Review: Line of Control

Line of Control by Mainak Dhar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book of Mainak Dhar that I have read, after 03:02. As with 03:02, this has a captivating story as well.

A despot in the middle east eggs on the Pakistani ruler to take some bold steps against India. An assassination attempt of India's Prime Minister and terror attacks at multiple places happen, setting the stage for a communal flareup. This is followed by a large scale influx of terrorists into Kashmir backed by the Pakistan army with an intent to capture and hold territory. Very soon, the conflict widens with the threat of nuclear weapons lurking in the background.

The story is sadly fairly plausible, bringing out the dangers of Pakistan pursuing support to terror groups as a state policy. The pace is very good and the book is engrossing. The drawback though is that a lot of space is devoted to elaborate descriptions of warfare, with very minimal character building.


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Review: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia Puigcerver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has a lot of things going for it - it is concise, packages best known & appreciated theories on a long life & happiness and provides examples from Japan on a fulfilling life.

Ikigai is the Japanese concept of a purposeful life where what you love, are good at intersects with what the world really needs and is willing to pay for making it a winning combination which you as an individual enjoy pursuing. The authors start with Logotherapy pioneered by Victor Frankl, who after a painful period of internment at a Nazi concentration camp, outlines this concept of finding purpose to life. In contrast to traditional psychotherapy which is concerned with finding a problem, Logotherapy offers a positive outlook.

The book later explores the concept of Ikigai with a narrative on how the longest living communities in Japan spend their lives. There is a common pattern among those who live long - they mostly eat plant based food, have strong community bonds, are physically very active (primarily with light exercises like walking) and pursue hobbies or careers they are passionate about. Most of them do not have a concept of retirement and continue these practices well into old age. There is material devoted to yoga, meditation, and other practices which help strengthen the mind and lend balance to life.

This is a book which summarizes important very well. Only, I did not find too much new information except for the descriptions and voices of a new communities in Japan.

A recommended read for the importance of the subject it covers.


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Review: The Gene: An Intimate History

The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘The Gene’ is a very informative book, and a book I believe which everyone should read, as it packs vital information on what we really are. That said, this is a big book, and is very dense in several sections.

Siddhartha Mukherjee traces the history of how we have gained better understanding of our genes since over a century. He starts with his family, many of his relatives on his father’s side suffering from mental illnesses. This is interspersed with some random musings on the impact of the partition of the country, which is largely incomplete, assuming the idea was to link it to mental health. The various experiments done by a variety of people (starting significantly with Mendel) allowing us to understand our genome & genes gradually makes for engrossing reading.

The ‘nature’ vs ‘nurture’ debate expectedly finds coverage and it was interesting to read how it is actually one reinforcing the other rather than a binary or a sum. The ethical considerations and some failed genetic treatment experiments insert a sobering caution, though the progress made has been stupendous.

The narrative could have flowed more easily - enhancing readability (also some random & sketchy non-subject references do not add much), and a possibly wider coverage of genes could have been included (the coverage is very much oriented towards disease causing genes).
This is a book of great value and certainly recommended reading!

My rating: 4.25 / 5.


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Review: Raise Your Innovation IQ: 21 Ways to Think Differently During Times of Change

Raise Your Innovation IQ: 21 Ways to Think Differently During Times of Change by Leena Patel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the current economy, there is a race to innovate and it is not easy. Higher levels of productivity with current business models have been reached, and innovation is more important than ever.

Considering that, this book has the right imperatives and coverage. It covers the multi-faceted nature, behaviours and practices which people need to imbibe today to fuel innovation, with some fairly good examples. However, if you have been in the work environment for a few years there is not much new material. As a result, in a competitive environment, this content and the examples are still somewhat short.

This is a still decent book to read as the principles are all sound.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free electronic copy of the book in order to provide a review.


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Review: Recursion

Recursion by Blake Crouch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading ‘Dark Matter’ last year, I was looking forward to reading ‘Recursion’. Quite clearly this was a much-awaited book, judging by all the reviews.

‘Recursion’ lives up to the expectations – a great & unique story built atop non-contradictory & even plausible time science. It sets a rollicking pace right from the start and keeps up the tempo right till the end. I read ‘The Order of Time’ by Carlo Rovelli a few months back, and that helped me appreciate the science behind the story better. I would certainly recommend reading that to get a more in-depth appreciation of the science in ‘Recursion’.

NYPD detective Barry Sutton receives a distress call and finds Ann Peters Voss set to jump off a building to end her life. She is plagued by False Memory Syndrome (FMS), a strange affliction which creates false memories of events which could not have happened and are torturous. The number of people afflicted seems to be growing, and the reasons are unclear. Barry is also coming to terms with a difficult personal life, being separated from his wife after their daughter passes away in a tragic accident. Helena Smith is a neuroscientist who has made remarkable progress in understanding memory, her mother being afflicted with dementia makes this a personal quest. Both Barry & Helena, in their own way, understand that there is more to FMS than meets the eye and they may have to intervene to avoid a human catastrophe.

The story is engrossing right from the start. Other than credible science, it is interspersed with important philosophical questions introduced in a subtle way as part of the narrative. I think there is just a little too much recursion towards the later parts of the book, but hey – maybe this story required it, and it does end nicely.

As it is, modern lifestyles deprive us of adequate sleep, and books like ‘Recursion’ don’t help! 😊.

If you liked ‘Dark Matter’, you will certainly enjoy this as well. As for me, I need to read all of Blake Crouch’s books!


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Review: Single

Single by K.L. Slater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Darcy is looking to move on with life. Her two kids are at school, and her in-laws & sister in law are a source of support, though also a little intrusive. One day, Darcy’s son has a bad asthmatic attack and George, a good-looking doctor saves his life. Darcy very quickly finds herself getting to be close to George. There are, however, complications in both their lives as strains from their past relationships casts shadows.

Darcy has a feeling that someone is watching her and the boys all the time. During a holiday, a strange figure approaches her son. Very soon, she senses she and her boys may be in danger and she has to uncover the people involved and their motives.

Single is a fast-moving book. It teases you by leaving small incidents and clues, prompting you to speculate on what could come next.

A good suspense novel, which is fast paced.


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Review: Those Pricey Thakur Girls

Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read ‘The Zoya Factor’ sometime back and this week in pretty much the same writing style. It has a distinct Indian language construct and humour.

The book gets off to a bit of difficult start with a whole lot of characters introduced abruptly. The story centres around Debjani, who is one of five sisters and Dylan Singh Shekhawat. While Debjani is just making her career as a newsreader on DD, Dylan is a journalist. Their relationship shuffles between love and hate several times. Dylan is pursuing the untold story behind the riots in 1984 and makes many powerful enemies. The effort to club a serious track within this book however, does not quite come across as natural though. Debjani’s sisters have stories of their own adding to complications.

The story has its good moments – it is a light and easy read for the most part. And yet, it could have been more satisfying had the characters had more depth.


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Review: The Other Daughter

The Other Daughter by Shalini Boland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you have been reading Shalini Boland’s books, you know that her stories are always engrossing, fast paced and have unexpected twists. This book is no different and keeps you hooked till the end, though not all aspects of the story tie up realistically.

Rachel works hard to bring balance to her life after her eldest daughter Holly is kidnapped. Her partner leaves her with a young toddler (Jess) to care for. Nine years later, she has a loving partner in Matt now, and they raise two kids – Jess & Charlie. The pains of the past return as she meets a new couple Shaun & Kate who move into the area with their three kids. Rachel feels their daughter Bella bears a striking resemblance to her lost daughter Holly.

