Category: Book Review

The Adivasi will not Dance: Book Review

“The Adivasi will not Dance” by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar offers ten poignant stories reflecting the struggles of the Santhal community. Through nuanced narratives, it addresses themes of poverty, exploitation, and cultural intricacies. Banned in Jharkhand, the book is both provocative and enlightening, serving as a compelling introduction to Adivasi life.

The Adivasi will not Dance: Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

Published: 2015, Speaking Tiger Publications

The purposefully provocative title “The Adivasi will not Dance“, is akin to a window with partly broken glass, in a huge, ancient and withering yet magnificent mansion. It is indeed a fair warning and yet an irresistible invite to closely explore this mansion which metaphorically represents the lives of the Santhal community (Adivasis). Every brick, stone, wall, the dilapidated furniture, the peeling paint and hazy black & white pictures on the walls of this proverbial mansion, holds within, the complex nuances, circumstances and stories of Adivasi life. I, opened this proverbial window and here’s what I witnessed.

The stories, 10 of them!

Nominated for the Hindu literary prize in 2016 and banned by the government of Jharkhand in 2017! Each story craftily touches a varied aspect of Adivasi life; eating habits, demeanor, poverty and struggles, desperate lack of access to education and other facilities, a quagmire of unfathomable superstitions and a history of exploitation by people and institutions with vested interests.

A santhal woman forced into a situation where she must sell her body for Rs. 50, a child losing his life due to unattended fever, syndicated human trafficking as a norm, sexual exploitations, witch hunting of vulnerable women and the childlike naivety of the grown-ups! Like the title, each story makes its presence felt, like the uninhabited yet imposing rooms in a mansion! Tiled with complex undertones, painted in provocative patterns but with light colors of subtlety, and cemented with the power of simplicity, the intensity in every story knocks you off but the quality of writing and detailed imagery handholds enough to let you find ground under your feet. In one of the stories, the excruciatingly detailed portrayal of a delivery scene undoubtedly establishes the author’s writing finesse and astute observation prowess.

Should you read ‘The Adivasi will not dance’?

This 180-page book is most likely a companion for a weekend or two for an avid reader. It’s easy on the eyes, flows coherently and aids speedy reading.

For the uninitiated (like yours truly), it’s a good introduction to the Adivasi culture, rituals and ways of life. It’s a book that promises to inform; however, it comes bundled with provocation, darkness and emotional upheaval. It will probably make you bolder but it will first extract its price by making you feel vulnerable. Stories titled ‘Blue baby’ and ‘Eating with the enemy’ are bound to leave you agitated, helpless, judgmental and churned, for a long time.

If I could go back in time to make a choice of whether to open the window to this mansion or not, I’ll most likely open that window again, consciously yet carefully, and ask others to follow, with a fair warning.

How you see the world is a reflection of who you are, and books aren’t immune to that principle! I am curious to know, which side are you on? Happy Reading!

Like reading Book Reviews, Poetry and Travel Stories? Versatilistaqua is your space for interesting content in these areas of your interest. Follow VersatilistAqua on Instagram here.

For more book reviews of interesting top sellers, check out this section here.

In Custody, by Anita Desai: Book Review

In Custody by Anita Desai, published in 1984, explores a rich narrative through vivid descriptions and nuanced characters. The book, which inspired a 1994 Bollywood film, offers a captivating yet sometimes slow-paced reading experience. While its protagonist might not feel relatable, Desai’s exquisite writing style leaves a lasting impression, inviting varied reader interpretations.

In Custody, Author: Anita Desai, Genre: Fiction

In Custody, a fiction novel written by Anita Desai was first published in 1984. It was ceremoniously adapted into a Bollywood movie with the same name. Released in 1994, starring mainstream actors like Shashi Kapoor, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi, this movie is rated 7.1 on IMDb.

Fiction is not on the top of my preferred genres. This book came as a suggestion from my partner (Guddu). Ironically, she bought it basis a recommendation in an Instagram reel, and she hasn’t read it yet! That means, I read a book that I didn’t buy, which was recommended in an Instagram reel I didn’t see. Well, it’s a testimony to the power of social media, or to the influence of my wife. Admittedly though, I am always on the watch out for interesting work done by Indian authors. (Do you have any strong recommendations for me?)

Should you read ‘In Custody’?

When it comes to books, to each his own is quite appropriate, and this one totally fits the bill. Honestly, given this book was nominated for Booker prize in 1984, I do feel the pressure while sharing my opinion. Objectively speaking, forty (40!) years later, it really didn’t blow me away but I admired some aspects of it.

