Decode Life by Manoj Dwivedi is a compelling & thought-provoking exploration of life’s fundamental principles, offering deep insights into a structured approach to self-discovery and personal growth. The book systematically unpacks six core attributes of life; four principles of happiness; five principles of death; ten principles of spiral nature of life; five principles of freedom; three principles of knowing without judging; three principles of finding true self; paradoxes of modern life and more, each illustrated through moral stories, insights, guiding principles, and practical applications. The author aims to help readers unlock their true potential and best of their character by understanding universal life principles and applying them to our ways of doing things, every day and day-to-day challenges through these well-crafted 125 pages of the book.

Through a blend of philosophy and scientific reasoning, the book delves into profound questions about existence, happiness, and meaning. It encourages self-reflection and deeper contemplation of spirituality, universal principles, and more, allowing readers to gradually internalize its teachings rather than rushing through prescriptive advice. The narrative steers clear of clichés, instead it is vividly providing a fresh perspective on navigating life’s complexities with clarity and purpose.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its ability to break down deep concepts into digestible insights, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. By encouraging mindful engagement, Decode Life serves as a guide for those seeking balance, fulfilment, and a better understanding of their journey. The book is designed to be read at a thoughtful pace, allowing its wisdom to resonate with readers over time. Each concept is illustrated through micro-stories, key insights, guiding principles, and practical applications, helping readers unlock their true potential.

With a unique amalgam of storytelling, analysis, and practical wisdom, Decode Life reveals life’s deepest secrets, helping individuals align with their higher purpose and embrace a more meaningful existence.

In section one , “The Six Universal Attributes of Life” the author has talked about life as a shared experience—inescapable, ever-evolving, and deeply personal experience that transcends cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. The chapter uses a some of the literary terms frequently. As is the whole book in itself is taking a leap into the vastness of “philosophical inquiry”, wherein the author explores deep and existential questions about life, happiness, freedom and death which go hand-in-hand with the “Universal Themes.”

According to the author, it is something we all navigate—sometimes with joy, sometimes with struggle—but never with indifference. Throughout history, humanity has sought to understand its meaning, purpose, and the right way to live. We define our lives through achievements, relationships, beliefs, and possessions, yet the core question remains: Can life be decoded?

The answer is yes.

In Bhagwad Gita (5.18) it is mentioned that life’s purpose is to realize the self and attain union with the divine. “Those who see with equal vision a learned and gentle Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater are truly wise.” Decode Life is a handbook for everyone to discover what’s meant for them.

Another distinguished beauty of this piece of literature evident here are rhetorical questions that are pertinent throughout the book. Life and Death, biggest rhetoric of all! I have been reading a lot about the numerology, zodiac signs, and tarot cards amongst others that signify hidden meaning and goals of life. Everything seems interconnected when it comes to a person’s own life path and destiny numbers, zodiac signs, etc. Things that act as notifications are the vibes. Many of us decide the course of action by aligning facts, instinct and vibes.

Coming back to the question on the possibility of decoding of life. This is something that I have pondered a lot during the lockdowns that COVID-19 posed across the world. Existential crisis or identity crisis isn’t always a mid-life hanger, and I realized it that point of time, when I was way behind that age and zone. At times, being stuck in a fix – between reality, expectations, and desires. We carry out certain acts out of zeal and passion, wholeheartedly; and some out of need of the situation, half-heartedly. However, seeing humongous losses of life and uncertainties prevailing in the world, I started questioning myself. What are we doing in life? Where are we headed to? Do I the way I’m treating myself and my life? Am I doing the right thing for people I care? Do I need to get stay in status quo and keeping moving or take a leap of faith, take risks and wait for the results? What am I meant to do in life gifted to me? What are the odds and evens of life? What is this entire string of Karma leading to? Just as powerful computers originate from grains of sand, the code of life can be understood through basic observations.

As the author mentioned, to unravel this mystery, we must first recognize its universal attributes—experiences common to every human being.

The first attribute is the pursuit of happiness. Every action we take is driven by a desire for joy, while we instinctively avoid pain, loss, and suffering. We attach ourselves to people, objects, or ideologies in the hope that they will bring us happiness, while simultaneously avoiding anything that causes pain, suffering, or discomfort. This pursuit is fundamental to all human beings, regardless of background or circumstances. The second is mortality—despite differences in status, wealth, or intelligence, death is inevitable - a universal truth.

There are six remarkable attributes, author has clearly demarcated and discussed. The fourth one is my personal favourite, this attribute is about the desire for freedom. Across cultures and civilizations, history proves that humans consistently seek liberation, rejecting bondage in any form. By understanding these fundamental truths, we move closer to uncovering life’s deeper code—one that can guide us toward greater clarity, purpose, and fulfilment.