While not entirely clear on how she should approach this, Rachel is determined to pursue this as she feels strongly drawn to Bella. She digs into Shaun & Kate’s backgrounds with vigour, determined to trace their story.

The story has you hooked and is a page turner from start to finish. It is also very well written and is a pleasure to read. Some aspects of the story are unrealistic though, not everything ties up cleanly and does detract from the impact at the end.

Thanks to Netgally, the publisher Bookouture and the author for a free electronic copy of the book in order to provide a review.


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Review: Girl Walking Alone

Girl Walking Alone by Dana Perry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read a number of good crime & suspense novels this year. Girl Walking Alone is another very good read. It has a good story which keeps up the pace, the central character has depth and the narration is very personal & makes an impact.

Jessie Tucker is a successful reporter. As she covers the story of Margaret Kincaid’s murder in Central Park, the memories of past horrors she has gone through come rushing back. Jessie was assaulted many years back at night and her recovery was considered a near miracle. NY police investigates the case and Jessie identifies her assailant who later dies in prison. The nature of the crimes is yet very similar. Police quickly moves to identify a suspect and considers the case solved, but Jessie feels there are loose ends.

Jessie’s investigation suggests that this is a very involved story involving politicians and there are echoes from the past including incidents during the Gulf War.

The story moves quickly and has a number of good twists and turns. A very relaxing read. Certainly recommended.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author for a free electronic copy of the book in order to provide a review.


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Review: I Let You Go

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I first read the author’s ‘I See You’ and found it a good light read and suspense novel. This book is well written as well.

An accident turns many lives upside down. A hit and run leads to the tragic death of a young 5 year old boy. The police effort is led by Ray and Kate, a junior who wants to make a mark for herself. Ray and his wife Mags have their hands full at home as well as the kids are growing up. Jenna Gray feels she needs to get away from all this. She moves to a remote place, Penfach, to start afresh. But can she overcome her grief and move on?

What caused the driver of the car to flee? Is this case something more than a straightforward hit and run?

The book brings together multiple threads very well, and they converge strongly at the end. While there were some unexpected twists in the storyline, there are also aspects of the story that I could sense.

Overall, a book which is quite fast paced for the most part (except the early sections) and is a relaxing read.


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Review: An Elephant in My Kitchen: What the herd taught me about love, courage and survival

An Elephant in My Kitchen: What the herd taught me about love, courage and survival by Francoise Malby-Anthony
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ by Lawrence Anthony a few years back. It was such a wonderful account of how he saved a herd of traumatised elephants (the matriarch was shot dead in front of the rest of the herd) who would have otherwise been put down, and settled them at Thula Thula. It was sad to read about Lawrence’s death subsequently. I learnt about his wife Francoise’s book very recently. This book takes over from ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ and is a warm & beautiful book as well.

Lawrence’s passing is tragic and sudden. In ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ Lawrence recounts the story of the elephant Mnumzane, who had to be put down when he turned violent (later determined due to a painful ulcer), and Lawrence’s ashes are laid near his. Many people who admired him came visiting and so did two herds of the elephants he saved, who just came to the house and sat in mourning. In fact, they return on his first death anniversary as well to the house.

Francoise now has responsibilities she is unfamiliar with. Lawrence handled the animals while Francoise took responsibility for managing the bookings, guests and the food. There is very little time to learn, but Francoise is determined to continue Lawrence’s legacy. Francoise really brings out the challenges in running a game reserve like Thula Thula with her account, where your passion to save animals and converse wildlife has to be so strong as to overcome all odds.

While poaching figures in ‘The Elephant Whisperer’ as well, in this book it actually dominates the narrative. Francoise is constantly worried about poachers getting to their animals and knows that despite the security investments, the risk is still high. There are several attempts – snares are laid, cause injuries and young rhino calves are shot. She tries first poisoning the rhino horns and later decides to dehorn the rhinos. And yet there is a gruesome attack causing painful injuries & death to animals. The poaching industry is fell funded and tragically there is demand for animal products such as rhino horns, though science considers this worthless. Poachers also have access to drones to track animals. If a species neutral history of the earth is written someday, I am sure the human treatment of animals, both wild and farm, will be considered the worth of evils on earth.

There are interesting accounts in the book on how a young elephant who loses his way ends up in Francoise’s house and later kitchen, the lovely elephants, rhinos and their behaviours. I love reading about and watching animals, especially elephants, and that is one of many reasons why I loved this book.


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Review: Big Billion Startup - The Untold Flipkart Story

Big Billion Startup - The Untold Flipkart Story by Mihir Dalal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Flipkart is a name we associate with Indian entrepreneurship and ingenuity. I still remember buying books from Flipkart in the early days when it was launched (in fact I was quite disappointed as in the later years books fell off from Flipkart’s priority). This book has very good background and details on the building of Flipkart.

Sachin Bansal & Binny Bansal, both from IIT Delhi firm up their plans to start an e-commerce venture when they were at Amazon India. Amazon India at that time was a technology back office for special initiatives. The description of the initial days of Flipkart where Sachin & Binny start by selling books online makes for fascinating reading. They would source the books from bookstores initially after an order was received. Customer satisfaction was a strong philosophy which the founders promoted, and Flipkart made a reputation for itself based on that with very little marketing effort.

The next phase of expansion needed funding and Flipkart was fortunate to get funding from Accel India initially and later Tiger Global. Lee Fixel from Tiger Global continued to very closely involved for long since the early times, additionally providing professional support as required. Sales leapfrogged on the back of good customer service, product expansion and new ideas. Flipkart also found ways to get around the government regulations around marketplaces by creating a new entity for logistics. Initiatives like Big Billion days, exclusive product launches (starting with Motorola with Moto G becoming a best seller) lead the way to high growth. There were also the misses such as attempting to go solely mobile app and shut down the website (a silly step I thought myself at that time), music download and entering too many categories too quickly. I get the impression Flipkart’s founders would have benefitted with mature senior counsel in many instances.

The power struggles between Sachin and Kalyan Krishnamurthy (a Lee nominee) becomes a distraction as well. The complications in the working relationships leads to most of the early employees of Flipkart exiting. The success story culminates in abrupt exits for the founders (both billionaires) for different reasons after Walmart takes over a majority stake.

The author, Mihir mentions that he was not able to speak to senior Flipkart executives for the book. While that is a drawback of sorts, the amount of background he provides in the book is surprisingly very extensive.

A very good read to understand the making of Flipkart.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me a free copy of the book in order to provide a review.


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Review: A View Across the Rooftops

A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A View Across the Rooftops is a very moving book set during the period of World War II in Amsterdam. These are hard times and only love and compassion provides (some) solace.

Josef Held is a professor teaching mathematics, whose life seems to hold no charm after the passing of his wife Sarah many years ago. He finds Hannah Pender at the university charming and yet cannot find the urge to take the relationship forward. The Nazi occupation and their treatment of Jews, brings more pain. His neighbor Mrs. Epstein is killed right in front of his eyes, an old lady who took pleasure in playing the piano. There is also his Jewish student Michael Blum, whose easy ways he finds difficult to relate to. And yet, Josef makes a choice – he helps Michael by hiding him. Michael is in love with Elke (who is not Jewish) and the prevailing situation separates them. There are further complications and risks with his niece Ingrid dating a high-level German officer.

