Book Review: The Secret Songster

Title: The Secret Songster

Author: Shyama Panikkar

Publisher: Self-Published

Type: Children's Fiction

Price: INR 399

Available on: The Secret Songster : Shyama Panikkar, Radhika Tipnis: Amazon.in: Books

When was the last time you read a book on birds?

Or a story about birds?

So, here's a wonderful book that I picked up for my little one lately.

The book is a short story about three birds, Sona the Shama, Chiru the Crow and Babli the Bulbul living in Bird Valley. 

These three birds are good friends with differing personalities, just like how children are. One is shy and introverted who dislikes attention, another is an extrovert and confident to tell the world and the other who needs that little extra nudge.

One day, the annual Bird Valley fair was declared, and a singing competition was going to be held. While Babli is super excited to perform, Chiru and Sona are not too confident about it.

This story is about believing in oneself and giving yourself a chance to shine. It also talks about what it means to support friends even when competing with each other. 

My favourite quote from the book:

"Sometimes, what other people say about us, starts defining us, and we forget who we really are, and what we are capable of."

The illustrations in this book are bright and colourful, making it difficult to put down once picked up. Perfect for gifting for Christmas, Birthday or simply for the love of books to early readers, ages 5-8.

Needless to say, my little one enjoyed this quick read. This easy-to-read simple story is bound to delight all age groups. The author, Shyama Panikkar, has also written two more books prior to this, all revolving around music. 

Book Review - Forms of Hindu Deities

I recently got my hands on a colourfully illustrated book for children called Forms of Hindu Deities by Amita, the author of ‘Know India Series Books for Children’. This book is not just any Indian mythology book. It presents an objective view on our Indian mythologies and the stories around Hindu deities.

This illustrated book focuses on ten revered Indian Gods and Goddesses, namely Brahma, Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganapati, Dattatreya and Indra.

The content in Forms of Hindu Deities differs a bit from what we, as millennials, heard and grew up to. We have listened to our grandparents and parents talk about characters from epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The stories that we learn did focus on good versus evil, bravery, sacrifice, but at the same time it also revolved around violence, revenge, deceit, hatred, vengeance, and war. Our generation may not have questioned over the intent of the characters’ actions, but the newer generation begs to differ.

This book changes the narrative in a refreshing way. Along with vividly bright images, the realistic attuned explanations that meet the intellectual needs of today’s generations, concise one to two sentence descriptions in simple and lucid language are indeed a welcome change. It does not focus on hatred, war, violence, deception, or any such hidden agenda.

I would recommend this book for young kids, between ages of 2 to 6, who want to be introduced to the wonderful world of Indian mythology.

Book Review - Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur by Jason Kothari

Title: Irrationally Passionate: My Turnaround from Rebel to Entrepreneur

Author: Jason Kothari 

Publisher: HarperBusiness

Type: eBook (Kindle edition)

Price: INR 101 

Pic source: amazon.in

Blurb:

While a college student at Wharton, Jason Kothari scraped together money from family and friends to save his childhood favourite comic book company, Valiant Entertainment, from bankruptcy and bring it back to life. A few years later, he transformed Valiant into the third-largest superhero entertainment company in the world after Marvel and DC Comics and sold it for $100 million. Jason then became a professional turnaround leader and went on to transform distressed Indian Internet icons Housing.com, FreeCharge and Snapdeal, helping save billions of dollars in value, and advise giants like technology investor Softbank and real estate developer Emaar, who have invested billions of dollars in India.

Irrationally Passionate reveals the inside story of how a rebel, train-wreck kid transformed himself into a successful young entrepreneur and business leader who became one of the top ten paid executives in India while only in his 30s. From getting his first job as an assistant to Jackie Chan in Hong Kong, to learning strategy from champion Muay Thai fighters in Thailand, to tackling huge personal setbacks, to becoming a CEO in 60 seconds, among many other stories - Jason's inspiring journey across countries, industries and companies has something for everyone, right from students to entrepreneurs to corporate CEOs to even parents of students and entrepreneurs. Irrationally Passionate is a highly personal, authentic, open, and complete account of a young entrepreneur's life. Brimming with practical advice and philosophical insights, it will force readers to reflect on how they perceive life, work, family, and spirituality by giving them a fresh perspective.

