simransingh, Author at Penguin Random House SEA

Books you can read instead of doomscrolling – Mental Health Awareness Month Edition

Posted on May 23, 2025 by simransingh

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re not here to tell you to think positive or be mindful.

In a world overflowing with endless feeds and fleeting updates, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constant scrolling, especially when life feels overwhelming. If you’re feeling frayed, restless, or just plain tired lately, you’re not alone. Doomscrolling might feel like control, like staying informed—but mostly, it just wears us down. But this month, we’re offering an alternative: start reading.

Not because reading will magically solve anything.
Not because you need another thing on your “self-care” checklist.
But because your mind deserves better than an endless scroll of anxiety, outrage, and distraction. Each book here, whether fiction or nonfiction, offers insight into the human experience, mental wellness, and self-discovery. Here’s what we recommend flipping through instead of your social media feed.

Through the powerful stories of her clients, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Cassandra Aasmundsen-Fry explores how buried experiences shape our feelings of being stuck, in our careers, relationships, and personal fulfillment. This book is a journey of embracing our most difficult parts to rediscover hope and reconnection. It is about unearthing and embracing the difficult parts to reconnect with ourselves and with hope.

The story follows its disturbed protagonist over two nights. She is a Harvard-educated mother who struggles to find an outlet for her loaded brain. Meanwhile, her marriage with an asexual husband unravels and she goes through familiar motions of motherhood for their child. She lives entrenched in her mind, facing demons whispering that the love she gets from this family unit won’t make her own life less devastating.

This book is not a prescriptive roadmap to being more efficient in life. Instead, it will guide you to create your own manual to get things done through the power of self-awareness. It will ask you confronting questions that only you can answer; it will show you how to look inward and dig deep into yourself and how to look outward so that you can understand your surroundings.

Woman Turning F*fty is a collection of savagely personal as well as eclectic experiential essays from a former journalist on the margins of middle age. The author ponders timeless questions about life, maturity, and loss, and dips into universal truths that not even hormonal changes can alter.

Beautifully illustrated and easy to dip into, this book provides a toolkit for self-reflection that honors your unique journey. It’s not about fixing yourself—it’s about discovering who you are and embracing your own path to progress. With bite-sized writings and illustrations, it aims to help get us to know ourselves better and appreciate our unique way of progressing in life through self-reflection and evaluation.

Tracy was at the start of her law career and at the cusp of life when she got a debilitating brainstem stroke that affected her breathing, swallowing, speech, eyesight, and severely weakened her left and paralyzed her right. She found herself effectively a thinking statue at the age of thirty-five. In this memoir, author rebuilds her life, she learns life’s basics all over again, discovering the deeper meaning of faith, resilience, and healing.

A vibrant collection of seventeen stories rooted in Malaysia, Tapestry of the Mind introduces you to characters navigating everything from family loss and legal injustice to spiritual crises and societal stigma. Each story is a rich exploration of the mental and emotional threads that bind us.

A charming and wealthy young man who is grieving, begins to hear his late sister’s cat speak, and the conversations change his life. This touching and surreal novel explores grief, memory, and the strange comforts that help us survive loss.

This book demystifies the process of how to come up with effective, problem-solving ideas. It will help you discover how to unlock the transformative power of creative conflict. You will become an expert at sparking creativity. By the time you get to the end of this book, you will have all the tools to brainstorm like a champion.

Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action. Choosing a book that speaks to your experience or stretches your perspective can be a small but powerful act of care.

So here’s your challenge: put the feed down. Pick one of these books up.
And start feeling a little more like yourself again.

Which one are you starting with?

Read an exclusive excerpt from The Wisdom of Yolo

Posted on May 16, 2025 by simransingh

What if money wasn’t the obstacle, but the opportunity?
In a world where we’re constantly told to grind harder, save more, and never stop chasing the next big thing, The Wisdom of YOLO lands like a breath of fresh air, and a wake-up call. Nikki Jurado’s bold new book doesn’t just ask how to build wealth, but why we’re building it in the first place.

Part manifesto, part financial guide, and part soul-searching workbook, The Wisdom of YOLO challenges the conventional hustle narrative and invites you to rethink what a “rich life” really looks like. If you’ve ever felt torn between living in the moment and planning for the future, this book might just be the roadmap you didn’t know you needed. Read an excerpt below to know more.