Josef and Michael form a bond over time – at the start without even speaking much with each other. As trust grows, they learn to share their pains and memories of better times. There are several close shaves while Michael is in hiding, and he also falls seriously ill at one time.

This is not a fast paced book, and yet it is very beautiful – a sum total of the characters, their inner feelings, circumstances and the strength of the story. It is a wonderful story of courage, letting go and find purpose in the most difficult of situations.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

My thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for a free electronic copy of the book for providing a review.


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Review: Brain Food: How to Eat Smart and Sharpen Your Mind

Brain Food: How to Eat Smart and Sharpen Your Mind by Lisa Mosconi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We have among the most complex brains among all animals, and also the most demanding as a result. This book is an important one as it brings together current research to recommend how we can eat for better brain performance and safeguard ourselves from dementia in later years.
A very small fraction of dementia cases is caused due to the genes (<1%), and brain health in later years is largely determined by what we eat, and also our lifestyle. This book covers all aspects holistically though the emphasis is on the diet.

This book has a wealth of information on the impact of fats, sugar, vitamins, protein on brain health. It starts off with the benefits of hydration, with plain water being the best (filtered of harmful germs but not purified which tends to remove useful minerals), with other options being coconut water, aloe vera juice or green tea. There is a detailed discussion on fatty acids – Omega 6 & Omega 3. Most of us do not get enough Omega 3 in our diet, the recommended proportion being Omega 6: Omega 3 - 2:1. Fish apparently is the best source (not an option for vegetarians like me), with there being other vegetarian options such as flaxseed, hemp seeds, chia seeds and others.

There is a discussion around the benefits of Phospholipids, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Choline, Vitamins, Pre- & Pro-biotics and how we can obtain these from the foods we eat. The foods to avoid finds good coverage as well especially trans-fats, sugar, processed food, etc. Glucose is vital for the brain, but processed sugar elevates the risk of diabetes, heart health and is also bad for the brain. There are, however, various natural ways to obtain the glucose we need.

There is brief coverage on other aspects of brain health –exercise, walking, sleep, relationships and other aspects of lifestyle. At the end of the book is a discussion on a few diets across the world which have been found to improve health and promote longevity. There is also a list of healthy brain foods provided as part of the book.

This is an important book to understand how we can modify our diets to improve brain health. While the foods options discussed are largely relevant to the US and the western world, it is quite possible to make suitable modifications to other cuisines as well based on the ingredients discussed.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.


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Review: Colombiano

Colombiano by Rusty Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Colombiano is probably the best book I have read this year, and it is a year when I have read several good books. A story about innocence being quickly lost in the face of tragedy & violence, though love still offers hope. It is an extremely well written and powerful story.

Llorona is a small town where the Guerillas (a violent mob leading to Communist philosophy) hold sway, with the Colombian police and army being especially weak. Col Buitrago has the right intentions but does not have the resources to keep the Guerillas at bay.

Pedro is a young lad who cannot wait to get to 16 years of age, when he can deepen his relationship with his girlfriend Camila. His family soon faces tragedy as his father, a peace loving & respected man in town, is shot by the Guerillas in front of his eyes. Their property is confiscated and his mother moves with Pedro’s Uncle Leo. Pedro is consumed by a burning rage, and is determined to avenge his fathers murder. The Autodefensas are a rival gang who hold sway over other parts of the country, and were formed primarily to resist the Guerillas, with landowners and people impacted by the crimes of the Guerillas supporting them. Pedro and his friend Palillo (who has an abusive step father) join the Autodefensas.

Pedro’s life turns into one where violence soon emerges as a way of life. Pedro and Palillo do make some new friendships (especially Palillo’s relationship with Piolin), but Pedro drifts apart from Camila, much to his agony. As Pedro, with Palillo’s help, seeks out his fathers murderers, he still struggles to find peace in the face of terrible violence.

This is a large book, but moves fast and is an excellent read, other than being an important one. The vicious cycle which violence creates is explored very well. A lot of the violence though is quite raw, brutal (probably very realistic though) and far more than what I have been used to reading.

A book I strongly recommend.

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for a free electronic copy of the book for providing a review.


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Review: A Quiet End

A Quiet End by Nelson DeMille
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book I read of Nelson DeMille. It works up a good pace and has a strong hero character in John Corey (who I understand figures many other books). The book suffers though from a basic, largely far-fetched and simplistic plot & sequence events.

John Corey is part of the Diplomatic Surveillance Group and watching the Russian UN team. He is accompanied by a young trainee – Tess Faraday. John soon uncovers a Russian plot to set off a nuclear bomb in New York, with a plan to deflect the blame. The Russian Intelligence Service Colonel Vasily Petrov is the main mover with a few of his sidekicks. John takes considerable risks, slipping into a party as part of the catering team and later pursuing Petrov & gang at sea, and Tess supports him.

John Corey is the tough guy – as you would expect in a story such as this. He is extremely confident, and has this excessively independent streak. Quite a bit of the humour he indulges in is not funny though and just comes across as a display of vanity.

Many readers have pointed that a few of the other books featuring John Corey are much more engrossing, and I hope to read some of his other books soon. This book also is a decent read, largely for the pace it whips up.

My rating: 3.25 / 5.

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Review: The Murder Suspect

The Murder Suspect by Rani Ramakrishnan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book of the author that I read, after 'Lethal Acoustics'. This is a murder mystery which moves fast. The writing is good but the book suffers from an average plot.

Nalini Bose is the HR head of an IT startup IndeGen, whose CEO is Piyush. There is an annual getaway the company has for high achievers. A group of people from the company including Piyush's brother in law Chirag (who is mentally challenged) head to Cumbojee islands (part of Lakshadweep). Piyush's wife Pakhi is the daughter of Bharat Desai who is rich and very well connected.

Piyush and Chirag go missing one night. While Chirag is found later, Piyush is found dead in a swamp. Nalini is the prime suspect as she is in a relationship with Piyush, and her aggressive behaviour arouses the suspicion of the chief investigator from the CBI Avinash Choudhary. As Avinash tries to piece together the evidence, it is clear that is a complex case.

The main issue is that this comes across a yet another murder mystery book. Also some aspects of Nalini's behaviour, and especially some incidents from her past are not well narrated, come across as silly and detract from the story.

It is however a good book to relax with as it moves smoothly.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

I was provided a free ebook by the author for providing a review.


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Review: I See You

I See You by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘I See You’ is a decent crime thriller. The story is good and does keep you hooked by shifting suspicion among its many characters in a subtle manner. It overall somehow falls a little short in packing a punch in both the buildup of the story, and the suspense.

Zoe Walker works at a real estate firm and one day sees her photo in the classifieds section of a newspaper. Surprisingly, this leads to a dating site which she has never registered with. Very soon, Zoe learns that other women previously advertised have become victims of crimes which makes Zoe fearful for her safety. Her home situation is complex as well with a previous divorce, a current live-in relation and two teenage children. Her son has made some mistakes in the past and her daughter is keen to be an actress which Zoe thinks is impractical.

Zoe gets the feeling that she is being watched. PC Kelly Swift takes a personal interest in Zoe’s case including finding the commonality with the other women whose photos have appeared in the classifieds. The key to the puzzle behind the crimes seems to be the dating site FindTheOne.com.
With several characters in the story, and an incident here and there, the suspicion constantly shifts. The descriptions around Zoe's and Kelly's families does strengthen the characterization, but also slackens the pace.

