Book Review

The Long Tail
Chris Anderson

This book is on the future of marketing using the internet, how the tail on the bell curve is extended out and the head flattened (see diagram). The invention of internet brings marvellous benefits and changes to the behaviour of the population. People can now have endless choice for a product due to zero inventory costs as compared to bricks-and-mortar stores where shelf space is money. Also, word of mouth spreads faster through the medium as it can be seen by the world (think blogs, subject specific forums).



This is useful for people studying consumer behaviour on the micro level, how demand shift from hits to niches. Really useful book but don't really appeal to me. Don't really like the style of writing as I don't see the proper flow of content and it gets repetitve.

Only for people in the area of IT, marketing.

New Look

Changed a new layout to make the blog nicer. Rather than just my face sitting there permanently and scaring people away, I've decided to put a meaningful picture on the heading representing the theme of this place. I scoured the web for nice pictures of books but to no avail, so I settled for this picture that you are seeing right now.

Why books? Because books represent knowledge and the desire to learn, because books represent a big part of my life now, and that education forms a very important role in a person's life. It shapes the values in you and guides you to the place you want to go.

This, is telling us about life. In life, there are obstacles. And you have to climb over the obstacles to see the world on the other side, which is uncertain. But often, the world on the other side is the world we want to see, no matter how bad it looks, because we choose to be there. So, learn to overcome it, the bigger it is, the more you will appreciate the scenery on the other side.

Is it a coincidence that "earn" is part of "learn"? Think about it.

Desperation

Now that exams are over, the books lying around the house have to be packed properly and orderly since there is a chance that I might need to use it again (you wish I da bao) for my CFA exam later this December.

Some of my peers are still suffering the long and arduous ride sitting in the exam hall or losing the battle halfway through. Thinking back, it was tough during the last week of exams. However, no matter how unfavourable circumstances are, I do not waste time in blaming anyone, instead I use it to work doubly hard. No point whining since no one can change that.

I was desperate during that last burst of revision. To conquer that, I woke up almost every other day at 6am, studied for 2 hours and napped till 9am, afterwhich proceeded to the library for the rest of the day. As I said before and say again, I do not believe in burning the midnight oil. Go ahead and be part of the study-late gang if you like.

I used everything to boost my own morale. Chicken essence, visit to temple and whatever not. I use these unseen forces to deceive my brain that I am one level higher than my previous body. How stupid does that sound, right? You can program your brain for more of that if you know how to.

I even drew up my own timetable to ensure that I was on the right track.

Not a very humble student, I must say.