was so impressed and inspired by “The Road Less Travelled” that as soon as I was done with it I immediately bought and read one of Dr. Peck’s other books, entitled “A Different Drum.” It was a book on the topics of Community Building and Peace. (rbf. October 1992)

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The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing
By Judith L. Rapoport, M.D.

Anyone who is trained in identifying Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will be able to tell just from reading my blog entries that I do have OCD. However I myself did not understand the difficulty I have been experiencing all my life – which was precisely OCD – until I read this book. It is easier to deal with a particular difficulty if you have a name for it and understand it. It is also easier to accept yourself if you know that your difficulty is not a character flaw, but a condition shared by millions of people throughout the world. (rbf. 1991)

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Driven to Distraction
By Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.

This book is about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and therefore it was a very relevant supplemental read to “The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing.” I do not have ADD, but it’s good to know about it so that I can help identify it in others, and be able to encourage them to seek professional diagnosis and treatment. We don’t only read for ourselves, we also read to become more capable of helping others. (rbf. October 1995)

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IV. LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT

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THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE
By Peter F. Drucker

This book is a classic, and the author is undeniably a genius. As I was reading this book I was constantly amazed at his insights and I could not fathom how he could have come up with all of them. His insights were always very practical and useful, and spot on common sense. The quality and quantity of his insights were simply staggering.

I derived many key learnings from this book, such as:

- The difference between “doing things right (i.e., efficiency)” vis-à-vis “doing the right things (i.e., effectiveness).”

- The reality of not being able to do everything and thus the great value of prioritizing.

- The practical necessity of making the most out of the people you already have working for you (unless of course they are truly inadequate and therefore you just have to let them go), because very rarely (if ever) will you find a person who is a perfect fit.

- And so forth and so on.

Peter Drucker was dubbed as the “Father of Modern Management”, and rightly so. (rbf. March 1994)

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INSIDE THE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
By David W. Ewing

Not to be confused with Mark H. McCormack's “What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School,” or Frances J. Kelly and Heather M. Kelly's “What They Really Teach You at the Harvard Business School.”

“Inside HBS” was authored by a 40-year Harvard Business School faculty member, who also served as Managing Editor of the Harvard Business Review. The book provided many very practical and eye-opening insights.

One such insight is the fact that most professionals will experience once or twice in their careers the predicament of working under a superior that for whatever reason does not provide direction or leadership. In which case, the best thing to do is to simply accept the situation and not belabor it, and then to independently and intelligently determine what one was hired to do, and then to simply do it while keeping his superior in the loop and updated. It’s the mature thing to do, indeed the only thing to do. (rbf. 1995)

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BASIC BLACK
By Cathie Black

Particularly in the field of business management, “experience is the best teacher,” and Cathie Black is living proof. The Chairman of Hearst Magazines, Ms. Black has no MBA, no DBA nor PHD, not even an undergrad training in business. (She has a Bachelor of Arts from the Trinity College in Washington DC.) But in my humble opinion she is just as good or perhaps even better and more worth listening to than many of the celebrated business-school-based “management gurus” of the day. She gives practical and experience-based advice, the kind of advice that really works.

One of the many brilliant and practical advices that she gave was this, “The reality is, if you’re producing the results that your job requires you to produce, whatever happens in the interim – no matter how intense or frustrating it may seem at the time – is just noise.” All throughout her book Ms. Black hits the nail on the head with statements like this. (rbf. September 2008)

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The 22 Biggest Mistakes Managers Make (And How to Correct Them)
By James K. Van Fleet

With a background in military intelligence, Mr. Van Fleet gives very practical advice on the do’s and don’ts of management. I first became aware of the managerial precept that “it is better to be respected than liked” when I read this book. Upon further reflection, I also realized that while “friendship” is unconditional, a “superior-subordinate relationship” on the other hand is very conditional, thus making the two types of relationship difficult to combine, if not downright incompatible. This is why I always maintain professional distance between my self and my boss, and between my self and my staff. (rbf. November 1992)

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(22)
HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONS
By Keith E. Davis, PhD

