From Knowledge to Wisdom: The Art of Living Happily in an Imperfect World

by Awdhesh Singh

Knowledge is not power but only a ‘potential power’. We are today equipped with great knowledge acquired through teachers and books by years of education and through internet and media. Yet our life continues to be miserable because we either don’t know how to use knowledge or we often use it in the wrong way. Only a wise person knows how to use knowledge to achieve the goals of his or her life.

Knowledge is the source of wisdom just as food is the source of our life. The challenge is to assimilate the knowledge acquired through different sources and make it ‘alive’ through the power of our Soul—using our intuition and judgment. While it is true that wisdom comes from ‘within’—but the trigger of wisdom is given by knowledge that makes us ‘think’ and create ‘thoughts’ that are deeply connected with real life.

The thirty essays written by Dr. Awdhesh Singh stirs your mind and make you think ‘thoughts’ that connects and harmonizes the apparent contradictions of diverse thoughts and awaken your wisdom through self-realization. The essays included in this book are:-

1: The Trinity of Knowledge
2: The Soul of Knowledge
3: Truths of Life Are neither Black nor White
4: Simple Living- High Thinking
5: The Mystery of Creativity
6: Imagination is the Mother of Knowledge
7: The Seven Pillars of Creativity
8: As is the Mind of Society, So is the Mind of Man
9: Commonsense- Discover the Genius within You
10: Four Methods to Understand the World
11: Four Steps to Know a Person Completely
12: Words Are Nothing: Meaning is Everything
13: Discard Guru for Learning True Knowledge
14: Why Inaction is Sometimes Better than Action?
15: If You Care for Image, You Can’t Care for Truth
16: From One Deception to Another
17: Life is like a Game of Cards
18: Life is Just a Game: Don’t Lose Heart, Be Sporting
19: Life is A Song: Understand Its Mystery and Enjoy Life
20: Living Happily in an Imperfect World
21: The Greatest Selling Fallacy of this World
22: If it is not free, It is of no Value
23: The Illusion of Maya
24: Secret is the Mystery of Sacredness
25: The Lies of Arts
26: The Universal Cycle of Wisdom
27: One who Knows, Knows Not
28: The Dangerous Cocktail of Truth and Fiction
29: Rule of the Feminine
30: Wish to Solve Your Problems Effortlessly: Follow the Feminine Way

156 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

Dr Awdhesh Singh is a best-selling author and former IRS officer. He did his B Tech from IIT (BHU) Varanasi, M Tech from IIT Delhi and PhD from ABV-Indian Institute of Indian Institute of Technology & Management (IIITM) Gwalior. He is the founding Director of Awdhesh Academy, an online learning platform. He is also a top civil services educator at Unacademy and Prepladder.
He took voluntary retirement in 2016 after serving the Government of India for over twenty-five years. He was awarded ‘Certificate of Merit’ by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in 2011 and “Presidential Award by the Government of India in 2015.
He has written eight books, over 500 articles, and over 5,600 answers on Quora.com. He is the sixth most followed writer on Quora Globally, with over 3.35 lakh followers and over 225 million answer views.

Reviews

[PanOrpheus PanOrpheus · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this thought-provoking book, Dr. Singh examines a variety of concepts that start with knowledge. The ‘what, why, and how’ of knowledge is examined through vignettes and predominately Dr. Singh’s imaginative, unique style and viewpoint. After setting the groundwork, he examines the application of knowledge in relation to ‘common sense’, ‘knowing’ other people, and the infinite problems of daily life. He presents his views clearly in a variety of ways, and makes difficult concepts come to life. Two Thumbs up and five stars! (Review by Howard Lipman, pen name PanOrpheus, author of the ‘Delphic Oracle’ and ‘Tesla’s tower’ book series)

[Jenny Hayworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep book written for those who love an examination of science, religious teachings and philosophy this book examines critical issues and questions common to all and by reasoning and examination attempts to help the reader teach himself and improve his happiness and inner peace and contentment in this life.

[Terry Sprouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does one move from knowledge to wisdom? We all have some degree of knowledge, but if we would go to the next level and convert that knowledge to wisdom, where do we begin?

This book provides some answers, with a healthy number of insightful quotes and examples to guide us and entertain us along the way.

In observing, “wisdom can’t be acquired but comes from within by intuition and self realization,” the author reminds me of another of my favorite author/philosophers, Ralph Waldo Emerson and his essay "Self Reliance.". The knowledge that the world presents us is revealed as contradictory and without firm foundation.

Each chapter in the book is a separate essay, all related to the theme of true knowledge and wisdom. All the chapters accomplished their purpose of forcing the reader to reflect on how the compelling messages. Often times, I would pause in my reading to let my mind ponder what was being said and how it fit into my own belief system.

I particularly liked the chapter entitled, “Wish to Solve Your Problems Effortlessly: Follow the Feminine Way.” He observes, Instead of using physical power, as men do, the female’s method of solving problems is to use the power of the soul. Women are more likely to use the tools of charm, service (or thoughtfulness), love and non-violence.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A enlightening book opening up the thought process for the different types of knowledge. It includes why, when we live in a society of knowledge we are still not happy, as knowledge is the key to happiness.

It is not a light read, so you must have your thinking caps on, but an insightful one, showing different points of view.

[Govinda Hinduja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awdhesh singh has clearly described the art of living happily:)