Further, author explains the concept of happiness at granular level in section two, “Understanding Happiness,” which also states that happiness manifests in diverse ways—some seek it in wealth, others in success, relationships, or even spiritual pursuits. However, despite these varying sources, he argues that happiness follows three universal attributes: it is self-diminishing, relative, and confined to the properties of its source.

Happiness is self-diminishing—a small indulgence, such as a piece of cake, may bring joy, but excess consumption can lead to dissatisfaction. What once brought happiness eventually loses its appeal. The author highlights this as a crucial insight into the fleeting nature of pleasure.

Happiness is relative, which means that our sense of joy is influenced by comparison. Holding a cake may bring delight until we see someone with a larger, more appealing one. Similarly, a hundred-dollar bill may be insignificant to a millionaire but life-changing for a beggar. This theorem of relativity underscores how external factors shape our perception of happiness. However, this shouldn’t be the case. In the doctrine of life laid by Bhagwad Gita, it is emphasized that all the actions should be performed selflessly, without attachment to results. You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.” (Gita 2.47) Hence, we all need to take the onus of our life and actions in alignment with what the present time demands as that can affect the future days too.

And one of the best ways to be happy is as described in Bible is gratitude and contentment bring peace and joy. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) And Gratitude leads to contentment and joy as Quran teaches. (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)

The author, through this book explores happiness at a deeper level, linking it to time, space, and energy—the fundamental coordinates that define our existence. He introduces the idea that each individual is born with inherent tendencies (Pravriti) shaped by both unconscious conditioning and conscious learning. These tendencies, collectively forming our Prakriti (nature), influence our desires and shape our character (Sanskara).

Bhagvad Gita also talks about happiness on similar lines. (Gita 18.38) “That which seems like nectar in the beginning and poison in the end — this happiness is born of the contact of the senses with their objects.” Pleasures born of contact with material senses are temporary and lead to suffering. Gita 5.24 verse indicates that “One whose happiness is within, who is active and rejoices within, and whose aim is inward — that person is a perfect mystic, liberated in the Supreme.” This means that true happiness is internal and detached from external circumstances.
 

“We exist in a realm of time, space, and energy These three together define the coordinates of our existence from the point when we are born into this world. As we are born with a physical body (defined through genetics), we are also born with certain inherent tendencies (pravriti) unique to every individual. Just as our bodies grow with time, we also expand inherent tendencies by way of unconscious conditioning, as well as conscious learning. These tendencies put together define our nature (prakriti). The sum of all such tendencies (sanskara) is reflected in our response to everything. In social terms, this is understood as character.”

According to the author, desires emerge when our tendencies interact with an object, person, or thought. Fulfilled desires reinforce our pursuit of happiness, while unfulfilled ones create latent force, driving future actions. This continuous cycle of desire and fulfilment fuels human behavior and decision-making.

Ultimately, within the realm of time, space, and energy, the author emphasizes that our thoughts and actions initiate a spiral of causation and effect, influencing our life’s trajectory. By recognizing the transient and conditioned nature of happiness, we can navigate life with greater awareness and emotional balance. Through this conceptual framework, the author offers a structured approach to “Understanding Happiness” beyond fleeting pleasures.

The author uses micro stories as the medium to explain his theories and concepts of life. This is an exquisite and significant way of communicating with the readers, I feel.

To explain the concept of spiral causation and effect, understanding of happiness, the author has written a story, “The Three Friends and the Beautiful Woman.” The story uses allegory by presenting the three friends as symbolic representations of the three Gunas — Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas — from Vedantic philosophy. These Gunas reflect different aspects of human nature. The entire narrative serves as a metaphor for how these innate tendencies shape human desires, actions, and the resulting consequences in life.

Characterization is another important element in this story. Each character represents a distinct personality type: The Monk embodies the Sattvic quality, symbolizing wisdom, selflessness, and spiritual fulfilment. The Businessman reflects the Rajasic quality, being driven by ambition, attachment, and materialistic desires. The Thief illustrates Tamasic nature, marked by impulsiveness, destructiveness, and selfishness. Their individual reactions to the woman clearly reveal their inner qualities.

The theme focuses on the nature of happiness and suffering. It highlights how unchecked desires often lead to pain, with the impermanence of happiness portrayed through each character’s fading joy. The story is rich with moral and philosophical reflections, examining how human tendencies and personal choices shape one’s destiny.

In terms of “symbolism”, the beautiful woman represents desire, attraction, and attachment, triggering different responses based on each character’s inner tendencies. The monk’s blessings and departure symbolize the path to spiritual enlightenment and lasting peace, while the thief’s imprisonment serves as a symbol of karmic justice.