The quality of writing is fantastic! From a reader’s perspective, Anita Desai’s gift for vivid descriptions and relatable imagery is mouth watering. As a writer, I felt inspired by the way Ms. Desai commands the words into a coherent stream of captivating language. Characters are crafted with finesse. The scenes and surroundings come to life, augmented by exquisite description. On several occasions, I felt I was witnessing the scenes as if watching a live play!

Ironically, the captivating reading experience also felt labored at times. I wished the story paced on but it stayed ‘still’ for long periods. Perhaps, aptly in tune with the era in which it was written.

Additionally, I couldn’t relate to the main protagonist, Deven Sharma, who was a nice yet thoroughly insufficient individual. The ending of the story felt uncertain. Yet, it still managed to mildly tease me into thinking what would have happened next?

Content Summary

The plot is based around the life of main protagonist, Deven Sharma. He works as a Hindi teacher in Mirpore, a remote town on the outskirts of Delhi. His cunning friend, Murad, bullies and manipulates him into accepting to work on a momentous project. Smitten by his unconditional love for Urdu poetry, Deven goes on a hesitant quest to interview his idol and celebrated poet, Nur Shahjahanabadi.

The 230 page story is about the trials and tribulations of Deven’s arduous journey. Interestingly, some of Deven’s troubles are his own while he inherits many others courtesy the flippant characters around him. For instance, Nur’s two uncharacteristic wives and the incompetent young boy thrust upon Deven to record his conversations with Nur. In addition, the unexpected realities of Nur’s fragile and decaying personal life constantly sweep Deven off his feet. While the dissonance is palatable in almost every page of this book, the story ends on a peculiar note too. Eventually, when Deven finishes his project, he faces a quagmire of insurmountable challenges. As he cowardly awaits a dreaded end, even the book shuts the door on him. Metaphorical indeed!

Recommendation

Overall, the book made me feel involved, bored, ambivalent and intrigued. I felt sad for Deven and at the same time, felt irritated by his timid and helpless attitude. At times, I just wanted to enter the scene and make things move faster, for Deven’s sake and my own. Honestly, the book invoked varied emotions in me but not the excitement and inspiration that I seek as a reader. On the contrary, will I remember the story and captivating writing style? Absolutely yes!

How you see the world is a reflection of who you are, and books aren’t immune to that principle! I am curious to know, which side are you on? Happy Reading!

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For more book reviews of interesting top sellers, check out this section here.

Book Review: My Story, Kamala Das

Book Review of ‘My Story’ by Kamala Das

My Story, Author: Kamala Das, Genre: Autobiography

“Daring and Outspoken”

My tryst with work of Indian authors continues. This is my third Indian authored read this year. Earlier, I really enjoyed reading the light hearted and fast paced Days of my China Dragon by Chandrahas Choudhury. I also re-read a hard-hitting, peculiar and yet a favorite The Lesson by Sowmya Rajendran. The next in line is These Errors are Correct, by Jeet Thayil. But today, we will explore the literary world of Kamala Das.

I keep looking for hidden gems. Do you have any recommendations for interesting books by Indian authors? Please share in the comments.

Kamala Das

Kamala Das (later Kamal Suraiyya) is one of the most notable Indian woman authors/poet. A PEN Asian Poetry Prize Winner (’63), she dared to be straightforward and candid. She shared the story of her life in what could be described as a defiance of societal norms. ‘My Story’ presents a free flowing account of her intriguing and non customary life. Beginning from her childhood days in a Nalapat Nair household in Kerala, to her adolescence in Kolkata and her married life in Mumbai and Delhi, she traverses through each part with finesse.

Her writing garnered a lot of attention, bad press and yet it also got the admiration and the acknowledgement which the renowned author longed for. Through her writing, she brought the spotlight on the varied emotions of woman in her role as a mother, daughter, wife and a lover. More importantly, she highlights her quagmire as a human being who doesn’t wish to be tagged to any of these roles.

Why should you read My Story by Kamala Das?

