Its been a while since I wrote a post on the blog. I have been a bit busy, with work, as well as with reading. I want to write about the latter today - books I have read this year. So here they are, in the order I finished reading them:
- Book: Brida
Author: Paulo Coelho
Ever wondered how the same person can be in love with two different persons? Read this one, to know more. - Book: The Chariots Of The Gods
Author: Erik Van Daniken
What if there are no Gods? What if it were some aliens from a much advanced society from distant planet of the Universe, whom the native treated as Gods because they were superior? What if Humans perpetuated from the Aliens?
Chariots of the Gods poses and discusses these really intriguing question on God-hood.
The book has been written answering the questions in affirmative. The theory built around the existence of God is what keeps the mind involved throughout the book.
Spoiler Alert:
Think on the following lines, and you will start seeing it in better light.
If we assume Gods happened to be aliens, what about their Gods?
If we assume aliens were our ancestors, what about their ancestors? - Book: Chanakya Neeti
Author: Chanakya
This one was an English translation of the original Sanskrit version. I read it more because of the author. As is the case with most books from those old ages, this one was also originally written in the form of couplets. The english translation is wisdom in multiples of two lines. - Book: The Secret Adversary
Author: Agatha Christie
This one happens to be an Agatha Christie novel, so you know what to expect. - Book: The Motorcycle Diaries
Author: Ernesto Che Guevera
This one, is once again an English translation, of Che's work. The diary covers the period in the early 1950s, when Che set out on a motorcycle road trip. I picked it up more so because I wanted to know what kind of thoughts the Cuban revolutionary used to have and how they influenced his future choices. Of course, the contents didn't disappoint, even though I had picked the book by its cover. - Book: My Experiments With Truth
Author: Mahatma Gandhi
This one is a biography, and I am sure most of us know about it.
Its a very frank account of the life of Gandhi till the early 1920s, given by himself. The one thought from the book that I can never forget, is "How can you appreciate the beauty of another religion, when you don't know the value of yours own."
Reading the book is a task in itself; I took around 2 months to finish reading it, reading another 7-8 books in the period. But thats my personal opinion; its a biography, and you have to be really inspired to finish one. :) - Book: Keep The Change
Author: Nirupama Subrahmaniam
It is a light novel compared to the heavy stuff made up by Mein Kampf and Experiments With Truth, and so I read this one more as a filler. Anyways, the book turned out to be a well written story of Damayanthi, and the issues she faces when she moves to a new city job. - Book: Love Story2
Author: Eric Segal
A sequel to Love Story. - Book: It Happened In India
Author: Kishore Biyani
Heard of Future Group? Big Bazaar?
Yup, this is the story of the man behind the group.
In testing waters, when the ships of Subhiksha, Vishal, and a number of other retailers sank, Future Group not only managed to stay afloat, but also earned decent profits. Some of the insights on how decision making happened initially at the group are really brilliant. A good read for the management junkies, and those otherwise interested. - Book: Mein Kampf
Author: Adolf Hitler
This one is an English translation, of the original book in German.
Anyways, it was a complete pain to read this book. Most of the books tell you what you can let happen. This one tells you what you shouldn't ever let happen. The hate speeches that Hitler delivers are sick - the talk of superior races and what nots just made me sick. That is the chief reason why I took almost four months to read it. That, and the fact that I was reading Experiments with Truth along with it. Hitler and Gandhi did make the worst combo of heavy reading.
There is not much good in this book, except the parts where Hitler discusses about how to create and run an effective movement and top down bureaucracy.
All in all, a 'propaganda for the intelligentsia' is what I will call it. - Book: Ignited Minds
Author: APJ Abdul Kalam
It is a small book by Kalam, which "contains dynamic and original ideas, examines attitudes afflicting the Indians, and present prescriptions for rapid growth of India to enable the country to emerge as a developed country" (from Wikipedia :P) - Book: The Polyster Prince.
Author: Hamish McDonald
This is an unauthorized biography of Dhiru Bhai Ambani. A shocking read, it tells of the malpractices prevalent during the times of Sr. Ambani, and how he raced on the road to success. It sheds light on his professional rivalries as well as well as some of his controversial business practices.
Politicians and government also receive due words for their role in the rise of Ambani. All in all, a must read for anyone interested in the early 1970's to late 1990's business India. - Book: Vision 2020
Author: APJ Abdul Kalam
Once again, a book I chose by its cover, i.e., by seeing the name of the author. However, this is no Wings of Fire, or Ignited Minds. This is the vision document for India, compiled by TIFAC, in around 2002 and contains the vision for the various industries, segments etc for the year 2020. Good for people targeting civil services and those who want to know about policy formulation in general. - Book: A Better India, A Better World
Author: N R Narayan Murthy
This book contains speeches by Mr. Murthy, the founder of InfoSys, delivered at different times and locations in the 2000's. The speeches offer an insight into the challenges Murthy faced, with setting up and running of InfoSys. Since a lot of these speeches happened in College addresses, they have a motivating tone to them - they make you aspire to do something just more than money. But of course, reading a speech is not the same as listening to one, and those who have heard Murthy in person can obviously skip it. - Book: 2 States
Author: Chetan Bhagat
A love story of a Punjabi boy and a Madrasi girl, this one suits completely to the Indian taste.
