Category: Book Review

Book Review: The FIRM, Duff McDonald

McKinsey is touted as the greatest Management consulting firm on the planet. This book gives an engaging insight into the history and success of this firm.

Author: Duff McDonald
Published: 2013
Publisher: Vintage Books
Pages: 336

This book is about McKinsey & Company, touted as the greatest consulting organization on the planet! ‘The Firm’ is what the employees at McKinsey like to call it; ‘employees’ themselves are known as ‘Partners’ who never negotiate anything, but only ‘make arrangements’. This word play is symbolic of the ‘Consulting Profession’ which the Firm ‘created’ back in 1926 and commercialized thereafter.

The author commendably illustrates the history of McKinsey. Starting from the foundation by James McKinsey in 1926 to the era of Dominic Barton, the current CEO of the Firm (2009-18). It also highlights the reigns of 11 Managing Directors and how each leader impacted the Firm’s strategy, expansion, growth and value system. More importantly, the book provides a compelling description of the Firm’s powerful and visible impact on the World’s business; albeit, not all of which is worthy of applause.

McKinsey’s Clout

The restructuring of the American and European industries in the post WWII era and propagation of the M (Matrix) form of organizational structure can be safely attributed to The Firm. The clout of the Firm is underlined by the fact that it has not only consulted close to 90% of the Fortune 500 companies, but also the elected governments in the United States and Britain. ‘Organizing’ the White House can easily be considered as an assignment that shaped the world.

On the flip side, readers also get an insight into some of the biggest corporate failures. For instance, the factors that led to the collapse of ‘Enron’ in 2001. Enron was Firm’s long term client with Ex-McKinsey ‘Jeff Skilling’ as a president leading up to that period.

  • The decline of Swissair & AllState, long term clients of the firm.
  • The conviction of Rajat Gupta in 2012, Firm’s MD (1994-2003) on charges of insider trading;
  • Firm’s lackluster work with the BBC and many other unsuccessful high profile projects.

Surprisingly, the Firm invariably came out unscathed from these forceful downturns and continued its reign as a superlative management consulting powerhouse in the world.

Recommendation

Overall, the book gives some revealing insights about the Firm. The author has made an earnest attempt to present an unbiased ‘personality’ of the Firm. One doesn’t need to be a consultant to be able to make sense of this book. It’s for anyone with some inclination towards the business world will really enjoy it.

I will highly recommend this book if you want to know why a ‘McKinsey’ on your resume gives you an unparalleled Launchpad for reaching the highest echelons of the business world. Don’t believe me? Ask Sundar Pichai, Sheryl Sandberg, Tom Peters, Lou Gerstner, Bobby Jindal, James Gorman or Chelsea Clinton! Happy Reading.

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Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden

This book is a compelling account of a Geisha’s life as experienced by a small peasant girl ‘Chiyo Chan’. Her journey from a poor peasant to a very successful Geisha will leave you spellbound.

Published: 1998
Publisher: Vintage Books
Pages: 496

With a backdrop of Japan in 1920s, Memoirs of a Geisha takes you through a range of emotions, and most of the time leaves you wondering whether to feel deeply appalled or hopelessly optimistic. The story is based on the character of a peasant girl named Chiyo Chan. The narrative takes off when two little sisters are sold off by a helpless father in hope of a better future. One of them, ‘Chiyo’, blessed with beautiful eyes, goes on to become a ‘Geisha’ by a bizarre combination of destiny and choice. ‘Gei’ in Japanese means Art; therefore Geisha by corollary is an artist, the one who entertains men in various ways, for a price!

Through ‘Sayuri’, Chiyo’s Geisha name, the book gives a compelling account of her profound feelings during her days in Gion, which is more popularly known as the Geisha district of Japan. It also elaborately covers the intricate details of a Geisha’s life like the notion of geisha’s cultural heritage, the challenging training in music and dance and finesse in traditional Japanese Tea ceremony. The author also beautifully highlights the indispensable elements of a Geisha’s profession such as wearing an opulent make up, dressing up in exquisite Kimonos, finding a man to be her ‘mizuage’ and ‘danna’, keeping the secrets of her customers and veiling a thousand emotions inside her.

Throughout the story, Sayuri’s destiny suffers massive twists influenced by the other characters like the Chairman, Nobu, Mameha, Pumpkin, Mother and Hatsumomo. Sayuri braves these uncertainties, the daily struggles of the life in Okiya and the almost annihilating blow of the Second World War to eventually realize the only ‘dream’ she had.

Recommendation

Prudently enough, the author manages to evade the complexity of either exalting or disparaging the profession of a Geisha. A little dragged in some portions, but overall, Memoirs of a Geisha is an intriguing read which informs and stirs a reader’s mind in more ways than one. Happy Reading!