Seeing the world through the eyes of Kamala Das for the length of this book, helped me to build a different perspective. The life in pre-partition and post independence early years of India, especially from a lens of a woman in a well off, traditional and educated family is well captured. You can look forward to:

  • Finesse of Writing Craft: The quality of her writing in this book is awe-inspiring. As someone who loves to write, I felt a lot of admiration for the savvy and crafty writing style. As a reader, I felt mesmerized with the experience of flowing through vivid descriptions of people, emotions and situations.
  • A Woman’s Perspective: This book is by no means prescriptive or patronizing. Kamala Das does a fine job of baring her soul and while at it, she manages to create a connection with the reader. Her emotions, reactions and idiosyncrasies feel relatable. She comes across as vulnerable while she goes through her share of domestic struggles and yet strongly maintains her strong individuality.
  • Hard-Hitting and Bold: Kamala Das challenges norms and laments the class based and societal inequities. She unapologetically talks about her flings, romances, attractions and intimate encounters with men (including her cousins) outside her marriage. She doesn’t celebrate it, nor does she sound regretful.

Content Summary

All of 200 odd pages, this book is neatly structured into 50 short 4-6 page chapters. While the content flows organically from her childhood to late life, it would be naïve to think of it as an uneventful chronology of time.

The progression of this book is best described as a hue of myriad emotions. The emotions symbolize innocence at the start and then transform into a set of complex, volatile, unhindered and entangled mess by the end. The last 2 chapters are titled “A Freedom to Discompose” and “Death – a Reality“. These titles aptly capture the darkness and loneliness that engulfed her throughout and more so in the later part of her life.

Some powerful lines which stayed with me:

“A poet’s raw material is not stone or clay, it’s her personality”

“How the essence of the writer eludes the non-writer, as the writers reveal to them only their oddities of dress or their emotional excesses”

In the later chapters, a few of her significant poems have found a place. These poems are a good introduction to the quality of her writing and her thought process.

Recommendation

Kamala Das’s work is by no means conventional and by virtue of that, it isn’t suited for a conventional reader. If you choose to read this book, you could end with an expression of ‘wow’ or quite the opposite (bordering on boring)! I enjoyed reading it, not so much for the story of her life but for the exquisite writing style and intense wordplay.

How you see the world is a reflection of who you are, and books aren’t immune to that principle! I am curious to know, which side are you on? Happy Reading!

Like reading Book Reviews, Poetry and Travel Stories? Versatilistaqua is your space for interesting content in these areas of your interest. Follow VersatilistAqua on Instagram here.

For more book reviews of interesting top sellers, check out this section here.

Book Review: The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg

Book Review of The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

The Power of Habit, Author: Charles Duhigg, Genre: Self Development

“A priceless gift”

This book, The Power of Habit, is a gift I got from Guddu. She is the human who nurtures my soul! While I got this gift a few years ago, it lay unread yet comfortably in my favorite space at home (a double door book cabinet with four shelves).

In hindsight, what prompted me to read it this year (April’24) is connected to a key concept covered in this book i.e. ‘Implementation Intention’. Usually, I go with the flow and pick up books to read at random. However, at the beginning of this year, I shortlisted a set of books to read for 2024. This is my first attempt at being more deliberate, structured and intentional about it. Did you notice what I did there?

Implementation Intention

Implementation intention refers to the act of writing down your approach on how will you go about an activity, with specifics like steps to follow, when, where, with whom etc. Scientifically proven, this small act of writing down an approach massively increases the chances of the activity happening and hence leads to amazing outcomes. I have been setting and writing goals for years, and I know it works but I didn’t understand the science behind it. The secret to achieving your goals is to create an ‘Implementation intention’. If you are wondering how this works, then this book is just the right start for you.

In this book, Charles Duhigg uncovers the science of how our brain and habits work. While at it, he makes sure that it isn’t a boring scholarly research article drowning you in statistics or peppered with complex medical/biological terms. This book is simple to read, and that’s where it draws its power from. For a book which covers complex and transformational content, The Power of Habit is powered by simplicity and the author deserves high praise for that. No wonder it has sold more than 3 million copies!

Why should you read The Power of Habit?

There are several compelling reasons which justify investing time in reading this book, none of those however are more important than quenching the thirst for reading. In addition, what you can look forward to is:

  • Excellent Information: The 285 pages in this book are a treasure trove of relevant, highly useful and distilled information around habits. I felt excited with the awareness of how individuals and corporations can, and do utilize the power of habits.
  • Compelling Stories: Each concept is explained using a story. Starbucks, hospitals in America, Pepsodent and Civil Rights movement in America – all these prominent organizations and events feature in this book. These entities and events are viewed through a lens of habits and offer unique perspectives. I could inspire at least one friend to buy this book just by sharing one of the stories in this book.
  • A Practical Guide: This book offers significant guidance and inspiration to understand: the ‘why’ of habits, ‘what’ is the profound impact of habits, and ‘how’ can those be transformed or further strengthened. I have tried using a few tricks and those seem to make a difference. That’s incredible!
  • The Dark Side: Habits can make or break people and institutions. The examples which highlight how habitual behavior can create chaos made me shudder a bit. Would your stomach churn if you get to know that a habit lead someone to unintentionally murder their loved one?

