Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Westland Books
Pages: 382
Published: January 2020
Rating: 4.5/5
Buy at: Amazon
Summary:
Tech entrepreneur Mukesh Bansal has been a lifelong student of human performance optimisation. He has studied the science behind it, and worked closely with high performers across business, sports, and entertainment, to understand what it takes to transcend apparent limitations and achieve true potential.
Through his entrepreneurial experience and studying the field of health and fitness, Bansal came to understand the enormous power of plasticity: the ability of the human brain to rewire itself at will as we develop new skills. He also realised that high performers across domains rely on common tools that were embraced by ancient wisdom and are validated by modern science. Knowing that high performance is not a matter of genetics or luck is highly empowering.
No Limits distills Bansal’s findings on talent, deliberate practice, mindset, habit, willpower, and learning. It is a guide to maximising one’s potential with well-defined strategies. So, no matter what you do, you can be a superior version of yourself, performing at increasingly better levels, constantly reaching higher.
Review:
Is talent innate or it can be developed with deliberate practice? Can you rewire your mind at will? Is creativity limited to the arts? How does one unleash the creativity within?
No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance by Mukesh Bansal weaves together ancient wisdom and modern science providing you insights and tools for high performance. A comprehensive book that guides you towards the path of excellence while dispelling long harbored myths. The body and the mind do indeed have no limitations.
“The human brain has 100 billion neurons, each neuron connected to 10,000 other neurons. Sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe.” – Michio Kaku
Unlike the typical self-help books, this is a well-rounded one where the author shares experiences, wisdom, and insights. The case studies from the fields of music and sports make for an interesting read. It has a lot of information packed in a little less than 400 pages. I would suggest spacing out the reading to process it all.
The book is divided into four sections – the author’s own journey, the science and foundation, the tools, and finally the implementation. It is a well-researched book that discusses habit formation, the plastic mind, and life’s purpose with equal ease.
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which one to keep” – Scott Adams
I couldn’t help comparing it to Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life that I read last month. The two books are quite similar in structure.
The language is simple. Although it does include a lot of statistics, it is easy to read. The book contains “performance hacks” that are quite common in self-help books. They are a great way to implement the takeaways from the chapters. There is also a performance cheat sheet at the end of the book to summarize it all. The book is peppered with quotes that I always relish.
I enjoyed reading the book and would be returning to it quite often. I highly recommend it and it is an asset to your bookshelf.
Is talent innate or can be developed with deliberate practice? Can you rewire your mind at will? No Limits by Mukesh Bansal Book Review @WestlandBooks #BookReview Share on X
About the author
Mukesh Bansal is a computer science engineer from IIT Kanpur and a technology entrepreneur. He founded India’s largest fashion retailer, Myntra, and headed the e-commerce division of Flipkart after a highly successful acquisition.
He is the co-founder of Cure Fit Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. where he is involved in building a next-generation health platform that makes holistic health easy and accessible for everyone. He has over ten years of experience in multiple early-stage start-ups in the Silicon Valley (NexTag, eWanted, Centrata, newScale) where he held various senior management positions in product management and marketing.
I would like to thank Writersmelon and the publisher for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small percentage of the sale at no cost to you.
Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay
February 23, 2020 @ 11:53 am
I love your varied choice of books. Not my kind of read but I so appreciate the variety you choose.
February 23, 2020 @ 5:54 pm
Thank you, Sonia. I like to keep experimenting with different book genres.
February 25, 2020 @ 7:42 pm
This sounds like a good read and I like your practical advise of spacing out the reading. Self help books can be tedious and reading them with such a thought process, takes away from the learning from it. So it’s better to read tin slowly and in bits.
February 26, 2020 @ 7:03 pm
Do pick it up, Shalz. Honestly, I did not expect it to be packed with so much information. Some aspects were a revelation.