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Book Review: The Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafak

The Forty Rules of Love is a intriguing story that oscillates between two entirely different eras and depicts the power of love and companionship that withstands and transcends boundaries.

Author: Elif Shafak
Publisher: Penguin India
Published: First Published in 2010
Pages: 350

Reading The Forty Rules of book is like watching a play. A lot of characters simultaneously participate in or witness the same events but share an entirely different perspective.  Through its characters, the book traverses an intricate maze comprised of some very complex issues. The author touches upon the meaning of religion and interpretation of religious doctrines especially in Islam. The concept of Sufism, the compendium of unconditional love and unbearable pain, the splendor of true companionship, the lure of infidelity and the ‘Sweet Blasphemy’.

The story runs parallel in two different eras. One, At Northampton, in the first decade of the 21st century, while the other, at the ancient city of Konya, Turkey in the middle of the 13th century. Ella Rubinstein, a woman in her late thirties, finds herself at the crossroads of life as she desperately tries to make herself and her family perfect. As the turn of events lead her to read an unpublished book titled ‘Sweet Blasphemy’, her life transforms in unprecedented ways. A sweet and teasing romance ensues between Ella and the author of the book, named A.Z. Zahara.

Within the book, the powerful character of a dervish named ‘Shams of Tabriz’ is out on a mission to find a true and a worthy companion. During this journey, he explains the ‘Forty Rules of Love’ as life’s lessons to handle various situations. Shams’ quest leads him to Rumi, the famous preacher and ‘poet’. Through the eyes of Rumi & Shams, the author touches upon a host of sensitive issues in Islam, such as interpretation of Al Nisa in Quran, prohibition of wine, and indulgence in dance and music etc. The author handles the issues with maturity to give a fresh perspective to an uninitiated.

Recommendation

Overall, the story is gripping and fast paced. The book gives you an opportunity to contemplate and reflect on your beliefs. You will enjoy reading it, and who knows, may be some Sufism finds its way to you. Happy Reading!

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Book Review: Playing It My Way, Sachin Tendulkar

Playing It My Way is the autobiography of one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game. Born in Mumbai, India, Sachin Tendulkar dominated world cricket for 24 years at the International level. Sachin made his debut on November 15, 1989 and retired on November 16, 2013, bringing a close to a glorious chapter in cricketing history.

Author: Sachin Tendulkar with Boria Majumdar

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Published: 2014

Pages: 486

Content Summary

The book is a perfect account of an illustrious career. It moves from Sachin’s childhood days to his last day on the cricket field in the form of a compelling story. In a lucid language, Sachin Tendulkar recounts his childhood days before cricket. He then describes the time when he laid the foundation of a glorious career under the keen watch of his coach, Ramakant Achrekar. The level of his commitment and hard work during that period is exemplary to say the least.

Playing It My Way is the autobiography of one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game. Born in Mumbai, India, Sachin Tendulkar dominated world cricket for 24 years at the International level. Sachin made his debut on November 15, 1989 and retired on November 16, 2013, bringing a close to a glorious chapter in cricketing history.

In each chapter, Sachin Tendulkar beautifully captures the reflections of his mind into words. The chapter titled ‘Anjali’ is particularly interesting. While he recounts the sweet tales of the beginning of his relationship, he also reveals how he made Anjali talk and convince both their parents to agree for their marriage.

Book Cover

An Inside View

The other chapters present a mesmerizing account of the feelings that he went throughout his career as an individual and a player. The feelings which are otherwise impossible for a fan or a spectator to understand. His anger after the surprising declaration in Multan, Pakistan, when he was 194*, the frustrating period as the captain of the Indian team, the way he cried after locking himself up in a washroom after a series defeat etc. His frank opinion about the Chappell brothers, Greg (as the coach of the Indian team) and Ian (as an erratic critic), and many other such accounts on and off the field help the reader better understand Sachin Tendulkar as a person.

The contribution of his brother Ajit and his close friends such as Samir Dighe, Jatin Paranjpe and his manager Mark Mascarenhas finds a frequent mention. Sachin also shares some lighter moments which involve him and some other Indian cricketers. Additionally, a few instances of on field banter involving foreign players.

The two chapters titled ‘World Cup 2011’ and ‘The Final Test’ are the particularly moving. In these chapters, any reader with even a remote interest in cricket would be able to feel the intensity and enormity of these two occasions. For a die-hard fan though, ‘tears rolling down the cheek’ is only a matter of time.

Recommendation

Overall, this book is a complete experience in itself. However, someone a bit unfamiliar with cricket, might be unable to fully appreciate some situations described in the book. But, if you are looking for a real life story which is inspiring, absorbing and as thrilling as the game of cricket, then, this book is just the right one for you. Happy Reading.

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