Think Like a Guru
Reading the writings of a guru means thinking like one, and Bar Bar Baba Ji encourages readers to do just that in Think Like a Guru. This isn’t your typical book about philosophy and business. It’s a profoundly introspective yet surprisingly useful investigation of the organization, dissemination, and transformation of information itself—whether in a classroom, a boardroom, or within oneself.
Fundamentally, Think Like a Guru helps people connect the dots between organizational intelligence and spiritual clarity. It expands on the concepts of the author’s previous “One Minute Knowledge Manager” framework to provide a much more comprehensive theory of knowledge. Baba Ji demonstrates how everything, from the rhythm of the human mind to the flow of data in a firm, exists in creative tension by using the idea of the interdependence of opposites, a concept that nicely mirrors both Taoist balance and systems thinking. He contends that this dynamic is what propels knowledge and advancement.
A Fresh Lens on Knowledge and Leadership
In addition to abstract theory, the book offers a straightforward, nearly meditative method for handling concepts and choices. The notion that “knowledge is the interdependence of opposites” serves as a tool for more effective leadership since it recognizes that in order to make significant progress, creativity and structure, action and reflection, and vision and pragmatism must coexist.
Think Like a Guru serves as a road map for holistic thinking for educators, business executives, and spiritual seekers. Identify, divide, and concentrate, or the “One Minute Knowledge Manager” technique, is still one of the most straightforward and successful cognitive exercises for creativity and problem-solving.
Voices of Praise
The recommendations are very clear. It is “a surprisingly original blend of philosophy, business, and practical frameworks,” according to industry heavyweights like Ron Betta (Disney, EA Sports). The University of Phoenix’s Dr. Reilly Atkinson describes it as “very well written, very readable, and highly engaging.” Even Eliyahu Goldratt’s The Goal, a classic in systems-based improvement, has been favorably compared to the book.
But perhaps the most telling praise comes from Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, who once remarked: “Don, I didn’t define Quality as the interdependence of opposites—you did.” This direct philosophical heritage is uncommon, and it places Think Like a Guru in that same tradition by examining the connections between quality, wisdom, and logic.
Final Thoughts
Think Like a Guru serves as a sophisticated reminder that managing knowledge is about consciousness rather than control. It merits careful consideration whether you read it as a philosophical treatise, a leadership manual, or a spiritual meditation. Bar Bar Baba Ji writes with conviction and clarity, providing not only a book but also a perspective on the world that is awake, balanced, and connected.
This is one to have on your desk—and in your head—if you’ve ever pondered how to lead with knowledge, create with balance, or think with full consciousness. I read a lot of books like this, but this one stood out to me. It’s refreshingly unique in the genre and will truly change the way you think!
5 stars from me!
You can get it for yourself from Amazon and it’s also in Kindle Unlimited.