Content Summary

The content is structured in 3 parts and 9 chapters. The concept of Habit loop explained in the first chapter caught my attention as it brought back the memories of Atomic Habits (another significant book, read review here).

This simplicity offered allows the reader to decipher their complex habits, which can feel exciting. The case studies of Pepsodent, Febreze and Alcoholic Anonymous viewed through the lens of habits make for an engaging read.

Thought provoking concepts like Keystone habits and the ability to change habits using a simple act of maintaining a log of actions stand out. The real life cases highlighting the success of these principles subtly encourage the reader to participate in what would otherwise seem a daunting behavioral change endeavor.

The chapters dedicated to Walmart and Ceaser Palace (Casino) are eye-openers. These paint a scary yet powerful picture of how organizations like Walmart and Ceaser Palace deliberately cash-on the habitual behaviors of their customers to supercharge their revenues. A detailed narrative of the notorious incident, wherein Walmart knew about a teenage girl’s pregnancy before her family made me twitch!

Recommendation

I strongly recommend this to anyone looking for an informative, engaging read and dare I say, a transformative read. As a reader, you will feel more aware and informed about your habits and the ‘why’ behind those. Surely, a bare act of reading this book will not make a significant impact however, it is extremely likely that you will feel empowered to act and change your habits to align with your purpose.

Combined with the principles of Atomic Habits (read how Atomic Habits powered my transformation), this book has given me the power to make informed choices and take deliberate actions. I think it can do so, for you too. Happy Reading!

You can buy The Power of Habit here on Amazon.

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For more book reviews of interesting top sellers, check out this section here.

Book Review: Days of my China Dragon

Book Review of Days of my China Dragon by Chandrahas Choudhury

Days of my China Dragon, Author: Chandrahas Choudhury Genre: Fiction

“Indians don’t read Books”

‘Indians don’t read books’, said a Russian traveler whom I met in Goa last year. I felt a little awkward and defensive about her comment. However, I quickly realized I wasn’t going to convince her otherwise and steered the conversation towards her favorite ‘The Master and Margarita’. Before our goodbyes, I recommended an Indian author’s book to her. It was my way of saying, ‘we not only read, but folks around here also know how to write amazing books!’ For the curious souls, that book is Ghachar Ghochar. It’s one of my favorites and I have gifted to at least 10 people, including some friends from Poland. Try Ghachar Ghochar – review here

I keep looking for hidden gems by Indian authors. Do you have any recommendations? (Please share in comments)

The quest for good Indian author writing led me ‘Days of my China Dragon‘. How I discovered this book eludes me, but I am glad I did. Reading this book was a new experience for me. As it was not the usual ‘be with yourself and read a book’ set up. In fact, my partner (Guddu) and I read this book to each other, taking turns. This was the first time we read a book together (rather to each other) and it was fun! Guddu generously discards my new ideas, like my advice to plan which books she wants to read this year! Fortunately though, looks like this one is approved as she on board to do this again. Woo hoo!

Have you tried reading a book to someone else? How did it go for you?

In this book, Chandrahas Choudhary has done a splendid job of crafting an intensely easy going, entertaining, realistic and engaging story. The plot revolves around China Dragon, a Chinese restaurant in Mumbai owned by Jigar Pala. This restaurant’s existence and ongoing operations are intertwined with absorbing stories which surpass the confines of a specific theme, capture the reader’s imagination and yet bring them back beautifully, like a perfectly presented plate of long smooth Hakka noodles garnished with fresh spring onions.

Why should you read Days of my China Dragon?

There is a strong indigenous appeal to this book. The nuances are relatable and reminiscing. There are several things to look forward to:

  • Romance with Food: The author has romanticized food in a pleasingly gripping style. The vivid description of food, ingredients and cooking has the potential to make an otherwise ‘non foody’ feel a craving for food, Chinese or otherwise. Fancy reading a chapter named ‘A Meditation on Fried Rice’?
  • Thought Provoking Yet Subtle: The story subtly touches upon a lot of important and key themes like religious riots in Mumbai, India-China war, train accident in West Bengal, politics and political parties etc. The author makes a point, doesn’t digress and craftily comes back to the China Dragon.
  • A reader’s Delight: The writing style imbibes simplicity, is sprinkled with humor and satiates readers who like reading at pace. There is a momentum to the story and there are quite a few interesting characters who are relatable and quirky.
  • Informative: After reading this book, I am more informed about restaurant trade, food business, Chinese cuisine and its history, an entrepreneur’s life and about the city of dreams, Mumbai.