My Review:

When the good folks at Blogadda.com chose me to read and review this book, I assumed I was in for a boring second-person account of an entrepreneur's journey. Boy was I wrong. This book is his own account of how he shaped his rebellious self into an entrepreneur, moreover, a credible name as a turnaround king and a sought after entity in the business world.

His first-person account starts on how he recognized and developed his business acumen from a very young age. The account of how he haggled a chess set for himself as a souvenir during a family trip displayed his likeness towards business. Jason kept moving from one city to another on account of his father’s job. During this time, he explains also faced racism and bullying in the many places he stayed during his childhood. 

His love for comic books is evident which nurtured into a passion and determination for saving and building Valiant Comics to becoming the third-largest superhero franchise after heavyweights Marvel and DC.

Jason's passion for comics also helped him learn the ropes of business in his teenage days. His favourite Valiant comics comic book characters taught him certain life lessons: “One of my most sacred beliefs is that thoughts become things, the latent becomes manifest. Would-be entrepreneurs shouldn’t just guard their words, but their minds as well. The subconscious is extremely powerful. What you put in, you get out.” 

One of the most difficult hurdles for anyone doing business is how they face problems. Either you deal with them or run away from them. Jason learned early on to face problems head-on than to run away from them - a wise lesson for all, not just budding entrepreneurs. 

Like many success stories, his too had some setbacks. Jason got into bad habits and bad company but gradually realized and learnt from the mistake. This too he took it into his stride with the lesson: A failure or setback is not the end of everything. 

A resounding concern from his mother nagged him and a sound piece of advice from his sister-in-law helped him bounce back to his goal - ‘Jason, you just need to ask yourself: where are you now, what do you want to do, and how are you going to get there from today.’ 

He also channeled his energies in becoming more fit through martial arts like Muay Thai which also taught Jason a lot of lessons that he took to the boardroom. 

“Pain was a non-factor; train your brain to say, ‘Something hurts? So what? Continue. Keep going,”” was an enriching outcome of his experience with the Martial arts masters.

The book entails more such experiences of his career and how he launched himself from business school to becoming the CEOs of Snapdeal, Housing.com and Freecharge.in and an established turnaround expert.

What I Liked:

The inspiring journey faced with ups and downs. 

Especially the nuggets of wisdom, such as: -  “....running towards, not away, from personal weaknesses—became a habit I cultivated and later pushed to extremes in life and business”.

A major highlight is that how Jason repeatedly says how entrepreneurship need not be inherited or ingrained. It is a combination of passion, determination and focus.

The writing and narration is lucid and the book is easy to read.

What I didn't like:

Nothing much to not like, however I felt that some chapters were a little too long that drawled at but and kept the reader off focus. 

Overall:

A good read for those who crave for a dose of inspiration for building their own entrepreneurial success story.

Book Review: Eleventh Hour by S. Hussain Zaidi

Title: Eleventh Hour

Author: S. Hussain Zaidi

Publisher: Harper Collins

Type: Paperback

Price: INR 299

Eleventh Hour Book Cover - Source: Amazon.in

Blurb:
New Delhi, 2017. It is nine years since the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and the wounds have still not healed. Especially not for Superintendent of Police Vikrant Singh, who ends up landing a slap on the High Commissioner of Pakistan's face when he meets him at an event. Meanwhile, in Bhopal, five members of the Indian Mujahideen, arrested by Vikrant, break out of the Central Jail. Vikrant, suspended for the diplomatic disaster, is unofficially asked to assist the team in tracking the escaped terrorists. In another part of the country, a retired tycoon, a heartbroken ex-soldier and a young woman dealing with demons of her own embark on a journey of self-discovery aboard a cruise liner from Mumbai to Lakshadweep. Fate, however, has other plans, and the cruise liner is hijacked. Racy and riveting, this is Hussain Zaidi at his best.

