Book Review: The Secret Letters of the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Robin Sharma’s The Secret Letters of the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Reading Robin Sharma’s The Secret Letters of the Monk who Sold His Ferrari was a refreshing experience for me. The book offered a fresh perspective on life in the postmodern world. It also provided a pleasing stillness amidst the deafening noise of the present world. I feel that the book talks to me. I also feel that I can relate to the character, Jonathan in the book. In fact, I feel that anyone who reads this book would feel the same.

The book speaks of the need for self-reflection. It also talks about the real meaning of happiness. I was reminded of the fact that though we need to give importance to the self, it is not possible to live in isolation.The book also showed that the most important duty of man is to save a life. It also asserts that life is worth living. It shows that it is necessary to discover life to make it meaningful.

Another thing I liked about the book was the aphoristic style of writing.There is a wonderful coherence in the narration. The author builds up our suspense at the very beginning and he does not disappoint at the end. The use of 1^st person narration in the book is apt to make the character of Jonathan appear more close to the reader. The mood of the narrator shows a gradual change as the book progresses. In the beginning, he is agitated and hopeless. Towards the end, he is calm and hopeful. I liked the manner in which the story progresses to show the making of a new individual in Jonathan. Robin Sharma creates a metaphorical journey into the soul as Jonathan embarks on a physical journey to discover himself.  The author also presents great truths and philosophies in a condensed style. Usually, philosophies are considered to be something pleasing to listen to, but hard to practice. Sharma shows that they can be put into practice, through his brilliant narration. This book was different from other self-help books because the author does not merely list out philosophies one after the other. On the other hand, he allows us to experience and realize for ourselves that they are true.

Some of my favourite lines from the book are:

Ø  It’s not everyday you get to save a life

Ø  The most important gift we can give ourselves is the commitment to living our authentic life. To be true to ourselves.

Ø  …bravery isn’t really something you feel. It’s something you show.

Ø  Every moment in front of another human being is an opportunity to express our highest values and influence someone with our humanity.

Ø  We can make the world better, one person at a time.

Ø  Make Small Daily Progress.

Ø  If we are mistrustful of others, we are distrustful of ourselves.

Ø  Do a work that matters.

Ø  Living life in a way that is right for you is sometimes about finding all the different elements you need.

Ø  Give time to the little things of life.The more basic pleasures are the ones that enrich and sustain us.

Ø  The purpose of life is “love.”

Ø  How well you live your life comes down to how much you love. The heart is wiser than the head. Honor it. Trust it. Follow it.

Ø  It is important that you forgive others. It is important that you forgive yourself.

Ø  What is important is that we do contribute. That we make a difference. That we leave a legacy.

The book presents a wonderful portrayal of a human being’s relationships to himself and to others.However, I also feel that that the author could have provided some insight on the human relationship with the divine. I feel that that the circle of new birth of the character, Jonathan would be complete only if God is there. The human being cannot be in control of his/her life completely. He/She needs divine help to supplement self-help. This link in the chain seems to be missing.Still, I would recommend the book because it is not like any other book that you would or must read and forget. It is worth reading for the fresh outlook on life that it provides. It would surely linger on your mind for a long time.  On a scale of 10, I would give it a 9.

Pheba K Paul