Enakshi reviews Connect, by Mark Ebinger. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Book: Connect

Author: Mark Ebinger

Publisher: Self-published

Rating: 5/5

‘A mindset is a lens we don’t think about but rather think from.’  ~ Mark Ebinger, Connect

Connect is not a book for passive readers. This is the very first thought that came to my mind once I had finished reading the introduction. Even the author mentions this very clearly. Based on the hypothesis that ‘we are all connected by a tangible tether of love between us’, Connect guides you through the intensive process of identifying the areas of life where you ‘stop short of fully connecting’ with yourself and with others. For all the ensurient individuals, who are always on the lookout for devouring books that leave an indelible impact on the mind, Connect should be your next choice.

Based on the hypothesis that ‘we are all connected by a tangible tether of love between us’, Connect guides you through the intensive process of identifying the areas of life where you ‘stop short of fully connecting’ with yourself and with others. For all the ensurient individuals, who are always on the lookout for devouring books that leave an indelible impact on the mind, Connect should be your next choice.

Divided into three parts, Connect establishes its purpose first and then goes on to elaborate on the concealed aspects of human personality. The basic question that the author repeatedly asks his readers is ‘How do we re-establish the lost connection with ourselves, others and life? Using personal anecdotes and adding a tinge of sarcastic humour, he succeeds in bringing forth the shortcomings and then highlighting on the probable solution. The author failed to connect with himself during his childhood because of his mother’s erratic behaviour. Her manic depression forced her to either be too far away from her kids or restrict them within the bower preventing them from connecting with anybody. This forms the pivot around which the entire learning experience of the author revolves. The turning point in the author’s life was when he realised that he couldn’t know his sister well if she didn’t know herself. That paved path for personal development training that transformed his life forever.

The first part of the book focusses on the connection with self. Under this section, a lot of realistic issues are handled with care. Using his own experiences and instances that taught him a lesson, the author guides the reader and helps the reader fight anxiety by controlling the reaction and shifting the core pattern (or rather breaking it) so that space for something better can be made. He goes on to discuss the importance of knowing what you want and how to get it. ‘Learning to be with a new feeling of nothingness’ is how the author could connect with his mind and soul and prevent anxiety to make its way home. He encourages the readers to be able to distinguish among offer, request and a promise, for only then can one use words wisely and productively.

The second part of the book deals with establishing a connection with others. I think most of us already know the key to a good relationship –– good listening. That’s what becomes the central point of this section.

The second part of the book deals with establishing a connection with others. I think most of us already know the key to a good relationship — good listening. That’s what becomes the central point of this section. Explaining the difference between assertions and assessments, the author deftly closes this section by emphasizing on the importance of a good conversation because conversations can either make or break relationships.

The last section is the shortest section because 80% of the battle is won if you know the art of connecting with self and others. What’s left is the connection with life. The author says that it is imperative to know your surroundings and connect/ feel at home when you are around them. It is like joining the dots together to be able to see the bigger picture, which in this case is experiencing the flow of life. Weaving an engaging narrative together with nonfiction deductions, Mark deftly passes the muster. His writing has a charm that makes you read and read even more. His words make you empathize with him, for you feel like you have gone through similar circumstances. And this acts as a boon because only when you are able to relate with the mindset of the author can his/her words make a difference.

Weaving an engaging narrative together with nonfiction deductions, Mark deftly passes the muster. His writing has a charm that makes you read and read even more. His words make you empathize with him, for you feel like you have gone through similar circumstances.

Neatly edited and perfectly categorised, Connect is the book that helped me connect with my mind and understand the shortcomings in my relationship with my being.

Best wishes to Mark!

Photo sourced by the reviewer