My review:
I’m a sucker for crime thrillers and if it has to do with investigators and detectives then I’m all game. Coincidentally, I’m typing this at the eleventh hour as I’m a little behind schedule in posting the review, but I’m glad I picked this book up for review. 

Eleventh Hour by S. Hussain Zaidi has all the makings of a high-octane, fast-paced thriller that talks about the cat-and- mouse chase of the country's Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the terrorist group. It starts with a reference point of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai that transpired in the year 2008 and what is going to transpire nine years later in 2017. 

The story begins with a bang, quite literally when an irate SP Vikrant Singh punches a Pakistani diplomat for not delivering justice to the victims of the 2008 terror attack. It revolves around the efforts of this passionate and patriotic officer and his senior Mirza - the mentor-protege duo - and how go about catching the culprits and bringing them to book whilst preventing a major bloodbath. The beauty of it all is that it all boils down to the eleventh hour.

The author does a great job in storytelling and it is easy to paint the scenes in your head while reading. Also gives us a glimpse of how the minds of the IB and police work in the country. The camaraderie between Mirza and Vikrant is well-written. One aspect can also work well for an anti-smoking campaign (ha ha!). Besides the fact that it has an engrossing  storyline, it also has all the makings of a thrilling Bollywood script. 

What I liked:

Gripped me from the very first page. It’s a rare trait for books now-a-days.
Secondly, the surprise element right at the end of the climax caught me by surprise.
Thirdly, a Mumbaikar can easily relate to the locations mentioned in the book.


What I disliked:
I found it easy to identify one of the culprits. 

What I feel:

A must-read for thriller buffs like me. Cannot put it down.

Book Review: Job Be Damned - Rishi Piparaiya

Book Review: Job Be Damned

The Book

Title: Job Be Damned

Author: Rishi Piparaiya

Publisher: Harper Collins

Type: Paperback

MRP: INR 299

Blurb:

Work Less. Career Success.

Do you think you’re a hardworking professional who has a lot to offer? Are your ideas brighter than everyone else’s in your team? Did you deserve a standing ovation after your last performance appraisal? Even if the answer to these questions is a resounding yes, do you still find yourself trailing behind corporate losers – the devil boss who takes all the credit; the slimy politician who stole your promotion; the sweet-talking weasel whom everyone seems to love? Job Be Damned is the kick in the backside that you so desperately need. This book recognizes that you are an average employee and ensures that, by the time you’re done reading it, you’ll be the best average employee there can be. You will gain a unique perspective to help navigate every tricky workplace situation-and unmatched bullshit-doling and handling capabilities to wing it through your spectacularly unexciting job. After all, isn’t that what corporate success is all about?

My review:

What attracted me towards this self-help book, you ask. The DAMN interesting blurb, of course! 

Right from the word go, the author has you hooked. His uncanny way of describing the inner workings of any company - be it a start-up or an MNC - is simply hilarious to the tee. He describes, sarcastically of course, the ‘better’ way of doing things - does not matter if you are a fresher or a part of middle-management. Rishi does justice in the description of the work atmosphere in various types of organisations, even Public Sector Units. In a rib-tickling manner, he highlights the inner workings and well-known but taken-for-granted details in the job way of life.

Designed as a self-help book of sorts, he suggest you ‘stop wasting time’ and try and follow the ‘principles’ he suggests. They are bound to fit perfectly well with any and every type of Indian job scenario. Rishi cites ‘anecdotes’ or real-life examples as proof of the ‘principles’ he asks you to imbibe and follow in order to ‘Work Less. (And achieve) Career Success.’ Needless to say, these anecdotes are guaranteed to leave you in splits!

When reading this book, you cannot help but sit back and reflect on how you must have acted in those typical situation in any job.

What I liked:

No matter which junction of your career you are in, you can relate to most things written in this book.

What I didn’t like:

The fact that I can’t read this when I’m in office. My boss won’t look too pleased if I keep sniggering like maniac!

What I feel:

If you are a fresher or a highly experienced professional, do give this book a read. Fans of Dilbert’s comic strip are going to love this for sure. You might just learn a thing or two or can just simply reflect back on those DAMNED days! If this is a series, I'm looking forward for the next one!

