This is the 100th edition of "Elephant in the Room", and my most personal. It's the story of survival in face of uncertainty. Edition 100 is about the year that forced me to learn the difference—and what actually kept me intact when everything felt uncertain.
The Waiting Room We Never Left
"What if a demon were to creep after you one night... and say, 'This life which you live must be lived by you once again and innumerable times more...' Would you throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse that demon? Or would you answer, 'Never have I heard anything more divine'?" - Friedrich... Continue Reading →
Beyond Propaganda: Defending Art for Art’s Own Sake
I probe into the thin line that separates art from propaganda. Think about it: Why do some films from the past, like Salim-Javed's classics, still resonate while others, with their overt messages, fall flat? What made Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged feel like a lecture, while George Orwell's 1984 continues to expose truths across every political divide?
Take Control of Your Information Diet
I talk about the perils of information obesity and argue for intellectual fitness.
Art vs Artist
Years ago, I finally met a writer I only knew by his works. His writing oozed satire, irreverence, and iconoclasm. His personality reflected warmth, kindness, and thoughtfulness. The contrast between his writing and social self couldn’t have been sharper. In his magnum opus, “The Story of Philosophy”, Will Durant chronicles the lives of philosophers alongside... Continue Reading →
Four Common Fallacies in the Marketing World
Like any other line of work, the marketing function too is prone to logical and cognitive fallacies. While there may be many more, the following 4 fallacies occurred most often in my marketing years. Feel free to write in the comments about the fallacies you encountered the most at work. Let’s dive in straight. 1.... Continue Reading →
Build on Strengths, Not Weaknesses
Should you pursue your passion or go after what begets status and money? This is a question most of us grapple with at some point. However, the happy news is it’s not a binary. In fact, if you replace ‘passion’ with ‘competence’, the question poses a false dilemma. You’re more likely to achieve status and... Continue Reading →
Why Political Discourse Seems So Stupid
I talk about why the current political discourse seems so stupid. I borrow the following concepts to make my point: - Final Vocabulary - Purva Paksha - Ideological Turing Test - Pigeonholing
Nietzsche’s Three Metamorphoses
According to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, there are three stages of human growth necessary for man to transform into the Übermensch (the superman). Nietzsche states that every student has to go through these stages. Camel At the beginning, every student is a beast of burden. The thirst for learning must take him to every pond... Continue Reading →
Midlife Reboot
As far as clarity in life is concerned, the mid-30s got it made.
Musings by Madhav 