This story had more potential but is still a good and easy read.

I noticed after reading the book, that many have recommend the author’s other book “I Let You Go” as a more engrossing read which I hope to read shortly.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.


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Review: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading both Sapiens and Homo Deus, especially the former. This book picks up the thread and is set between the matter of Sapiens (now Homo Sapiens came to rule the Earth) and Homo Deus (what awaits us in the future) in terms of time scales. While the author talks about this book’s matter being more relevant to the present, it is still set out a little into the future.

The book starts with the impact of technology – robotics, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. This is going to mean a large-scale shift in the nature of jobs – with low end jobs set to disappear. This will lead to the emergence of what Yuval Noah Harari describes as a ‘useless’ class who will be unemployable. In the later part of the book he discusses ideas for the revamp of the education system. Till date, education has been about imparting of information & knowledge – there is little purpose in that any more with access to information being easier than ever before for anybody.

The political shift worldwide is discussed in some detail – including the apparent decline of liberalism. He talks about the emerging popularity of nationalist parties worldwide. In the later parts of the book, Yuval warns of the dangers of looking at aggregate data which is less personal, but in my opinion makes that mistake himself in the political section. Voters often only have a binary choice and the aggregate results make it appear as if they have chosen an ideology rather than voted for specific individuals.

There are further sections on immigration, religion, justice and finally on meditation. The discussions on mythology are far less nuanced and meaningful as compared to Joseph Campbell’s writings. The section on secularism makes some great points.

There are many brave and frank insights throughout the book, including on religion. There are several issues with the narrative though – a very pessimistic tone, disjointed sections and abrupt conclusions. And yet, it is a book which is intellectually stimulating and makes for great reading for that reason alone. The topics in the book are those which all of us should be thinking about. As Yuval Noah Harari points out, most of us are too busy trying to attain power and control circumstances, rather than understanding ourselves & the world we live in.

My rating is more liberal than my usual standards due to the highly intellectual, important and engaging content of the book.


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Review: Sita's Sister

Sita's Sister by Kavita Kané
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a fan of Indian mythology, and believe there are a lot of lessons to be learnt for life from mythology in general. Reading Joseph Campbell’s writings helped me get a more organized understanding of the role mythology plays in our lives – helping transcend the literal and leading us to the gates of the more profound truths.

I read Kavita Kane’s “Karna’s Wife” and really liked it for its imaginative storytelling using the larger framework of the Mahabharata, and a strong character in Uruvi. Similarly, “Sita’s Sister” develops the character of Urmila, Lakshman’s wife exceptionally well.

The story starts with a brief background of the four sisters – Sita, Urmila and their cousins Mandavi and Kriti. The story moves on to the Swayamvar for Sita which Ram wins; and the subsequent marriages of the four sisters to the four brothers. The story largely follows the mainline version for most of the book with Kaikeyi stepping in and seeking two boons from King Dasharatha - her son Bharat to be crowned the King, and Ram being banished to exile in the forests for 14 years. As Sita, and Lakshman decide to accompany Ram, Urmila’s life comes apart. She is in deep turmoil as Lakshman advises against her following him. Sita, while in exile, is still at peace with herself unlike the other sisters. With Bharat also deciding to rule from a distance on behalf of Ram, Mandavi feels frustrated as well.

Since the storytelling is from Urmila’s perspective, there is only scant coverage of Sita’s abduction and the war with Raavan. The most important aspects are weaved into the story though. The inner thinking & motivations of all the central characters are explored very well. There is a fairly big twist towards the end as compared to the mainline versions and it fits in well and naturally.

This is a very well written story from Urmila’s perspective and strongly recommended if Indian mythology interests you.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.


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Review: Sleep, Insomnia, Stress: What you don't know can hurt you

Sleep, Insomnia, Stress: What you don't know can hurt you by Patricia A. Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sleep does not yet quite figure at the same level of lifestyle advice as exercise and diet, while it is as important, if not more. There is a growing interest in sleep in recent times, which hopefully will lead to more people prioritising sleep. This book does well to outline the role of sleep in our lives and reinforces the important of getting enough of it.

Sleep deprivation is increasingly being linked to very serious health conditions including diabetes, cancer, dementia and others. There is basic coverage of sleep science, which in a way is good for people who want to get directly to the lifestyle changes required. There is fairly detailed coverage with practical tips on monitoring your sleep and improving sleep quality.

My rating: 3.75 / 5.

I read the excellent book ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker sometime back, and hence found much of the material to overlap. While both books are good, ‘Why We Sleep’ is more comprehensive in terms of the science coverage.


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Review: India Wins Freedom: The Complete Version

India Wins Freedom: The Complete Version by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I remember, many years back, when the complete version of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s book was released, it had aroused a lot of curiosity as there was new content which he had authorized for release only after 30 years. There is certainly material critical of other leaders (especially Sardar Patel towards the end of the book) though the treatment is fairly mature. The book is right on most aspects including the fact that partition was not progress towards peace. The main issue with the book though is that it has a “I know best” tone right through the entire book with blame laid on others –Patel, Jinnah, Nehru & Gandhiji.

The book covers the period in the late 1930s and 40s leading up to the freedom of India. Considerable part of the coverage is the period in the early 1940s when Maulana Azad was the President of the Indian National Congress. The second world war and whether Indians will participate is contentious, with most in the Congress wanting to tie to independence finds detailed discussion. The Quit India movement is launched in 1942. Maulana Azad holds that this was a mistake and all prominent Congress leaders ended up in jail, while the Muslim League grew during that time and built up a case for partition.

Maulana Azad makes the point that there was apprehension among the Muslims on their status if the leadership was largely Hindu. His reasoning here is spot on that rather than partition - constitutional safeguards, federal structure of states and strong leadership would have provided the safeguards and that is what he worked towards. He points to mistakes Nehru made on two occasion where he could not arrive at a power sharing in states (in 1937) with the Muslim league and later in 1946 mentioned in public that the cabinet plan will be improvised as needed. Mr Jinnah, already not too happy with the cabinet plan, promptly rejected the cabinet plan. The interim government was a turbulent affair with the Muslim League holding the Finance portfolio and entered into constant bickering and stonewalling proposals. This apparently led Patel and later Nehru to give on the possibility of working with the League. At the same time Lord Mountbatten became an advocate of partition as well. While he is very critical of Patel here, he also opines that maybe Lady Mountbatten had a role in convincing Nehru. Maulana Azad now looks towards Gandhiji, who does try his best in convincing Mr Jinnah but had to lose hope finally.

Partition arrives, and with it, large scale violence and dislocation of people. As Maulana Azad points out, with mixed populations in so many places, partition could never have been a good solution (events completely bear him out with minorities in Pakistan facing intimidation and their numbers declining steeply). However, it was a genie which could not be put back in the bottle after the League went full steam with it. Gandhiji’s fast in Delhi to bring the communal violence to an end makes for very moving reading. Already very frail, he does it with great risks to his health, hardly able to move after a few days. He breaks his fast by sipping juice from Maulana Azad’s hands finally as communities meet him and work to end the violence and acrimony. Very soon, further tragedy strikes with Gandhiji’s assassination, and here again Maulana Azad feels more caution could have been taken as there was a bomb attack shortly before.

