Author: Humaira Nasim
Review by: Sadaf Azhar Omar – Subeditor, hiba
Self- awareness is the key to self-improvement – Humaira Nasim’s book aims to help us acquire this mindfulness for making positive and effective changes in our lives.
Divided into thirteen chapters, each with a summary, her book holds some very interesting analogies and examples, such as that of the Muslim daily prayer schedule serving as the means of preventing procrastination. She explains that the idea of breaking down tasks into easily achievable goals is one of the benefits of prayers being held at different times of the day. She believes that this also is the wisdom behind prayers being of varying length. Another illustration, which she uses in several chapters, is that of being stranded on an island with a limited number of gold coins. These gold coins may represent various aspects of our life, for instance, time and the importance of prioritization.
Some of the writer’s ideas will resonate with those who struggle against negativity or with people infringing upon their time and resources. Throughout the book, she effectively uses quotations, with one of my personal favourites being by Rumi in the context of dealing with criticisms: “If you are irritated by every rub, how will you become polished?” The author explains certain ideas in practical terms, such as how addictions eat away our precious time, how to detoxify our mind, body and soul, and how important it is to find and align your purpose in life with your resources and abilities.
However, “Rediscover” may be called a tedious read. The chapters lack connectivity, and the entire book could benefit from editing and proofreading. Then there are generalizations, such as her example of the ‘middle child syndrome’, who she feels suffers due to ‘leaky boundaries’. Often, such generalizations and extreme scenarios (such as about societal pressure and perceptions about marriage in South Asia) are not entirely true and leave the reader feeling frustrated rather than uplifted.
Similarly, certain terms could have been phrased better. Consider the title of chapter four: “I love being naked”. The writer’s purpose is to encourage us to be comfortable in our own skin, as well as accept and try to improve upon our shortcomings by using our skills and abilities to fulfill our purpose in life. Yet, the title sounds risqué and jarring.
Finally, the author assumes that the reader is both Muslim and South Asian and thus will understand her religious and cultural references. “Rediscover” is, therefore, a self-help book catering to the Muslims of South Asia that offers practical tips and some keen observations.
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