“Conflict” appears both internally and externally. The businessman’s struggle with rejection and the thief’s eventual regret demonstrate internal turmoil, while the kidnapping, rejection, and abuse depict external clashes driven by conflicting desires and moral decisions. “Foreshadowing” is used as the friends' early reactions to the woman hint at their future behaviour. The monk’s initial detachment already suggests he will remain unaffected by worldly temptations later in the story.

Lastly, the moral lesson (didacticism) conveys that happiness based on external things is temporary, while true, stable contentment comes from spiritual peace and soulful connections that sprouts from collective growth and right choices. The story merges philosophy, symbolism, and character-driven storytelling to offer a reflective narrative about human nature and the pursuit of happiness.

While analysing the book, we talked about how author doesn’t end his thoughts by sharing, he also encourages the readers to make some effort and inculcate the right approach and habit in their daily life through some practical work. Below are some of the practices based on the Principles for Long-Lasting Happiness:

“1. Daily before sleeping, analyse your major actions during the day. Identify all impulsive actions. Then, identify the tendencies that drove these actions. Be cautious of all impulsive actions and gradually learn to control your responses, responding to all desires with awareness.

2. Identify a few selfless activities and pursue them once in a while. Explore and sit with your feelings after such activities. Reward yourself by self-praise for such actions.

3. Whenever you take up anything beyond your needs for sustenance, analyse the necessity for it. If it can be avoided, divert the resources and energy for some larger cause.

4. Accept pain as a part and parcel of happiness. Practice pain in the form of physical exercises, abstinence, austerity, fasting, and detachment.

5. Believe that you are not merely a perishable body. As an eternal soul, you have existed for ages and will continue to exist beyond this life. Regular meditation on this belief will take away.”

 

As section separator, the author has inserted the “ideals.” Below is an example of one such:

“Ideal:

If the sole desire is to discover the eternal self, and every action is wholly dedicated to the eternal self, and acceptance of pleasure and pain is equal, then happiness is blissful - eternal, self-sustaining, and free from sorrows.”

The entire page consists of this such one paragraph - setting-the-tone, ideal. Just that! This, as per the layout, is a very clever move to channelize and narrow down all the focus of the readers to one part of the thought. From editorial point of view, it’s an effective way of preparing and training the minds of the readers.

The Section three, “Knowing Death” explores the most fearful fact and end point of one’s life’s reality, i.e. death. Call him Yama Raj, Azrael, Yan Wang, Angel of Death, Shinigami, Hades or just God of Death, ask anyone, everyone is scared of and unwilling to meet.

Like Bhagwad Gita says that understanding death removes fear and sorrow. “The wise lament neither for the living nor the dead.” (Gita 2.11) We need to under what it holds. Is it just a full stop to everything or a transition that push the momentum of time’s wheel?

This section throws light on the universal and inescapable reality of death, offering deep insights into the nature of life. It reflects on how the certainty of death has been historically manipulated by leaders and systems, using promises of heaven and threats of hell to control societies — a clear example of theme and social commentary. The author reviews diverse cultural and religious beliefs about death, including ancient Egyptian mummification, burial traditions, and cremation practices, using historical allusion and symbolism to portray how civilizations have attempted to cope with mortality.

The text employs universal truths, stating that death spares no one, irrespective of wealth, power, or status. Death is inevitable for the body; the soul migrates to a new one.
“Just as a person discards worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so the soul leaves the worn-out body and enters a new one.” (Gita 2.22) Even Holy Quran says that Death is inevitable and predetermined. “Every soul shall taste death.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:185) And life is a test, and death is a passage to the eternal world. We have made some of you a trial for others: will you have patience?” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:20)

Through this, it highlights the theme of equality in death. The inevitability of death, regardless of life’s possessions or achievements, is used to emphasize the philosophical reflection that nothing material carries over after death. The passage subtly questions the obsession with materialism and social status, urging readers to focus on what is certain and meaningful in life.

Through the amalgamation of didacticism and existential inquiry, the author encourages acceptance of mortality and a more conscious, value-driven approach to life, rather than being led by fear or illusion. He shares some tips that one may try to reduce his or her fright of death.

“1. Daily, before sleeping, analyse your major actions during the day. Identify all violent actions and thoughts. Be cautious of such actions pledging to avoid them as far as possible.

2. Give up violence. Start by abstaining from non-vegetarian food as much as possible. If it's difficult, begin with one or two days a week without non-vegetarian food. Then, try to eliminate use of other items produced through violence, such as leather, silk, etc., as much as possible.”

The idea of death, and knowing it scares me to hell. Its unthinkable for me to even imagine it happening to anyone or close ones for that matter. Thanks to the author, he has explained it really well with another micro-story.

