Aphorisms for Our Age with Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Our latest masterclass on ideas of success, failure and leadership
Dear readers,
Dr. Shashi Tharoor has a new book out — The Less You Preach, the More You Learn : Aphorisms for Our Age.
The aphorism is one of the oldest forms of literary expression and has been around for thousands of years. It is a concise statement or observation that expresses a general truth, principle, or nugget of wisdom, ideally in a memorable or witty manner. Some of the most famous intellectuals and writers in history have expressed themselves memorably in aphorisms including Seneca, François de La Rochefoucauld, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Oscar Wilde. In this book, Shashi Tharoor and Joseph Zacharias have coined over 200 aphorisms on practically every aspect of modern life. Wise, witty, and memorable, the aphorisms in The Less You Preach, The More You Learn provoke, stimulate, and entertain.
With the launch of this book, he was back at Network Capital to discuss his latest book, how it came together and -
The art of sharing timeless wisdom through aphorisms
Frameworks on resilience, grit and navigating difficult times
Mental models on success, leadership and happiness
Our conversation with him started with discussing some of the aphorisms from the book and segued into discussion on ideas of success, failure, leadership and happiness.
Most thinkers across time have spent a considerable time making sense of their respective relationship with these themes. They have discussed, debated and changed their mind on these ideas. Their writings have attempted to consolidate frameworks which people around them can adopt to live a meaningful life. These are some of the Network Capital newsletters on these themes -
Lessons from Benjamin Franklin
"He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged." The Benjamin Franklin Effect, as this incredibly counter-intuitive strategy came to be known, may reject the traditional, common-sensical idea that being liked is the strategy one must employ in order for others to lend us a hand, and not …
The Art and Science of Tragic Optimism
In September 1942, Viktor Frankl, a prominent psychiatrist and neurologist in Vienna, was arrested and transported to a Nazi concentration camp with his wife and parents. In his bestselling book, Man's Search for Meaning, which he wrote in nine days about his experiences in the camps, Frankl concluded that the difference between those who had lived and …
Early career setbacks and failing forward
What is today’s newsletter about? 1. Early professional setback has a strong and permanent negative impact on a small set of people. 2. Those who experience an early setback tend to outperform their peers if they keep trying. 3. Early-career setback improves performance among those who persevere.
As you watch the masterclass class and mull over Dr. Tharoor’s answers, you’ll notice strong resilience and great optimism in the face difficult contexts. When asked about this, he claimed that it came from his commitment for leaving the world a better place despite the odds and finding happiness from within.
Whiles these ideas might seem abstract and not something you can easily apply in your life, watching the masterclass, reflecting on these questions and attempting to find an answer for yourself might be a good place to start.
As you do so, you can -
Find our previous masterclasses with Dr Tharoor here!
Take this free leadership test and make sense of your leadership style. You’ll be hearing more from the founders of this test soon.
Have a wonderful week ahead.
— Your Network Capital Team