The work of Management is primarily people management. Therefore although my copy of this book was one-and-a-half inches thick, I still read it from cover to cover as if it were a gripping suspense novel. My Dad actually acquired and read this book as part of his MBA education at the Ateneo, I on the other hand read it in preparation for my MBA education at AIM. (rbf. 1994)

Organizational Behavior at Work
By Keith Davis, PhD and John W. Newstrom, PhD

This is the updated version of Dr. Keith Davis’ classic, which I prescribed to my MBA students at the San Beda College Graduate School of Business. (rbf. 2000)

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Effective Psychology for Managers
By Mortimer R. Feinberg, PhD

The one book in this list which I purchased but is not on my bookshelf anymore, because someone borrowed it but did not return it to me. However it made such an impression on me that I still remembered to include it here.

Mortimer R. Feinberg gives very practical advice on how to manage people. Among them:

- Do not admonish, much less reprimand, a subordinate in front of other subordinates.

- Give criticisms that a staff can do something about. Otherwise it is pointless and you only put him down and end up alienating him. (rbf. 1992)

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THE WISDOM OF TEAMS: CREATING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE ORGANIZATION
By Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith

Upon the advice of Dr. Gavino, I borrowed this book from the AIM library and read it thoroughly, and then we discussed it. I was pretty much an “independent worker” before I entered graduate business school. Realizing the wisdom of teams, and acquiring the desire and starting to grow towards becoming a team player, was perhaps my most essential transformation at AIM. (rbf. 1994)

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(24)THE RATIONAL MANAGER: A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING
By Charles H. Kepner, PhD and Benjamin B. Tregoe, PhD (more popularly known as simply “Kepner & Tregoe”)

This is the professional manager’s handbook on problem-solving. Business buzzwords and management gurus will come and go, but this classic is a library essential for any executive worth his salt. (rbf. April 1994)

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THE 80/20 PRINCIPLE
By Richard Koch

Even if you are skilled at solving problems, it doesn’t mean that you have to solve all problems. It is best to select and prioritize, and build on your own strengths. There is no need to be everything for everyone, and there is no need to spread yourself thin. This is the essential message that I learned from this book.

I earlier mentioned that this is the one book that I did not study using “Analytical Reading.” In stark contrast to what “How to Read A Book” teaches, “The 80/20 Principle” suggests that you don’t always have to read everything written in a book. That is, you usually only need to read the most important contents of the book, which normally comprises only 20%. Therefore, that is exactly what I did with this book. (rbf. September 2008)

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OVERACHIEVEMENT: THE NEW MODEL FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE
By John Eliot, PhD

After discussing all the foregoing Top 25 Books (with 5 more Top Books to go, including this one) and the lessons that they contain, it may seem ironic that I will now endorse this book by Dr. Eliot which offers the following advice, “Try to have just one or two guiding principles, otherwise you will be forced to concentrate more on your philosophy than on performing.”

Having a lot of education behind you has its disadvantages too. You tend to over-analyze, and you tend to be your own worst critic. The “trusting mindset,” which this book teaches, is the antidote.

Indeed, this book was another breakthrough for me. For many years I struggled with the predicament of being unable to measure up to my personal standards of achievement as a professional manager, given the fact that I knew that I already had all the training and experience that I needed. “Overachievement” unlocked the secret for me. There is the saying, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” Although there is a great deal of fallacy in this saying, there is also a grain of truth in it. I propose that the more correct way to put it is as follows, “Those who teach, sometimes can’t, not because they are incapable (in fact they are usually immensely capable), but because they are overly scrupulous and too self-critical, as a result of knowing so much about the right ways and wrong ways of doing things.”

The book is also important for me for many other reasons; one of them is the encouragement that it gave me to pursue multiple career goals. What if you want to be a Full-time Corporate Professional, a Teacher on the side, a dutiful Son and a doting Uncle (i.e., real and full-time occupations themselves, mind you), and in the process also work towards a PhD? What do you do when you want to have it all? “Easy! Go for it all!” is the empowering advice of Dr. Eliot. He further assured me (albeit implicitly, of course) that because of my full-time corporate work then it is but normal and perfectly okay if it takes me longer than most people to obtain my PhD. Truth be told, that assurance gave me peace of mind. Besides, I realized, if I live another 40 years then that still entails decades of productive use of my doctoral training, which isn’t bad. Moreover, there must be some advantage to undergoing doctoral training at my age and with my kind of experience. (rbf. December 2004)

However, I have one caveat regarding “Overachievement.” It is such a powerful book that, in the hands of unscrupulous and unenlightened individuals, it can become a "handbook for despots and dictators." In my lifetime I have twice seen my country ruled by a President who just didn’t want to let go of power. To my mind, they practiced the precepts of overachievement to the extreme, without any sense of ethics and weight of conscience anymore.

