The Stranger in the Mirror - Memoir of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

I have been reading Bollywood-based books for the last 4 years. Just like Its movies and songs, Bollywood books also provide unparalleled sources of interest. Especially if you are reading some informative content like behind scene stories, success stories, and biographies of interesting characters. With similar hopes, I have selected "The Stranger in the Mirror" by Rakeysh Mehra. The hardcover book is designed so beautifully that after finishing it I kept it in a seperate collection of coffee table books.

The book covers the following aspects of Rakeyesh's life

• His early childhood days and few interesting incidents of that time
• His initial struggle from ad-film director to movie director
• His way of visualizing story, characters & people's perception
• His strategic thinking about field marketing
• Behind scenes of movies like "Rang de Basanti"
• Other Bollywood personalities' view or say about Rakeyesh's life from a personal as well as professional front

The book covers many more things than I have listed above. Though it is a biography you will find it as interesting as a storybook. My observations about the book

• Easy language usage makes a smooth reading experience.
• Just like parallel timelines common infections, a biography is written in more than one timeline.
• Book is not just about Bollywood gossip but full of business insights in and around Bollywood.
• You will surely enjoy narration covering behind scenes as well.
• A must-read for movie buff for sure

I will give 4.25 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

Twenty millionaires under thirty by Sophia Graham

I have been reading business startup stories almost for 12 years now and they always capture my mind. Being a NITIE alumnus, I always read more of this genre. My favorite author is Rashmi Bansal. Reading success or failure stories give us not just inspiration but new ideas as well. Chanakya had rightly said the smart people learn from other's successes & failures. With the same hope, I selected "Twenty millionaires under thirty" by Sophia Graham.

As the title suggests, you will find 20 chapters in the book. Each chapter is dedicated to one successful personal. The book specifically covers entrepreneurs from the IT & Technology domain. The story coverage is to the point as the book is short only the most important points were covered. You will find a good number of inspirational quotations in the book.

My observations

1. Fast-paced story writing 
2. Easy and smooth language usage
3. Catchy cover design and title
4. Limited domain coverage when you are covering 20 personalities
5. Limited content. Only the inspirational aspect was kept high. The author could have shared some strategic points of these businesses
6. If you are a follower of success stories, you will find repeated sections for many stories about personalities covered in the book.

Still a good book. An especially new entrant can enjoy the book.

I will give 3.25 out of 5. 

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

Song of Draupadi by Ira Mukhoty

The diversity of the Mahabharata is so vast that you will get narration from almost any character of it. I have read the purpspectives of not just Pandavas & Krishna but Duryodhana, Shakuni, Karna, wives & sisters of these characters. The most touching of these narrations is that of females who played a pivotal role in the story but were always given a smaller platform than their male counterparts in mythological literature. Recently many authors have taken it to next level and have given females their due platform. In all those literature, the story from Draupadi's point presents a more vivid picture of the Kaurava dynasty's family values.

When I selected "Song of Draupadi" I was expecting a story from or of Draupadi. Instead, the book delivered more stories than just Draupadi's. Let's remove magic from the epic and now tell me which characters were landmarks in the story. You may give names like Bhishma, Pandu, Dhritrashtra, Kauravas, Pandavas & Krishna. I am not talking about who fought the war, I am talking about why they turned towards war. Why did Bhishma take auth of celibacy? Why did Shakuni take auth of revenge? What happened during Game of Dice? Why did Pandavas share a common wife? All questions will finally end with one or another female character. Ira has painted that canvas for us. Read the book to know more.

Good points about the book

1. Attractive cover design, one cannot forget such a nicely designed cover.
2. Fluid language for smooth reading
3. Diversity in capturing female issues of that time
4. Strong character building that makes us adore even minutest contributor 

I will give 3.5 stars out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

Ganesha's Global Startup by Prachi Garg

My group has reviewed around 5 books of Prachi Garg collectively. And she is on our list of top ten inspirational authors list. "The Legend of a Start-up Guy" was Prachi's and probably among Indian authors' first attempt at mythology-based startup fiction. In that book, she wrote a fictional story around Ganesha's attempts to establish himself as an entrepreneur. Her next book was based on the story of Ramayana-based characters. Prachi is back with her next book and that too sequel of "The Legend of a Start-up Guy".

I think I have discussed enough previous works of Prachi, let's talk about the main book for which I am writing this review. "Ganesha's Global Startup"

In the first part, we read that how after mountainous efforts Ganesha got successful in establishing his startup and make it a steady business. He also received good recognition and an award for the same. But as we see in real life, you need even greater efforts to survive and to expand your new startup. This book is more focused on those points. Through this part, Ganesha's story passes through phases like handling funding entities, expansion strategies, sustainable business models, etc. Read the book to know more.

My observations about the book 

1. Easy language for any age group
2. Familiarity with Indian Mythology characters' names. Added benefits if you have read the prequel
3. Fast paced storyline
4. Self-help bundled with fiction
5. All basic startup-level learnings were covered in the last part. This book is more about the next level of startups

I will give 3.5 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Sinful Silence by Abir Mukherjee

Thrillers are the best source of entertainment in the reading spree, at least for me. I enjoy it the most and the only competition I get against thrillers are mythology-based fiction. I have seen many reviewers post about books of Abir Mukherjee and I made my mind to read his latest book when I came to know that it's a thriller. The book I am talking about is "The Sinful Silence".

