I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen was one that I got recommended by my old boss, who got into barefoot running sometime ago. I bet this book had a big part on his turning to barefoot running. Still I  didn't have much expectations towards the book at the first place, but it turned out to be one of the best books I've read for few years.

Author, Christopher McDougall starts the story from his problems with his feet. There the journey goes all the way to the one of greatest ultra-marathons ever arranged. During the journey there's so many colorful persons and stories, that book feels more like a fiction than true and teach-full story. Still it's a true story about running and who we are and what's our history.

Almost hidden between the fun ride, there's lot of scientific studies and interviews from respected experts on running, physiology and training. McDougall writes so well, that these often so boring scientific sections are actually really interesting and complement the book to its full glory. At the same time, book is an interesting story about Tamahura indians, ultra-running and science behind running injuries.

Reading this book will make you run and enjoy more out of it than before. Also you will most probably learn more about you as human more than you thought beforehand. It's a wonderful book, filled with great insights from very different perspectives.

There's not a single group of persons I wouldn't recommend on reading this. It's just pure fun.

Written by +Henri Hämäläinen

Facebook - the thing our parents used to do

Will Facebook become "the thing our parents used to do"? Idea that our kids will talk in 15 years from now about Facebook as the thing our parents used to use seems bit amusing, but it might become reality soon.

I think it's quite likely that this will actually happen. I can't actually tell a one thing in media that is the same now that was with our parents. They didn't have mobile, TV barely had colors, not to mention Internet and everything there. So why in earth wouldn't change happen as fast with social media also.

Surely there's a lot value in Facebook currently, but will it really last for 10-15 years? I doubt it.. It's now about eight years old and most of the users have been there less than 3 years. So it's easy to say it's still fresh and new. When it will be 15-20 years old, there will definitely be other viable options to keep in touch with friends.

Facebook surely might be live and kicking in 10-15 years from now for sure, but it's not definitely going to be the cool thing out there the young kids will use. I bet it will become the "thing our parents used to do". And as we all know, kids definitely don't want to be like their parents.

Written by +Henri Hämäläinen

Book review - Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon

I read Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative by Austin Kleon. I've seen and read many books similar to this, telling how to be creative, but still this was bit different.

Austin Kleon tells in funny and direct way how creating art or innovative stuff isn't that cool and hip all the time. There is the dull side on creativity also. Being creative requires focus, self control and being dull. It's fun to hear these things from person who is really thought to be creative. I strongly second his opinions.

It was such a fun book to read. It didn't even feel like a book, it almost felt like a short movie. Pages and ideas kept flying past so fast, that I didn't even notice reading the full book.

So to whom the book would be for? Easiest would be to say that everyone should be more creative and should read it, but especially this is for those who want to be creative. The most important lesson is that creativity is always based on something and requires work. And being dull is not that bad really.


Written by +Henri Hämäläinen

What's the good intention other has in mind?

Sometime ago my old boss tough me this learning about arguing. When someone starts to argue with you on something, always think: "What's the good intention other have in mind when they disagree with you." I think this might have been learning from NLP or something, but the main thing is that for me it has worked well.

When I get feedback or someone disagrees with me, most often its nothing personal. Most often the other party has something worrying in their mind, but they can't really speak it out loud. Instead of only disagreeing, I've learned to start to finding out what's the thing worrying or why someone wants to do something differently.

It's not easy, but its worth of trying. Always think from the positive side: "what's the good intention other has in mind, when disagreeing."

Written by +Henri Hämäläinen