(In case you find yourself interested in the book, please note that the first edition, published in 2004, was entitled “Overachievement: The New Model for Exceptional Performance” The second edition, published in 2006, was renamed “Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More.”)

Let me add however that it is not enough to just have a book like Overachievement to read. It is important to have role models, people who demonstrate what it is actually like to be an overachiever.

In my case, apart from the mentors I have already mentioned, three people immediately come to mind:

· Dr. Carmelita I. Quebengco, AFSC. Chancellor Emeritus of De La Salle University (DLSU), former President of the De La Salle University System, and a mentor to many fortunate individuals like myself. My goodness, but what can I say? She has the leadership savvy and managerial sophistication of Cathie Black, the problem-solving acumen of Kepner & Tregoe, the optimistic theology of Sister Carolyn Thomas, and the overachievement streak of John Eliot. I know she sounds incredible, but then again overachievers usually are.

· Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, PhD. Another former President of DLSU, and Dr. Quebengco’s own former boss and mentor. Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Gonzalez . My doctoral dissertation which I am currently working on is about him, entitled “A Phenomenological Case Study on the Enduring Legacies of Brother Andrew Benjamin Gonzalez, FSC, as an Educational Leader and Manager Consecrated to the Lasallian Mission of Human and Christian Education.” (In fact I managed to finalize this article on “Book Reviews” every time I took a break from writing the first few chapters of the dissertation.) Therefore, although I did not work with him in person, by the time I finish my dissertation I think it would be safe to say that he has also been one of my mentors. Indeed, for me personally that will be the proof that his legacy endures.

· Br. Rafael S. Donato, FSC, Ed.D. And yet another former President of DLSU, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Donato . Br. Rafe was my professor in Ethics, and given all this talk about overachievement, remaining grounded in ethics is important to me. Among others, Br. Rafe taught me how to ask the most important questions, such as the “What Ifs?” For instance, “What if I opted to work again abroad and pursue a more lucrative career, instead of staying in the country to personally look after my family?” Not an easy question to answer. But Br. Rafe also taught me how to find my truest answers to my most difficult and important questions, and he taught me how to be at peace with them. That was his legacy to me.

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The Strangest Secret
By Earl Nightingale

Although I read Alice Heim’s “Intelligence and Personality” prior to “The Strangest Secret,” this book by Earl Nightingale (who was touted as the "Dean of Personal Development") was so inspiring that is was actually the first book that “got me hooked” into this lifelong bookaholism.

“The Strangest Secret “ taught me lessons that I have adhered to for the past 30 years. Lessons like:

- “We become what we think about.”

- “Do not compete, create!”

- “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by (making us fear) to attempt.”

- “Action! Ideas are worthless without them.”

- “What my mind can conceive, I can achieve.”

And oh, by the way, this was another book owned by my Dad. Of course. (rbf. 1980)

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(27)WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? A PRACTICAL MANUAL FOR JOB-HUNTERS AND CAREER-CHANGERS
By Richard N. Bolles

This is considered by many as the bible for career management. It is updated yearly, and even has and official online job resource hosted by the author. Please see http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/ .

The book provides many wonderful insights, including a definition of the word “Mission” by Fred Buechner, to wit: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” (rbf. January 2005)

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Stress/Unstress
By Keith W. Sehnert, M.D.

A book on stress management. It contains self-administered tests to determine personality type and stress level. I of course took the tests and my results indicated that I am the most “Type A” kind of person there is, and my stress level is normally way off the charts.

Some of the stress-management practices prescribed in this book, and which I practice, are proper nutrition, prayer and meditation, and a positive relationship with loved ones. I have exercise-induced asthma, therefore I go easy with physical exercise. I also get extremely irritable when I feel hungry (which was a trait shared by my Dad and is also clearly present in my elder brother), therefore I also go easy with diets.