There are two central characters of our story, DCP Abimanyu, and newly appointed IPS officer, Vayu Iyer. They are faced with a challenging crime where a successful businesswoman was found dead in a locked room. Vayu being a novice officer followed all clues and procedures but found deadends in most of them. Along with that Abhimanyu's attention was divided as he was also after the killer of his fiance. The book is full of twists & turns to make the book unpredictable. Read the book to know more.

Good points about the book

1. Fast paced story that won't let you put the book down
2. Easy language usage makes reading fast
3. Written for the age group of 15+ for lovers of a wider genre reader
4. Short read gives you a ride for a weekend or short trip
5. A good mix of thrill, suspense, and drama.

The book deserves 4 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Asur Kanya & Her Route To Unrequited Love by Maneesha Agrawal

I was attracted to the fancy font style of the book "Asur Kanya & Her Route To Unrequited Love" by Maneesha Agrawal. I took a blind call based on a few of the trusted reviewers and got the copy. The book is a fast-paced story fictionally set around early civilization after the great flood. This short read of around 170 pages gave me company for a day or so and I finished this book in 2 sitting last Sunday.

Let me give you a brief of the story. As I just mentioned story is based on historical/mythological events of the great flood. Ira, the daughter of Asura king, is our protagonist. Her father had expected her only daughter to join marital knots with Banasur a promising general of the army. She took time a year to explore the world before marrying Banasur. Ira's adventure led her to the Manava settlement of Manali where she met Manu, the chieftain who played a pivotal role during the great flood. Though Manu was married when he met Ira, Ira was attracted to Manu. What will be the outcome of this wanderlust and how will it affect both Manavas and Asuras is portrayed in the later section of the story. Read the book to know more.

Few good points about the book

• The book is a short and fast-paced read
• Language is smooth and easy to cope up with
• Language is age-appropriate for almost all age groups
• The story is written in and around few characters and encaptures their mindset only.
• Prequel read is beneficial but not mandatory. I read this part directly and faced no issues.

Few points of improvement

• Though the author has done some research on earlier Indian civilizations, the story sounds too much like a fantasy tale than a historical one.
• Though the cover is nicely designed, I have seen people selecting mythology reads based on character-drawn covers, which is missing here.

Overall a 3.5 out of 5.

Book links - Amazon and Goodreads

AgniBaan: Guardians of the Fire Chamber by S. Venkatesh

The first book of S Venkatesh Was Kaalkoot, which was a nice read. Except for the end, I enjoyed the book and finished in 2-3 sittings. So I had higher hopes with "AgniBaan: Guardians of the Fire Chamber". And I am glad that the author has surpassed all expectations. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I say Venkatesh has outperformed twice or thrice than Kaalkoot.

The book is written in two parallels. One around 535 CE when around 15-20 months earth atmosphere was covered with dust due to multiple reasons and proved very stressing period for civilizations over the world. And the second parallel is written after the Covid situation where political chaos is going on throughout the world due to multiple reasons. In between this chaos in both parallels we have two strong protagonists as well as two strong antagonists to give us company till we reach the last page. 

The book belongs to the league that of Dan Brown from foreign authors and Ashwin Sanghi from Indian authors. The book shows the depth of research done by Venkatesh. Not just cultural analysis but the author has given vivid details about India's and Egypt's geopolitical situations. He has taken support of numerology and astronomy of ancient times to give us added interest. The book easily glues you to the story, because every place in the book you will get a good combination of fiction with facts. I liked the story and this time I found the ending better planned and written than Kaalkoot. The pace of the story is apt for fast reading, you can read this 350-page story in less than 4 sittings for sure.

Overall a 4.5 out of 5 for this book. And I am putting it in one of the best read of the year and must-read thrillers written in the last decade by Indian authors. 

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Misters Kuru by Trisha Das

When I took "The Misters Kuru" by Trisha Das, I was not aware that it was a sequel. And the author has kept it so independent that till I came to Goodreads for writing a review, I didn't realize it. So for those who haven't read the prequel, not to worry, just plunge yourself into this one.

Let me give you a brief of the story. For Pandavas, life became usual and predictable in the heavens. They were so accustomed to heaven that they didn't realize the passing of many millennia. But one fine day, Arjuna came to know that Kunti, Draupadi & Amba went to the mortal world and decided to stay there till their mortal life ends. He along with his brothers (who self-appointed themself as protectors of women of their family) thought that these women needed protection. He took special permission from Krishna to visit the mortal world for 30 days (just like part one) and reached Delhi. Their journey through the modern world starts and takes us on a trip to the world of laughter & joy. Read the book to know more.

Good points about the book

1. Frank tone of the storytelling. No extraordinaire display of vocabulary

2. Easy to follow pace. Not too slow, not too fast

3. Filled with many satirical situations

4. A good companion if you are taking it to 2-3 days trip

I will give 4 out of 5 to this laughter-filled book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon 

The Panipuri Crimes by S B Akshobhya

Many times it happens to me that the book delivers completely different content than what you expected when selecting it. The same thing happened to me when I selected "The Panipuri Crimes", I was expecting short crime stories but what I found was completely surprising.

