What did you get when you gather students from different nationalities, educational backgrounds, and experiences for a book review session? An enlightening, insightful and inspiring afternoon. That’s what you get. The Library was truly privileged to have the presence of three international students who shared their reviews and thoughts of their read in the ‘Bicara Karya’ Programme. The programme which was organised on 17 September 2019 by UTM Library in cooperation with UTM International Student Society aspired to be a medium to promote and cultivate a lifetime reading habit among UTM students and staff and to make them ‘fall in love’ again with knowledge.
The first presenter, Brother Musiliu Folarin Farayola who hails from Nigeria and currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from the Faculty of Science talked about a book on “Malay Muslims: The History and Challenge of Resurgent Islam in Southeast Asia’. He explained to the audience about the history of Malay Islam, how the religion spread over the centuries as well as the traditions, beliefs, and practices of Malays Muslims. The presenter also commented on the global view of Islamic resurgence, the major groups in Islamic resurgence, and the role of the church and Islam in Malay Southeast Asia in the twenty-first century.
Brother Sayed Mir Agha Manawi who was the second presenter reviewed a book entitled, “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World’. Brother Sayed who is a Master student in Hydraulics and Hydrology from the School of Civil Engineering is also the President of UTM International Student Society Afghanistan. Among the essences subtracted from the book were trying to find good in everything in everyone; being free of any negative emotions; lowering one’s expectations; forgive and forget, and establishing inner peace through prayers and doing good deeds.
The final presenter who is a Ph.D. student in Civil Engineering (Geotechnics and Transportation) also hails from Nigeria. Brother Kabiru Usman Rogo chose “Self Discipline Mindset: Why Self Discipline Is Lacking in Most and How to Unleash It Now” as one of his favourite reads and shared with the audience his perspective as a reviewer. His overview of the book is that self-discipline is largely based upon attaining success and that high moral character and respect for all are essential. Religion taught us about beliefs, morales, and values and that that we need to maintain prosperity and dreams after they are being attained. The presenter also stressed how ego and arrogance destroy self-discipline.
All in all the audience who attended had the chance to experience a stimulating new page-turner as well as acquire a sneak-peak and the gist of what all the books presented were about.
Prepared by Ms. Nazrinda A. Samah.