The Little Manual of Success

Vikas Malkani is the founder of SoulCentre, and his work seeks to apply the principles of ancient wisdom to modern life. The subtitle referring to essential secrets should not put the reader off (publisher's hype) as there is a great deal of good advice in the book. The nine chapters encourage people to believe in themselves, take responsibility, reject mediocrity, dare to be different and never give up. Within the chapters are sound guidelines for putting the advice into practice. An interesting feature is the sections on leadership lessons from Gandhi and success skills from Jesus, which enables one to reframe the way they live their lives in a modern idiom. The book includes an inspiring quotation from Pope John XXIII: 'Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do.'