The protagonist of our story is Sagar. He had the idea of starting an online panipuri business. And so did few guys before him. But there was a danger lurking in dark, targeting people who wanted to digitize panipuri business. Read the book to know more.

The story was smooth and fast-paced. The presentation was new, and the idea was also different. The language usage was also easy. I finished the book in two sittings. The excitement that the author generated in the first half (my first sitting through the book) was not matched at the same level in the second half. Still an enjoyable read. It gave me company on a short trip.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

The Gatekeeper's Staff (TJ Young & The Orishas #1) by Antoine Bandele

I was listening to too many serious books that I decided to try one YA or middle-grade fantasy book. It was then I came across "The Gatekeeper's Staff" on Netgalley. I liked the cover and description, on top of that I have listened to one more book by the author, so I applied for the review copy. I got it in exchange for an honest review.

The story is written around boy TJ who belonged to a magician family. Magician in the book is known as diviners. TJ's sister was a child prodigy and was working on a secret project. Though he was from a strong line of magicians, his skill as a magician was nothing but a lucky charm and tingling on the top of his fingers. But the demise of her sister changed everything. He was selected for a camp where wizard kids go for training. Read the book to know more.

When I started the book and heard words like Orisha, Diviner, Ashe I thought the author has taken ideas from Tomi Adeyemi. But later on, I searched on the internet and found that Orisha is mythology and no one has their claim on it. The book is a good mixture of fantasy, mythology, a mystery to give you good company. I will wait for the sequel.

The book deserves a good 4.25 out of 5.

I-Tigress: A letter to humans: A Tribute to Fighting Mothers

I had read 2 books by Syd K before I took I-Tigress. Those who have read the author have taken the best traits from his first book and built his next book based on that. His brilliance in writing stories with animal POV was remarkable. And I am happy that instead of writing about a completely new domain, he went ahead in animal territory again. Last time he wrote about the most respected animal of the jungle, an elephant. And this time he brought out the most feared animal of the jungle, a tiger. 

The book talks about the story from the POV of a tigress, which is very closely followed by a real-time tigress. The story starts with the birth of the tigress to her death. Each stage of the tiger's life their upbringing, their survival as adolescents, their constant battle for dominance of their area, etc. I don't want to spoil readers' experiences.

My observations about the book

1) The book is not just written with Tigress POV, the author has invented vocabulary for the animal kingdom used by tigress

2) You will feel like watching discovery episodes on tiger's life while reading the book

3) Easy language usage makes a smooth experience

4) A read for all above 12 years old

5) Shows harsh realities that affect wildlife due to human interventions

This book deserves 4.5 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Rukmini: Krishna's Wife by Saiswaroopa Iyer

I have read all books of Sai Swaroopa except Unsung Valour. Her books are smooth in narration but filled with women-centric heroism. I know I should have read Rukmini - Krishna's Wife earlier but unexpected health issues in the family delayed it. Well, no regrets, I finished the book during my summer vacation and I got really good company for two days. When I took the first dive into the book, I read around 90 pages in one and a half hours. It took me two more sittings to finish this book. 

The content is divided into 4 parts. Those who have read and researched deeply about Mahabharata might be aware of the story around Rukmini, the first and one of the eight principal wives of Krishna. So for them, this book is like "Rise and Fall" of mighty Yadava & Dwarka along with Mahabharata from Rukmini's point of view. 

We all pray Krishna for his role for mankind and his efforts to establish Dharma, especially his support for Pandavas. But rarely do we think that if Krishna was always available to these parties, what about his kingdom and family. Have we ever thought about what happened to Dwarika when Krishna was in the East with Arjuna for their conquest? Do we know how many times other kingdoms have attacked Dwarika when brothers were away? It was the role of Rukmini, she went through many of these struggles on Krishna's behalf. Read the book to know more.

My observations

1. The books has projected couple as more historical characters than mythological
2. Easy language usage and straight narration makes the book a fluid read
3. Touching the emotional and responsible side of Rukmini
4. Less imagination more facts.
5. Strict adherence to the storyline

A lovable short read one which can be finished in few sittings.

Links - Goodreads & Amazon

DEATH IN COLABA BAY: A Colonial Bombay Mystery by Ambika Subramanian

I love Dan Brown books but haven't read one in recent times. I adore Ashwin Sanghi but have listened to his latest release instead of reading, one of the main reasons is length. You need to read almost 400-600 pages long book to enjoy a mystery thriller written for mature age reader. I have tried many short thrillers but rarely I found something as interesting as "Death In Colaba Bay: A Colonial Bombay Mystery" by Ambika Subramanian. 

This 140+ page books can be your best companion due to following reason

1. It will take you to the historical era of the late 1890s.
2. It will give you a story based on historic Bombay culture and city 
3. Story filled with twists and turns
4. Not a shallow crime sequences but a well-planned theme

The Sherlock Holmes of our story are Tara and Arun. Tara is a young widow who wanted to help young girls pursue education in modern schools. But recent kidnappings of young girls from school posed a huge threat. Whereas Arun found something similar in recent cases which reminded him of a few previous incidents/crimes. Things became more challenging and problematic when one of the kidnapped girls was found dead. And just like other murder mysteries race against time started ticking.