October 4, 2020 @ 9:20 am
This seems an interesting read, and although I am not one of those to quickly divulge in this genre, I am very much intrigued to read this book! You have penned beautifully.
October 6, 2020 @ 5:15 pm
Looks like a worthy read.
October 8, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
It indeed is. Do check it out.
October 7, 2020 @ 11:24 am
Thanks for bringing this book to the readers and introducing a new author.
#lifemarblesRead
October 8, 2020 @ 3:36 pm
My pleasure 🙂 . That has been the idea behind the blog, to bring lesser-known books to the fore.
October 8, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
Thank you, Jyoti. It is one of those books that would appeal to readers who don’t enjoy non-fiction as much.
October 4, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Now that looks like a great read for sure. Looks quite interesting and love the detailing
October 13, 2020 @ 5:52 pm
It indeed is. I didn’t expect the book to be packed with so much information.
October 4, 2020 @ 2:30 pm
Can talent be acquired or is it in-built is a question many of us ponder upon. This sounds like a book I’ll surely enjoy reading. Good review! Adding it to my TBR.
October 13, 2020 @ 5:53 pm
Thank you Varsh 🙂 Do share your thoughts too.
October 4, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
I usually don’t read such books, but with performance hacks and stats, I might consider reading it,
October 13, 2020 @ 5:55 pm
I can understand that. Most self-help books out there are regurgitated stuff. Do check this one out.
October 4, 2020 @ 4:51 pm
I was already thinking of picking up Ikigai.Now you have added Mukesh Bansal’s book to my list.Currently reading Steve Jobs biography.
October 13, 2020 @ 5:57 pm
Glad to read that 🙂 . Steve Jobs biography one has been on my TBR for a while now. Maybe we can share our thoughts one day.
October 4, 2020 @ 9:39 pm
An asset to my book shelf. Well, that is a fab book review and recommendation.
October 13, 2020 @ 5:57 pm
Thank you Anahita 🙂
October 4, 2020 @ 10:14 pm
This really seems an interesting book to grab and read!! I loved the honest review!!
October 4, 2020 @ 10:49 pm
That’s good that it’s not usual self-help book. Book with experiences always connect with the reader well.
October 4, 2020 @ 11:05 pm
Glad to know about this book though I am not buying any new ones right now, but will add this in my TBR. Thanks You
October 4, 2020 @ 11:07 pm
I had heard of Cultfit but never knew who was behind it.thank you so much for the info Ritu 🙂
October 4, 2020 @ 11:36 pm
Seems such an interesting read. It promises to give insight on how to be a superior version of oneself – a thought that excites me. Your review has convinced me to buy the book. I would love to read it.
October 5, 2020 @ 9:01 am
The best part is we all know about the things written in these books ,but it takes the science to boost those beliefs.I am an Ikigai fan girl and will check this one out Ritu.Great read.
October 5, 2020 @ 11:55 am
Such a intriguing take. Will so love to give it a read, after reading your take on it.
October 5, 2020 @ 4:47 pm
it’s indeed a valid point that how much is acquired and how much inherited, I’ll certainly go through the book. nice review.
October 6, 2020 @ 9:47 am
This seems a great read. You reviewed it perfectly.. i m surely getting a copy asap
October 6, 2020 @ 7:43 pm
A book with a unique cocept and a great cover. Your review that it is a great book and I love the mixture of ancient and modern. Thank you sharing it. Will pick it up soon.
October 6, 2020 @ 9:29 pm
Mukesh Bansal is an excellent example of growing new-age Indian Entrepreneurs .. This book surely gives an insight into his journey
October 6, 2020 @ 11:28 pm
This book sounds like an interesting read. I’m definitely interested in checking this out. #tmmreads
October 7, 2020 @ 2:45 am
Thanks for the review of the book. You have captured the right essence of the book that makes it a good read. Thanks for sharing.
October 7, 2020 @ 4:50 pm
Need to pick up both the books then, this one and Ikigai upon tour recommendation.