Book Review: What Kitty Did by Trisha Bora

Book Name: What Kitty Did
Author: Trisha Bora
Publisher: Harper Collins
Price: INR 299 (MRP)

I am reading a book after what seems like ages, and I'm glad I picked up this one. It has opened up the floodgates for reading quite a few more. Thank you, Vivek and Flipkart for shortlisting me for reviewing this book. Will keep this review short and simple.

The story revolves around Ketaki Roy, aka Kitty to her close friends and family. Working as a journalist for a fashion magazine, at times Kitty feels like she's a misfit. However, she is handed to cover the life of a high-profile yesteryear actress and socialite, Roxanne Merchant, which ultimately leads her into a web of the murky lives of big shots. At the same time, an incident helps her realize her true interest: baking and spreading the sweetness with the world. How she unravels the real cause behind Roxy Merchant's death is what the crux of the story is.

Firstly, this is one really great weekend read, filled with rib-tickling lines and funny innuendos. Trisha Bora does a fine job with the narration, sticking to the storyline, at the same time digressing when it is required. For example, she talks about the city of Delhi - where the story is based - quite well; where a non-Delhiite like me could relate and understand. All in all, this book is very in-sync with today's generation and most parts are quite relatable.

If you feel like you need an entertaining read, go for this.

Book Review: Graffiti by Joanie Pareria

Book Title: Graffiti 
Author: Joanie Pariera
Publishing House: Author House
Available format(s): ebook 

Genre: Fiction, Comedy, Drama

I picked up Graffiti through Book Review program on Writersmelon.com. Graffiti showcases a medley of human emotions, from bereavement to elation. It is a fine depiction of the central characters, which are Rene, Vipin, Pournami, Upi (Upasna), Mark and Agni. Narrated in first person, the story takes place simultaneously across Denver, Bangalore and Mumbai. 

Off late I've been reading a lot of ebooks on my kindle app, particularly for the convenience it offers over a paperback. So, I had instantly applied for this one thinking the same. However, I couldn't finish this book at one go, and it did take me longer than usual to read it entirely. But having said that, it mustn't daunt a reader to pick this one up.

Joanie takes the story of each character and describes it well. In my opinion, the initial pace of the book is slow but it does keep a read engaged to a certain extent. However, certain place the story seem to dawdle a bit. She has depicted the pain and the emotions of losing a loved one - one's spouse - somewhat realistically. Most of the chapters are peppered with some playful banter and awkward hilarity that is charming. 

The author has aptly tag-lined Graffiti to be a sensual, tragic, sexomedy; which readily I agree. All in all a good, emotional read.

About the Author:

Joanie Pariera (Pen Name), has apparently been thinking about writing fiction since the time she learned to say the word ‘pencil’. It came to be, that that was the first word her parents taught her to say. According to them, she then made up her own word for it just to see them squirm. 

She likes to think she is a master of many things, including making up words. To start with she has two master’s degrees. She cooks, keeps house, codes and programs, and until recently used to write specifications for Information Systems for a living. Having travelled extensively, she has self-assimilated the cultural nuances of various unsuspecting anthropological groups and stealthily continues to put down her impressions in her writing. 

Book Review: Skyfire by Aroon Raman

Book Title: Skyfire
Author: Aroon Raman
Publishing House: Pan Macmillan India
Available format(s): ebook and paperback

Genre: Fiction; Thriller

Pages: 256

Blurb: 

May 2012. India is hit by a series of freak weather disturbances and startling epidemics that threaten to bring the country to its knees. At the same time, children are disappearing from the slums in the capital and nobody seems to care. Stumbling upon these strange and seemingly unrelated incidents, journalist Chandrasekhar, historian Meenakshi Pirzada and intelligence operative Syed Ali Hassan start upon a trail that leads them into the drawing rooms of Delhi's glittering high society before reaching a terrifying climax in Bhutan, where they come face-to-face with a force of unspeakable power and evil.