Another Filler Novel. - Book: The Pale Horse
Author: Agatha Christie
Every-time I read an Agatha Christie, I try to solve the mystery myself as well. And she manages to to give this one a complete supernatural and sinister touch. Normally, I am able to fix more than half the loose ends, though connecting all the dots has never been possible for me.
But in this one, I hopelessly completely failed. A good read. - Book: False Impressions
Author: Jeffery Archer
Its a novel. I don't want to play a spoiler. :| - Book: Beyond The White House
Author: Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter is a former US president (1980-84).
When I had picked this book (once again, by its cover), I had assumed I would be reading something related to White House. Absolutely not.
This book briefs you, rather, outlines to you the brilliant work that Carter Foundation has done in a number of the third world countries.
The amount of change that Carter brought is simply immense. From eradicating diseases to hosting free and fair elections to mediating in international crises, in his 25 years after the White House, Carter with his Carter Foundation, makes you redefine the limits of achievement. - Book: The Tigers, The Elephants and The CellPhones
Author: Shashi Tharoor
A collection of articles by Mr. Tharoor. Some of the essays on India, its founding fathers, and its secularity are really brilliant. A good read overall. - Book: Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War
Author: Ernesto Che Guevera
Once again, a translated version in English, it is a well maintained diary of a Gureilla (Che) - the problems and dilemmas he faces, and life in the jungle. - Book: Freedom At Midnight
Authors: Dominique Lapierre, Larry Collins
This book redefines awesomeness. If all textbooks were like this, I would definitely have studied History instead of Maths or Engineering.
Full of anecdotes, the book is an excellent commentary on the freedom struggle of India. The only thing, I didn't like about this book is that it covers India mainly from 1930 to 1948. :D
An awesomely must read. - Books: Geeta; Who Am I
I read the abridged version. - Book: The Steve Jobs Way
Author: Jay S Eliot
I read this before Steve Jobs died.
Anyways, it is good book, which brings out Steve's passionate side, as well as his business side not to forget his field distortion effect. :P - Book: Diary of a Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
Jealous. That's what I felt while I was reading the book. A girl who was merely two-third my age, and yet who could think at levels at which I still can not.
Sorry. That's what I felt when I finished reading it. Couldn't stop wondering what would have become of her, if she had survived. - Book: The White Tiger
Author: Aravind Adiga
A brilliant book with India and poverty as its background theme. The story of Balram Halwai is simply mesmerizing. - Book: Catch 22
Author: Joseph Heller
A must must must read. Absolutely Hilarious.
It took me a bit long time to read this one, and it was because I couldn't resist laughing for minutes after many of the lines. Yossarian, the central character lets you watch the messy world in a funny light. - Book: Freedom In Exile
Author: His Holiness Dalai Lama
A well written book, the thought flow adopted is simply wonderful.
It taught me a lot about the Tibet problem (considering my initial knowledge was zero).
His Holiness writes about things with such simplicity, that you can actually visualize the scenery, the people, and the events without any effort. - Book: Essentials of Hindutva
Author: Veer Damodar Savarkar
After getting inspired by Gandhi, ("How can you appreciate the beauty of another religion, when you don't know the value of your own."), I read up Geeta. This also followed in the same line.
This one is written by V.D. Savarkar, who represented the major Hindu Hardline ideology of the 1940's. The arguments he gives, related to Etymology of 'India' are really awesome. The ones related to who India belongs to, was where I stopped following his line of thought.
A good read anyways. - Book: Absolute Khushwant
Author: Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh's take on the various aspects of life - His life, religion, secularism and partition. All in all a very good read. - Book: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
With the anlogy of an Animal Farm, George Orwell brilliantly narrates how changing the people in the System yields no effect, when the system itself is faulty. - Book: Hind Swaraj
Author: Mahatma Gandhi
If you ever read somewhere that British believed Gandhi was a Hypocrite, you will find the reason for the same in this book.
This one sheds the life on the real Mahatma, and the India of his dreams. Some of the ideas might seem like going backwards, but the vision is what makes you truly understand Gandhi, and his principles. - Book: India Without Humbugs
Author: Khushwant Singh
This book contains the early articles by Khushwant Singh - those from late 50's and early 60's. A small book, but a good one. - Book: Five People You Meet In Heaven
Author: Mitch Albom
This is that one book that blew my mind off. As soon as I read it, I couldn't resist re-reading it.
