Book Review: At The Teahouse Cafe

At the Teahouse Cafe is a collection of 15 essays by Isham Cook recounting his experiences in China.

I was very excited to read this book since I know almost nothing about China and its culture and I am not disappointed. The author talks about various issues ranging from education to health to customer service in China. I was a little skeptical of essays being of purely academic nature which get a little boring sometimes but the author did not disappoint there too. 

He draws extensively from his own experiences which make essays quite interesting to read. He is funny and sarcastic, which is icing on the cake. The tone is conversational and he lets the readers take a peek into the culture of China. He does not shy away from talking about sex or what is wrong with the education system in China. You will often find comparisons between China and USA, and China and Japan. The essay on differences between Starbucks in China and Japan is my absolute favorite along with the last essay where he talks about racism and yellow fever.

 My rating: 

 PS: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review via BookTasters

Book Review: Pearls of Daily Life

My Rating:

Pearls of Daily Life by Antonia Loschner is a collection of short stories and poems which "invite a journey of discovery". The book explores daily lives of people doing ordinary routine things and finding out little things about themselves. It offers exactly what is promises- wisdom in daily life. A journey of self-discovery in small incidents of life. The book takes on seemingly mundane yet interesting themes- a walk in the garden, a train ride, standing up for your co-passengers, children playing in the garden.

The book came as a breath of fresh air. I was afraid it was going to be like those preachy self-help novel espousing hard routines or sermons to discover yourself. But as soon as I read the first poem- Creativity, I knew I was in for something different. You need not trek the Himalayas to discover yourself, you could very well be taking a walk and surprise yourself. You just need to be a little aware.   Another thing that I liked about the book is how often the author talked mental illness. Mental Illness is a grim reality of today and it has affected so many people around us. But it also true it is also one of the most tabooed subjects to talk about. 

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you want to read something light, breezy and inspiring.

PS: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Talk: Riddles in Hinduism

Riddles in Hinduism by B.R Ambedkar is a scathing remark on the well-established tenets of Hinduism. 

The introduction by Kancha Ilaiah sets a good base for the book. He talks about Ambedkar's life, different roles he played and his critique of Hinduism. He also talks about the current context and how ironical it is for the right to appropriate Ambedkar as a Hindu figure despite his hatred for Hinduism.

Ambedkar has delved upon various aspects of Hinduism. The first riddle digs into the question of who is a Hindu? Ambedkar says that there is no definite answer for that owing to the diversity in thoughts and practices among Hindus. He also looks into the characterisation of Rama and Krishna in the popular narrative and questions the sanctity of their actions. He is also critical of Manu's explanation of the Mixed Caste.

The most interesting read for me was the riddle of The Four Varnas: Are the Brahmans Sure of their Origin?. In this riddle, he explains how different scriptures suggest a different origin of the caste system. There is no coherence among Vedas and Shashtras.

Ambedkar's writing is hard hitting. He raises right questions and views them with an objective lens. He has deeply researched all the scriptures and dissected them for us to see their internal contradictions.He makes you question your own deep-rooted prejudices which were fed to you by the popular narrative. No wonder when Maharashtra Government printed this book, Shiv Sena sought a ban. 

In a nutshell, if you have to read one book this year, it ought to be this one.

Book Review: Leadersights

My Rating:

Leadersights by David Veech is a book that focuses on "how organizations of all types can create a leader". The book is divided into 10 chapters with each section dealing with different aspects of leadership. The first few chapters set the theoretical foundation while the rest of them focuses majorly on tools and implementation.

The book contains some great insights on leadership. The concepts are explained in a very simple language and appropriate examples are used to further elucidate them. To break down complex concepts, analogies have been used which makes things easier. There is a crisp summary at the end of each chapter. What makes it for a good re-read is the visual representation of the book. Important points are highlighted and diagrams are used for easy reference. 

What I liked the most about the book is that a great emphasis is given on implementation of the tools. The chapters are accompanied by exercises and the problems regarding the implementation are also addressed. So, this is not just a preachy book which will tell you what to do but it would also tell you the ways to do it. I especially liked the concept of a "servant leader". 

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you looking to read great insights about leadership.