The story writing is smooth and fast-paced. You will get a good grip within 15 minutes of staring at the book and then it will become un-put-able. Languages usage is simple and can cater larger reading audience. You can read this book in 2-3 sittings. My concerns are:

• Less importance on strong character building
• Lesser exploration of cultural era

Overall 4 out 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Five Reasons Why One Should Read - Rajinikanth a Life by Vaasanthi

Your taste needs to be special to read & enjoy biographies. Otherwise, you have to wait for special occasions it is about the character you follow or from the field of your interest. From time to time you may find some inspirational biographies which are adored by the larger group. Rajinikanth a Life by Vaasanthi is one such book. 

Five of my favorite reasons why one should read this book

1. Though the book is a biography, it is written as a story.
2. The story of a superstar covered in this book is an inspirational one.
3. Simple and fluid writing style makes the book the lightest read.
4. Language usage is simple and caters larger population.
5. The book not just covers the life of Rajnikanth sir, but the social and economical aspects of the southern states of India.

Coming to the content of the book, it started from the childhood of Shivaji a.k.a. Rajanikant sir. It shows his struggle throughout his childhood and his relationship with his brother & sister-in-law, his liking for stage, and theatrics. Then comes the portion of his life as conductor and side by side theater performances. Then comes the portion which I liked the most. It is the section explaining social, emotional factors which had helped Rajinikanth to get a fan following, even though till his entry Tamil film industry was majorly dominated by actors with a fair complexion. The author has a deep understanding of the industry and social scenarios of Tamilnadu which is prevalent in her writing. The remaining portion might be more common because that covers his life after he became a known celebrity & later superstar.

One can get much eye-opening Information not only about the film industry but about the whole culture through this book. A must-read for movie buffs. 

I can give 4.5 out of 5 stars to this information as well as an entertaining read.

Book links - Amazon and Goodreads 

Fitness Habits: Breaking the Barriers to Fitness by Amaresh Ojha, Subhra Moitra

There are millions of people who want to be fit and slim. And they all wanted to cultivate healthy habits. We all know that if you make a habit, it will last longer. But activities become a habit when one does it regularly. People who give advice may talk about habits and their benefits. But how to cultivate a habit that too also fitness-based is a bigger question.

The book is divided into 8 chapters. The book starts with the topic of why don't we find exercise as easy as other activities. The next two chapters cover how to convert fitness into a habit and how long efforts are needed to convert an activity into a habit. The last four chapters cover benefits and other important facts about fitness habits. 

The book is filled with many motivational quotes. The one that changed my view the most is "Fitness is a lifestyle to be lived, not a goal to be reached." The book is a short read but filled with proper exercises, theories, pointers, etc. The writing is simple and engaging. Most of the topics were explained with at least 1-2 real-life examples. The language is kept simple for readers to enjoy and cope with the content. You may need a marker while reading this book so that you can easily revisit points while implementing them.

The book deserves 4 out of 5 for sure.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Oracle Of Karuthupuzha: A Novel by Manu Bhattathiri

Three reasons why I selected "The Oracle of Karuthupuzha" by Manu Bhattathiri

1. Attractive cover design.

2. Interesting plot description given in the blurb

3. Story based on the local culture of Kerala

The book presents a unique plot. The protagonist of our story is Sasaru, the girl portrayed on the cover picture, the girl in yellow with devious laughter. The story goes like this Sasaru's family was very poor, her father was a milkman, struggling to meet days end. Their life changed when Sasaru was possessed by a demon god. The personality that was possessing Sasaru was known as Chaathan in their locality. This incident brought the opportunist mindset of Nareshan (Sasaru's father) out. He wanted to take benefit of this opportunity by earning quick bucks by making goddess out of his daughter. The situation was not as simple. Things would turn out more than just opportunity. Read the book to know more.

The cover depicts the first possession of Sasaru, and just like the cover picture you will feel like you are watching the story on tv while reading the book.

This is my second read based on local Kerala village life, the first one was Cliffhanger, and just like that book, Karuthupuzha also gives a real-life picture of the local culture. The book is a journey rather than a destination. I loved the way things were described in the book. Though the book is just 300 pages long, you will feel that you have taken a long ride. The pace of the story is medium. Writing is intriguing even though a little bit slow at certain points. Choice of the word is simple, and easy English makes the book a smooth read. The book also delivers a social message. It wonderfully shows how people are ready to earn extra money in name of faith. 

An enjoyable read, deserving 4.5 out of 5.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

Teaching a Horse to Sing: Tales of Uncommon Sense from India and Elsewhereb by Delshad Karanjia

I selected Teaching a Horse to Sing: Tales of Uncommon Sense from India and Elsewhereb by Delshad Karanjia due to the following reasons

1. Attractive cover design and hardcover format

2. Collection of witty and wisdom-filled short stories

3. Recollection of stories of Mulla Naseeruddin & Birbal

4. Introducing these wonderful characters to my kid.

I finished the book in few sittings. Though short and sweet stories can be finished within 3 sitting with ease. 

The book is divided into three segments: Mulla Naseeruddin, Akbar & Birbal, mixed section. In the last mixed section, you will find stories from multiple cultures, countries, mythologies. There are 150 stories, each story is a page long except a few which were also 1-3 pages long. The stories deliver different messages or learnings to us. My personal best is the first story of 3rd section covering emotions-related stories. 

