Before I start with my full review, let me include an excerpt that I found most thought-provoking in this book.In fact, the author actually captured it from an often quoted fable called "The Animal school" by R.H.Reeves:
Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a "New World", so they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer, all animals took all the subjects.
The duck was excellent in swimming, better in fact than his instructor, and made excellent grades in flying, but he was very poor in running. Since he was low in running he had to stay after school and also drop swimming to practice running. This was kept up until his web feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school, so nobody worried about that except the duck.
The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a nervous breakdown because of so much makeup in swimming.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustrations in flying class where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from tree-top down. He also developed Charley horses from over-exertion and he got a C in climbing and a D in running.
The eagle was a problem child and had to be disciplined severely. In climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to getting there.
At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well and also could run, climb and fly a little had the highest average and was a valedictorian.
The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to the badger and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.
The duck was excellent in swimming, better in fact than his instructor, and made excellent grades in flying, but he was very poor in running. Since he was low in running he had to stay after school and also drop swimming to practice running. This was kept up until his web feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school, so nobody worried about that except the duck.
The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a nervous breakdown because of so much makeup in swimming.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustrations in flying class where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from tree-top down. He also developed Charley horses from over-exertion and he got a C in climbing and a D in running.
The eagle was a problem child and had to be disciplined severely. In climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to getting there.
At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well and also could run, climb and fly a little had the highest average and was a valedictorian.
The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to the badger and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.
Now give me sometimes to make a commentary on the above subject. The excerpt actually fall under the title of "valuing the differences". I agree on that but I also have something else on my mind.
My first opinion
The first one is, it tells me that rather than keep on harnessing your skill on something else that you can only become average at or probably going to flop at, why not excel and keep on harnessing the skill that you have already been gifted with.
My second opinion
The second one is, if you are determined enough to do something, you could become average but no one would worry about it except you. so, do it anyway.
So what's in for me
With that realization, my own struggle with learning and honing skills come to mind.I am trying to be a well-rounded person (if it does exist)but I might be losing my energy on trying to be good at things that I am not. So, I think I should try to write more since it is what I love to do the most. I might not be good at it yet, but who is going to complain anyway? and another take is who knows If I continue on writing I am going to excel at it in the end. ^_^
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About my review
I have touched on the most interesting part that I found on the book. So now let me get on with my first intention which is to make a short review about the book.
What I have found interesting
1. The book was very comprehensive and I can't possibly quote everything that I like because all the contents are interesting, helpful and inspiring. No wonder it was a best-selling book.
2. If you are looking for a book to start on getting serious with your life, if let say its becoming less interesting, this book will give all the finest detail to be a better person.
3. There is one thing the author emphasized about that grasped my attention. He emphasized about the way we looked at things depended mostly on our experiences because we tend to draw whatever knowledge that has been deposited in our mind through our unique and vast experiences. So, that is why it is not fair to say someone else is wrong and we are right.
4. Of course, like I said what I found most interesting was the part where we need to value the differences of other people who can be good at different things and think in a different way.
So what's next
Its a matter of applying what has been read, especially of the thing that I found most helpful to me. So that is why I am going to write more.. ^_^
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