At the end as Maulana Azad writes, all were losers with an unstable Pakistan struggling to establish a functional democracy and constant animosity between the nations. This is entirely correct – the problems between the two nations is far greater than within a multi-cultural India which now has a larger Muslim population than Pakistan, other than all major world religions.

The only mistake which Maulana Azad says he personally made was not seeking re-election in 1946 as Congress President, instead proposing Nehru’s name. It is always somebody else who is to blame for all problems, and this is the most irritating aspect of the book. This is an important book, and in hindsight Maulana Azad makes all the right points with remarkable foresight on what partition would mean.

After every account that I read of the Indian Independence movement, my respect for Mahatma Gandhi only goes up further. With his selflessness, love for all and absolute commitment to non-violence, he is the role model the world needs to follow.


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Review: The Order of Time

The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time has always been an enigma – with philosophers and even scientists calling it an illusion. And, Carlo Rovelli tells us that it is increasingly appearing to be so. A topic which without doubt captures your attention & is very intellectually stimulating. It would have been an exceptional book, but in parts struggles between being a book for everybody vs being a book of serious science. I have observed many science books do run into this issue – and it is quite obviously a difficult balance to achieve.

The start gets you immediately hooked with the description of how time moves slower at lower altitudes than higher altitudes. When you fall, you are actually tending to go towards the place where time moves slower. The advances in our understanding of time makes for very interesting reading with the big breakthrough coming with Einstein’s theory of relativity. Einstein’s concept of the spacetime fabric affected by mass as well as speed completely changed how time was viewed. This also brings into question what we really mean by present – which really holds only here and is highly localized. The present somewhere else – on a different planet for instance is known to us much later and may mean nothing.

It makes sense for the universe to be seen as a series of events, rather than as objects interacting with each other. Objects are a logical outcome of events and quite possibly so is time - a result of a change of entropy rather than something which passes by objects. There has been progress in creating theories & models of the universe without time. The Loop Quantum theory is discussed – which Carlo is personally involved with as well.

The later part of the book discusses the practical uses of time – emerging out of a universe which does not really need time to explain it.

This is a book which will kindle your curiosity to think and read more about time theories. There are vague & incomplete references to Vedanta & Lord Shiva from Hindu philosophy. Despite the inconsistent treatment – oscillating between simple language and more detail, this is a book to read, for the fascinating topic it explores.

It is not a big book and will not take you too much time to read. Oh well, it will not be that easy to banish time from my mind yet though 😊

My rating: 3.75 / 5.


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Review: The Erich Fromm Reader

The Erich Fromm Reader by Erich Fromm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have read passages of Erich Fromm and have wanted to read his work since quite some time. I picked up this book as it seemed to offer a rounded summary of Erich Fromm’s writings. However, while it does cover many concepts Erich Fromm wrote about, I felt at the end of it that directly reading Erich Fromm’s writing would be far more satisfying.

The book is divided into several sections covering concepts Erich Fromm explored during his time. The concept of social unconscious is interesting and a logical extension & companion to Carl Jung’s collective unconscious. There are further sections on love, society, materialism, purpose, religion and others. The comparisons & contrast with Freud's writings is interesting.

While the book does a decent round-up of several important concepts – all of which are interesting even today, the treatment feels inadequate. I hopefully will read Erich Fromm’s books soon.


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Review: The Marriage Trap

The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book I read of Sheryl Browne after ‘The Second Wife’. Just like the first read, this one packs a good story and is gripping as well.

Jake & Karla’s marriage is tottering on the brink of collapse. They have two kids who are very soon exposed to the acrimony between them. Jake’s business isn’t doing well and he does not want any favours from Karla’s dad Robert, who spares no opportunity to remind him that he is a loser. But Jake is running out of options, as he has already mortgaged the house and has no other savings to turn to. Karla, while sensing the issue, prods Jake to meet her dad for financial help. Robert has never been supportive of Jake, and now senses an opportunity to get Jake to dance to his tunes. Jake meets Robert and his life & relationship with Karla gets worse. Both of them see no future and start considering other options.

There are secrets of Jake & Karla’s life that Robert knows. Karla also has pains from the past which gives her nightmares. Karla’s mom Diana feels helpless, but can she be of any help?

The characters are extremely well developed – and the stress in the relationship and the ensuing agony is brought out brilliantly. It is just that there is a brief period in the book, when the story seems stuck on the same theme. However, for the most part, it moves fast and makes for interesting reading keeping up the suspense. There are multiple twists towards the end in the story.

My rating: 4.25 / 5.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture & the author for providing a free electronic copy of the book for a review.


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Review: Don't Kill Him! The Story of My Life with Bhagwan Rajneesh

Don't Kill Him! The Story of My Life with Bhagwan Rajneesh by Ma Anand Sheela
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many years back, during his lifetime, be it India or the US, Osho Rajneesh & his teachings created stress and suspicion among the local population. Today, I think, many people view his legacy with more openness and accept that he explored new methods & his teachings had value. I have been curious about what made him popular as well as the events which led to his exit from the US. I picked up this book (a biography by Ma Anand Sheela, who was his personal secretary) on impulse expecting to learn more about Osho’s life. This book addressed my expectations partly with some new material not in the public domain. However, since Sheela devotes considerable space to clearing up her own image, it does not come across as being entirely forthright.

The book is divided into two parts – the first dealing with Sheela’s arrest and the judicial process culminating in her sentencing. The second part covers the early part of her life, her first meeting with Rajneesh, her rise among his followers, his teachings and the establishment of the commune in the US.

Sheela refers to Rajneesh respectfully throughout the book. The first half of the book is pretty bland, where she writes about her decision to leave the commune as she was getting disillusioned and wanted a change. Rajneesh reacts with anger at her leaving, accusing her of many serious crimes. She makes the point that the commune at Oregon had been in conflict with local residents for some time, and this allowed the authorities the opportunity they had wanted since long to shut down the commune. She was extradited from Germany and claimed that she accepted a few charges to bring an end to the episode. While it is entirely possible that the authorities had the goal of shutting down the commune based on the controversies and the anger of local residents, Sheela makes no attempt to explain any of the charges against her.

The second part of the book is more interesting – covering her initial meeting with Rajneesh and the rise of his popularity. His dynamic meditation technique gained popularity quickly as also his discourses. While, she refers to Rajneesh respectively throughout, she also writes about his never-ending desires and ability to manipulate others to get what he wanted. For instance, he encouraged followers who had more money, getting them to contribute more. This led to a drastic reduction in his Indian following, by design. This approach continued in the commune in the US, with Rajneesh acquiring nearly 100 Rolls Royces. This portion of the book explores Osho’s complex personality well – a person with many human failings, who did have valuable lessons to offer.

A book worth a read for Sheela’s version of events and some new material on Osho, not found in the public domain.

My rating: 3.25 / 5.

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Review: Danika

Danika by Varsha Dixit
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book of Varsha Dixit that I read after ‘Killer Moves’. This book is very different and does attest to the versatility of the author. Danika while a decent love story, is however, very predictable and typical.

Danika does not have it easy in life. While she is fighting the lack of freedom and respect from her husband, she also finds that he is cheating on her and that too with her friend. Her troubles have only just begun with her losing her job due to politics at work and is involved in a bad accident. She brakes suddenly and the car behind runs into her. She blames Dr Noah for her car being totaled. Dr Noah is in depression as well since his wife’s death.

