It is said that books are humans’ best friends, where and how did they come from is a mystery to many. The journey from the stone tablet to electronic tablet is largely unknown, especially the shape shifting nature of books. Imagine time traveling to 800 BCE and asking for a book and getting a stone thrown at you. Provided that one is still alive, the stone will reveal whether it is a book with inscriptions, or just an angry homo sapiens irritated by literacy. Or perceive asking for a book in 21st century and getting a downloaded file to read or listen from the literacy agnostic computer, but this time at a less danger of losing one’s life! The journey has many facets from the forms the books had to the way they were produced and stored to what was written on them to how they survived so many centuries. Despite periodical censorships, the staying power of books have proven resilient. On the materials the books are written define their purpose, too. Writing on stone is hard, so is removing it. They serve an excellent source for storing information, mostly accounting facts in limited space. The reader has to come to the book, so the information better be valuable! Compare this with scrolls used in the pre-modern era, where one can write several things from announcements to treasury matters to poetry, but they can easily be destroyed, recall the famous burning of Alexandria library.

While all economists are wrong, some are useful and entertaining. Such is the case with the book "Edible Economics". It gives a primer of various economic concepts and justifies them with selective facts. However, the justification is well-reasoned and respectable. Coming from a left leaning perspective, it favors government intervention, and at the current time of high inflation, the arguments does seem compelling. More than the topics, it is the author Ha-Joon Chang and how he narrates each story is where the fascination of the book lies. Picking an edible vegetable, fruit or condiment, the author describes its history and its relation to a culture; sometimes its commercial value and trade association. One learns a lot about these edible items and subsequently an economic trait or policy that resembles a similar life. Who thought that term "Banana Republic" isactually linked to banana trade in the Central and South America. Or strawberry is not a berry, but tomato is! Chicken is neither loved or hated, but still is omnipresent, revealing the sustainable power of remaining non-controversial. Or varieties of noodles and pastas that are unheard of; going viral doesn't seem to be their strong suit! The stories are narrated in short chapters, which makes the book easily readable and a definite page turner. One may not agree with each economic argument presented, but it definitely provides food for thought!

Is hierarchy embedded in thesocial fabric where one segment of society dominates others? Or is it possibleto have equality in principle? More importantly, what is equality? Is it in the freedom of expression, equal income or equal access to resources? There is a saying that everyone can be equally poor, but not equally rich. This book Animal Farm brings the question of equality at the forefront. Set Imperialism against Communism, the book reveals how hierarchal structures evolve from an equal one. More importantly, though a bit subtle, the book illustrates that courage of some and silence of others play an essential role in developing such structure. Lack of education and fear also contributes.Further Hidden in this classic book by George Orwell is the fact whether equality is fair. What is one worksharder than others, or is more productive, yet receives same remuneration? The cat in the book always evade work but still gets unrestricted access to food, while the horse labors all day with no privilege access. This question is more important than it initially seems. It is not restricted to the type of government onepursues, i.e. democratic, imperialistic and communist, but expands its footprint to economic structure from capitalism to socialism to communism. It also encompasses modern businesses. Should there be managers and shareholders in a company?

Albert Einstein once allegedly said, "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" While jury is still out if Einstein ever uttered these words, but if he did, Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein would not approve of it. In this book, duo precisely argue the opposite, and they seem to be right. Organizing office has always been a challenge, not because it cannot be done or occupant doesn't want to, but because it is a functional space. Unlike Presidents and Governors, whose job seems to be posting pictures of signing papers on their desks, common mortals actually have to use their office space to get work done. And unlike leaders of the free and not-so free world, one can only wish the luxury of well-dressed staff who can clean or organize the workspace during and after work hours. The challenges of functional workspace are plenty. There isa constant inflow and outflow of files, people, and sometimes food. With changing priorities and timelines, the importance of tasks continuously varies,making organization of workplace herculean. No wonder many people who start with a well-organized office struggle to maintain it. And once files and other materials start piling up, there is no going back. The question then remains is it worth reorganizing if messiness will reemerge, that too within a short duration. The answer to that question is "yes". Untidy workspace affects motivation that eventually results in poor work productivity. People spend a substantial amount of time in their office and with colleagues, and being miserable is not a good idea.