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First things first: YOLO isn’t just about living for the moment. It’s about living fully and intentionally, with an understanding that our time here is precious and limited. It’s about making choices that enrich our lives and create lasting happiness.

So, how does money fit into this picture?

Money, in its essence, is a tool. It’s not an end goal but a means to achieve the life you desire.

When you shift your perspective from chasing money to making money work for you, everything changes. Imagine having the financial freedom to pursue your passions, spend quality time with loved ones, and experience the world without the constant worry of financial instability. This is where the wisdom of YOLO and smart financial practices intersect.

Consider this: What are your core values? What brings you true joy and fulfilment?

The first step in making money work for you is aligning your financial goals with your life goals. It’s about clarity and purpose. Ask yourself, how can your money support your dream life? Rather than getting caught up in the grind of earning and spending, think about investing in experiences, knowledge, and assets that grow over time.

Investing is a key strategy here. But let’s demystify it: Investing isn’t just for the Wall Street elite. It’s a powerful way to make your money work for you, no matter where you start. Whether it’s stocks, real estate, or even a side business, investing can create streams of passive income that free up your time and energy. Imagine earning money while you sleep or while you’re off on your next adventure. Isn’t that the ultimate YOLO move?

But wait, there’s more. Let’s talk about the mindset shift required. It’s about breaking free from the pay cheque-to-pay cheque cycle and embracing a mindset of abundance. This means being wise about your spending, yes, but also being bold in your investments. It’s about taking calculated risks that align with your long-term vision.

What if you could turn every dollar into an ally, working tirelessly to build the life you want?

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Learn more in depth about these tips in The Wisdom of YOLO. Get a copy now and watch your life transform for the better.

Read and exclusive excerpt from The Art and Science of Peak Performance

Posted on May 11, 2025May 11, 2025 by simransingh

If you had the opportunity to become the best version of yourself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—would you be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it? Would you commit to mastering your habits, upgrading your mindset, and optimizing every area of your life in pursuit of peak performance?

Art and Science of Peak Performance is a comprehensive playbook that will arm you on how you should think about and address sleep, nutrition and supplementation, movement and exercise, mental health and brain optimization, disease and injury prevention, and biohacking and longevity.

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The Morning Ritual for a Good Night’s Sleep

Ironically, getting a good night’s sleep starts the moment you wake up.

There are a number of people that I have been following through the years, none more impactful to my sleep and morning daily ritual than neuroscientist Dr Andrew Huberman,7 known as the podcaster who ‘got America to care about science’. Also a Stanford School of Medicine associate professor, Huberman hosts Huberman Lab, one of the top health podcasts in the US. His much-followed morning protocol has spurred numerous videos on YouTube documenting how they ‘did the Andrew Huberman morning routine for X days/ weeks and this is what happened’.

When people start writing and vlogging about following something that you do that makes them want to change their life, you know your research and protocol has reached a certain cult status where people have sat up, listened to, and actually done the work.

One of the main things that Huberman discusses in his work is how to set up one’s self throughout the day so you can get a good night’s sleep at the end of it. I have followed his advice and created this morning ritual for myself, with my own personal assessment and with feedback from other experts.

Evening Ritual: Protecting Your Sleep

Your evening ritual, suggests Helene Patounas, should focus on doing things pre-bedtime that would ‘protect’ your sleep, so you get the right quality and amount of shuteye that the body needs to recharge. For Chien Han How, a medical entrepreneur who founded the Sleepwake Centre in Singapore—and a guest/subject matter expert featured in my podcast and previous book Methods to Greatness—the same is true. He recommends getting into a relaxed state before going to sleep, and working on your ‘sleep hygiene’, which essentially is about timing one’s sleep schedule so that your body naturally cues you on when it is time to go to bed and when it is time to wake up.

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Learn more in depth about these rituals in The Art and Science of Peak Performance. Get a copy now and watch your life transform for the better.

