Read: Kahn's A Beginner's Guide to Charting Financial Markets

Author: Michael Kahn
Title: A Beginner's Guide to Charting Financial Markets: A practical introduction to technical analysis for investors.

In an endeavour to understand technical analysis so as to have accesss to a tool that could be used to aid in investment decisions, I borrowed this book from the public library.

It is interesting how technical analysis is based solely on data generated by the market and by the actions of the people in the market.

One learning points that I have gained from the book is that technical analysis focuses on how stock prices are moving and how powerful the moves are. Essentially, the technical analysis is achieved by analysing price and volume, and the derivative measures, to ultimately measure supply and demand.

A systematic introductory book to read to appreciate technical analysis. I appreciate the illustrations made by the examples given in the book. At the same time, I felt there were something critical that I could be missing to fully gain sufficient confidence in reading the charts.

Read: David Hawkins' Power vs Force

Author: David R. Hawkins

Title: Power vs Force

Publisher: Hay House

This was a book recommended by one of my friends who so generously lent me the book to read.

A book that builds on applied kinesiology and behavioral kinesiology. I have found it profound and interesting to read. It took me less than a week to read this book.

Do have a good read of this book.

The Foreword in this book is already very inviting, "Imagine - what if you had access to a simple yes-or-no answer to any question you wished to ask? A demonstrably true answer. Any question... think about it."

Read: Secrets of Happy Couples

Title: Secrets of Happy Couples
Author: Kim Olver
Publisher: InsiderOut Press, Chicago, Illinois

This book is dedicated to those who want more love in their lives.

The author is a licensed clinical professional counsellor, life coach, founder of Coaching for Excellence LLC and creator of the InsideOut Empowerment process. This book was part of the results of the author spending two years compiling the research and survey data for "Secrets of Happy Couple". This book is about the secrets of happy, satisfied, and committed couples who had been together at least ten years.

So in essence, self-love is the secret ingredient to happy, thriving relationships.

In this book, the author referred to Dr William Glasser's "Eight Lessons for a Happier Marriage". These Healthy Relationship Habits are:
1. Listening
2. Supporting
3. Encouraging
4. Trusting
5. Respecting
6. Accepting
7. Negotiating differences

Yet this book is more than the Eight Healthy Relationship Habits. It sheds light on what the empirical data says about the secrets of happy, satisfied and committed couples. I was reading this book from a professional angle. Yet it is quite a good book to read for any layperson who's married or single, and wants to learn more about healthy relationships.

I am glad that I have finally completed my read of this book after putting it on a long one-year halt in between.

Read: Turning Goals into Results

Source: Amazon.com

Title: Turning Goals Into Results: The Power of Catalytic Mechanisms
Author: Jim Collins
Publisher: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation


A book the size of a note-book, this book is part of the Harvard Business Review series where each volume contains a groundbreaking idea that has shaped best practices and inspired countless managers around the world.

The catalytic mechanism is a codified term that Jim Collins named as 'the crucial link between objectives and performance... They make big, hairy, audacious goals reachable.' This term came out from his observation and study of a simple yet extremely powerful managerial tool that has helped organisations turn goals into results.

One question that one could ask in the formulation of a 'catalytic mechanism' could be: "What would it take to actually reach an ambitious goal?"

In this book, the author describes the various characteristics of a catalytic mechanism. He also illustrates examples of how catalytic mechanisms have been used to achieve big, hairy, audacious goals.

In summary, a catalytic mechanism share five distinct characteristics. These are:

1) Produces desired results in unpredictable ways

2) Distributes power for the benefit of the overall system, often to the great discomfort of those who traditionally hold power.

3) "Has teeth", it puts a process in place that all but guarantees that the vision of the organisation will be fulfilled.

4) Ejects viruses, i.e. it helps organizations to get the right people in the first place, keep them, and eject those who do not share the company's core values.

5) Produces an ongoing effect

In this book, the author also provides a few general principles based on his research that supports the process of building catalytic mechanisms effectively. These are:
- Don't just add, remove
- Create, don't copy
- Use money, but not only money
- Allow your mechanisms to evolve
- Build an integrated set

This book is an accessible read to expand one's perspectives on what it would take to reach an ambitious goal with a long time frame. Check it out: https://hbr.org/product/turning-goals-into-results-the-power-of-catalytic-mechanisms-harvard-business-review-classics/10099E-KND-ENG

Read: Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

Title: The Fountainhead
Author: Ayn Rand
Publisher: Signet

In this fiction book, the author, Ayn Rand, explores and presents her vision of the following themes:
1) Independence: Thinking for oneself, Judging for oneself, Making Decisions based solely on one's own thinking and judgement.

2) Second-handers

3) The morality of individualism

4) Creativity

5) Central purpose: In The Fountainhead, the protagonist, Howard Roark is motivated by the intellectual challenge of solving architectural problems and the artistic drive to create structures of beauty.

