Month: November 2022

LIVE SMART: 100 HACKS FOR A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIFE-BOOK REVIEW

A go-to guide on DIYs and hacks for sustainable living

Book Review: Live Smart
Book Review: Live Smart

Book details

Title: LIVE SMART:100 HACKS FOR A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIFE

Author: Teja Lele

Cover Illustrations: Sayan

Cover Design: Amit Malhotra

Inside Illustrations: Surojit Bhattacharjee

Genre: Non-fiction

Type: Paperback

Page Count: 245

Price: Paperback- ₹399, Kindle- ₹223

Blurb

Are you trying to fix a leaky faucet? Wondering how to treat a bee sting? Looking to purify water without a fancy purifier? Making a chemical-free lotion bar? Wondering what to do with the pile of cardboard boxes left after online retail therapy?

If yes, then Live Smart: 100 Hacks for a Healthier and Happier Life is your go-to guide! Here you will find user-friendly DIY solutions for everyday problems and interesting tips accompanied by illustrations that will help you navigate the how-to-do-its in a step-by-step manner.

Live Smart is an invaluable manual for those looking for practical ways to organize and improve their daily life—and having a little fun while they’re at it!

Book Review

As someone very fond of DIYs and minimalism, I’m always on the lookout for doable hacks which means my phone is filled with screenshots & YouTube videos on DIYs. So it was only natural for me to grab this book when it came for reviewing on the Blogchatter platform.

I assumed it to have a listing of hacks or DIYs like any other book on life hacks but I was proven wrong by this carefully structured and well-rounded book. Right from the start to the end, it kept me hooked.

 “Self-sustainability doesn’t come easy in today’s world, where almost everything we need is a click or a swipe away.”

-Teja Lele

The author knows that for any sort of change to happen it must come from within and starts the book with the right questions-the essential whys. As you read, you are sure to go down memory lane and think of your ancestors’ simplistic lifestyle and yearn for it.

Within the first few pages, the intention of the book as well as that of the reader’s journey on sustainability is set. This makes the book more purposeful and action-oriented than being a mere read.  

Coming to the hacks themselves, there are 100 of them categorised under the sections titled, Home, Food and Kitchen, Beauty, Health and Well-being and Reuse and Recycle. They cover every aspect of our lives be it fixing a leaky tap or revamping leftovers or making your mouthwash or prioritising mental health or reusing fruit peels. The list is endless.

There are also these features like ‘smart tips’ and ‘checklists’ which are like WOW! You definitely need them to make your sustainability journey an easy breeze.  

The hacks/DIYs are crisp with clear instructions and safety precautions/warnings wherever necessary. The hacks are such that they can be appealing to people of any age, no matter wherever they are in their journey of sustainability or self-sustenance. In fact, it was my 10-year-old daughter who read this book first and made her list of things to try first. (Making a bird feeder, homemade mayonnaise and natural eye shadow top her list!)

What I felt even more fascinating is the author’s conversational tone with fictional characters/movie references here and there. Her witty phrases/lines make it more relatable and interesting as well.

More importantly, the author has nowhere made any stereotypical assumptions while talking about domestic chores/tasks or hacks, which is definitely noteworthy. Even the illustrations have made their point.

The cover design and illustration by Amit Malhotra and Sayan, respectively, are attractive and non-stereotypical. The inside illustrations by Surojit Bhattacharjee complement the hacks by giving us a visual insight into how things may look or how things need to be done. It gives the reader much-needed clarity.

‘What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.’

-T.S. Eliot

To top it all, the end (Not the end, as the writer mentions) comes as a cherry on the cake. What a perfect ending, rather, beginning (you will know what I mean when you read this book!) to this journey. What a holistic outlook! It gave the feeling of completeness.

Wrap-up words

This book is definitely a catalyst in my journey of sustainability and it can be yours too. This book will meet you where you are and help you take the necessary steps to up your self-sustenance index and trust me, it is the need of the hour.

Finally, I just have two words-Go, BUY!

Buy here

P.S. This book also gains the credit of enlightening me that cover illustrations and cover design are two different things.

“This review is powered by Blogchatter’s Book Review Program

How to thrift like a boss

A poem on thrifting

How to thrift like a boss- A poem on thrifting
Designed by the Author on Canva

By definition, thrifting is the careful use of money, especially by avoiding waste and thrift stores are the ones that sell used things like clothes, books, and furniture at throwaway prices. Being born in a typical middle-class, Indian family, thrifting had always been a part of our life. Just that, we didn’t know it was called so. Also, growing up we (my sibling and I) didn’t have any regrets. We eagerly fought for the hand-me-downs and also shared things happily. It has now become part of our fond memories and we have passed on the tradition to our kids.

Thrifting is not just about cost cutting but it’s about valuing what we receive and the emotions behind it. Thrifting has been cool since ages. Here’s a poetic rendition for the Blogchatter campaign #ThriftingIsCool. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Time to get nostalgic with this sweet dedication to my sista!

How to thrift like a boss

1.	Start early. Learn the art 
early on. Steal
    from your sibling’s closet
                and call it thrifting-
even better- call it savings!
Your parents will be proud
whilst your sibling may frown.

2.	I bet, your sibling’s stares help
you grow a thick skin, over the years
     prepping to perfect the art 
          of thrifting. Cajole them. 
Pay them in praise. Tell them 
their taste is better
      than yours. I do. It works. 
Soften their frowns with flattery. Earn 
     the key to their heart closet. 