New Books Releasing In April 2025

Posted on April 1, 2025 by simransingh

Unmissable, captivating and unputdownable books await you this month. Whether fictional or based on real life, these stories are ones you don’t want to miss. So, whether you’re looking for a book to keep you up all night, an inspiring read to transform your mindset, or simply a captivating escape from the everyday, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at the exciting new releases, and start filling up your reading list—you won’t want to miss these. Happy reading!

Here are the books releasing this month:

Following the stories of three characters, this literary fiction will keep you hooked from the first page. Michelle’s older sister lies in a hospital ward, unconscious and barely breathing. Young Constable Michael Chakrabarti experiences strange happenings during his night shifts. Captain Ishaan heads the newly-inaugurated Department of Supernatural Oddities.

When a mother admits her child in hospital and uses it as childcare, how does she rationalize it? Here’s a story of a woman who struggles to find an outlet for her loaded brain. Her marriage with her asexual husband doesn’t help her worries and all her actions lead her to face her own demons.

Three friends. One mysterious disappearance. Hooked yet? While the two friends try to search for their missing third, they discover things about their friend that they never knew and eventually uncover secrets that they hope will help them find their friend before it’s too late.

Join Fahri Azzat on a rollicking ride through the legal escapades of a Malaysian lawyer, served with a dash of humor and a splash of candor. This collection of essays is like sitting down at the mamak with a witty lawyer friend who has seen it all in the courtroom and isn’t afraid to spill the tea or stir the coffee.

Whether your goal is financial freedom, personal fulfillment, or a purpose-driven existence, The Wisdom of YOLO is your blueprint to making every moment of your only life count. And that is something all need to imbibe, don’t we?

Get ready to make your TBR exciting with all our new releases from April. Happy reading!

Read an exclusive excerpt from Ageless

Posted on March 20, 2025 by simransingh

Ageless aims to bridge the gap between the bench and bedside, to further Dr Michael Khor Kok Seng’s legacy of service to the community and to educate the reader by promoting healthy living and informed choices. Here is an excerpt from the book.

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Gut dysbiosis

The gut is very important to us. We use the word ‘gut’ in both literal and abstract ways. These are all abstracts using the word gut.

No guts = scared, running away

Gut feeling = instinct/intuition

Having guts = courage

A kick in the guts = a big setback

In literal terms, the gut means the intestines or the digestive tract. There are enzymes in the gut that digest the food that we consume. The gut also protects us as a barrier against the bad bacteria that we ingest together with the food that we eat, as well as the poisons and heavy metals that are accidentally taken in.

Among the essential metabolites produced by the gut microbiome are vitamins, protein derivatives (amino acid parts), bile acids, and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Sugars like table sugar and lactose (milk sugar) are quickly absorbed in the upper part of the small intestine, but more complex carbohydrates like starches and fibres are not as easily digested and may travel lower to the large intestine. There, the microbiota help to break down these compounds with their digestive enzymes. The fermentation of indigestible fibres causes the production of SCFA that can be used by the body as a nutrient source but also play an important role in muscle function and possibly the prevention of chronic diseases, including certain cancers and bowel disorders. Clinical studies have shown that SCFA may be useful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

The difference in the composition of the gut microbiota can determine how healthy we are and how long we can live. A healthy gut means a good balance of microbes in our body. These microbes have a lot of functions in the body.

The gut microbiome is a key factor in multiple processes:

It helps to digest and absorb ingested nutrients.

It protects as a barrier against harmful organisms.

It allows the passage into the body of beneficial agents.

It produces essential metabolites like vit B and K.

It provides signalling of peripheral and central nervous systems.

Harm can occur in the body when:

The composition of the gut microbiota is changed, or

The intestinal barrier is compromised.

Some organisms may be pathogenic and cause disease. Although the body and the totality of all these microbes live together peacefully, sometimes there is an imbalance between the synergistic and disease-causing microbes, especially in the elderly. This causes a dysbiosis, a disturbance in the microenvironment in the gut.

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Using a combination of personal anecdotes and thorough research, this book is written with the layman in mind, and lays down the latest scientific evidence in man’s search for healthy longevity.

Read an exclusive excerpt from The Anti-Procrastinator

Posted on March 13, 2025 by simransingh

Unlike most productivity books, The Anti-Procrastinator is not a prescriptive roadmap to being more efficient in life. Instead, it will guide you to create your own manual to get things done through the power of self-awareness.

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After analysing the multiple responses and insights, I noticed three elements were present across the board and kept recurring again and again, like a common denominator of productivity and anti-procrastination: self-awareness, proactivity, and processes.

Self-Awareness

The anti-procrastinators I interviewed were highly self-aware. They knew exactly what worked for them, what didn’t, and their weaknesses and blind spots. As if they were going through a procrastination X-ray, they were able to articulate what they needed to do to make things happen and what their enemies and distractions were. There was no hesitation, and they knew how to tackle the frog—and eat it. They also knew that they had to continuously audit themselves to see what was not working and make adjustments. There was always room to improve, and they were always on the lookout for blind spots.

Proactivity

This group of individuals was decisive and in control, thinking and behaving proactively. They were constantly thinking ahead, foreseeing and planning rather than reacting to external factors and circumstances. They had a plan B in case plan A didn’t work; they packed an umbrella in the bag in case they got caught in the rain. In fact, they didn’t talk about fighting procrastination as much as they talked about preventing it, being two steps ahead, and setting themselves up for success from the first hours of the day. They were not fighting fires; they were preventing them.

Flexible Processes

The anti-procrastinators all had processes, both formal and informal, and there was structure and discipline in the way they approached tasks. Each individual had their own personal recipe developed through trial, error, and iteration. Most workdays looked similar, although not strictly identical, and were pre-planned rather than left to serendipity and inspiration. None of them highlighted motivation as a key driver, but they did emphasize having their own tools and rituals, such as morning and evening routines, calendars, to-do lists, and systems to plan, execute, and measure work. Productivity was calculated and premeditated rather than left to the mercy of goodwill and positive intention.

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Whether you want to learn a new language, run a marathon, learn a new skill, or launch a business, The Anti-Procrastinator will show you that it’s possible, but it starts and ends with you. Self-awareness is the name of the game. Get your copy to learn more.

New Books Releasing in March 2025

Posted on February 28, 2025March 2, 2025 by simransingh

A new month means new books to add to your TBR, and this March, we’re bringing you a lineup that’s impossible to resist. Whether you’re in the mood for intrigue, inspiration, or introspection, there’s something here for every kind of reader. Dive into our list and get ready to discover your next great read!

Here are the books releasing this month:

Written by Kam Raslan, here is a satirical thriller that offers relationship drama, spying and seduction, and thrilling reunions. The book will keep you hooked throughout and take you on a journey of a man who wants to belong to something, or someone.

Our author Marga Ortigas brings to you a collection of savagely personal ‘postcards’—or eclectic experiential essays—from a former journalist on the margins of middle age. This book will make you laugh and realize that you’re not alone in the journey of life and getting older.

Here is a chilling mystery written by Ruben Dass that is also based on true experiences. Exciting, isn’t it? The story follows two forensic investigators who find a body in a horrifying state. This journey leads them to unravel secrets and hunt dark human beings.

Here’s a playbook by John Aguilar for cultivating your genius, optimizing your body, and living over 100! It will guide anyone and everyone who wants to live their best lives, and look and feel good living it. And who doesn’t want that?

Here’s a collection of short stories written by Patrick Sagaram. In these stories you will find people we all know. People like ourselves, searching and yearning, often in the wrong places for something meaningful and real or for at least a brief moment, right.

Tempted to read them all already? Keep an eye on our Instagram page to find out when they release.

Read an exclusive excerpt from Awakening the Advocate

Posted on February 28, 2025 by simransingh

If you’re looking for a way to make a positive impact on the world, Matthew S. Friedman’s inspiring book is the perfect guide. Through his incredible experiences and tireless activism over 35 years, he shows us that one person truly can create a ripple effect that leads to global change.

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When an Act of Kindness Goes Terribly Wrong
Some time ago, I received an urgent email from an Indian businessman named Mr Gupta, who was on a work trip in Bangkok. He described a distressing incident that had occurred the previous evening before his departure back to India.

Mr Gupta explained how, during a visit to the hotel bar, a chaotic scene unfolded before him. A crazed man barged in, shouting at a young woman in Russian and forcibly dragging her towards the exit. Concerned for her well-being, Mr Gupta, along with a few other patrons, stepped forward to help. Within minutes, hotel security arrived and apprehended the man.