Some people who know me might find it hard to believe that I have read this book and that I am practicing stress management, because they’ve seen me with my occasional asthmatic cough, etc. All I could say is that another man might not only cough, but would probably simply drop dead if he often dealt with the kinds of stress I normally deal with. (rbf. February 1992)

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V. TEACHING and COMMUNICATION

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UNVEILING TEACHING EXPERTISE
By Flordeliza Clemente-Reyes, PhD

Philippine research at its best. Clear, unpretentious, logical, and highly informative.

If you are the kind of person who reads this kind of blog entry from beginning to end, then some time in your life you are most likely to teach. Therefore Dr. Reyes’ book is for you.

Among others, Dr. Reyes’ research revealed that some of the “essential” competencies in teaching are as follows: Content mastery, instructional clarity, non-threatening disposition, and enthusiasm. On the other hand, a positive sense of humor has been determined as a chief “enhancer” for teaching effectiveness. (rbf. October 2002)

Dr. Reyes was one of my most frequent professors in the PhD program (having been my professor in “Management of Research Programs,” “Curriculum Engineering,” “Specialized Curriculum Studies,” and “Instructional Leadership”), and she did not only write about teaching expertise, more importantly she demonstrated it. She also wrote the similarly important “Engineering the Curriculum – A Guidebook for Educators and School Managers” which I believe can serve as excellent reference material for corporate Training Directors as well. (rbf. September 2002)

But my cup overflows because I have also been blessed with other gifted professors from the Educational Leadership and Management Department (ELMD) of De La Salle University, namely:

· Dr Adelaida L. Bago – My other most frequent professor, having been my professor in “Advanced Research,” “Advanced Statistics,” “Management of Academic and Administrative Services,” and “Comparative Education.” Even up to this day, she and Dr. Reyes give me pivotal advice regarding my doctoral dissertation, and thus I can honestly say that I owe much of my doctoral training to the two of them.

· Dr. Tereso S. Tullao Jr. – My former professor in “Economics of Education,” who had the gift of being able to reduce the most complex concepts to their simplest forms, thereby resulting into lectures that were always relevant, practical, and ultimately helpful.

Incidentally, people have asked why I pursued a PhD when I could continue to progress towards professional success by focusing solely on my corporate career. My simple and honest answer is this: Given my passion for learning, it made perfect sense and was practically inevitable that I undergo the most advanced academic training there is in order to optimally develop the gift that I was given. That’s it; that is really all there is to it. Besides, the PhD training has fine-tuned my thinking skills, my values system, and my corporate management skills. Therefore much gained, nothing lost.

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Effective Speech
By Robert T. Oliver, PhD, and Rupert L. Cortright, PhD

I have long realized that one important skill for most leaders is the ability to speak effectively. Thus a book on public speaking, such as this book by Oliver and Cortright, can really come in handy. (rbf. 1982)

I suggest however that you find your own updated version, and by another author if necessary, because my copy (once again) belonged to my Dad, and it was actually (once again) one of his books in college. Nonetheless I use it to this day because it contains lessons and exercises that help me prepare whenever I need to speak in front of people. I get very easily tongue-tied, perhaps because my thoughts usually race faster than I can speak them. My Dad, by the way, was of course my first coach in public speaking. In college, I also got some serious speech coaching from Dr. Eduardo T. Deveza, who for a time served as the DLSU Faculty Association’s President, and who also happened to be my Dad’s uncle.

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Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
By the American Psychological Association (APA)

This is the book I am currently reading (i.e., August 2010).

One does not necessarily have to be writing a masteral thesis or a doctoral dissertation in order to be interested in this book. Anyone who is in the business of preparing reports, including technical reports containing statistical and financial data, can benefit a lot from this book. As an accountant, I have been trained to prepare financial reports in a manner that should make them understandable to end-users. The APA Publication Manual is helping me further fine-tune my pertinent skills.

But there are a couple of other prominent style books, although I myself have not read them yet. They are “Words Into Type” by Marjorie E. Skillin and Robert Malcolm Gay, and the “Chicago Manual of Style” by the University of Chicago Press Staff. Anyone interested in improving their writing skills but who might not be interested in the APA Style book may opt for these two other books.

