Book on Harigaon
A book titled ‘Harigaon Revisited: Chronicle and outcomes of an Excavation in Kathmandu Valley’ has been launched in Kathmandu. The book has been written by Giovanni Veradi, an Italian Professor and archaeologist specializing in the civilizations of Central, South and India. Other co-authors of the book are Daniel Balogh, Daniela De Dimone and Elio Paparattti.
According to him, the idea of writing this book stemmed from the need to rethink an excavation carried out in Kathmandu in years now distant from the people who took part in it and even more distant from the recent history of Nepal. Today the Valley of Kathmandu is a profoundly different place from what it was in the 1980s, and in many ways unrecognizable, he says, the idea of the book, however, is also due to the long-term consequences of the situation created in Italy between 2008 and 2011, the year in which the Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente (IsIAO), sonship of the Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (IsMEO), closed down.
The latter had been established in 1933 by Giovanni Gentile and then directed for a long time by Giuseppe Tucci. Both Institutes, as far as field activities in Asia were concerned, were in close relationship with the Museo Nazionale di Arte Orientale, where the documentation of the excavations was deposited, in particular the graphic and photographic material (drawings of all kinds, negatives and prints). In 2016 the Museum left its headquarters in the very central Via Merulana in Rome and was joined to the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico Luigi Pigorini, merging into the new Museo delle Civiltà, where today the largest part of the documentation of the archaeological undertakings of the past is kept, waiting to be rearranged and made usable.
Good reads
Feel Good Productivity
Ali Abdaal
Self Help | Psychology
Drawing on decades of psychological research, Dr Ali Abdaal has found that the secret to productivity and success isn’t grind–it’s feeling good. If you can make your work feel good, then productivity takes care of itself. In this revolutionary book, Ali reveals how the science of feel-good productivity can transform your life. He introduces the three hidden ‘energizers’ that underpin enjoyable productivity, the three ‘blockers’ we must overcome to beat procrastination, and the three ‘sustainers’ that prevent burnout and help us achieve lasting fulfillment. He recounts the inspiring stories of founders, Olympians, and Nobel-winning scientists who embody the principles of Feel-Good Productivity. And he introduces the simple, actionable changes that you can use to achieve more and live better, starting today.
The Mountain is You
Brianna Wiest
Self Help
This is a book about self-sabotage. Why we do it, when we do it, and how to stop doing it—for good. Coexisting but conflicting needs create self-sabotaging behaviors. This is why we resist efforts to change, often until they feel completely futile. But by extracting crucial insight from our most damaging habits, building emotional intelligence by better understanding our brains and bodies, releasing past experiences at a cellular level, and learning to act as our highest potential future selves, we can step out of our way and into our potential. For centuries, the mountain has been used as a metaphor for the big challenges we face, especially ones that seem impossible to overcome. To scale our mountains, we have to do the deep internal work of excavating trauma, building resilience, and adjusting how we show up for the climb. In the end, it’s not the mountain we master, but ourselves.
101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think
Brianna Wiest
Self Help
Over the past few years, Brianna Wiest has gained renown for her deeply moving, philosophical writing. This new compilation of her published work features pieces on why you should pursue purpose over passion, embrace negative thinking, see the wisdom in daily routine, and become aware of the cognitive biases that are creating the way you see your life. Some of these pieces have never been seen; others have been read by millions of people around the world. Regardless, each will leave you thinking: this idea changed my life.
A case for second-hand clothes
In a world where trends come and go, embracing second-hand clothing is a timeless statement of sustainability, individuality, and the art of rediscovering styles with unique stories. Shopping second-hand for clothing items can turn your wardrobe into a curated gallery of sustainable fashion. Rastrika Shakya from ApEx talked with some people to find out how they feel about shopping for second-hand clothes in Nepal.
Manjila Bajimaya
In a world dominated by fast fashion and instant deliveries, the allure of secondhand and vintage clothing often goes overlooked. But I believe there are many reasons to start buying clothes second-hand. It’s an eco-friendly and budget-conscious alternative. Thrift stores, offering gently used garments, present an opportunity to discover current styles at unbeatable prices. The cyclical nature of fashion means you can easily find hidden gems from various eras, spanning the 20s to the 90s. Beyond personal benefits, shopping second-hand supports small businesses.
I think that shopping for second-hand clothes can be a great life-changing hack. Additionally, selling items allows you to recoup costs, making the second-hand experience not only sustainable but financially savvy. Also, while exploring the world of second-hand clothing I have been pleasantly surprised by the treasures and advantages it brings.
Pooja Tiwari
As a fashion student, I’m intrigued by antique clothing pieces that have a rich history, allowing us to relive the past. Additionally, some vintage items seamlessly complement modern outfits in terms of styling.
I love shopping second-hand. In my experience, each find is a one-of-a-kind treasure. Second-hand clothing is unique, and sometimes you can’t find the same product again because they aren’t being manufactured anymore. Recycling clothes also saves resources and reduces pollution caused by production, which is a good reason to indulge in it.
Samridhi Karmacharya
I thoroughly enjoy purchasing used clothes. I have a special fondness for hand-me-downs. My decision to buy clothes is often guided by the belief that I’ll wear the garment multiple times. Otherwise, I don’t buy clothes at all.
In all honesty, I rarely buy clothes from retail stores. Instead, I’ve cultivated a preference for either having my clothes made by my local tailor or taking matters into my own hands and sewing them myself. The intention behind each piece, whether stitched by a local artisan or crafted by my own hands, fosters a sense of appreciation. This conscious approach not only aligns with my style but also emphasizes sustainability and an appreciation for the garments I choose to wear.
Good reads
In the Lives of Puppets
TJ Klune
Fantasy
In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe. The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labeled ‘HAP,’ he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio—a past spent hunting humans. When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life, Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. The rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommissioning, or worse, reprogramming.
Check & Mate
Ali Hazelwood
Romance | Young Adult
Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious ‘Kingkiller’ Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess. Nolan’s loss to an unknown rookie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist. As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place.
Hidden Potential
Adam Grant
Self Help | Psychology
Hidden Potential offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations. Adam Grant weaves together groundbreaking evidence, surprising insights, and vivid storytelling that takes us from the classroom to the boardroom, the playground to the Olympics, and underground to outer space. He shows that progress depends less on how hard you work than how well you learn. Growth is not about the genius you possess—it’s about the character you develop. Grant explores how to build character skills and motivational structures to realize our own potential, and how to design systems that create opportunities for those who have been underrated and overlooked.