PS: I received the pdf copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

You can buy the book here

Book Review: Writing for Bliss

My Rating:

Writing for Bliss by Diana Raab is about "reflection, truth, and freedom."  The book is divided into seven sections and it guides you through the whole process of writing from preparing to write to sharing it. Each section dwells deep into the writing process and offers various insights. It also delineates various kinds and mediums of writing. There is a separate section on poetry also.  I have read quite a lot of books, websites, and other resources but this one definitely stands out for the following reasons

• The author provides an amazing explanation about how writing can help you figure out your issues and heal. She has also talked about how writing can be transformative. In a way, she does not only talk about the mechanical aspects of writing but also connects it to spirituality. 
• The book is well researched and the author has drawn heavily from the experiences of other writers and psychologists which makes the content very rich and diverse.
• Each section starts with a detailed description of the process and how it can be used in our personal lives. Then, she relates it to the writing. 
• The language of the book is simple to understand and the narrative flows easily. No fancy words which would make comprehension difficult.
• I absolutely loved the writing prompts in the beginning and in the end. 
• The book provides abundant writing tips to the novice as well as seasoned writers.

In a nutshell, pick up this book if you are looking for some inspiration to write. 

The book is going to be out in September 2017 but you can preorder the book here

PS: I received an e-copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review: Super Women

My Rating:

Super Women by Prachi Garg is a book encompassing entrepreneurial journeys of 20 women. These are the tales of self-realization, extraordinary courage and out of the box, unconventional ideas. In what is generally regarded as a male dominated space, these women who have taken up the challenge of smashing stereotypes and make a name for themselves are inspiring.

Each story brings out various aspects of the journey- the ideas, the hopes, the fears, the challenges. Not only their entrepreneurial journeys are talked about, the author also attempted to bring out their personalities.The narrative flows smoothly. The language is simple yet impactful. The author has made sure that there is a diverse mix of professions from handicraft portal to lingerie portal. This helped in making the book a more interesting read.  You can't help but feel motivated. 

There is one story I will like to mention particularly- Make Love Not Scars. This touched me deeply. The way author brings out the internal contradictions in the mind of the entrepreneur is commendable. Our flawed notions about the beauty are superficial. The way we have internalized it all speaks volumes about what is wrong with the society.

In a nutshell, it is definitely worth a read not only for aspiring entrepreneurs but also for women of all ages and professions.


PS: I received a paperback copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Welcome to You 20.0

Name: Welcome to You 20.0

Author: Atul Jain

Publisher: Notion Press

No. of Pages: 212

MRP: 299

 My Rating:

Welcome to You 20.0 by Atul Jain is a book about  "your journey to your best version by discovering and achieving your dreams". The book is divided into four sections. The first part is about introspection and preparing plans for yourself. The second part makes you look deeper into your plan and also takes you through the tools needed to achieve your vision. The third part deepens that understanding. The fourth part is about leaving your mark on others.

First, I was intrigued by the title. Why 20.0 and not 2.0? Well, you will find that as you go through the book. One caveat here, the book is influenced by Law of Attraction. If you believe in it, then the book will furnish useful insights. If not, there are parts which might not appeal to you. However, the other parts are still worth reading.

Let's get on with what I liked about the book.

• The book begins with a moving tale of APJ Abdul Kalam and at different points, it draws from experiences of several people like Steve Jobs. By doing this, the writer has bypassed the trap of the text being too preachy keeping the narrative interesting.The language is easy to read.
•  Important sections are emphasized, so it makes for a smooth re-read.
• There are exercises in the book which are effective in mapping your career trajectory. They encourage you to think and bring out your wildest fancies.
• The book is comprehensive and contains practical ideas. It delineates some difficult decisions you might have to make along the way.
• I absolutely loved the idea of creating your own Wikipedia page.

However, at certain places, I felt that the book was a little dragging. There was no need to dive deeper into some topics.  While, at other places, he could have elaborated more.

In a nutshell, it is a quick, breezy read with a bunch of fresh ideas.

PS: I received the copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.`

You can buy book from here  http://www.amazon.in/Welcome-You20-0-Journey-Discovering-Achieving/dp/1946515078

Book Review: Lajja

Lajja by Taslima Nasreen is a story of a Hindu family- Sudhamoy, Kironmoyee and their children- Suranjan and Maya. They live in Bangladesh which is ridden with religious and political conflict.But their lives take a turn for the worse when Hindus in India demolish Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. With already burgeoning Muslim fundamentalism, this incident added fuel to the fire. The event which happened in India had repercussions in Bangladesh.