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HOW TO TALK SO KIDS WILL LISTEN AND LISTEN SO KIDS WILL TALK
By Adele Faber, M.Ed., and Elaine Mazlish

This is the kind of book that you read for the benefit of the people you love, not only your children (or in my case, my nephews and niece), but for everyone else, including your own parents, siblings, friends, and even your professional colleagues. Among other things, this book imparts practical lessons on how to consistently treat the people you love with kindness and respect. I have known quite a few overachievers who end up alienating their family. What is the point of being capable and successful if you end up hurting the people you love?

It is important to love the people that you love. Love however is much more than being merely a matter of emotion; love is a skill, and through their book Ms. Faber and Ms. Mazlish teach a great deal of the skill. (rbf. November 1993)

The tandem also authored “Siblings Without Rivalry” (rbf. October 2000), as well as “How To Talk So Kids Can Learn” (which I listened to by way of its audio version in cassette tapes, in September 2004).

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How to Win Friends and Influence People
By Dale Carnegie

I am a bit of a recluse, and some people might even say that I am aloof, that they might find it hard to believe that I have actually read this classic (haha!) However, I have in fact read this book and I do practice some of its principles, but not to literally “win” friends or “influence” people. For me, friendship, true friendship, is a matter of discovery, a gradual unfolding. And unless you are running for election, it is best to just be yourself. As long as you are not hurting or aggravating other people, it is Okay to just be you. (Yes, I have read and enjoyed “I’m Okay, You’re Okay” by Thomas A. Harris, too.)

But having said that, there are indeed a few gems of wisdom that I have picked up from Carnegie’s book, and which I try to practice up to this day. “Give honest and sincere appreciation” is one of them. “Be a good listener” is another. (rbf. 1981)

And once again, the copy of this books which I read was a copy that belonged to my Dad. Dad was a salesman and he acquired and purchased quite a few books to help him become better at his job (and indeed he became a top salesman, and later on put up his own company). His books on salesmanship included “How to Win Friends” as aforementioned, as well as “The Knack of Selling Yourself” by James Thomas Mangan, which I also read…of course. (rbf. 1982)

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Human Relationship Skills
By Richard Nelson-Jones, PhD

Now this is the more mature and sophisticated book on “how to win friends and influence people,” if I may say so. Indeed, it Includes a chapter on “Defining and Asserting Yourself,” something that you won’t find in Dale Carnegie’s book. I highly recommend it. (rbf. 1991)

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How To Read A Person Like A Book
By Gerard I. Nierenberg and Henry H. Calero

It was 1981, and we as a family attended Holy Mass one Sunday, and right after doing so we went shopping for groceries and then visited a bookstore. It happened to be February 15, 1981 that day and thus the previous day was Valentine’s Day, and therefore my Mom got me “How to Read a Person” as a Valentine’s Day present from both her and my Dad.

I loved reading my Dad’s books which, apart from his salesmanship books, were mostly business management books from his undergrad and MBA studies. (By the way, my Dad’s name was “Francisco, Sr.,” and he went by the nickname “Frank.”)

On the other hand, I couldn’t appreciate my Mom’s books as much because they were books on Pharmacy. But she knew I loved books therefore she bought me quite a few of them – From a single volume “Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language,” to a thirty volume “Encyclopaedia Britannica.” (My Mom’s name is “Maria Nelda,” and she goes by the nickname “Nel.”)

Speaking of Mom and Dad, they were of course my very first and most important mentors. Among many other things, Dad taught me how to sing (well, sort of), and Mom taught me how to play the piano. I recall it vividly, I was about three years old and Dad and I sang to each other Frank Sinatra’s “Let Me Try Again.” I don’t know about the singing skill per se, but the song somehow proved prophetic because I turned out to be the kind of person who doesn’t easily give up and just keeps trying again and again (hahaha!). (My favorite singers also happen to be Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Bublé, contemporary artists who both emulate the musical legend that is Sinatra.) My Mom on the other hand, as I said, taught me how to play the piano. I didn’t go far with the piano lessons because it wasn’t my cup of tea, and my parents never forced me to learn anything. But the piano lessons left me with an ear for music, and I’d like to think that they have at least translated into a melodious and harmonious style of writing.