She turns to her step brother Hans who she is close to and he does help her. Danika however has a strained relationship with Hans wife. She very soon runs into Dr Noah and continues to hate him.

It is not too difficult to guess how the story goes from here!

A light read, but very little to remember the book for…..

My rating: 3.25 / 5.


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Review: Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation

Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation by Joseph Campbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first came across the concept of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” many years back and found it fascinating. I subsequently read ‘A Hero with a thousand faces’ and found it a difficult read with it’s references to cultures worldwide since ages. And yet, even then, Joseph Campbell’s intellect and wisdom was apparent. I subsequently read more of his work and each work had important learnings about life. I could better relate to my earlier readings of his work over time. This book is assembled from several of Joseph Campbell’s writings & speeches. It has exceptional material and insights, as indeed all of his writings & speeches do. The philosophies of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung (who is referred many times in the book) and the myths & ancient wisdom they point to, in my view offer far better lessons for life, than the self-help literature of today.

The role of mythology & symbols finds extensive, thought provoking coverage. Mythology points you to the direction of greater truths and wisdom (which as Heinrich Zimmer says cannot be stated explicitly). The rituals followed are myths enacted, and by participating in a rite, you are participating directly in the myth. The rituals and myths always have a local touch, though you can and should look to other myths as well. Life & nature is often about living off death of others, with myths & rituals providing the means for acceptance. In a very few instances though, I felt Campbell missed the cultural context – especially in his analysis of Jainism. I would not regard the practices in Jainism (with its emphasis on not causing harm to any life forms) as a cancelling of nature. It is rather about according a greater sense of spiritual responsibility to humans, which we are entirely capable of.

If you get rid of myths, as indeed modern life is in danger of doing, Joseph Campbell points out that the metaphoric connection to the transcendent will be lost (the references to the Panchakoshas are very apt here). It is to be understood that myths are metaphorical and not literal. When myths are viewed as historical events, they lead to a closed approach with a fully outward view preventing deep introspection. All religious traditions and myths tell you to look inward.

I came across the below quote sometime back and was a little surprised at the critical message.

“Maslow's five values are the values for which people live when they have nothing to live for. Nothing has seized them, nothing has caught them, nothing has driven them spiritually mad and made them worth talking to.”

Campbell provides a very good explanation for why he holds this view with beautiful references to the seven chakras in the Indian system. The five values which Maslow refers is exactly what mythology transcends. Maslow’s values map to the bottom three chakras of the body. The higher chakras starting from the fourth deal with soul experiences intended to ignite a sense of awe (symbolized in the Indian system by the sacred syllable ‘’Om”). Campbell warns that living with a drive for pride & power as the primary aim will render the person a bore.

“A bore is one who deprives us of our solitude without providing companionship” – Ortega y Gasset.

The book includes a brief outline of the key events in Joseph Campbell’s life. Campbell writes about how Carl Jung had said that looking back at one’s life in later years often makes you feel that it has been a story which was scripted, and his life certainly feels that way – including the time he was without work and spent time reading and pursuing what would become his life’s calling. He relates with a touch of humour that when Joyce’s Finnegan’s wake was released, he was one of the few who understood it, and a commentary he wrote helped him make some money and gain recognition! There is a Q&A at the end of the book which has questions which pave the way for deep, interesting & thought-provoking answers.

This book is a tribute to Joseph Campbell’s towering intellect and his way of making you introspect, think deeply to find a greater purpose in life. As with all of Campbell’s writings, do not just read it once.


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Review: A Man from Mandu

A Man from Mandu by Manoj V Jain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Man from Mandu stands out for its simplicity of messaging. It wades into the periphery of spirituality while keeping the story and narration fairly light.

The story starts with Tarini who is seeking ways to advance her career. She is hoping her friend Paulomi will speak to her husband and get her a job at one of his startups. They agree on a bet – if Tarini can promote a guru who develops a following within a year, Paulomi will help her with her career.

Tarini puts all her energies into this. She runs into Dhawal, who seems best suited for this. Dhawal becomes Avishkar Baba who conveys his message to his audience in the form of short stories which prompt thinking and introspection. Tarini also finds two more people – Anil & Puneet to help in marketing & event management.

Avishkar Baba’s popularity grows, but will it sustain? If it does, what should be Tarini’s next move? What will Avishkar Baba do after their contract period of a year ends?

I found the story to be good, and the pace is just about right, making this a smooth read. The format of a set of stories within the story was interesting, and the stories Avishkar Baba tells his audiences are largely the right ones – some are especially good, though not all.

Overall, a good read, with the right summary at the end.

I received a free copy of this book to provide a review.


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Review: The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Book Thief is a much read and reviewed book. I do admit to feeling a little silly for – reading it very late and more so for writing a review! The book’s story is quite obviously its biggest strength, as also the courage & values of its main characters. You cannot but help being transported to those difficult times in Germany during the Second World War.

Liesel is the lead character of the book who travels with her mother and brother to the town of Molching. Her brother dies tragically during the journey and this is when she comes across the book “The Gravedigger’s handbook” which she whisks away. She is adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Hans, in particular, is very sensitive to her state of mind and takes care to allow her to settle in. Liesel develops an interest in reading and is taking away books during burning events and even the Mayor’s place. She develops a close friendship with Rudy. The family hide a young Jewish man Max in their basement. Liesel & Max form a sense of bonding – each with their own personal pains & nightmares.

As the war enters its final phase, with Germany facing defeat, the hardships of the family increase. Quite expectedly, there is a toll in terms of human life.

The book features very strong value based characters in Liesel, Hans, Rudy and Max. There are various parts of the story which are very moving – Liesel’s personal tragic / pain and nightmares, Max’s situation & thoughts, Hans standing up for his values, and the trauma they face. The narration of the story by Death adds a further dimension allowing expression of some very striking thoughts & passages. I found the references to ‘book thief’ to be a little forced though and the book could have been crisper.

This is a very powerful story with characters, their values, approach to life and pain which will stay with you for long.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.


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Review: The Boss

The Boss by Caz Finlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Boss is a crime syndicate novel which has a good story, strong characters and pace. The development & unveiling of Grace’s character through the novel is especially good.

Grace falls for Nathan, who runs a gang which does drugs and has other businesses. He is good looking and a charmer. Once married, however, there is a violent streak to Nathan which terrifies Grace. She learns later that Nathan has had a difficult childhood – adopted and also faces abuse. There is very little she can do, but she also knows she cannot survive her marriage. Nathan goes to prison and Grace has her freedom for a few years. She uses the period to fortify her position – divorces Nathan, builds - mental strength, contacts, friends and a business. She also has her son Jake who provides her purpose and determination. As Nathan comes out of prison though, and continues to meet her regularly, she is not sure how she is going to cope. Nathan knows her weaknesses, and is ruthless.

The story shuffles between past and present and converges very well towards the end. The build-up and the ending are very good as well. The development of Grace’s character, and her determination to cope with her position makes for excellent reading.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

I had quite recently read Boss Girl which also had a crime syndicate backdrop, and liked that as well. The stories are quite different, and yet both have good characters & pace.

My thanks to NetGalley, Killer Reads and the author for providing me a free copy for a review.