The book is based on 5 persons, whose life changed yours in some way - with you knowing some of them, but not all, and you met these 5 persons in Heaven. An interesting take on the meaning of Life, Death and Heaven. - Book: Tata: The Evolution of a Corporate Brand
Author: Morgan Witzel
Witzel traces out the whole history, tradition, and life of the Tata Brand in this fantastic book. People talk of Corporate Social Responsibility these days, but did you know that Tata Sons has majority shareholders as Non profit Trusts, that work for Public benefit?
In fact, this element of Social Responsibility is build into the DNA of the Tata Brand. A must read for the MBA junta. - Book: The Google Story
Author: David A Vise
A must read for Google fanatics. Nothing more to say. - Book: The Press In India
Author: G S Bhargava
I picked this one by accident. But serendipity is good. Mr. Bhargava happened to be a prominent editor of 80's, and he sketches a beautiful timeline of the press, right from its inception in 1800's, to the modern day 2000's. Add to that the role that press played at various phases of independence struggle and emergency, and the sanctions it faced, and this becomes a real awesome read. - Book: Profiles In Courage
Author: John F Kennedy
Once again an accidentally picked book turning out great. Kennedy talks about 8 US senators, from different periods of US history who risked everything - their careers and future, so as to stand by the choices they had to make in tough times, with courage. - Book: The Finkler Question
Author: Howard Jacobson
The 'Finkler' here has been used as a reference to Jews. It is a good book, though I didn't enjoy reading it much. It is good because it enriches your knowledge about the Jewa in general. I didn't like it because it felt like an overdose of Jewish culture. - Book: Train To Pakistan
Author: Khushwant Singh
A brilliant book by Khushwant Singh. It captures the myriad emotions present among the people of different sections of the then society, with excellence. The resentment, the fear, the anger - Name an emotion and you will find Singh has done complete justice to it. - Book: Corporate Atyachar
Author: Abhay Nagrajan
I read this one as a Filler novel, once again. It contains few humorous moments. But an average read on the whole. - Book: Nemesis
Author: Agatha Christie
Another Agatha Christie Classic, from the Miss Marple Series. Enjoyed reading it, as always. - Book: Tuesdays With Morrie
Author: Mitch Albom
After reading the 5 People You Meet In Heaven, I couldn't resist laying my hands on this one. It is a good book, and deals very effectively with the question of meaning of life.
I couldn't enjoy it much though, because I couldn't resist thinking how all books, on meaning of life are written by people associated with someone loosing theirs.
Anyways, I am sure a lot of people will find it reasonably good to read. - Book: Imagining India
Author: Nandan Nilekani
A must read book for guys preparing for Civil Services and people enthusiastic about India.
Mr. Nilekani, co founder of InfoSys, talks about the India of his dreams, how certain events like the LPG of 1991 affected India, and what issues India needs to address in the 21st century. - Book: Malgudi Days
Author: R K Narayan
A collection of short stories from Mr. Narayan. - Book: Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Author: Arthur Conan Doyale
A collection of Short Stories, with Sherlock Holmes as the lead detective. - Book: To Kill A MockingBird
Author: Harper Lee
Harper Lee makes you see the world from the eyes of 9 year old girl Scott Finch. A great book that touches brilliantly on the hatred rampant against the blacks in the American Society. - Book: The Story of My Life
Author: Helen Keller
One of the best books I read last year, not for a moment will you realize the physical handicaps the writer suffers from until she explicitly mentions them to you. If you have watched the movie Black, or ever heard of it, know that it is based on the life of this woman, and much of its original ideas come from this book. - Book: Ideas of a Nation
Author: Bhagat Singh
This book contains the English translation of of transcripts of Bhagat Singh's Correspondence with the British authorities, when he was in jail. It also contains the content of his various pamphlets that he used during the revolution.
A quote I will never forget - "Zindgi to apne damm par hi jiyi jati hey... dusro k kandhe par tohh sirf janaje uthaye jate hey.” - Book: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Written around 1949, George Orwell predicts the doom of socialism in this enthralling book. Though nothing as he had predicted happened in 1984, yet some of the things that he mentions are akin to what is happening these days. (#Internet Censorship). The imagination and lucidity with which the writer narrates the story makes this one commendable. - Book: Stay Hungry Stay Foolish
Author: Rashmi Bansal
In this book, Rashmi takes you through the journey of 25 IIM-A graduates, who chose Entrepreneurship as their calling at various stages of their life - how they failed, and then succeeded at it, and the roadblocks they faced. - Book: It's not about the Bike, My Journey Back To Life
Author: Lance Armstrong
This book is really inspiring. It narrates the story of Lance, who, after recovering from stage 3 of Testicular Cancer, made a comeback to the Professional Cycling Circuit, and won seven Tour De France races back to back. Armstrong very frankly talks about the events, before his cancer diagnosis, and how his cancer diagnosis affected him.
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