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How to be a People Helper
By Gary R. Collins, PhD

In my works as teacher and manager, I often have to counsel students and subordinates. I thought it best therefore to learn some practical techniques in counseling. I am of course not a professional counselor and will not feign to be one. But as far as non-professional counseling skills are concerned, this so far is the best book that I have found on the subject. (rbf. September 1996)

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(30)NASTY PEOPLE – HOW TO STOP BEING HURT BY THEM WITHOUT BECOMING ONE OF THEM
By James J. Carter, Psy.D.

Oftentimes, the last thing to do when confronted by a nasty person (otherwise known as a bully or “invalidator”) is to engage him in a logical discussion or debate, for the simple reason that he actually does not care to be logical – That is, he just wants to belittle and upset you. This is my key learning, my pivotal “a-ha” moment, from “Nasty People.” Needless to say, the book prescribed various techniques to deal with bullies without becoming one of them.

Pertinently, many years before I even read the book, I was taught by Dr. Poblete that a key technique in dealing with nasty people is to simply “detach but be civil.” The Rev. Karol Miso (of St. John's Cathedral, the Diocesan Cathedral of the Anglican church in Hong Kong) also taught me that sometimes the best way to assert yourself is by not asserting yourself. Meaning, just keep your distance and refuse to play the game of one-upmanship.

But apart from imparting lessons on how to deal with bullies and invalidators, “Nasty People” emphasizes the value of not becoming one of them. Indeed, I think that the hallmark of true strength is the ability to deal with all sorts of crooks and shady characters (that one will inevitably encounter in life) without becoming jaded and hardened so as to become one of them. I know of a lot of people who seem so strong and capable, but who have actually been defeated by the tests of life that they have become bullies or crooks themselves. In my humble personal opinion, more than a matter of capabilities and strong will, true strength is a matter of character. Take for instance the Philippines, the country is right now in bad shape despite the fact that we have no shortage of highly educated technocrats and world-class intellectuals. The problem is that some of the brightest people are actually the crooks themselves. Truth be told, this is where spirituality plays a significant role. Be it by way of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and any of the other faiths and religions, it is through mature spirituality that one can remain rooted in what is good. It is difficult to survive the difficulties and evils of this world without “crossing over to the dark side” if one has no belief and hope in a Higher Being or at least a higher purpose. (rbf. April 1995)

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The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense
By Suzette Haden Elgin, PhD

This supplemental book is the last book on the list. Finally!

Written by someone with a PhD in Linguistics, I actually found this book a bit technical. However with a bit of hard work I still managed to find gems of wisdom – practical techniques – on how to diffuse verbal attacks. One of the basic techniques is to find and emphasize points of agreement, and to ignore and de-emphasize points of disagreement. Sometimes easier said than done, but something to keep in mind nonetheless. (rbf. September 2008)

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So there! my “Top 30” books so far, plus several supplemental books, and a few other books mentioned in passing, adding up to around seventy. It may be evident however that most of them can be found in the Reference and Non-fiction sections of a bookshop. There is no “Noli Me Tangere” by Jose Rizal or “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison. I enjoy a great novel, I do, and I enjoy short stories even more which is precisely why I still managed to include “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and “Songs of Victory” in the above list. But the simple and honest truth as to why great novels are not cited here is that I am neither competent nor confident to write about them. Besides, there is the Palanca Award for Philippine literature, the Pulitzer Prize for American literature, the Booker Prize for English literature, similar literary awards in almost every country or region, and the Nobel Prize for world literature. I myself would just read what they recommend.

There are a few other books that I wish I could also cite, but I could not recall their exact titles, much less the names of their authors, because these are the books that I merely borrowed from (and eventually had to return to) either a library or a friend. For instance:

· There is this book about Mentors, which I borrowed from the personal library of Engr. Noel Risos, a fellow Lasallian (i.e., DLSU alumnus). He and his wife Mrs. Carols Risos, and their children, are very close friends of my family, in fact I did my Master in Management practicum in the company owned by “Tito Noel” (n.b. “Tito” is the Filipino word for “uncle”). Anyway, as I said the book is about Mentors, and it taught me about the concept of “Mentors for the Moment.” That is, one can have several mentors throughout the course of his life, with each one appearing at the right time and for the right reason, and staying only for as long as necessary – sometimes for a mere season, sometimes for a lifetime.