Content Summary

214 pages of neatly structured content touch upon a variety of themes and coalesce around China Dragon. The descriptive writing style creates a credible visual of the story for the reader. The language is simple, font size is easy for eyes and the reader can pace through with ease.

The first part of the book focuses on the restaurant’s birth, history of Chinese food and Jigar Pala’s ambitious dreams. Then it transitions neatly to the day to day life of China Dragon and Jigar’s struggle to make it a successful business which entails training and retaining the staff while trying to improve the restaurant’s fortune through bizarre means like, finding a dragon statue as a good luck charm.

The story moves smoothly from one crisp chapter to another although some chapters could have been sharper, like the story of Shivbhakt Pintu Masarkar. The last few chapters induce pace and manage to create an emotional churn in the reader.

Recommendation

I recommend this book as a light hearted quick paced indigenous story. I enjoyed reading it and liked the writing style which is enticingly descriptive, makes you laugh with the wordplay and romanticizes the concept of food and restaurants appropriately to create a tease and a pull! I encourage you to fix your date with the China Dragon.

You can buy this book here on Amazon.

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For more book reviews of interesting top sellers, check out this section here.

Book Review: Shoe Dog (Nike), Phil Knight

Book Review of Shoe Dog (Nike), Phil Knight

Shoe Dog is an excellent story! Undoubtedly, Phil Knight has done a swooshing job of baring his soul while sharing his journey with the sole, and the rest of the shoe of course! This book unravels a thrilling business story of Nike company. It is laced up with crafty writing which helps the readers visualize the nail biting, adrenaline pumping and some back-breaking moments that are embedded in the history of Nike, like the lace holes (eyelets) in a shoe.

Author: Phil Knight

Why should you read Shoe Dog?

This book showcases the struggles, resilience and triumphs of an entrepreneurial journey which are inspiring and humbling. There are several learnings that a reader can take away. I am highlighting a few, rather a very few of those learnings here for reference:

  • Hard Work and Persistence: This book is a reminder that hard-work and persistence is like the sole of the shoe called success. There is no success (shoe) and without hard work and persistence (sole).
  • Taking Bold Risks: Building a business entails several unknowns and it needs a certain sort of boldness. Phil didn’t even have a company when he proposed himself as a distributor of Japanese shoes. Bill Gates had done something similar with when he was building windows.
  • Managing Tough/Hostile stakeholders: I feel amazed by the way Phil Knight managed his over zealous banks, careless suppliers and vendors who produced Nike shoes.
  • Building a Team: How to build a great team? There are tremendous lessons in the way Nike’s core team was built and glued together in the face of existential challenges.
  • Surviving body blows from competition: There are at least 2-3 instances when the company was just one bad move or a strand of lace away from bellying-up. Yet, it found a way to survive and thrive.

Content Summary

383 pages of neatly structured content barely present a dull moment. 18 years of Nike (1962-80) which started as ‘Blue Ribbon company’ jog before your eyes, like the author’s habitual jogging sessions! The language is simple yet sublime and the reader can pace through with ease.

The first part of the book covers Phil’s amazing journey around the world and it sets the tone for the rest of the book. You get an up and close view of Nike’s early days (Blue ribbon at the time) time as a distributor of Onitsuka Tiger shoes before it raced ahead to become a self-sustaining shoe company.

The chapters organized as years highlight significant milestones: the famous story of Nike’s name and logo, controversy around its factories, it’s competition with Adidas and Converse, its battle with American tax authorities, the superior design thanks to its shoe dog co-founder Bill Bowerman and many other iconic moments in the company’s history and Phil’s personal life, including the tragic and untimely death of his son!

Alas, it doesn’t cover the epic behind the scenes saga of signing Michael Jordan! In fact, that story is worth another book. Don’t trust me? It’s worth a movie already – Air, available on Amazon Prime.

Recommendation

There are so many take-aways you can get from this book. To top it all, it’s also a great lesson in writing, presenting ideas and stories. Albeit, even a great story takes a sharp and refined story telling to immerse the reader. Shoe Dog certainly made me feel immersed as a reader!