Hi people!! This is my third read of the year. It has been on my TBR for so long and I am so happy that I read it. The story is gut wrenching and it left me emotionally drained. Find out the detailed review on my blog. The link is in the bio. #bookblogger #bookstagramindia #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #bookporn #booknerdigans #booklover #bookaholic #lajja #tbr #readersofinstagram #reading #instabooks #picoftheday #penguin #bookstagramindia #lake #nature #trees #naturelovers

A photo posted by Ravneet Kaur ll 21 ll India (@the.crazy.booknerd) on Jan 25, 2017 at 3:06am PST

The story depicts their life over a series of thirteen days- how each family member feels and reacts to different situations. The narrative is very powerful.  The language is simple yet impactful. Several themes pertaining to religion, secularism, patriotism are explored throughout the narrative which makes you think what is right and what is wrong. It left me emotionally drained. 

 The characters are wonderfully written. Sudhanmoy is patriotic and idealistic. His idealism gets very irritating when he fails to see the reality. Suranjan comes across as careless and detached. But his thinking undergoes a lot of significant change. 

Throughout the story, there are a lot of facts which recount the horrific incidents of lootings and killings in Bangladesh. That threw me off a little. Other than that, the book is worth reading. 

I highly recommend this book. 

My Rating

Book Review: Hello Bastar

It's thousands of years old
their anger
thousands of years old
is their bitterness
I am only returning their scattered words
with rhyme and rhythm
and you fear that
I am spreading fire.
- Gorakh Pandey

Hello, Bastar by Rahul Pandita is the story of Maoist movement in India. The book starts with a very gripping story. In fact, throughout the book, the author seamlessly weaves one story into another. The book sheds  light on the origin of the movement. It further explains that how the struggle continued in different parts of the country with special focus on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The book is  well researched and backed with chilling statistics.

The book gives us insights into the hardship that people face. It tells us how the simple agitation against landlords in West Bengal turn into a nationwide movement. The author also throws light on how this issue has been politicized and made into what it is not. The role of media in furthering this agenda has also been discussed. 

The party's ideology, structure and funding is explained in a  simple manner. I especially love the part where the author's experience of staying in camp is described. It reminded me of Arundhati Roy's Walking with Comrades. The section on Anuradha Ghandy's life is very informative. The book culminates with the issues faced by slum dwellers and how they can be unionized to further the Maoist agenda.

The book covers the subject adequately. The narrative style makes it an interesting read. The only thing  I don't like is that I feel the narrative is one-dimensional. 

In a nutshell, this book is perfect for a beginner who wants to understand the issue.

Book Review: Courting Injustice

                                         
                                                 


                                                    

Courting Injustice by Rajesh Talwar is a book which entails the horrific gang rape case of Nirbhaya which took place in Delhi on the fateful night of 16 December. The book is divided into 10 chapters with each chapter dealing with a 

certain topic. 

Anger. Shame. Disgust. Helplessness. This is what I was feeling as I was reading the book.

It starts with the description of what happened on that night. The author also delves into the life of the victim and her family. From then on, he talks about the New-Anti Rape Laws which came into force as a result of this unfortunate event. This section of the book is comprehensive as it clearly delineated the difference between the old and the new laws. He not only talks about the crimes against women but also against men, children, and transgender. 

The section on Verma Committee recommendations is  thorough and well-articulated. From highlighting the good points to highlighting where it failed to offer the solutions, the author has done a very good job. He explains the lacunae in the system and how new laws filled those gaps.

The author not only goes rambling about the problem but also provides solutions. He first explains the problems which plague our judicial system backed with shocking statistics. Then he offers the possible solutions. The author also touches some crucial topics like marital rape, capital punishment and the inclusion of stalking and voyeurism as  crimes.

The author has referenced many other cases which show that the book is backed with a good amount of research. The details are not too elaborate, just enough to summarize what happened without leaving any important details.  The analytical approach towards the subject has helped the author to cover all the aspects in a balanced manner. The book has definitely helped me understand the subject a little better.

The only parts I didn't like reading were the description of laws in legal language. Though the explanation was simplified by the author, I found them distracting. Other than that the book has done its job quite well.

My rating: