book review
“Our enviable book collection”
Sunday, May 29, 2022
Dr Franz Owano, avid book reader and author at Prestige Booksellers, Mama Ngina Street on February 14, 2022. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NMG
Franz Owano, doctor
Do you have a reading project?
Indira Gandhi {ex-Prime Minister of India} believed that demanding tasks can easily be accomplished by breaking them into small pieces. The same could be said of having a reading schedule.
I select the books, the order to read them and the logical number of pages to read per day. You can also catalog your progress. I got into the habit of curling the pages.
What books and authors are you most looking forward to reading?
I like personal development books. ‘Dopamine Nation‘, a book by Ana Lembke aroused my curiosity. Dopamine is a feel-good hormone linked to pleasure, reward and, in some cases, addiction.
At a time when desires are fulfilled regardless of the consequences, the contents of this book give pause. I can’t wait to discover the benefits of delayed gratification versus intemperance.
‘The only thing‘ by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan is another book that discusses the effects of multitasking on productivity. He champions the benefits of focusing on one task at a time rather than juggling yourself into inefficiency.
‘meditations‘ by Marcus Aurelius in which, through private notes, the book serves as an exposition of one man’s quest to live a moral life.
‘The untied soul‘ by Michael Singer in which he describes the mind as a journey into itself; chased by a negative shadow and self-doubt. The author advises on how to circumvent this dissenting voice to create positive affirmations.
How has reading helped you achieve your goals over the past year?
Like most readers, I had long flirted with the idea of one day writing books. Leaving my mark like most authors I admired.
Came across Jim Rohn’s’Time management guide.’ It allowed me to prioritize my artistic pursuits while balancing my career and literary interests. I managed to publish ‘The Banda War‘ and ‘The leader must die‘.
How to avoid a reading crisis?
A reading crisis is a troubling time when books held in reverence no longer trigger the same emotion. The beauty and poetry of prose fail to caress the embers of passion they once lit.
To answer this dilemma, we must first ask a pertinent question. Why do readers read? The desire to fill a certain void is obvious. Whether it’s to appease curiosity, improve skills in a particular area or seek distraction from an unpleasant reality.
If you reach a point where books no longer excite you, take a break. When you’re ready, approach it with childlike curiosity and your love of reading can be revitalized.
Have you read a book or author that reminds you of your youth that you would recommend to someone trying to navigate their way through life?
‘Source‘ by Ayn Rand comes to mind. The author weaves into the tapestry of our consciousness the desperate struggle of a man trying to stay true to himself. The right to pursue one’s path to completion.
As a young man on the path to self-discovery, I identified with it.
All men should dare to face this: is it nobler to toe the line at the expense of one’s soul or is a man’s ego the source of human progress?
Thatcher Mweu, Sendy Fulfillment Project Manager
Thatcher Mweu, Fulfillment Project Manager at Sendy, an e-commerce technology company in Kenya. PICTURES | BOWL
What is your current favorite book/author?
‘Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire‘ by Brad Stone. I like to read “difficulty books,” where a character’s journey is detailed in captivating fashion. Of course, I love when books have happy endings.
What was your first interaction with reading a book?
In class 4. The first English book I read was ‘The vicious circle‘. I forgot the author’s name. {Wilbur Smith’s Vicious Circle)
Are you a book collector?
No, I read all the books I buy or acquire. Some books may take me longer to finish than others, but I get through them eventually.
Do you offer books again?
Yes, but only to family members. I find re-gifting books to be an intimate act because you have to understand that someone can gift them a book that they would like or that would be beneficial.
What’s so hard about letting go of the books?
It has to do with the characters. There are books whose characters’ lives are quite similar to mine, and it’s usually difficult to finish the book and move on to the next one. I sometimes slow down my reading pace so I have the book a little longer. This doesn’t work well for books I read at book clubs; I have to follow the discussions!
Do you find it off-putting to be good at literature?
No, I find it thoughtful; all the books i received as gifts are based on passionate conversations i had and someone thought of getting me a book based on that conversation. Others come from my managers who I have been close to, which is why I find being gifted in literature to be a kind and caring act.
Do you enjoy writing a book?
Absolutely! I play with writing children’s books and/or poetry books.
How can literature help in the mentoring process?
Mentoring involves guidance from someone who has experience in a particular area (professionally or personally) and who can impart certain skills and knowledge.
Well, these skills and knowledge can be imparted through books and other forms of literature, enhancing a mentee’s thought process and general outlook on life.
How do books influence your belief in the world as we know it?
Some books I’ve read have reinforced my core values, either challenging them or approving them. I believe that we are what we read, just as we are what we eat. So the books influenced some of the beliefs that I wasn’t passionate about.
How to save time to read?
Nairobi traffic is good enough for that! I tend to read on my phone when I’m stuck in traffic. I also read on weekends, especially on Saturdays.
What does your library say about you?
My library will tell you that I am an adventurous professional who thrives on building structure in general and pursues my hobbies on my own.
What books would you recommend our readers read at least once in their lives?
‘Pachinko‘ by Min Jin Lee and the ‘History of Edgar Sawtelle‘ by David Wroblewski. Both books shed light on the relationships between family members and how those bonds can make or break a human being.
