This book came with a commanding recommendation from a good friend, “best book ever”. I hadn’t read a novel in more than 5 years, and to break that streak with a love story sounded abominable. To top this, I discovered that Bill Gates had included it in his 2014 summer reading list. I therefore had a high bar for the book when I decided to take the plunge.
I started reading this book at midnight. 4 hours later, my bed time read had turned into the book-that-kept-me-awake-way-past-midnight read. The plot of “The Rosie Project” is gripping, funny and embedded with nerdy facts. I smiled and laughed quite a bit. It’s been a while since I had read a novel with magic powers to uplift your mood.
The protagonist Don Tillman, is an unmarried genetics professor with a penchant for rationality, organization and science. He finds comfort and mind peace in routine, planning and habits. Some highlights from the book which are worth implementing in our lives:- Cooking meals and the adoption of the “Standardized Meal System”. One of the benefits being “Excellent food, superior to most restaurants at a much lower price”
– Scheduling meetings and deliberate planning of activities on a calendar. He asks a very pertinent question: “Why do people value others’ time so little?
My friends who have read this book were of the opinion that Don Tillman is the Sheldon Cooper (from the popular TV series The Big Bang Theory) of Genetics from Australia. I however felt that Professor Don Tillman is a realistic and more likeable character in comparison to Sheldon Cooper. Chief among these differences being:
– Independence: Don Tillman doesn’t depend on another human being to protect him/drive him around.
– Maturity: Don Tillman doesn’t whine or project weakness. If you are looking for an escape for a few hours (It’s a short read at 290 pages), look no further than the Rosie Project by Graeme Simison.
June 21, 2020
Chandana