Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life

by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Arun K. Tiwari is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and is currently Director of CARE Foundation; Hyderabad. He took up creative scientific writing in 1987 and since then has written several books including the best seller Wings of Fire with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Genres: Nonfiction

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (Tamil: அவுல் பகீர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் அப்துல் கலாம்) usually referred to as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was one of India's most distinguished scientists. He was an Aerospace engineer, professor, and chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. During his term as President, he was popularly known as the People's President.

Before his term as India's president, he worked as an aeronautical engineer with DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). He was responsible for the development of India's first satellite launch vehicle,the SLV-3 He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. Kalam played a pivotal organisational, technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.

He has the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from thirty universities and the country's three highest civilian honours - Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and Bharat Ratna (1997).

Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who became popular as ‘People’s President’, passed away on July 27th, 2015 at the age of 83 in Shillong, India.

Reviews

[Anil Swarup · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the books written by late A P J Abdul Kalam are inspiring. However, this is the best a amongst those that I have read so far. This books provides insights into various aspects of human existence as well as about those that inspired Abdul Kalam during his formative years. The narration comes through a conversation with one of his proteges who himself contributes substantially. The essence of what gets outlined in the book lies in this seminal statement : "we erroneously consider ourselves as the centre of our life. We expect everything to happen our way and to our benefit". This, according to him, is the primary problem. The salvation lies in looking for true peace that you "carry within yourself, regardless of external circumstances" as he goes on to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson. He elaborates it further : "free man is one who recognises the compulsions inherent in his being and seeks to read, learn and inwardly digest each day's experience rather than be carried away by it. The independence from narcissism is self realisation"
The author is not averse to politics but he sounds a warning that "when politics degrades itself to political adventurism, the nation would be on the calamitous road to inevitable disaster and ruination

[Tony Sheldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The examples of guiding souls is very inspiring and informative.The rest of the book is more or less on spiritual awakening and self realization of one's consciousness and surroundings and his ascent and descent in life.Overall the book was an easy read but not a worth while book.Won't recommend reading it because there are a lot better books than this.Most annoying part in the book is the repeated praising that both the people in the conversation did of each other.Sometimes it was unnecessary and sometimes overrated or exaggerated.

[Kaavyashri Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was exactly as i thought it would be.written in an easy to read format of a dialogue between apj kalam and arun tiwari,it was an inspiring eye opener.it gave me "wings of fire"to discover my essence and "ignited"my mind.recommend this to everyone especially to those who are very spiritualy inquisitive despite not being advanced in spiritual matters

[Rajiv Bhattacharya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though I am a big fan of Dr APJ Kalam but this book was very disappointing . It just seems like mindless ramblings between the author and Dr Kalam. The conversational tone of the book is too short to get deep into any of the topic being discussed . Most of the philosophical stuff went over my head too. Dr Kalam's fans should stick to "Wings of Fire" and " Ignited Minds".

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book title is self-explanatory. Interesting dialogues between Arun K. Towari and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on various aspects - purpose of life, human nature.

[Manish Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read!!!!!!!!!!

[Parul]

THIS NOVEL TOPIC IS MUCH INTERESTING SO WANT TO READ TO KNOW THE SYNOPSIS OF IT

[Kiran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live with essence.

[Rahul Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Yagnyeswar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's inspiring,Spiritual and soul enriching.This book guides to have balance in life and to have a broader mind and to be open to life.