Lot of learnings, happy moments, and smiles were delivered to me by this book. I know my kid is not mature enough to understand all witty jokes (especially covered in the Mulla Naseeruddin section) but I can read this book to him once a year.

A must-buy, must-have, and recommended read.

I will give 4.5 or 5 to this book.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

Faceless: The Mystery of the Carved Arrow by Ashwin Karthik

I am a big fan of the thriller based on ancient cultures, be it Dan Brown, be it Ashwin Sanghi, or Christopher Doyal. I have read many books in this genre from debut authors as well. That was the read I have "Faceless: The Mystery of the Carved Arrow by Ashwin Karthik"

The story starts just like any of the books in this genre, the murder of a scientist by a mysterious method. This time instead of a researcher we have an inspector chasing the murderer. The protagonist of our story is inspector Abinay Chaturvedi and his subordinate Lance. Abinay was already facing challenging times with this murder case when he came to know about another murder in similar situations. But the second murder brought some actionable clues. He also got help from a lady working on the theory of "unknown nine cult of Ashoka times". Read the book to know more.

My observations

1) Book pace is super duper fast. A line skip may change plot settings for you.

2) When I say fast plot, I mean it. At places, it was difficult to see when the situation shifted our conversation changed.

3) for many such fast paces is a good option, but there should be some space to breathe as well.

4) I found the historical angle shallower than expected. You will not find anything new which is not there in the first 3 pages of Google search of these topics. In my opinion, a little bit of research would have given a boost.

Otherwise a short and quick read. Enjoyable for one-day trips.

I will give 3.5 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

Murder at the Mushaira by Raza Mir

"Murder at Mushaira" by Raza Mir has attracted my attention the moment I saw the cover photo. I was attracted to the Detective nature of Mirza Ghalib portrayed in the book. 

As the name suggests, the story is based on a murder investigation that happened after a mushaira. Let me give you a little gist. One of the royal houses in Delhi had a tradition of holding mushaira during the month of Ramazan. The royal house is Iftikhar, and Miya Iftikhar had an unspoken grudge against Ghalib as Iftikhar's wife had a crush on Ghalib before her marriage. Murdered entity here is Khairadabaadi, who was a spy for Angrez and was killed just before he was supposed to give his report on newly introduced Kartoos. The story is strongly linked with the 1857 independence movement, and murder was making things more mysterious. Multiple people's lives and wealth were at stake if the case was not solved within a week. Readout how Ghalib with his unique style works on the case.

I was expecting a thriller based on simple historical fiction. But the book has much more to offer, it presents cultural fit, socio-economic scenario, slow death of Mughal Empire and rise of English rule, people's state, etc. e

Everything is portrayed wonderfully. The language is appropriate for the culturally-driven novel. The pace is medium too fast based on the plot's demand. Characters like Iftikhar & his wife, Umrao (Ghalib's wife), Inspector were given good space to get mature. You will find a strong flavor of historical facts while reading. The mystery behind the killing will keep you to edge. 

I will say the book is a masterpiece. One may give time to enjoy this book. If you are a ghazal or poem lover you will find multiple stanzas throughout the book.

This wonderful book deserves 4.75 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads and Amazon

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power: 5 Battlegrounds by Rajiv Malhotra

I am a data scientist and working in this domain for the last 8 years. I have solved many data problems in past and I still do that. But the hard part of our job is, it removes manual labor which was there earlier. I mean every AI project we implement, we reduce our manual labor. Yes, that's true, it is a harsh reality. Those who are listening about the boom in automobile sales in the last 3 months but same time job cuts in that domain, were shocked by this contrasting behavior. My answer to those shocked individuals is AI, it's robot-driven manufacturing that is taking more space from human labor.

Through the book "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power: 5 Battlegrounds" the author Rajiv Malhotra has provided a basic understanding of AI and how it is affected our day-to-day life. His message is clear AI revolution is going on, we already gave our consent, it's just a matter of when not how. Even if you stay away from smart mobile, you use smart TV, fridges, AC, Home devices, all such things capture your unique signature. Leave all smart devices, you may not be aware that even by recording your driving sample I can make your unique signature. Somehow statistics fits everywhere in your routing as well as your life. 

Apart from personal life, the author has also given how as an economy and country we are lagging. India was and is an IT hub, but we were so busy counting BPO income that we forgot to check innovative solutions. We seldom invested in R&D. The results are in front of us, though China is still lagging in the IT industry, they dominate the Data domain and giving tough fights to the USA. Rajiv has mentioned India need a total revolution in thought process, from politician to businessmen to data engineers to the common man.

A wonderful book even for non-data science background people. Regarding content, you can read the blurb or review of other reviewers I have given my take and added my experience with this review.

I will give 4.5 out of 5 to this book.

Book link - Goodreads & Amazon

BEYOND COVID’S SHADOW: Mapping India’s Economic Resurgence by Sanjaya Baru

I selected this book in the last week of December 2020, hoping that Covid is totally in control. Little did we knew by the end of March it would resurface with vengeance. And I finished the book during the self-isolation period.

