What Do You Think?

By Asif Ali

Asif Ali's second book What Do You Think? takes a broad, philosophical look at life and all its possible meanings and reflections. It consists of over 150 brief essays on a large variety of topics, written over a span of more than 25 years.
This book aims and aspires to speak for all voices.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398439771

Book preview

Dedication

I wish to dedicate this book ‘What Do You Think?’ to all those who have supported my work, in every form. I dedicate this book to God, my family, friends and all supporters of my work.

Copyright Information ©

Asif Ali 2022

The right of Asif Ali to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398439757 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398439764 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781398439771 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgements

I thank and acknowledge my publishers Austin Macauley Publishers, my family, my friends, and all those who have expressed interest in my essays and poetry.

Preface

Greetings, dear reader.

This book, What Do You Think?, a collection of essays, is written over a span of twenty-five years or more and comprises of a diverse array of topics, which I hope prove to be of universal interest. Each essay feels so intimate to me. Over the span of this book, I truly hope I convey this intimacy.

This is my new book and is a slight departure from my previous publication Chat Up Rhymes, also published by Austin Macauley Publishers, which is a collection of poetry and essays. From every facet and personal way, Chat Up Rhymes was a success. I have my publishers to thank for its continuing success.

The essayists I most read and admire are Sir Francis Bacon, Charles Lamb and, last but by no means least, John Ruskin.

Happy reading.

Author’s Note

I thank you for your support and interest in my new book WHAT DO YOU THINK? Any and all support I receive, no matter what measure, is much appreciated.

I wished to realise a long-harboured dream of publishing a book solely of essays, and so I took a well-earned break from poetry, my parallel writing passion.

Of the two, essays span the longer, consequently I have amassed a great quantity for this book. This book comprises of a fifth of my entire output. I wished to produce for readership a sum total of just over 150 essays. With much encouragement from family, friends, readers and my esteemed publishers, please find before you, my book. As always, I thank God for bestowing the gift of benevolence, humanity and writing upon me. Much of my prose and verse have manifested in the very dark hours of night.

Gratitude Page

I am the author of Chat Up Rhymes, also published by the great and unique Austin Macauley Publishers. I thank all those, many in number, who have encouraged me in more than words. Over the years, the number of supporters ran into hundreds. Chat Up Rhymes is a tidy collection of poems and essays. I cannot thank my supporters enough for all their support. When I doubted my abilities, the support perpetuated my morale to carry on writing.

I truly feel this book speaks to all who shall intend to read it. I have given the essays in this book much thought and consideration. I hope, in due course, you concur with the above statement. May you be the judge of my book.

As aforementioned, may you and all who follow, find my reflections of universal benefit and meaning.

Thank you for your time.

Asif.

1. The World We Will Never

Know

The world is always and forever changing. It hardly stands still. Even moments we think all is exhausted, the world does not rest. Unlike us, the world cannot afford even one second’s rest and pause. Even momentary rest would prove disastrous.

The world we know today is very markedly different from the world prior, and the world of the future will be markedly different from the world of the present. Present changes will not be apparent till way into the future.

No part or region of the world will forever remain still. Look outside your window and you might form the visual impression that nothing is changing. The changes we fail to discern are very gradual. The worlds of our intimate human acquaintances will very gradually transform into worlds of remote human acquaintances.

All aspects of our modern world may tomorrow be unrecognisable. The world of today will tomorrow be nothing more than dust of the past. How much of today’s world do we truly know? Much of today’s world, we will never know.

2. Humility

People are constantly coming and going through life’s ever revolving door. We should count ourselves fortunate to have time to live and cherish this time. We all know with the assured knowledge that we shall not get a second chance or opportunity to re-live the one life.

It is a great quality to live productively, making full use of every second that we avail. The more we put into life, the more we shall derive.

We should never forget who put us on Earth. Without our creator, God, we would never have come into existence. Our every breath is possible only because our Creator permits us life. We should, therefore, be completely aware about life. Humility teaches us life’s values and meanings. These values and meanings become manifest, when we demonstrate the deepest and sincerest humility, and count all of our blessings of life.

Without or being bereft of humility, we shall remain foolish and proud. We shall magnify our smallest accomplishments and victories. We shall become so small and trivial in our perspectives of life.

3. Sense of Equality

To recognise that human beings are both different and similar is a great quality, and an even more admirable quality is to treat both similarities and differences the same. To understand this, one must see both in their true light.

All human beings are born equal. This is what the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens, in large part, succeeded to convey. Though separated by history and geography, both aforementioned individuals had a common purpose, which was to create equal societies or societies based on the premise or sense of equality. Alas, the world has drifted farther from this sense. How much of this sense has the world honoured?

We must never stop believing in equal societies. We must with all human effort strive for equality for all. This must remain human’s common goal. Equality is not an individual effort, but a global one.

4. Inner V Outer Strength

An egg is a deceptive specimen. From an external perspective, it appears as solid as a rock. If one tries to crack or break a rock, it requires much strength and power. On the other hand, a slight tap on an egg renders it broken and cracked.

Human strength is much that of an egg shell. Do we judge human strength from the outer or inner shell? After all, we are physical shells. Sometimes we judge human strength from the external shell. Is this an accurate means of gauging human strength? Supposedly, each one measures human strength in his or her way?

What is our definition of strength? Strength comes in many forms. There is inner and outer strength. Some people favour the physically or externally strong. Yet others look upon the inner as being the true measure of human strength. Some people may judge outer strength in the same light as they judge outer beauty. Perhaps in all fairness, this is an over-simplification of both.

5. Genes to Genes

All of us come about in part due to our parents’ decision to have us. It needs or requires no word of mention that we have not come about as beings of life,