It appears that the theme of independence, individualism, creativity and central purpose could be related to the concept of "integrity" which was stated in page 313 of this edition as "the ability to stand by an idea". The protagonist, Howard Roark, was a representation of the 'ideal man' and a person of integrity.

I learnt that the author has eventually used the title to highlight that it is firsthand thinking of history's great creative minds that is the fountainhead of human progress. A book that urges me to think about what could the ideal man be and what it means to think independently for oneself.

SparkNotes Editors.(2002) SparkNote on The Fountainhead. has put up summaries and analysis of The Fountainhead. These can be available here: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/fountainhead/

Read: Mycoskie's Start Something That Matters

Title: Start Something That Matters
Author: Blake Mycoskie
Publisher: The Random House Publishing Group.

When I was at Booktique looking for a book as a gift to one of my friends, Anthony of Booktique gave me several recommendations. Out of which, Mycoskie's "Start Something That Matters" stood out as the perfect gift. Anthony of Booktique shared with me that this was the book that had inspired him very much. To find out more, visit Booktique and read about the story of how Booktique started out.

Back to the book, after deciding to get the book for my friend, I felt I could get a copy too for myself. So I did.

An accessible read. Blake Mycoskie has a great gift of communicating his ideas and life experiences in simple and clear fashion. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to start something that matters, no matter how small or huge this 'something' could be.

The book weaves in Blake Mycokie's TOMS story and I could not help but want to buy a pair of TOMS from my local store if I could find out soon enough.

The book is weaved together by eight different chapters:
1) The TOMS story
2) Find your story
3) Face your fears
4) Be resourceful without resources
5) Keep it simple
6) Build trust
7) Giving is good business
8) The final step

While I was about to share which would be my favourite chapters, I realized that each chapter was a gift for me to deepen my understanding of how to start something that matters. I have enjoyed each chapter. A book to read and to keep.

Places: Good OH' Holland Village 2017

Holland Village. the HDB flats.

Please join me to explore one of Singapore's Oldest Bohemian Enclave, Holland Village, at the Good OH' Holland Village event. To find out more, please visit: Places: Good OH' Holland Village 2017



OH! Holland Village

Saturdays and Sundays

4 - 19 Mar 2017

Tours run from 4 p.m.

$25 for three 45-minutes tour

http://ohopenhouse.org/holland-village/

Read: Sonia Choquette's Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose

Title: Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose: A Channeled guide to Why You Are Here
Author: Sonia Choquette
Publisher: Hay House (2008)

An accessible and clear book to read. This book is a book channeled by Sonia Choquette's spirit guides, The Three Bishops, as well as Joachim and the Emissaries of the Third Ray.

A loving book to read. The guides state that Earth is "soul school" and that we are here to master the basic 22 soul lessons in order to fulfill our purpose.

The soul lessons are as follow:
Learning to Use Your Creative Power
Soul Lesson #1: You are a Divine Immortal Being
Soul Lesson #2: You are a Co-creator with the Divine
Soul Lesson #3: Creation Begins with Thought
Soul Lesson #4: Engage Your Feelings
Soul Lesson #5: You Create in Pictures
Soul Lesson #6: Live in the Present
Soul Lesson #7: Divine Energy Flows Through You, Not from You.
Soul Lesson #8: Refine Your Reason
Soul Lesson 9: Follow Your Inner Voice
Soul Lesson #10: Open Your Heart
Soul Lesson #11: Detach

Working with Divine Law
Soul Lesson #12: All Is in Divine Order
Soul Lesson #13: Reverse Your Perceptions
Soul Lesson #14: Accept Death
Soul Lesson #15: Embrace Life's Tests
Soul Lesson #16: Temper Your Ego
Soul Lesson #17: Address Your Mistakes
Soul Lesson #18: Actively Meditate
Soul Lesson #19: Love Your Body
Soul Lesson #20: Regenerate Your Soul
Soul Lesson #21: Shatter Negative Patterns
Soul Lesson #22: Waste No Time

This is a book that I will be pleased to read again or to receive as a gift.

Read: Mel & Joe: I play and Sing

Title: Mel & Joe: I Play & Sing
Authors: Mel & Joe Ferdinands
Publisher: Candid Creation Publishing, 2011

This was a thoughtful gift of a book from a friend. In essence, the book celebrates a musical journey of Mel & Joe Ferdinands in Singapore spanning 40 years.

The book began with narrating the humble beginnings of Mel & Joe. Music has been a major part of the Ferdinands' family. A book is about Mel & Ferdinands' love for music, and simply, Love.

For a copy of a book, please visit:
http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.aspx?SBNum=052613

Read: Sonia Choquette's Trust Your Vibes At Work, and Let Them Work for You

Title: Trust Your Vibes At Work, and Let Them Work for You
Author: Sonia Choquette
Publisher: Hay House, Inc.

This is an interesting and inspiring book to read. I had borrowed a copy of the book from the local library. I will love to receive a gift of this book one day.

One of the ideas that stood out was that on broadcasting our love, and we will attract our heart's desire.

For more information on books by Sonia Choquette, please check out: https://soniachoquette.net