The book is not written by one individual, rather written in parts by various domain specialists. It is a collection of articles from different domains affected by Covid. It was not an easy decision to lockdown, but when it was taken Prime minister must have consulted as many experts as possible. The book is designed such that in segments like Economy, Financials, People management during pandemic, trade policies, employment, etc. Each article gives us ground reality and how it was affected. It also covers plans or the possibility of coming out of stress. Whenever possible articles were supported by charts and tabulated results. 

My observations

1) This is not your casual read. It is full of facts and figures.

2) Technical terms are explained so not to worry

3) If you find any chapter heavy you can skip it. No compulsion in reading sequentially

4) Each author has done proper justice to their work and visible in their article.

I liked the book in bits and pieces. I am giving 3.25 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

BAAHUBALIS OF INDIAN POLITICS: From Bullet to Ballot by Rajesh Singh

Due to the positive image created by the movie series Bahubali, I was expecting a list of political heroes of Indian politics from "BAAHUBALIS OF INDIAN POLITICS: From Bullet to Ballot" by Rajesh Singh book. But this book gives us 11 real characters of Indian politics who reach on top using the wrong means. And then the actual meaning of the title made more sense to me.

The book is based on 11 notorious characters who used their power to the extreme that they reach mainstream politics. Many of these characters started as Robinhood or messiah of poor or Dalits or tribesmen. On another end, few were more deep-rooted in the criminal world. They knew staying mainstream crimes won't be a long-running game, they took use of their power or support of their follower and became MP or MLAs or higher up in political parties.

My observations

1) Author has gathered good information about each Bahubali. Each of them got around 15-25 pages. I knew looking at their life's events this is not even the tip of the iceberg, but the author has done a good job.

2) Language is easy and writing is smooth.

3) You can find many of these characters on Google as well, and probably more in-depth. This book can reduce your efforts of Googling. 

I found the book a one-time read. I will give 3.25 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Crusader: How Modi Won 2019 Elections by Randeep Sisodia

As I am in quarantine due to Covid, I decided to take few serious reads now. The first book I took was about our Prime minister Modi Ji. The name is "The Crusader: How Modi Won 2019 Elections" by Randeep Sisodia. I had read how he won the 2014 election, so it was obvious I would read this book as well.

Before I start I would like to tell readers that the book is short and full of details and strategies. The total length of the book is 199 pages. Having said that book is the result of detailed research.

The author has started with the history of why there came a group of extreme power people (he called them darbari) into existence, who were more worried about not repeating Modi as PM. The way the author explained why this group hated Modi so much is eye-opening. Here author explained it was not the plan of political parties to have Mahagathabandha but this group. They planned to bleed Modi in 1000 small cuts. I liked the way in further chapters the Author explained how his leadership and willingness to improve India as a nation made him victor once again in 2019.

The book is a must-read for not only Modi supporters but also for those who wanted to explore politics as a career. It can also help people in their domain of leadership. I like the smooth and simple narration style of the author. I like the way every comparison or example gives us an exact idea of the context. Even if you are not interested in politics, you can enjoy this book.

I will give 4.25 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Inside Story of Indian Banking by Sandip Sen

We used to use as much jargon as possible during MBA GD/PI. But once we landed in our jobs, we were faced with the actual implementation of those jargons. I feel the field or domain having maximum jargon must be the banking and financial domain, every year governing bodies introduce multiple laws and new jargons to follow. 

In India no matter from which age group you belong, you must have heard at least one scam in this domain every five years. With so many rules and regulations, with so many audits to follow, and even with such a digitized state how people are still fooling around authorities. It is a big question. I had many such doubts when I picked up this book.

If you are not aware of the history of Indian banking, then how you can judge current regulations. To bring you to the same level, the author has started with all basic details on how banking started in India. Then the author takes us to a post-independence era where banks started facing real problems, following which nationalization came. The author has properly covered those details. Then comes post-1991 liberalization, and the country started getting competent banks from private sectors. Through this author has covered many big scams and how they happened. The last segment of the book covers the solution accumulated by the author from his experience and experiences of various stalwarts of the domain.

My observations

1) Though the book is non-fiction the writing style makes you feel it like a fiction one

2) There was an order in which content is prepared and that can keep readers interest intact

3) Author has made all efforts to keep the book less academic and keep it reader-friendly (not student-friendly)

4) Language and wording are easy and smooth. One can finish this book in 3-4 sittings. 

5) Minimum use of jargons and if they are used, they are explained in layman's terms.

Overall a good attempt to bring facts of the financial domain. I will give 3.75 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

Brand New Start - the Power of Personal Branding By Mainak Dhar

I selected "Brand New Start" by Mainak Dhar due to following reasons

1) Author Mainak Dhar

2) Attractive cover giving confidence of Superpower

3) long subtitle "Fast-Start Your Career with the Power of Personal Branding"

4) Chances of learning something new

I took this book in the morning. I read the first few pages where the author describes why one should read this book. And that's it, 160 pages were finished in the next 3-4 hours. The section I liked the most is "Three reasons why you should listen to me and one reason why you shouldn't". Here I liked the frankness of Mainak over the acceptance of his limitations. In a very friendly manner, he tells us that he is not a counselor but a direct or indirect person in the decision-making of things discussed in this book.

