N S Rajan - Quote Me if You Can: Daily Thoughts for Happiness at Work

In my mind, the power to make an impact lies in the context and content rather than length, which may be a poor substitute. A case in point that underscores the power of brevity is the remarkable Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on 19 November 1863. This two-minute-long speech of ten sentences, with just 271 words, is considered one of the most impactful speeches made in American history. The field of science, too, is rich with examples of complex ideas represented with great simplicity. The powerful theory of relativity was expressed simply by Albert Einstein in the memorable equation E=mc2. I recall the words attributed to Einsteinthat everything must be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.

The periodic table, for instance, envisioned by Dmitri Mendeleev, is another classic example of structural elegance. In a concise array, the periodic table comprises ninety-two natural elements and signifies their properties. Communication across the ages has been impacted by technology. A lot has changed from the analog days of the telegraph to the 140-character medium offered by social media platforms like Twitter. However, in todays digital age, the significance of brevity in communication has only been amplified. This is probably because now more than ever, our fast-paced lives require data, knowledge and insights to be provided in bite-sized capsules for quick assimilation and application.

It is no wonder, therefore, that words like tweet have become a part of our lexicon. In the larger context of how our world is evolving, both in terms of communication and decreasing attention spans, this book of quotes by Dr N.S. Rajan (or N.S. as I refer to him) is par for the course. The famous philosopher, Sir Francis Bacon once remarked, Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. This book needs to be chewed and digestedit needs to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

I would urge you to not rush through the book but spend time slowly reading through it, mulling over the words, reflecting on the quotes, deriving perspectives from them. N.S. shares intuitive observations on a number of topics in his inimitable style. I am sure the views expressed in his book on happiness at work and life will seed ideas in your mind. As you read through, page by page, you will definitely find much that will resonate with you. Cyrus P. Cyrus P.

Mistry Chairman, Tata Sons Ltd