Filled with empathy, Mr Gupta sat down with the woman and listened to her harrowing tale. In broken English, she explained how she had fallen victim to a Russian trafficking gang that had deceived her with the promise of a hotel job in Thailand, only to force her into prostitution.

Moved by her plight, Mr Gupta made a compassionate decision. He offered to purchase a ticket for her to return to Russia and planned to accompany her partway on the journey. They would fly together to Hong Kong, after which he would return to India while she would continue her journey back home.

However, things took a turn for the worse when the woman found herself alone in her hotel room in Hong Kong. Gripped by fear, she began to have second thoughts about going back to Russia. She was terrified that the trafficking gang would track her down and harm her and her family. Her anxiety escalated, leading her to resort to excessive drinking.

In her drunken state, she reached out to Mr Gupta, who was staying in a separate hotel room, and made a distressing threat. She claimed that if he didn’t stay with her, she would falsely accuse him of rape and attempted trafficking. Faced with a challenging situation, Mr Gupta tried to persuade her to return to Russia, but her behaviour became increasingly erratic. He feared that involving local authorities would result in his arrest.

Feeling desperate, Mr Gupta sought help through a mutual contact, who connected him with me. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, I reached out to a colleague at the United Nations who stepped up and swiftly intervened. The woman received the necessary assistance from trained specialists and was safely repatriated to Russia. Mr Gupta, profoundly shaken by the experience, returned to India, having learned a valuable lesson.

While Mr Gupta’s intentions were noble and rooted in compassion, he underestimated the profound trauma experienced by the trafficking victim. This scenario, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Well-meaning individuals encounter trafficking victims and feel compelled to help. But due to the intricate nature of these situations and the extreme trauma endured by the victims, it is crucial that ordinary people refrain from intervening independently. Doing so can inadvertently create further complications for both the victim and the well-intentioned individual.

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In this book, you’ll learn how a once-shy boy from a New England town dedicated his life to battling the scourge of human trafficking in over 40 countries. Get your copy of this incredibly moving book today.

Read an exclusive excerpt from B.E.S.T. Marking

Posted on February 11, 2025 by simransingh

B.E.S.T. Marking presents a powerful new Leadership Paradigm to navigate the complexities of this new normal environment- and win it big. It’s more than a framework; it’s a revolution in leadership. A call to action for leaders to conquer emerging challenges.

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Why is trust important in leadership and followership?

Trust is essential for great leaders, especially in the post-pandemic world. The pandemic has created a number of challenges for leaders, including:

Increased uncertainty and complexity: The world is more uncertain and complex than ever before. Leaders need to be able to make decisions quickly and effectively in the face of changing circumstances. To do this, they need to be able to trust their team members to provide accurate information and to execute on their decisions.
Greater need for collaboration: The pandemic has shown that leaders need to be able to collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and government officials. To build and maintain successful collaborations, leaders need to trust their partners and to be willing to share information and resources.
Increased focus on employee well-being: The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of employee well-being. Leaders need to create a work environment where employees feel safe, supported, and valued. To do this, leaders need to trust their employees and to be willing to give them the flexibility and autonomy they need to succeed.

In the post-pandemic world, leaders who are able to build and maintain trust with their team members and stakeholders will be more likely to succeed.

There are many benefits to trust in leadership and followership. Some of the key benefits include:

Increased employee engagement: When employees trust their leaders, they are more likely to be engaged in their work and to feel motivated to do their best.
Improved productivity: Trust allows employees to work more efficiently and effectively. When employees trust their leaders, they are more likely to take initiative and to go the extra mile.
Higher-quality decisions: When leaders and followers trust each other, they are more likely to make better decisions. This is because they are more likely to share information openly and honestly, and to consider all sides of an issue.
Reduced turnover: Trust helps to create a more positive and supportive work environment. This leads to lower turnover rates and higher retention of top talent.

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Learn more about the importance and benefits of trust in leadership and followership along with other crucial information in B.E.S.T. Marking by Jerome Mangadap.

Get your copy today.

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Author: simransingh