As the blurb suggests, the content of this book is all about personal branding. Yes, you heard me right. Though our world works on product and personality branding, we mostly fall on the consumer side. This book tells us the supplier side. I mean it shows what a brand for a person is. The initial section tells us all about personal branding by removing myths and by answering general questions. The later section discusses how to make a brand out of us. The material is good.

My observations

1) Very good content creation. Text, charts, and figures were proper. Even larger than normal font size helps in reducing bored-ness in reader

2) Kind of good topic for a self-help genre

3) For new entrant a good read, for those who have read already established book, this book may not give too much novelty

4) I found fewer examples and cases. I feel those are the heart of self-help books. Else self-help will be an academic book for me.

I would like to thank Writersmelon for providing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nice self-help deserves 3.75 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

The Tantric Exorcist by Ashwin Mudigonda - a Book Review

I have not ventured into the realm of horror literature and usually, keep them away. But I was attracted to "The Tantric Exorcist" by Ashwin Mudigonda because as per the blurb the book is based on Vetaal from Vikram-Betaal. I have seen two images of Vetal, one in tv series (which gave me goosebumps) and one a ghoul master from the Vikramaditya series by Shatrujeet. This book gave me the horror face of Vetal. 

Vikrama (Not the king but a college boy) was interested in knowing about Vetal. He got some ancient text and Sanskrit mantras around Vetaala & tantrism. And just like any horror plot,  accidentally he chanted mantra which invoked the demon from other realm and Vetal took control of Vikrama. On request of Vikrama's friend, one of the strongest tantric came to help. That tantric was Chaturvasi. Chatur knew the weight of the task, he was not dealing with normal ghosts but Vetal himself. And on top of that, he smells something else as well. Read the book to know more.

Some of my observations

1) if you are a horror buff, you will find the medieval thrill. The dose is good for new readers of this genre. I would say ideal for first-time horror reader

2) if divided into two parts, the first part was very fast-paced and interesting compared to the second part. Having said that I don't mean the second part is slow it is comparatively less speedy and has too much description. 

3) language is easy for any proficiency level reader

4) the climax was nicely planed. The author was able to tie loose knots up to a certain level here.

Overall this deserves a 3.75 out of 5.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

THE GOOD WIZARD by Prasun Roy

Wizardry and magic is one genre that attracts most of the kids, so there was no doubt that the book reached its target audience faster than other kids' books. The good wizard added to my library due to two reasons, the first one I just gave above and the next reason is the author's previous book. Unfortunately, I missed Prasun's last book "Ringo & the Yogi". 

The plot of our story is situated in the era of the Mughal Empire these the in the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Two central characters of our story are Badshah Best and Titli. Badshah is our good wizard who was awarded a title equivalent to Master of all wizards by the Emperor. But one notorious person didn't want this. He wanted to take Badshah's position and his secret knowledge. On top of that Badshah was diagnosed with a disease that was affecting his memory. He left his Jannat Mahal in search of a cure. Unknown to all this Titli was waiting for a teacher and a mentor who can make her the best magician in the world. Read the book to know whether this duo could turn the table or not.

Good things about the book

1) Easy and short sentences. Ideal for even age 8-9

2) Each chapter has a supporting artwork to increase a readers interest

3) Good story built up and character description

4) Good climax

Overall an enjoyable read for adults as well who are reading it out to their kid(s).

I will give 4.25 out of 5 to this book.

Book link - Amazon & Goodreads

Bend Your Knees & Do Your Best by Kalyani

I would like to thank Kalyani for providing me the review copy of "Bend Your Knees & Do Your Best" in exchange for an honest review. Before I start let me give the first impression of the book I perceived. The first communication of Kalyaani was kept unread almost for a week, but the self-help-looking name didn't give me enough motivation to check the mail. Later on, I checked the book and found the blurb interesting enough to venture. 

The protagonist of our story is Kalyani (don't worry it is fiction, not memoir). She is working in the IT industry and settled in Bangalore. She has already spent more than a decade in the industry. She has managed to keep away normal expectations away from her, the expectations that usually society has from women generally. She is just happy with her life, food habits, fiction books. But the funniest thing is her best friend and confidant. Hardly we have any imaginary character as a friend, Kalyani doesn't only have an imaginary friend but that friend is a demon from Hindu mythology, Hiranyakaship. 

Things were going great when things started changing. Well, that's when the interest quotient changes in the story. First pressure and firing at the office. Second health issue and the last one her acceptance and mental peace over the situation. Read the book to know more.

The book is a lengthy one. And that required efforts at least for the first 50 pages. Language is easy, and content is age-appropriate. The book has a good amount of humor in both formats direct jokes and satires. As the author is from the IT field, she has nicely connected the pros and cons of the domain and made it lighter in tone keeping a humorous tone.

Overall a nice book. But things that the author could have improved the length of the content, title & cover.

I will give 3.75 out of 5 to this book.

Book link - Amazon and Goodreads

50 Desi Super Drinks by Lovneet Batra

I have started reading and collecting support for books, and to my surprise, most of them are easy to cook compared to most of the recipes. When I saw 50 Desi Super Drinks by Lovneet Batra, I wanted to take the maximum out of it during summers. With 50 damn easy recipes, none of which takes more than 20 minutes to prepare, I loved the book.

