en-US Sun, 18 May 2025 22:34:53 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7580954115 Sun, 18 May 2025 22:34:53 -0700 /review/show/7580954115 Deepak gave 5 stars to Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism (Hardcover) by Sarah Wynn-Williams
[Written with the support of GenAI]

Sarah Wynn-Williams' "Careless People" is a shocking insider account of her time at Facebook, revealing a corporate culture marked by callousness and unchecked power. The book doesn't shy away from depicting the stark realities behind the social media giant's rise.

Wynn-Williams recounts a string of disturbing episodes, from a New Zealand Prime Minister's visit to Facebook HQ, where engineers were deemed too important to be disturbed, to Sheryl Sandberg's reported anger issues and a bizarre suggestion for an organ donation marketplace. The author also details being asked to act as a "body" in Korea, risking arrest.

The book exposes Mark Zuckerberg's blatant disregard for community guidelines, seemingly to appease governments and maintain Facebook's reach, as well as the company's alleged tax evasion via Ireland. Personal moments, like Zuckerberg's casual remark about potentially missing his child's birth, are juxtaposed with the platform's significant role in the Facebook election and its close ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

"Careless People" further delves into Facebook's darker side, including the targeting of emotionally vulnerable teenagers, its inadequate response to the Myanmar genocide and the proliferation of hate speech, and instances of sexual harassment. Wynn-Williams paints a disturbing picture of a company prioritizing growth and influence over ethical considerations, leaving readers to ponder the true cost of connectivity. ]]> ReadStatus9411031304 Sat, 10 May 2025 22:31:14 -0700 /review/show/7559500580 Deepak wants to read The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
]]> Review7356286783 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:49:23 -0800 /review/show/7356286783 Deepak gave 4 stars to Before We Say Goodbye (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #4) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
This is the first book in the series that I have picked up. Though not sequential (in the series), the template of stories and the nature of writing makes the concept easy to follow.

The concept? There is a cafe where you can go back into your past. For a limited time, and you cannot change the present. Plus some more rules and restrictions.

Four disconnected stories - but all beautifully told stories - of love, connection and care.

This book makes a strong case for picking up another one in the series. “Before the coffee gets cold� is already sitting on my bookshelf. ]]> Review7285524183 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 23:57:51 -0800 /review/show/7285524183 Deepak gave 5 stars to Focus on What Matters: A Collection of Stoic Letters on Living Well (Kindle Edition) by Darius Foroux
One of those books that I will come back to re read later in life. Key notes from the book:

If you dont have a higher purpose, make the pursuit of knowledge your purpose.
Learning always creates positive energy. And it is okay if you do not apply all that you learn, because you will never know when you will end up applying the learning.

Seize to hope, seize to fear

Avoid looking into the future for too long

Operate from a place of equanamity

Focus on a personal project that you control (not others, not luck). Writing could be one; fitness could be another.

Dont try to have too many focus areas. Eg if work, family and fitness are focus areas, you might want to let go of something else like a rich social life.

Unhealthy mind - constantly worried about things outside of its control, inconsistent - randomly happy one day and sad another, insecure. Critical to have a mind that is composed irrespective of the situation.

Dont do things that do not align with your inner self.

Choose not to be harmed, and you will not be harmed. It is the stories we tell ourselves that we can control.

Be the same person in every situation. This is just a liberating way of living.

Make your own decisions. Take inputs from others, but do not let others decide for you.

Dont get attached to your plans. When something unexpected happens, be flexible and adjust.

Happiness = chase learning, be in the pursuit of learning.

Just take the next step. Dont fixate on the finish line.

Dont spend all your time between “here� and “there�. Be in the present, enjoy the today.

If you want to be successful at work, you need to pay a price. Do not begrudge this price to pay, or else you will be at inner conflict with yourself. And if you decide not to pay this price, do not expect the outcome either - that will be foolish.

Celebrating other people’s success than being jealous of it - this is a super underrated and overlooked quality.

Being in a constant state of dissatisfaction is the key reason for unhappiness. We forget that we also won the ovarian lottery - being born in a decent country / decent family etc

Practice precision - writing >> speaking

Assess at the end of the day - did you make the most of your day? Physical fitness, reading, work etc etc. If the answer to this question is yes, you are on the right path.

Keep your stoic approach to yourself. That way you do not piss off other people.

We should not be impatient. Impatience makes us treat people poorly

Get off Twitter. Lots of negative news, and most of the things are outside your control. People who consume a lot of news become passive ]]> Review7198093528 Fri, 10 Jan 2025 06:55:30 -0800 /review/show/7198093528 Deepak gave 5 stars to She and Her Cat: Stories (Hardcover) by Makoto Shinkai
A cat helps her owner heal.
A human helps out a cat in trouble, and adopts her.
Cats help each other thrive.
And the human owners get to know each other via their cats.
A dog who teaches cats about their history.
And so on.

The above may sounds like the most absurd thing over, but trust me when I say this is such a beautiful read. Loved the simple yet hard hitting storytelling (obviously, it is a translated version but guessing even the Japanese version would be similar in its approach). You don’t always need to write a 400 pager in 12 font and with single line spacing. It takes a lot more effort to write less and yet move the reader way more. ]]> Review7137501479 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:38:07 -0800 /review/show/7137501479 Deepak gave 5 stars to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine (Paperback) by Gail Honeyman
It had been a long time since I picked up fiction, and I am glad it was this book. Wonderful storytelling. ]]> ReadStatus8719216010 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 04:47:58 -0800 /review/show/7067131298 Deepak wants to read Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know by Jill Geisler
]]> ReadStatus8681835932 Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:36:22 -0800 /review/show/7040316330 Deepak wants to read Mother of God: An Extraordinary Journey into the Uncharted Tributaries of the Western Amazon by Paul Rosolie
]]> ReadStatus8681820406 Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:30:07 -0800 /review/show/7040305049 Deepak wants to read The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company by William Dalrymple
]]> ReadStatus8681819075 Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:29:33 -0800 /review/show/7040304042 Deepak wants to read The Money Trap: Lost Illusions Inside the Tech Bubble by Alok Sama
]]>