· There is also this book about Friendship, which I borrowed from the Rafael Salas Collection of the Asian Institute of Management library. It drove home the point that friends are merely human beings, with feet of clay. Therefore one way or another, one time or another, it is inevitable that our friends will let us down. For me personally, it becomes particularly disappointing and heart-breaking when the friends who let me down are the ones whom I have often significantly helped in the past. “Where are they when I am the one who needs them?” is the question that nags. It is the question that tempts me to not anymore be as helpful in the future. But before long I am once again reminded that I have to be mature enough to understand and forgive, particularly because I too am merely human, one who also makes lots of mistakes and often does not even realize it, and one who inevitably lets his own friends down. More importantly, I am also always reminded that I have been blessed with mentors who have always helped me without expecting and getting anything in return; mentors who have also always been patient, understanding, and forgiving towards me, because God knows I am not at all an easy mentee to deal with. Therefore it is but right that I “pay it forward,” that I pass on the patience, kindness, forgiveness, and understanding.

Speaking of still being merely human with feet of clay, to be perfectly honest I am aware that the authors of a couple of books I cited above were the recipients of significant criticisms or even controversial accusations. I’ve done my research on all of the authors whose books I have just recommended, pertinently I may be optimistic but I am not naïve. However, it doesn’t diminish my high regard for their books; the books stand on their own merit because the messages they contain remain true, notwithstanding their authors’ imperfect humanity. Besides, the criticisms were subjective, and the accusations were never proven. More importantly, authors are merely instruments through whom God conveys His wisdom, apart from that they remain merely human and are thus still prone to mistake. I myself sooner or later may do something foolish or irresponsible after I post this article on my blog, but it wouldn’t necessarily make this article any less truthful. Indeed even as I write this article I am dealing with my own hang-ups and imperfections; if I waited until I have attained a state of near perfection before I write this article then I may never get to do so. After all, I am also still only human, and this article is merely an expression of my best self which – try as I may – I couldn’t possibly manifest all the time.

PART 4. THE INITIAL 5

Meanwhile, as I earlier mentioned, recommending thirty books all at once may be a bit too much. Not because people are incapable of reading, most certainly not, but because most people nowadays are just too busy with many competing priorities and for that reason may find it hard to squeeze reading into their already jam-packed schedules. Therefore to make it less daunting, here are the five books that I would recommend as starters, particularly to my beloved pamangkins, godchildren, and students.

· First – The Holy Bible (The New American Bible). It is best to be realistic if we want to expect actual results. Therefore, realistically speaking, if you are not inclined to read the Bible from cover to cover, both the Old and New Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation, then may I suggest at least the Gospels, Psalms, and Proverbs. However, if you are inclined to read the Bible from cover to cover, then please bear in mind that there is no rush. Feeling that you have to finish reading the Bible fast or according to a self-imposed deadline will only add to the feeling of being overwhelmed, and will consequently even reduce the likelihood that you will finish reading the book. There’s nothing wrong with reading it over a span of one year or two, like I said no rush. Then read parts of it again and again throughout the course of your lifetime. Why not? After all it is the Book of Life. In my case, my copy of the Bible has nearly 1,800 pages, it is approximately 3 centimeters in thickness, 11 centimeters in width, and 16 centimeters in length, and is printed using small but still readable font (n.b., I am unable to specify the font size and type), and it took me more than 10 months to read it from cover to cover. To this day I re-read parts of it again and again as I need, and will do so for the rest of my life. Incidentally, I would also like to emphasize to fellow Christians that, although the Bible is one of the greatest pieces of literature, it is not something that you read merely for its literary merit. Reading it is a spiritual exercise, and therefore it is best to do so with prayer and contemplation.

· Second – "Will the Real God Please Stand Up" by Sr. Carolyn Thomas, C.S.N., PhD. This is just around 70 pages, and once you pick it up and start reading it you are most likely going to immediately enjoy it. Thus it will be a breeze.