Talking about the content, you will find 50 chapters, one chapter per drink. Each chapter starts with the benefits of that drink and ingredient, not just a basic introduction, but the author has emphasized giving an elementwise scientific description (don't worry is not academically detailed). Then comes ingredient requirement and how to make it. As mentioned below most of these drinks can be made by even 14 years old kid. Each recipe covers the exact serving size and ideal serving state. 

Taking about some very basic drinks like coconut water which are readily available, I tried Aam Panna, Jal Jeera (made myself), Sattu, etc. They were delicious, I think I can have a comferting, healthy and delicious summer. 

Full marks to this wonderful book, 5 out of 5.

Book links - Amazon & Goodreads

MATINEE MEN: A Journey through Bollywood by Roshmila Bhattacharya

I selected "MATINEE MEN: A Journey through Bollywood" by Roshmila Bhattacharya, simply based on its cover. In the last 3 years, I have read many books based on Bollywood, these books take me through the journey of Indian celebrities. From the cover, I judged that I would come to know at least 6 different personalities in this book. But the book has more to offer.

Coming to the content, there are 13 great actors discussed in this book. I know each of these actors has painted a bigger canvas to cover them all under 250 pages. But the author has covered a few of their important moments in this book. Each chapter also contains part of the interview that the author has covered for that celebrity. The tone of the interview is smooth and interesting. The language used is simple and easy, written for all age groups. It is a perfect read for movie buffs. 

The chapters I liked the most are

1) Ashok Kumar - Decoding Dadamoni

2) Dev Anand - Evergreen at Eighty

3) Dharmendra - Hero with a Heart

4) Farooque Shaikh - The Extraordinary Actor

5) Irrfan Khan - The Warrior

With the attractive hardcover design, one cannot ignore this book. Giving 4 out of 5 to this interesting book.

Dandkaranya Sangram (Rankshetram #5) by Utkarsh Srivastava

Rankshetram by Utkarsh Shrivastava has covered the longest distance in terms of storyline and characters. I haven't come across any such novel with so many subplots and characters in modern Hindi literature. With its 5 volumes, the series has developed a giant storyline. I think it is an ideal candidate for animation adaption for the younger generation.

Coming to the latest part in the series, that is "Dandkaranya Sangram". Utkarsh has given proper weight to the finale. He has used the stage of the finale to bind all loose ends of the series. As mentioned in the blurb, the war was inevitable, and Durbhiksh decided to support Asura, Danava & Rakshasa. But his good deeds were not washed away completely, merits of his good deeds earned him consideration from mighty Vishwamitra, read the book to know more. 

I have shared already in reviews of the previous 2 parts, how the author and series evolved with each part. The maturity of writing plots, fights, and conversation are visible. The best proofs are conversations of various characters over philosophical and social topics. Weaknesses that I found in numbers initially became rare as the series progressed. 

If you love to read Hindi action series then you should try this one.

Rating for this part 3.75 out of 5

Rating for whole series 3.5 out of 5

Vengeance of Hope: Can freedom ever be for all? (Silrith #1) by P.J. Berman

Readership of fantasy stories & series cannot be defeated. I am and I will be an ardent lover of this gender, it helps of mind roam out of the real world. These fantasy stories bring novelty to them. Some bring magic and wizardry, while some bring a distant future, while some bring completely dystopian work in front of us. " Vengeance of Hope" brings us one such world.

The book can be called a Middle-Aged World Book. Though it is a fantasy book, you will not find elements of magic or supernatural in the story. Berman has conceptualized the Kingdom of Bennvika where our story is based out. After the death of her father, the previous King, Silrith lost her right to the throne and came face to face with tyranny who took over the Empire with evil intentions. Two more characters that get a good platform throughout the story are Ezrina, a tribal woman fighting for the rights of her clan, and Zen, a noble, who wants to correct things by the novel concept. Some multiple subplots and characters will accompany you throughout the stor

Well, plus point of the book, the variety of characters and places, had also added complexity in grasping story at times and is the prime reason why it took me time to finish the book. The story was also a lengthy one, not a light read. Language usage is easy makes it a smooth read

Overall a nice read. I would like to thank the author for providing me with the review copy in exchange for an honest revie

Feral Dreams: Mowgli & His Mothers by Stephen Alter

It was the subtitle "Mowgli and his Mother's" of the book Feral Dreams that took my attention when I selected the book. But somehow it's a selection of cover, a herd of elephants, that gave me the impression of a wildlife book. And maybe that was the reason it took me some time to take this book. One more reason for the delay in reading this book was smaller fonts than regular hardcovers, otherwise, a short book of 200 pages usually won't take that much time.

I was under the impression that there might be some retelling of Mowgli Kipling, but no I was proven wrong, and I am glad about it. The book covers the story of a boy who grew up in the jungle, where he was looking after a herd of female elephants. He also roamed in the jungle along with langurs. He was then adopted by a lady and moved to a mi missionary. Throughout the story, you can feel Mowgli's longingness towards the jungle and his efforts in adapting to normal human life.

The book brings different offerings to its readers, catering larger community starting from middle age to all. The author has used relatively easy language, the narration style is simple and straightforward. At times you may get lost in the bounty of the jungle while reading the book, and at times you may find barbarian behavior of selective few humans toward jungle scary and make us believe that we humans are more dangerous than animals.

The book deserves a 3.75 out of 5.