1. Taking Myers-Briggs Personality test.

Understanding ourselves is the first step in doing anything meaningful in life. Psychological Tests like Myers-Briggs Personality test gave me an idea about my strengths and weakness. There are pro’s and con’s in everyone’s character. Knowing where I excel and where I trip, helped me to identify my strength and to be less self-critical. There are many free tests available.

2. Michel Sandel’s Harvard Lectures on “Justice”.

A must-take course on justice ( All 12 Lectures + many debates ). It made me realize that deriving our sense of morality is not as easy as it seems. It helped me to develop my moral and social sense. Fun discussion on Ideas of Aristotle to Immanuel Kant & John Locke. Helps improve critical thinking & decision making.

3. “Crash Course” by Green Brothers

Brilliant free crash course on all the subjects. Brushed up all the subjects I left back in the school. Knowledge really changes the way we see things around us. Subjects ranging from Literature, World history, Ecology, Psychology etc..

• Link to Crash Course (all Playlists)

4. “Hardcore History” podcasts by Dan Carlin.

Learning more about history made me shed my prejudices. I learned more about humanity. History education gave me a clear sense of collective human psychology over the time. I understood how and why things are the way they are now.

• Hardcore History. ( all podcasts )


• NB: Also “Common Sense” by Dan Carlin for understanding day to day politics.

5.  Jiddu Krishnamurti Lectures.

My review on the book Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti . “ The Nature of  the Mind ” series (1982), discussion by Jiddu Krishnamurti, David Bohm, Rupert Sheldrake and John Hidley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h55TMI4zP10&list=PLfmo22Z–KLKKsTZgQIdu8rBWS8qRj4yz&w=426&h=320

6. Documentary “LIFE” by David Attenborough (BBC)

Life is the biggest wonder of this world ! Made me fall in love with this world. 10 Episodes.

• “Life” Series by David Attenborough for BBC (10 Episodes)

7. Advaita Vedanta Lectures by Swami Paramarthananda.

Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gītā , BrahmaSutras lectures by Swami Paramarthananda. Swami Paramarthananda is the student of Dayananda Saraswati. Rare discourses. Self-Realization in a rational, non dogmatic way. Not available after the site is down. Courses are offered in Chennai (India).

8. “GOD DELUSION”, “SCIENCE DELUSION” ( AudioBooks) & Debates

Richard Dawkins’s “GOD Delusion” was recommended by a friend, it changed my perception about religion.Learned about “GOD arguments” and “history of religions”.

Rupert Sheldrakes “SCIENCE Delusion” ( also known as “Science Set Free”), taught me about dogmas of science and made me think the limitations of science.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FiHRVb_uE0&w=425&h=240

NB: Also Debates & Lectures on GOD, Consciousness & Mind.

9. VICE News Documentaries

Gave me an idea about the lives of people in the Middle-east & Africa. Real life is much more dramatic than what we see in the movies. Life & struggles of humanity. I felt horrified and relieved at the same time.

• From ISIS to the Islamic State


• The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Rockets and Revenge


• Ghosts of Aleppo


• The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsCZzpmbEcs&list=PLw613M86o5o7ELT6LKyJFKawB6gUsZSf7&w=425&h=240

VICE NEWS Playlists

10. Alain de Botton’s “Status Anxiety” & “Art of Travelling”

My review on “Status Anxiety” by Alain de Botton. Two great documentaries, change the way we see the world.

http://youtu.be/t1MqJPHxy6g&w=425&h=240

http://youtu.be/kETN114A4IE&w=425&h=240

Others

Movies, Series & Games

Lot of Movies, Games & Series. Even Fiction can teach / make us experience life.

Some among them are…

• The Shawshank Redemption.


• Pursuit of happiness.


• Waking Life.


• The Trueman show.


• Richard Linklater Movies.


• Charlie Kaufman Movies.


• Christopher Nolen Movies.


• Fallout: New Vegas Game ( All Platform )


• Game Of Thrones Series.


• House of Cards Series.

From each moment of learning we either asserts or rejects certain ideas. From traveling to reading books to conversing with someone, each event changes our perceptions, prejudices & opinions. Such changes are nothing but an attempt to understand our world better. It will go on.