The Mind Game

The Mind Game is a self-help collection of ideas, thoughts, and evidence-based practices that a person can use and subsequently, master their emotions to achieve success.The book is divided into six broad categories and this categorization itself is a strong asset of this book. Not only this, each section has its own set of sub-headings that can further make it easier for the readers to select, read, and apply the content. If that wasn’t a selling point, the fact that majority topics were crafted in the form of lists would certainly make one.Five Ultra-Practical Steps to Emotional MasteryThis section opens with a general introduction about emotions and the various situations that demand our emotions to heighten. There are chapters teaching how and why to feel, face, and control our emotions. Not only is there a recount of real experiences where the need to feel, face, and control one’s emotions are necessary, but even possible actions to actually achieve this are mentioned. Furthermore, the last chapter in this section highlights the importance of EQ (Emotional Quotient) or emotional intelligence and the key skills that one might need to upgrade their EQ.“An honest and transparent reflection of your emotional state is a better alternative to stuffing your emotions deep inside.”Analyzing PeopleThis was one of the most informative sections in this book as it went through a series of teachings necessary for the reader to actually ‘analyse people’. The first chapter talks about something that’s often overlooked--questions. How one can make an effective question and use the same question to their benefit, can be found here. Sine questions were talked about, responses were talked about too-- the importance of effective listening and of the response that follows in a conversation. Like I’ve already said, the content is not merely composed of facts, figures, and findings but also provides suggestions about implementation, so the last part in this chapter listed tips to be a good listener and questioner.“Simply assuming what will be said next is the wrong approach.”The second chapter of this section was the most interesting part of this book--unlocking personality and behavioral patterns. There’s a great mixture of both psychological and practical evidences and theories for the readers to better understand every point mentioned, and this also helps the reader to better understand themselves too while reading these points. For example, a topic in this heading talks about the type theories that differentiate between people on the basis of their psychological development and this topic worked as a propeller for me, as a reader, to identify myself among the three types of personalities listed.Live Better with LessI’m a huge enthusiast of simple living and ‘less is more’ is something I endorse myself so it wasn’t a surprise that I was excited to read this section. The category very smartly puts together the fundamental meaning of living a simple yet good life and also the importance of non-verbal communication so it’s a very well put together book.“If you wish to have a good life, do not ask why life is unfair.”Not only this, but there are also some talks about first impression and tips on how to make a winning one. The section finally ends with tips on nurturing good relationships and understanding people’s motives, two of the most essential takeaways from this section, in my opinion. Good relationships can carve a path to happiness so tips on building one were something I liked about this book.“The Platinum Rule says, ‘Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.’ Behave with people the way you want them to behave with you.”Go Happy, Go Lucky!This section goes on to a deeper level in terms of mind and its connection to our betterment as it talks about spirituality and inner peace that can lead to inner bliss. I’m not highly fond of meditation (yet) so I couldn’t relate to the first chapter that laid out the power of meditation. However, I’m a spiritual person and I could find some amazing ways to gain spiritual happiness through the list of nine given under this topic.“Abandon your want of external acceptance and approval. Be wise to judge your capabilities and worth.”Apart from this, there are topics about stress and depression, and ultimately a quick guide for the reader to move toward eternal happiness, which I can vouch for because so many of the things mentioned were tried and tested by me and totally recommended. For example, the fourth point in this list says, "The art of giving.” and moves on to talk about how helping someone can make you much more happier than the person you just helped. In fact, the example mentioned in this point was that of a blogger and you can understand how happy and related I must have felt.“For instance, if you’re a blogger, you can help other bloggers improve their writing style, promote their articles, encourage their views and help them grow.”Angry? Don’t be!This was the section I was most looking forward to since my anger is one of my negative traits and I was hoping to take something valuable from the chapters under this heading. I wasn’t disappointed! The category opens with an introduction about anger and elaborates on the various reasons that anger might have developed in a personality. This was a great opening strategy, according to me, as it helps the readers to actually make sense of why they get frequently, involuntarily angry. Then comes a chapter that lists out the ‘excuses’ that every angry person fires at people around them, and God, could this list be any more relatable?! I could tick off almost everything on it.“Anger is a dangerous emotion...yet, being angry is accepted as a common emotion.”The author doesn’t stop at just pinpointing the problem, she also recommends several anger management tips and creative arts that can help someone rescue themselves from this disadvantage.“Any number of anger management tips will not have a long term effect unless the person changes his/her assumptions related to anger.”Individual chapters talk about art, music, dance, and even writing to help combat anger issues.“A creative journal helps you express the negative emotions in a positive manner.”A Happy WorkplaceThis was the section that took away the one star from me. Though it was helpful, I felt that this category wasn’t absolutely applicable to me and my life which is the only reason why I had to go a little stringent on the rating. Anyway, for those who do work at an office or in a team, this section might prove valuable. A few things that I did find really good in this section despite my irrelevance was a particular heading ‘traits of people with high self-esteem’; self-esteem is highly beneficial for any individual and I think this book does a good job in addressing it.“High level of self-esteem encourages persistence after we fail.”Overall, this was a worthwhile reading experience for most parts and that’s exactly what one should be expecting from a self-help book since how ‘helpful’ the book is, is considered. The writing was too simple for my taste which can also reason for the lost star but that’s just my personal preference since I like a little heavier prose. And like I always mention in my reviews, read the book based on the review and not the rating.As for the tagline on the book that said “master your emotions to achieve success”, I think the book does a really good job at being focused on that objective and thus, delivers according to expectations.