I recommend Shoe Dog to anyone who is looking for a dose of inspiration or just wants to read an engaging tale of exciting events that laced up together make the shoe, rather the Shoe Dog. Happy Reading, Cheers!

You can buy this book here on Amazon.

Like reading Book Reviews, Poetry and Travel Stories? Versatilistaqua is your space for interesting content in these areas of your interest. Follow VersatilistAqua on Instagram here.

For more book reviews of interesting top sellers, check out this section here.

My Books to Read List for 2024

This post covers the list of books which are going to get my attention in 2024. Does it feature any book you would like to read?

Reading has influenced my life in so many positive ways and my book cabinet is one of my most prized possession (along with my Royal Enfield motorbike and my 2000cc dark beast!). My list of books to read in 2024 is inspired by fellow writers on WordPress who have shared their recommendation of books to read, here is one example.

Contrary to previous years, this year I have pre-decided the books I will read. Surely, this list is not count focused as I am not fascinated by reading milestones in terms of ‘how many’. Instead, I prioritized the titles and themes I want to focus on this year. Although I am conscious that this list can get longer with incoming recommendations, but setting a goal is always a good start. For example, this week a visiting friend mentioned Carl Newport so many times to me that I ended up ordering the author’s book, Deep Work! Yes, I get influenced into book purchases, rather easily!

My preferred genre is management, productivity, personal development and compelling stories, preferably from Indian authors. Therefore, you will see an inclination towards these themes in the collection below. However, I hope this post inspires you or gives you some ideas to create your reading list. Additionally, it’s also an attempt to make a social commitment to my reading goal (idea borrowed from Atomic Habits).

Here is my list of books to read for 2024.

  1. The Lesson, by Sowmya Rajendran. I started 2024 with a re-reading of this book. It’s a dark satire which explores the theme of women empowerment and inequality in a rather unique way. It’s a hard hitting thin read which lasts the duration of a typical Bollywood movie but is in no way typical. You can read the review here.
  2. Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight. It’s a captivating read which literally ‘runs through’ the story of Nike corporation and its founder Phil Knight. I have already completed reading this book in January’24 (read book review here). If you have interest in autobiography, business, sneakers, or sublime story telling – this book is for you!

Yet to Read

  1. Start with Why, by Simon Sinek. I am hoping this bestseller helps to me explore and understand the concept of Why. Atomic Habits helped me understand Why I write, and it has been a joyride since then.
  2. The First 90 Days, by Michael D Watkins. I started reading this last year and then broke up with it. This year, I want to give our relationship another shot. I have taken up a new role professionally and hopefully I will get some insights from this.
  3. Days of my China Dragon, by Chandrahas Choudhury. This pick is inspired by my curiosity for Indian writing. I am currently reading this (Jan’24). In fact, I am reading it out for my partner. This is the first time we are experimenting with the idea of reading a book out loud for your partner. Have you tried it? PS: Are you looking for an amazing read from an Indian author? Try Ghachar Ghochar – review here
  4. Awaken the Giant Within, by Anthony Robbins. It’s been long since I moved away from in your face motivation books. Possibly, this is one of those and that’s the reason it has been sitting on my shelf, unread, for around 5 years. Is it or is it not, surely, I’ll figure that out this year.
  5. These Errors are Correct, by Jeet Thayil. For the love of poetry! Jeet is a well known poet. Though I am strongly inclined towards hindi poetry, I want to give this a try. May be there is something to learn, or some inspiration lying out there!
  6. The Productivity Project, by Chris Bailey. Its cover says – ‘Proven ways to become more awesome’. Well, I am in!
  7. Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance, by Louis Gerstner. A pure play business book and a story of a transformation of a big corporation, the IBM. Undoubtedly, this book has been lurking around in my bookshelf for several years now. Fine, you get my attention this year I said!
  8. My Story, by Kamala Das. I’ll be honest – I don’t know much about Kamala Das. That is about to change this year!
  9. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg. Hopefully this inspires me to build some new habits and also help me to continue my existing habits. Do you think it will?

And more…

This year, I’ll read all these books listed above and hopefully more. Along with these focused reads, I’ll have the company of masters of the art of poetry, like Amrita Pritam, Dr. Bashir Badr, Rahat Indori, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi to handhold me on my journey of writing poetry and ghazals.

Which books make it your list of books to read in 2024?