In the story “The Story of God and a Man” from Section 4, “Life is Full Circle”, a man prays to God with deep devotion (theme of devotion). Moved by his sincerity, God appears and offers to grant him a wish. The man wishes for eternal life, never wanting to die (allegory for human desire and fear of mortality). God grants his wish, but as time passes, the man grows extremely old and frail, unable to perform even basic tasks. This leads to internal conflict, as the man begins to regret his wish, realizing that endless life in a deteriorating body is a form of suffering.

He prays again, and God appears once more. This time, the man asks to live forever in his youthful state. God grants this too. However, over the years, all his loved ones — family, friends, children — pass away. This creates external conflict, as the man, though young in body, feels increasingly isolated. The growing generation gap makes it impossible for him to relate to new people.

The story subtly uses foreshadowing, hinting through the first wish that immortality might bring unintended consequences. Its central theme revolves around the impermanence of relationships and the illusion of eternal happiness. Through characterization and moral lessons, it reflects the truth that life’s value lies in its natural cycle.

The author underlines that life is full circle, the chapter with the same name. It belts out ten principles that explain the circularity of life.  

In Life is Full Circle, the author explores the theme of immortality through the soul’s endless journey, driven by “cause and effect”. It suggests that while the physical body perishes, the life force or soul persists, experiencing repeated forms and perceptions. This continuous cycle is propelled by “karma”, the universal law where every cause leads to a precise effect, not by chance but systematically. Using philosophical reflection and symbolism, the text emphasizes that existence never truly ends — it merely transforms. The story blends spiritual allegory and moral insight, illustrating the unbreakable chain of life, death, and rebirth through karma.

The author offers some tips to have a better understanding of the same. Like above, I have picked some of them that appealed to me the most, but you can go through all of them while reading the book. Below are two of them:

“a) Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair. Imagine you are out of your body in space a little up near the ceiling. Look at your body and observe. Imagine the energy within your body rising from the lower end of the spine to the top of your head and then spreading all around you, expanding to first fill the entire room and then filling the entire surroundings. Treat this spread of energy as yourself. Practice over several days and try expanding to larger and larger surroundings. Believe you are infinite and not limited to the energy of the body and mind. Meditate on this thought. b) Prepare a list of all that binds you and all that gives you freedom. Expand your activities to all that brings freedom.”

I would like to end the review with an ideal that appealed to me, “Ideal:

I am the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the web of my life. When I know this, my journey from unreal to real, from darkness to light, from ignorance to enlightenment, and from death to immortality begins.”

This ideal asks you to take charge, take control of your life. It empowers our existing-self and uplifts our morale and outlook of the world to claim our power to the universe and transmit the message and vibes that we’re in charge- and it’s our discretion to make or mar our life and its meaning with our thoughts and actions.

Read the book to find out which chapter it belongs to, and what it wants to convey to us.

Decode Life by Manoj Dwivedi is not just a book — it’s an introspective journey into the deeper questions of existence, happiness, and the nature of life itself. There are eleven sections in the book which are drill deep to churn out insightful outcomes that can become one’ pathway to finding truer self and truest part of life. What makes this book compelling is its rare ability to simplify complex philosophical ideas through relatable stories and practical exercises that readers can truly apply in everyday life. By weaving together themes of karma, happiness, mortality, and self-realization, the author invites us to pause, reflect, and question the patterns and choices shaping our lives.

I have tried connecting the learnings from the timeless wisdom from texts like the Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and Bible, with Decode Life, wherein I can see a strong convergence of spiritual process and thoughts as common ground of beliefs of different religions – especially in the context of happiness, death, souls, etc. The literary tools — allegory, symbolism, characterization, conflict, foreshadowing, and didacticism — are skilfully used, making each story not just memorable but deeply meaningful.

The book is authored by Manoj Dwivedi, an IPS officer currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Government if India. He is the recipient of prestigious State Award for outstanding integrity and public services. He is also an alumnus of IIT Delhi, IIM Bangalore and Cambridge University, UK.

“Decode Life,” published by White Falcon Publishing, is dedicated to his father Late Dr. Ram Avtar Dwivedi who is his inspiration for leading simple life enriched with high ideals.

For anyone who has ever pondered their life’s purpose, questioned the inevitability of death, or sought peace amid chaos, this book serves as a guide, a companion, and a mirror. It encourages readers to take responsibility for their actions, embrace freedom, and understand the cyclical nature of life. I highly recommend reading this self-help book, “Decode Life” — not only to grasp the profound concepts it presents but also to discover insights about yourself along the way. It’s a thoughtful, empowering read that stays with you long after the last page.

From the Book Reviewer’s Desk