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Review: Once Upon a Reunion

Once Upon a Reunion by Nithya Sashi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Once upon a Reunion combines large portions of general fiction with a touch of crime & suspense. This book is an easy read and one you can relax with – it moves fast. While the story is good as are the characters, it falls a little short in tying all the pieces together.

Nirmala works at an IT job and has a hard boss. She is married to Sreeni and tries hard to make their marriage work, especially since there are relationships from the past (Suresh, in college), she would like to get over. It is however, not easy, and a lot of hard work.

Nirmala is invited to a school reunion and is in two minds on whether to as Suresh will be there as well. Her good friend Aarti however insists she should come. After much agony, Nirmala decides to go, though undecided on what & how she will speak to Suresh, especially since he leaves her abruptly and later gets married. At the reunion, Suresh is found dead. As the police investigate the cause of death, and all his college-mates are suspects.

The writing is good considering that this is a first book, but in places the author tries too hard leading to weak metaphors & complex sentence structures. The book relies more on the element of surprise for the crime & suspense element (which there certainly is) thought the sleuthing involved in uncovering the truth is weak.

Overall, a book which has a decent story and moves fast, so well worth a read.

My rating: 3.25 / 5.

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Review: Pretty Guilty Women

Pretty Guilty Women by Gina LaManna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is a wedding where four friends from school meet after a long time. A man however dies and found women confess to the murder. The start is interesting and the pace is good, keeping up the suspense well till the end.

Whitney is getting married. While she, Kate, Ginger and Emily were friends, they have not really been in the best of relations since some time. All of them have their problems – Kate is increasingly desperate to have a child; Ginger is a mother of three kids and struggles to manage them and Emily veers towards depression with nothing seeming to work since long for her in life. All of them decide to attend Whitney’s wedding after some hesitation hoping it will give them a chance to rekindle their relationships. The story converges the past with the present very well, picking up from the time they were close and later drifted apart. At the event, they also meet elderly Lulu who has some concerns of her own regarding her married life. They run into Sidney at the marriage, who is caring for a young child. And then this murder happens.

The overall storyline, buildup, convergence of the past & present, and the pace is good. The plot itself has some weak elements in it though.

Well worth a read especially for the layered buildup of the story.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.


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Review: Leadership Dharma

Leadership Dharma by Raghu Ananthanarayanan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have attended leadership programs conducted by Raghu Ananthanarayanan. His sessions are very intellectually stimulating and provoke deep introspection. He fuses traditional wisdom exceptionally well into today’s work environments. Raghu’s mentors include Yogacharya Krishnamacharya, J Krishnamurti and Pulin Garg, renowned intellectuals/scholars/yogis.

Raghu’s book ‘Leadership Dharma’ packs tremendous wisdom and behaviour changing insights. It is a book, however, which needs to be read slowly, and internalized. While reading the book, I was reminded of my first experience with reading Joseph Campbell’s ‘A Hero with a Thousand Faces’. I found it a difficult read due to its references to myths of various cultures worldwide. And yet, the value was clear – and I then read it slowly (Interestingly, Raghu also refers to Campbell’s Hero’s Journey framework in his book).

The book’s narrative uses a business challenge faced by Ranjan (who is the founder of Mobile Unlimited) – a situation where he is not sure of what next for his company and people. He uses his wife Sanam as a sounding board to bounce ideas. Sanam, who has a background in arts and dance, directs him to the wisdom of the Mahabharata. What follows is an intense exercise of introspection and self-discovery not only for Ranjan, but his core team as well.

The Mahabharata, with its complex characters and scenarios has served as a moral beacon for those seeking the way since centuries. Raghu abstracts the wisdom very well into lessons which can be acted upon. A simple 3 question framework to re-direct you to purpose – Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here? As Joseph Campbell had advised – the wisdom in great myths is wrapped in metaphors, and none is literal. The Pandavas each are a personality archetype: Yudhishthira - symbolizes the earth element (dependable and a guardian of values of the current), Bheema – symbolizes the fire element (brings tremendous energy, but when faced with a crisis), Nakula – symbolizes the water element (nourishes all others), Sahadeva – symbolizes the air element (grows imbibing learning) and Arjuna symbolizes the space element (fuses different diverse elements and moves ahead seeking the new with great balance). Karna, with similarities to Arjuna’s personality, suffers a dilemma of self-doubt and legitimacy due to his upbringing & social status, and ends up aligning himself with Duryodhana who offers him the legitimacy by granting him a kingdom to rule.

Arjuna is the great hero who seeks the counsel of Krishna, who is the archetype of one’s deepest wisdom and purest intent (I found this description of Lord Krishna to be simple, striking and at the same time profound). The Bhagawad Gita prompts us to ask two key questions of ourselves: In doing what I am doing, what am I really doing? How am I part of the problem and how can I be part of the solution? Leadership, when viewed from the perspective of the Mahabharata is very different from the prevalent corporate view of it being about individual competencies, power and status. Raghu, rather goes to the stories of the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Joseph’s Campbell’s framework of the Hero’s journey where leadership is about growing the community and its environment. Heroism, for many, still invokes the Rambo ideal rather than the greater good. As Raghu points out, Yoga Sutra says with the ripening of meditative enquiry, thoughts of the type ‘What does it mean for me’ go away.

The Mahabharata’s wisdom tells us to pay attention to Dharma (the uploading of values/virtues), Karma (taking responsibility for our actions) and addressing Dharma Sankatas (moral dilemmas) with deep introspection and action. When Arjuna strings his Gaandiva bow, we are reminded of the tension between the beauty of one’s tradition and the potentials of a new way. Arjuna is brave enough to step ahead. Since Mahatma Gandhi, and subsequently Nelson Mandela, there is a paucity of leaders who stand for a balanced value-based leadership. Just maybe, Raghu points out that multiple people can together stand for it and fill the gap.

While the Mahabharata occupies center stage in the book, there are references to the Ramayana, stories from the Buddha’s life, Joseph’s Campbell’s work, Clare W Graves work (leading to Spiral Dynamics which I found fascinating as well), as well as models developed by Raghu and his colleagues. Plato said that Kings need to be good philosophers, this Raghu points out is essential and what the Bhagawad Gita advises us as well.

Ranjan, and Sanam finally see a way forward, on what next for Ranjan's company, people and leadership.

This book is of a very high intellectual order, which many should read. Those unfamiliar with Indian mythology – especially the Mahabharata may find it a little difficult to relate to. And I stress, this is a book which still needs to be read slowly, slowly, slowly and imbibed.


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Review: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Tale of a Tyrant

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Tale of a Tyrant by Anuja Chandramouli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was the Sultan of Delhi in the early 14th century had ruled over a large empire in India. Writings books around this period can be tricky, as opinions are very divided – either as a period where values plunged with mind-numbing cruel violence, or more favourably as being the general practices of the times. Anuja Chandramouli strikes a very good balance in the book – combining historical facts with new voices of the characters. As she mentions history is especially scant about the voices of the women of the time, and Anuja gives Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s mother, wife and sister a voice.

The Khilji clan’s reign had ended, and Muhammad Bin Tughlaq becomes the Sultan of Delhi after the death of his father Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. It was challenge to match the legacy of his father who was much respected. Muhammad however tries his best to be considerate to his subjects (including non-muslims), while still adhering strongly to the rituals required of his faith. And yet, he was cruel as well with opponents, and (in this version) also his own wife Saira. The bar for values had been set very low by Alauddin Khilji, and hence rulers who followed come across as so much better. However, the cruelty, religious intolerance and violence can still make you cringe by the standards of today. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq runs into issues with a number of rebellions and watching his kingdom coming apart near the end of his life.