I hope this post inspires you to commit to a habit of reading and create a list of books you will read this year. I would love to hear which books are due to get your attention this year. Have you read any of the books listed above? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Cheers, happy reading!

Buy these books on amazon:

  1. The Lesson, Sowmya Rajendran
  2. Shoe Dog, Phil Knight
  3. Start with Why, Simon Sinek
  4. The First 90 Days, by Michael D Watkins
  5. Days of my China Dragon, by Chandrahas Choudhury
  6. Awaken the Giant Within, by Anthony Robbins
  7. These Errors are Correct, by Jeet Thayil
  8. The Productivity Project, by Chris Bailey
  9. Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance, by Louis Gerstner
  10. My Story, by Kamala Das
  11. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

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Book Review Talent Sutra, Devdutt Pattanaik

Book review: The Talent Sutra, by Devdutt Pattanaik presents an intersection of mythological stories in the context of modern organizations.

Have you ever seen MasterChef Australia? I have seen this show, thanks to my partner who is a food enthusiast (read bonkers). From watching this show, one thing that stayed with me is how judges encourage and celebrate the intersection of flavors in any dish. Say an ice cream, needs to have a dark chocolate or a cheesecake needs a non sugary digestive biscuit base to cut through the all encompassing flavor of sweetness. And this contrast of flavors undeniably produces an excellent dish! Why am I telling you all this though?

Think of the same principles for a book, and surely, The Talent Sutra replicates a similar approach and brings contrasting flavors together. Two important subjects it focuses on are:

a) ways of working of modern organizations, in respect of looking learning, talent, teamwork etc. and

b) markedly epic stories from Indian mythology.

This intersection has produced an interesting body of work which brings a unique and fresh perspective on learning, talent and collaboration within organizations and at the same time, creates an awareness about the Indian mythology – it’s symbols and some key characters.

Author: Devdutt Pattanaik

Why should you read The Talent Sutra?

Some key reasons why should pick this book:

  1. It’s short, to the point, and written in an easy language and yet, this book manages to convey some complex messages with substantial clarity and impact. For example, how does fear and care, two contrasting elements, impact the workplace and employee?
  2. Another reason is that It helps you build an appreciation and awareness about Indian mythology and some fundamental elements like roles for Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and meaning behind symbols of deities, like lotus, swan and veena in any image of goddess Saraswati.
  3. The examples of professional world are relevant and closely tied to the stories. The connection is apparent which makes the content lucid and allows for swift reading. Like analyzing Lord Ram’s leadership style using stories from Ramayana as an illustration.
  4. It challenges you, subtly, to think about about people, learning and thyself from a different lens, and presents varied perspectives. Like how lack of inclusion in an organization can lead to people craving for attention by resorting to potential unwarranted actions. To illustrate this message, the book presents a unique perspective on Duryodhan and Kubija.

Content Summary

This book contains 116 pages which are a combination of text and imagery. The content is neatly structured into 4 sections. Each section explore a specific topic:

1) Isolation: focuses on our need to be seen, cared for and appreciated

2) Reflection: makes us conscious of how others see us and how we respond to that

3)Expansion: underlines the principles of growth of humans which requires appreciation of others as a foundation

4) Inclusion: highlights the development of others as a key duty of each individual. Herein, content from Vedic scriptures, like four phases of life has been used to showcase examples.

Recommendation

This book is a quick read presented in an interesting story telling style. Interestingly, it picks on the stories from Indian mythology and views those from a lens of modern day organizations which creates a healthy tension and appropriate curiosity for reflection. I recommend this as a good pick for anyone looking for a simple, informative and stimulating reading experience. Happy Reading, Cheers!

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Book Review Working Backwards, Inside Amazon

Book Review of Working Backwards, Inside Amazon

Amazon is an entity which is not just an organization but an institution which has cemented itself as a household name across the planet. Like Google is a synonym for search, Amazon is a synonym for shopping, and much more. That’s what this book is about. A detailed view into How Amazon transformed itself from a book selling website into an institution which is now a conglomerate with diversified and successful lines of business.    

Authors: Colin Bryar and Bill Carr

Why should you read Working Backwards, Inside Amazon?