· Third – "Feeling Good" by David D. Burns, M.D. If “How to Talk so Kids Will Listen” is a book on how to love others, then “Feeling Good” is a book on how to love yourself, which is why it comes third in this initial list. However, sometimes when a book seems a bit thick and overwhelming, the first thing I do is give it a quick scan and select the chapters that most interest me. If I start reading these chapters, I am bound to find what I seek (or usually even more), and thus I become motivated to finish the rest of the book. This is how I read “Feeling Good,” and it’s an approach that others might like to consider.

· Fourth – "How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. A very easy read, in fact the narratives are supplemented by comic strips. It just can’t get any easier than that.

· Fifth – "Overachievement" by John Eliot, PhD. I read it in the same manner that I read “Feeling Good.” I started reading the chapters that interested me most, and consequently I managed to read the book very thoroughly and in its entirety.

I sincerely hope that my pamangkins, godchildren, and students would some day read the five aforementioned books. But if these five books spur them on to read at least 10 more of my Top 30, therefore for a total of 15 or half, then I would feel much happier and more fulfilled. But if they actually read all 30 (even if only through speed reading), and are even inspired to start with their own lifetime quest for good books, then I would be the happiest uncle, godparent, and teacher in the world.

I also hope that this article will prove to be one of my legacies and bequests to my three pamangkins, namely Miguel, Mariz, and Luiz. Because through it, I hope to further strengthen each one’s character and self-image, by instilling in each of their minds the fact that the propensity for reading and God is in their genes.

PART 5. CONCLUSION

I have borrowed and purchased books, alternatively I have also lent and given many away. Indeed, let me share with you an anecdote. It was 1991, I was living in Hong Kong, and I visited a friend’s house. I was seated by myself in the living room while my friend attended to something, and I found on the coffee table a book entitled “Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?” I instantly felt very sorry for my friend, and I said to myself, “Tsk, tsk, what’s up with him? Is he going through such a low point in his life that he felt the need to buy and read a book like this? He probably feels like a big a loser, poor guy.” I picked up the book, and flipped through the pages. But then I found the contents to be oddly familiar, hmmm. I then turned to the inner front page, saw the name of the author to be similarly familiar, John Powell, S.J. Then, there it was, my own name as well. Puzzled, I asked, “Huh? How did my name get in here?” Upon closer examination, I further realized that my name seemed to be written with a handwriting that was similar to mine. Believe it or not, I still didn’t get it, it just didn’t sink in right away. Then it finally dawned on me; as it turns out, it was one of the many books that I originally purchased for my self, but have given away. Let’s just say that I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, it was pretty confusing. And needless to say it was the most introspectively embarrassing moment of my life.

Anyway, writing this article was a lot of fun. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. It was extremely therapeutic, edifying, and gratifying. I hope you had fun reading it too. Some day, I will write my own book. Indeed I already have some of the materials, and even the title. However I prefer not to specify the topic of the book yet, but suffice it to say that it will entail logical thinking, spirituality, practical solutions, and peaceable understanding. I know that writing that book will be a lot more work; this article would be a walk in the park by comparison. But by God’s grace I hope that writing it will be even more therapeutic, edifying, and gratifying. I similarly hope that its readers will find it worthwhile and beneficial.

Books are a great hobby, a positive addiction, and wonderful companions in life. However, let me close by saying that despite the hundreds of books that one may have read, despite all the knowledge and analytical prowess that one might possess, despite all his education, experience, and innate talents, sometimes at the end of the day he will still be unable to find the answers to his questions, or produce the solutions to his problems. Indeed, sometimes not only is he unable to find the solutions to his problems, but he himself may have made the mistakes that caused the problems in the first place, after all he is still only human, and even a wise man falls seven times a day. In which case, his only recourse is to kneel in humility before God, to ask for help, grace, guidance, and forgiveness if need be. As Linus Mundy explained in “Giving Your Worries to God,” there comes a point when, after you have already reached the bottom of the last pile of psychology and religion and self-help books that you can consult, you just have to let go and lift yourself up to God. Time and again I have experienced this to be true. Because it is still He who is all-knowing, and we are all but His creations and instruments.

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