3.	Now that your foundations 
are laid strong, get out 
of your comfort zone. Go 
       thrifting in your local shops.
(Mind you, no stealing; 
shop owners are no siblings!)
Wear something between cheap
     and chic. Don’t let your class seep
through your clothes; it helps 
to sieve through all price ranges. 

4.	Walk in like the owner but befriend
    the staff with a fond grin. Take your
sibling along if need be to remind 
yourself of your confidence. Patience
      is a virtue- practise it!


5.	Scan through the shelves as if 
they were your lover’s heart. Seek 
       their secrets. Do they speak to you 
           in silence, profound? Seek! Know!

6.	Pick the piece that speaks from 
its seams. Feel it. Do they invoke
the tenderness of your lover’s foreplay
or prick like their pretentious phiz?

Rub it gently across your soulful skin. 
Does it smell of an exotic fragrance
    foreign to you or a rustic smell, familiar? 
Does it make you feel alien or give you 
          the comfort of home?

7.	Forget there’s anyone around. Forget 
the tags of trends or class upon you 
     or the clothes. Forget you are you. 
Listen to your soul’s singing. Has it made
friends with the seams or its seamless fabric?
Make your choice. 

If confusion prevails, eye on
        the piece that your sibling might have
picked without much thought. After all, 
you know what makes you feel at home!

Who Says Math is Not Your Cup of Tea? -Book Review

A book on ‘The Art of Learning Mathematics With Ease & Efficiency’

PC: Author of this website

Review: Who Says Math is Not Your Cup of Tea?

Author: Tenzin Pedon

Type: Paperback

Pages: 147

Age Group: 11+

Despite India being a land of great Mathematical contributions, it’s sad to note that not many take to Mathematics with great enthusiasm. I have come across children and adults equally, saying that they are ‘phobic’ towards Maths and it only makes me wonder why.

I believe that the way the Indian curriculum is designed (less application oriented) and the teaching methodology (not much of play way method) might be a few reasons for not being to inculcate an interest in Maths among the students.

Adding to that, there are not much of Math books (not the prescribed texts sticking to the syllabus) easily available for the children to get insight and explore the subject joyfully. There is a need for books that cover things outside of the syllabus while also making Maths more approachable.

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”

-William James

“Who Says Math is Not Your Cup of Tea” by Tenzin Pedon is one such book that addresses the above issue. It focuses on the ART of learning Mathematics with ease and efficiency. This is not your typical Maths book/guide filled with problems or theorems. Rather, it’s the one that tells you how you develop an interest in Maths by sharing author-proposed learning strategies, making Maths more approachable.

The book starts with an introduction on the need for this book with supporting statistics which I know many would relate to. Not just that, it also sets the tone for the book on what a reader can expect and how to use the book for reaping the maximum benefit. So better not to skip the introduction.

The book’s content is divided into 4 parts- The high-five rule, Learning to conceptualize Mathematics, Learning to visualize Mathematics and Learning to solve word problems. I’m sure that just one look into the topics would pique your interest as this is not the kind of Math book we generally come across. Also, it’s something that’s addressing the struggles that we would have had during our learning stages.

With clear diction, appropriate diagrams and flow charts, the author familiarises us with her unique learning strategies like the high-five rule which makes it appealing even to the younger generation. It’s more like a self-help book to improve our Mathematical skills which goes beyond numbers and numerals.

“Every problem has a solution; it may sometimes just need another perspective.”

-Katherine Russell

There are a number of strategies discussed aided with real-life examples which makes it easy to grasp and retain the concepts. Be it going with the schema approach, connecting the concepts, creating mind maps, concept attainment model or use of Venn diagrams, there is a plethora of option to go for the strategy that appeals to you the best.

An interesting feature of the book is that there are questions (not Maths problems) and tables included in the introduction and in a few chapters which can come in handy to the reader to evaluate themselves then and there and see how far they have progressed. Also there are blank pages at the end of the book to take notes, if need be.

And not to forget, a list of online resources for Learning Math in a fun way that the author has put at the end of the book. I myself have used many of those resources and I must say they change your perspective towards Maths and get you addicted to numbers. The list compiled by the author is highly resourceful and you better make the best use of it. Many of them are absolutely free to use while a few may come with a minimal subscription fee.

Parting Words

The author being a Junior Research Fellow (JRF), with a primary research area in Mathematics Education, has not only identified the pitfalls in our approach towards Mathematical learning but also provided us with a hands-on process to overcome the difficulties in learning Math. Simply put, the author’s years of classroom teaching and research work reflects in this resourceful book.

This book is not just for reading but for actual utilisation by putting the strategies to work. This is more like a self-help book and will be more effective for anyone who is struggling with Math but would love to do better in the subject. I recommend this book for ages 11 and above, including teachers and parents. This book will be a resourceful addition to school libraries.

P.S.: The author of the book, Tenzin Pedon and I did our UG together. She was my peer, competitor but above all, a best friend for life and I shall assure you that in no way is the review biased. It’s pure joy to see my friend grow and I’m just sharing my joy with you all, through this review.

Also, did I mention, I got a Author signed copy for myself. Honestly, this is the first Author-signed book that I have in my collection. Yaay! Thanks to Pedon and wishing her the best, today & always 🙂

My Author-signed copy of the book!

To grab a paperback copy of this book, click here. You can also download a free copy under Kindle Unlimited.