Knowledge and information

One more confused set of words where the two words are often used interchangeably. Information is something that is gathered over time. Knowledge can’t be gathered. It is something that is always present. Information can be generated but not knowledge.

Any person who is considered as an expert in any field is often called as knowledgeable. What they actually mean is that person is well informed. The more a person gathers information and the more efficiently does he use the information, he will often be touted as knowledgeable. But actually he is not knowledgeable but well informed. Information is about survival but knowledge is way beyond it.

Information doesn’t free a person. It is actually a chain, a never ending one. It doesn’t matter the kind of information one has, it never becomes enough. It is a game of constant accumulation and gathering. But knowledge is not like that. Knowledge frees the person from everything including the very knowledge.

My Books Review: May '11

      The path to prosperity: For many a time, I’d  heard the name of James Allen but never had read any of his writings. This was the very first time that I ever read any of his writings. The path to prosperity is a small book which can be categorized as moral books or kinds. James Allen can be called as American saint because he speaks like a saint. For us, who come from a country like India, it may not look like the greatest thing, because we grew up listening to so many profound philosophies and laws but to a westerner, it may be a profound thing in itself. It is a good book though which emphasizes on introspection, positive thinking, unselfishness and a few other virtues. There are some poems given at the end of each chapter which were really well written, a good use of the language. 

My Books Review: Apr '11

1) The Natural State: This one is a compilation of conversations with U.G. Krishnamurti. Neither the man nor this book can be classified into any category or genre whatsoever. In one sentence, if I have to describe what he tells I can put it like this ‘he destroys every kind of established beliefs and doesn’t give a new one in their place’. That makes him the more complicated. One thing is for sure. One can’t be the same as he/she was before after reading the book.

A small quote from the book” Unless you are free from the desire of all desires—liberation or self-realization—you will be miserable. The ultimate goal which society has placed before us is the one that has to go. Until you are free from that desire you cannot be free from any of your miseries. By suppressing these desires you are not going to be free. This realization is the essential thing, going as it does to the crux of the problem.

It is society that has placed before us the desire for freedom, the desire for liberation, the desire for God, the desire for self-realization. That is the desire you must be free from. Then all these other desires fall into their own natural rhythm. You suppress these desires only because you are afraid society will punish you if you act on them or because you see them as obstacles to your main desire, freedom.”


2) In an antique land: A book which is a hodge-podge of fiction, history, an account of autobiography, religion, anthropology is this book called In an antique land by Amitav Ghosh. The author has done a deep study before writing the book which is very evident in all the chapters of the book. It mainly focuses on the life in the Islamic world mainly Egypt and also the customs over there, the people etc. And also talks about Jews, Hindus, and how many customs are intertwined and also a great deal about the trade between Arab and medieval India People interested in fiction and history will like this.