Curious to know how Amazon built some of its world class products like Kindle, Amazon Web Services, Prime and Prime video? How they set a vision for these products, stumbled, and fell behind but eventually came out on top? This book showcases the strength of enduring practices that enable Amazon to achieve incredible milestones. You will get to learn about these amazing ways of working. Some of these practices are quite unique and you can be rely on and adapt those to suit your context, at a personal or professional level:  

  • undoubtedly, the company’s DNA coded into 14 leadership principles,
  • starting with Customer Obsession and focus on creating differential value for them,
  • frameworks like Bar Raiser, 6-page narratives (No PowerPoint) and PR/FAQ
  • defining and tracking input metrics instead of output metrics
  • single threaded leadership in order to drive accountability and execution  

Content Summary

Overall, the 240 pages of content is structured into 10 brief chapters. Authors, Colin and Bill, who were top executives at Amazon, give a insider view of this organization from its initial days to the period of growth. What I found most compelling is the PR FAQ approach. It is a simple yet powerful tool that helps to create a solid vision of the outcome even before getting started. I like that this is closely aligned to the principle of ‘Begin with the end in mind’ from my favorite book, 7 habits of highly effective people.  

PR/FAQ is about articulating a press release for a proposed product/service as if it has been launched already. Now, in a press release, you are highlighting its value and differentiated appeal for customers. FAQs are addendums which cover simple yet carefully chosen questions that address the key aspects for customers. For e.g. things that a customer would want to know – say quality, price, materials etc.

I tried to apply this technique to some of my ideas and it really helped to create massive clarity! In addition, Amazon’s focus on hiring top talent through a rigorous process, called Bar Raiser is discussed in detail. A chapter each is dedicated to covering the other principles highlighted above.  

Recommendation

The text is easy to read and comprehend and font size is conducive to reading. Examples are straightforward and real as they present opportunities to learn. Writing style is quite direct yet engaging. The authors deliberately create a reverence and awe around Jeff Bezos which is quite understandable. I would recommend this book as a must read for anyone who wants to tickle their brain with some new and easy to implement ideas. Amazon is a bold organization, the stories in this book make that very evident. An organization that loves to take risks and minces no words about their expectations from the employees. Work hard, work long and work backwards! Happy Reading, Cheers!

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Book Review, Rework | Jason Fried & David Hansson

Book Review of Rework by Jason Fried & David Hansson

Book Review, Rework

It can’t be wise to say that I went for a walk last week or last month and hence I don’t need to walk this week. Physical training is needed on an ongoing basis to maintain a healthy body . Similarly, mind needs constant reminders, nudges, bouts of inspiration and positive signals to be effective.

Why should you read this book?

Rework does for your brain, exactly what physical activity does for your body. It’s a collection of seemingly simple yet powerful ideas, drawn from experience. Some of these reminders are counter intuitive and don’t really fit with a lot of other advice available in management books. That makes this book at worthy and an exciting read.

Content Summary (271 pages)

The 12 sections in this book focus on topics like Progress, Productivity, Culture, Hiring, Promotion etc. Each section contains a 1 or 2 pager on powerful ideas and learnings drawn from authors’ experience of running a successful organization named 37signals.

Simpilicity and ease of reading, are the most delightful aspects of this book. It’s pacy and it was hard to put it down. The ideas aren’t too prescriptive but provoke thoughts. At several instances, the book highlights the importance of frugality in running business – hiring resources, building features in product, investing money in promotions and meetings at work. All these concepts are basically subjected to high pressure thinking here and the authors challenge the notion if businesses really need to do all this to succeed.

Inspiration

Personally, I related to the call out that ‘Inspiration is perishable’. That means, if you feel inspired to do something about an idea you have – do that right away till inspirations lasts. Inspiration can help you achieve a lot more in a lot less time and the chances of getting things done become bleak once the inpsiration fades. I liked this idea as it so true for me and in fact, applies a lot to my writing as well.

A few similar nuggests of wisdom which helped me reflect and act:

a) Start making something emphasis Action over ideation

b) In the section on Progress, Embrace Constraints resonated with me. Interestingly, authors cite that prisoners find innovative ways to plan escape from prison while they are constrained for resources.

c) Interruption is the enemy of productivity is a solid reminder. It made me think of pomodoro technique yet again. (read about pomodoro technique here)

d) My favorite, you can only build on top of decisions which are taken already and not on top of ‘thinking/yet to decide’.

Recommendation

I found this a very useful read. As a reminder for a few interesting concepts that were lost in my sub-conscious and for a few inspiring concepts which I didn’t think about before this. It took me a cumulative 3-4 hours of time to complete reading this book. While it inclines towards organizations however I found many key take aways for myself as a professional. If you are looking for some refreshing thoughts, this could be a good book to pick up. Happy Reading, Cheers!

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