🧠"The mind game" written by Devika Dad is a perfect book to learn how to master your emotions to achieve success.🧠I was very much attracted by looking at cover of the book and the table of contents itself. The book is divided into six perfect sections as follows1. Five ultra practical steps to emotion mastery2. Analysing people3. Live better with less4. Go happy, go lucky!5. Angry? Don't be!6. A happy workplace🧠These 6 sections has furthermore sub chapters. This tempted me to explore the book to analyse and change myself to lead a better lifestyle. I'll briefly tell about my favorite two sections - First and fifth were my favorite.🧠Five ultra practical steps to emotion mastery : This section helped me to analyse my own emotions and was very useful. Not only me, most of the people are facing the problem to find their thing. This helps a person to analyse oneself.🧠Angry? Don't be! : Being a short tempered person, this chapter was like a rescue to me from my angry mental state. I loved the tops to involve in activities like dancing, music, art, writing to control anger. Anger management tips were written like a pro and I loved it.🧠Language is lucid. Title is at its best and so as the cover. The author has made a very good research in learning the different mindset and mental issues of the people. Accordingly, the solutions has been prescribed.🧠Overall this is one of the best self help books to manage the emotions. As the title promises, this is a best mind game a person should follow for better life.

Book Title: The Mind GameAuthor: Devika DasFormat: PaperbackBook Title:The title of the book ' The Mind Game ' is attractive and interesting.Book Cover:The cover image of the book is a clip art of the human brain with the title on it. The sober color of the image soothes the mind of a reader before starting reading the book.Inside the book:Often in the mundane life of a human who is on a verge of his travel towards achieving goals, attaining success and adapting himself to new changes in life misses the important point of accepting the situations and control the emotions. Because of the life that runs on tips and toes, doesn't give the person time to think about himself in a very personal and spiritual manner. When the emotional quotient gets disturbed, nothing can be done to pacify the negativity he faces due to various reasons.In this book, the author has presented her readers the way to control the emotions, play with one's own mind and control their life instead of being controlled by their brain in a very spiritual and aesthetic manner. This book definitely has to be added up in the self-help book section of every individual as the language in the book is very simple and effective.What I like:1. The book serves like an extensively researched comprehensive self-book that helps a reader to understand how to honor and tame emotions2. The concepts emotional quotient, ways to attract people in a positive way, dealing with stress and anger, facing the unexpected situations bravely and lastly but not the least, the role of spirituality in one's life are illustrated in a good manner.3. Being an example and setting an example for co-workers and descendants is very important in a person's life at a personal level and also at a social level. The tips to work in harmony and developing a habit of listening to co-workers and such things are explained well.What I didn't like:There are no such things as in the book to dislike.Narration:Self-help books often concern and confuse the readers with the leaps of information given inside the book. Here, the author has made the reading task easy by simplifying some complicated things to understand in the form of short tales. This not only creates interest but also the different approach attracts the readers of all age groups.Language & Grammar:A very fine and crisp language is used in the book and the short tales.My Final Verdict:A different type of self-help book to sooth the mindBook Title: 4/5Book Cover: 3/5Inside the book: 4/5Narration:4/5Language & Grammar:4/5Final Rating:4/5