The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - Robin S. Sharma

Hi,

Today I'll be reviewing a very interesting book. It had a very interesting title. The thing that catches me is the word Ferrari and why a monk had a car like that ! Don't worry, this is just a fable story created by the author. But it's a very good one though. The book begin with a story of a very successful lawyer (Julian Mantle) and have it all (status, money, girls etc). One day, he succumb to a heart attack. Afterwards, Julian sold of his belongings and his prized Red Ferrari and went to India...

Few years later, he's back and what follows on was a conversation between him and John (another character in this book) on what he learn and experienced while he is in India. These spiritual journey of Julian can be summarized to the following key ideas
1. Master your mind
2. Follow your purpose
3. Practice Kaizen (Continuous Improvement)
4. Live with discipline
5. Respect your time
6. Selflessly served others
7. Embrace the present

In helping us to remember the idea above, he explained it with the use of object i.e. The towering lighthouse, the sumo wrestler etc. Not forgetting, that on each idea, the author shared the wisdom, techniques and quotes in helping everyone here to practice those ideas.

The author also mention how our thoughts could control what we think in our mind. Mind is then shape your life and life will control you in mastering your destiny. This concept was echoed by another book by T. Harv Eker in Secrets of the Millionaire Mind title.

Some meaningful quotes
Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson. I have realized that failure, whether of the personal, professional or even spiritual kind is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather, embrace it as the teacher that it is.

The secret of happiness is simple - find out what you truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing it. Once you are concentrating your mind power and engery on a pursuit that you love, abundance flows into your life and all your desires are fulfilled with ease and grace. Isn't that very simple ? Do you still remember your passion ? What's your interest ? Things that you're willing to do without being asked/paid ? How about your childhood dreams ? If that doesn't make you happy, I really don't know what will !

Happiness comes through the progressive realization of a worthy objective. When you are doing what you truly love to do you are bound to find deep contentment

Act as if failure is impossible, and your success will be assured
The quality of your life will come down to the quality of your contribution.

5 Steps to reach their objectives and fulfill the purposes of life
1. Form mental image of a clear outcome (Assume that it will surely happen and never fail and it's )
2. Get some positive pressure on yourself (i.e. public pledge, donate to your most hated charity if you failed to do so)
3. Never set a goal without attaching a timeline
4. Commit it into writing
5. Make it a habit to work things to your goal via Magic of 21 (Repeat the actions for 21 days in a role for something to become a habit)

Some other tips and method
1. Have the attitude of gratitude
2. Ritual of soltitude - 15 min of yourself and connecting with your inner world
3. Laughter - medicine of the soul
4. Daily personal reflection before you sleep
5. Wake up 5am in the morning - Read this book and find out why ;)
6. Positives to overcome the negative - Self control and disciplined thinking
7. Amazing Peter and the Magic thread story - Reflection on living in the NOW

All in all, this book is really a compilation from a lot of self help ideas and motivational principles packed in a small paperback novel. The book had been Top 10 bestseller for more than a year now. Initially, I don't understand why this book can sell so many of copies of it. After reading it, I know now :) I would say, if you have read this book, share this with your love one. Let them have the same wavelength as you. Needless to say my wife had read that as well. Life is too precious to be wasted away....

In conclusion, I gave this book 9.25 out of 10. A bit shy off from all time high score from Good to Great but it rank highly in my all time best self help/motivational book to me.