The narration is a bit dry in parts. Though the author mentions that today, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq is regarded by many more favourably, it is not very clear from the narration in entirety as to why that should be the case. The balance in the writing is the strongest and creditable aspect of the book. The interspersing of the author’s version of incidents over what is widely known is imaginative as well. These two aspects make the book well worth a read.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

I received a free copy of the book for providing a review.


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Review: My Name Was Five: A Novel of the Second World War

My Name Was Five: A Novel of the Second World War by Heinz Kohler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read many fiction books set around World War II, and also a few non-fiction books (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer, Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer). ‘On Hitler’s Mountain’ by Irmgard Hunt was the first non-fiction book I read which provided a view from a regular family in Germany.

‘My Name was Five’ is an amazing book told from the perspective of a boy who grows up in the midst of intolerance, war and turmoil. While the book is marked as fiction, quite clearly the author borrows a lot from personal experience, as it has a stupendous amount of detail. This is a book where the author bares his soul, and reading it is certain to leave a lasting impact.

The book starts with an incident involving a private plane crash in Florida in 1991, and it seems clearly the result of bird hits. And yet, the pilot makes a strange reference to World War II. From this point onwards till near the end of the book, is the story of the pilot – Hans(el).

Hans grows up in Berlin, and as a school going kid watches as the country descends into prejudice, violence and subsequently war. His parents do not subscribe to Nazism though, and as a result his father Arthur is sent to a concentration camp. Their Jewish friends have to soon leave Berlin. Arthur returns after a few years, only to next receive a punitive posting in an army regiment. The indoctrination is everywhere (school, radio etc); at school for instance – his teacher tells the students about the Nazi philosophy and the resounding success of Germany worldwide. The teacher has as ranking system for the students and refers to them by how he has ranked them. Hans, a very curious and bright kid, is 5. The war brings many painful personal incidents – death of Hans dear friend Dieter, an army man dying in front of him, and at the peak of the bombing – dead bodies on the streets.

After their house is destroying in a bombing raid, Hans, his mother and younger brother Helmut move to Ziesar, where their aunt lives. This is not an easy move, and very soon the area is occupied by the Russians. The occupying force brings with it - violence against the locals, especially horrific incidents of rape against women, one such incident being in Hans’ presence with a gun held to his head. Hans with his open mindedness and inquisitive nature gets into trouble at school very often as well. There are several interesting incidents in the book around the questions he asks – probing philosophies he does not believe in (eg: interests levied being regarded as bad in communism).
Better times do come but the pain will not go away – with the trauma staying for years to come.

This is a very important book for everyone to read. The writing is excellent – providing an inner view of Hans experiences and feelings. Hitler’s regime exacted a staggering price from the world in the war, with Germans being victims as well. As the author says in his afterword, hopefully we as a people will learn our lessons from history, though as of yet does not look like we have fully done so.


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Review: The Girl in the Painting

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book of Renita D’Silva that I read after ‘Beneath an Indian Sky’ which I really liked. It had strong characters you would remember the book by, and this is true for ‘The Girl in the Painting’ as well. Margaret and Archana will stay with you, well after you have finished reading the book.

The book shuffles between two separate timelines – one in the early 20th century and the other in the early 21st century. Margaret, is old and ill, now in hospice care. She asks her grand-daughter Emma to visit a property she owns in India and meet with Archana. She is to deliver a message to her saying she understands why she did what she did and has forgiven her, and also has regrets for what she did long back as well.

In the early 20th century, Radha and Archana are sisters who grow up in poverty. Their difficulties increase even more when Radha chooses to marry a person of a lower caste, and their father passes away suddenly. Their family is ostracised, and Radha’s choice does not work out either as her husband is completely irresponsible. Archana gets married to a person many years older than her.
This is a community where Sati (the practice of a wife ending her life when her husband dies, as part of the funeral pyre) is practiced, and this fear preys on Archana’s mind. The two social ills – casteism/untouchability and Sati find key mentions but feel forced fitted into the story. The untouchability and Radha’s life have no background feeding to it and is also largely left off after the initial focus (and Sati which is surmised to have started during invasions of the country, was not prominent during the early 20th century).

At around the same time in England, Margaret and Winnie lose their family including their sister Evie to a fire. They have to move in with their uncle, aunt and cousins. The story centers around Margaret, and how she tries to move on with life, taking solace in pursuing arts. She falls in love with Suraj who wants to move back to India, as he finds the racism prevalent to be exhausting. In India, Margaret now runs into Archana who is one of her maids. The two of them bond instantly and Archana reminds Margaret of her sister Evie.

In stories with a background like this, the impact would have been stronger if the experiences of the characters lead to their evolving development & growth, that of the community, and as a result this would have made the story grow too. However, much of that reflection is left entirely to the end.

I love Renita’s writing and the strong characters her stories feature. I hope to read more of her work soon. I would recommend this book for the characters - Margaret & Archana.

My rating: 3.25 / 5.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for providing a free copy for providing an honest review.

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Review: Lethal Acoustics

Lethal Acoustics by Rani Ramakrishnan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lethal Acoustics is a fairly quick read and the story is interesting. It has a touch of suspense, a decent and different plot, but is found wanting in the finish.

Manju runs an enterprise called ‘The Quack House’ where she listens to people with problems who seek to unburden themselves and want advice. Manu is passionate about it, though her husband Sunil does not see much potential for it and threatens to cut off funding. Manju is determined to surge ahead though. She runs into an unexpected problem when there are strange noises at her workplace. This unnerves visitors and threatens to ruin her business.

A preliminary investigation reveals that these noises could be part of a larger plot where Manju is either an accidental or deliberate target. Some events subsequently also bring up past traumas for Manju.

The story is different, and an easy read which moves smoothly. While the plot is decent, the motive is very poorly tied up at the end which reduces the book’s appeal considerably.

My rating: 3.25 / 5.


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Review: The Girl from the Sea

The Girl from the Sea by Shalini Boland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading Shalini Boland’s books quite recently. Of the two of her books I read, before this one, I especially liked ‘The Silent Sister’ which had a good story and moved fast. ‘The Girl from the Sea’ makes for great reading as well – it has an interesting story, great pace and some twists (including a big one).

A lady is found on the beach. As she is admitted to a hospital with a head injury, she can remember nothing of her life. A man named Piers, who says he is her boyfriend comes to the hospital, seeking to take her away once she recovers. She finds out that her name is Mia James and it turns out that she is quite rich – owning a luxurious home with a great view. Over the next few days, she finds that she is simply not able to connect with Piers anymore. Her meeting her mother and sister does not help much either. She decides to take things one at a time, including being cautious in her relationship but determined to find out about her past and what happened to her.

She discovers that she was fond of sailing, and finds herself drawn to Jack, a sailing instructor who has known her well. She has visions of someone approaching her angrily and is unclear if she is hallucinating or is seeing fragments of a real incident. Also, it is not clear if she can trust Piers, Jack or even herself.

The book moves along very quickly, and builds suspense very well. The picture of what Mia’s life was before the incident, and what happened to her, stacks up an incident at a time. The last section which unveils the suspense is very well written as well.

Overall, an engrossing read and a great book to relax with!

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture & the author for a free electronic copy of the book for providing an honest review.


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