My Review:

One word: Unputdownable. I am so glad to have picked this book up. Though the initial pace of the book is slow, it catches up as the author describes the fine details of each of the freak weather disturbances and unusual natural occurances. The character sketches of the main protagonists, the trio of Chandrashekhar, Meenakshi Pirzada and Syed Ali Hassan have also been defined very well, each of them have a key role in the plot. 

Overall, a pacy and a racy read, not a single dull moment! Now I'm compelled to read the first two of his books as well.

This is review is a part of the Flipkart book review program; I've recieved the book in exchange of an honest, unbiased review. I thank Flipkart for shortlisting me for to review this book.

Book Review: Stories of Work, Life and the Balance in Between by Tomson Robert

Book Title: Stories of Work, Life and the Balance in Between
Author: Tomson Robert
Publishing House: The Write Place
Available format(s): ebook and paperback

Genre: Non-Fiction

Blurb:

Are you stuck in a job you don’t love? Are you made to do flunky work in office? Do you struggle to balance work and life? Do you want to quit your job and start a business of your own? Do you wonder about the meaning of love and life? If these questions apply to you, then this book is for you. This book is a collection of 10 contemporary short stories based on the corporate world and life in general. Although these stories are a work of fiction, they capture real life situations and dilemmas that I have seen and faced. Each story is aimed to leave the reader with a message. I believe these can help you answer the above questions. If not, I have tried my best to keep the stories as humorous and entertaining as possible.

My Review:

Yet again, I thank the good folks at writersmelon.com for sending me this ebook for review. This book entails the author, Tomson Robert's fictional accounts of his corporate life and his personal life. Through 10 contemporary short and crisp stories, the situations one usually faces in work life are highlighted through various perspectives - the boss, the employee, etc. I found it entertaining and a quick read to be completed in a single sitting (1 hour max) as it is about 70 pages long. My favourite story from the lot is 'How You Became A Horrible Boss'. All the stories are generously sprinkled with humour and make it a light read.

About the author: 

Management Consultant by day and amateur author by night. Husband to a beautiful wife, father to an adorable baby girl and raised (along with a smart younger brother) by loving parents in God’s Own Country (a.k.a Kerala, India). Currently living in Dubai and working for a consulting firm.

Book Review - Corpokshetra by Deepak Kaul

Book Title: Corpokshetra - Mahabharata in the MBA Yug

Author: Deepak Kaul

Publishing House: Westland Ltd. & Bloody Good Book

Available formats: ebook & Paperback 

The amusing book cover. Image source: amazon.in

Blurb:

The Pandavas have returned home after 13 years of exile. And they are demanding their stake in Hastinapur Inc. But the Kauravas, led by the haughty Duryodhana, aren’t ready to give them a penny. The battle lines are drawn, only this war is in the present-day Kurukshetra - the corporate boardroom.

As the Kauravas and the Pandavas don their sharpest suits, Krishna - the wily Consultant - strategies for peace. This is a humorous, modern take on the Mahabharata (with due apologies to Rishi Ved Vyas). An epic story retold for the MBA generation.

Thanks to Writersmelon.com, I recently got my hands on Corpokshetra by Deepak Kaul. This book is a modern corporate twist to the tale of epic proportions - The Mahabharata. As rightly described, it is retelling of the Mahabharata for the MBA generation.

It is the story of all the beloved and celebrated characters, but in a corporate boardroom. Where Lord Krishna is running a successful international CSR consultancy. Kansa is the CEO of Mathura Corp and Lord Indra is the chairman of Govardhan limited. When Kauravas are back from their exile they demand a stake in Hastinapur Inc. Instead of the battlefield, here the battle is in the boardroom with wit and politics as the weapons.

Unlike in every corporate, the top bosses call the shots when the going goes tough. With all characters in place, the story starts a board meeting. (Guess what they also hangout at Starbucks!)

A well described story, Corpokshetra incorporates and merges all the corporate elements effortlessly. 

For a reader like me who always gets confused between characters of the original tale and has lesser knowledge of the nitty gritties, found this book a recap of the original tale, but with a twist of course. Interspersed with wit and humour, it makes for a quick and easy read.

Book Review: The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias

eBook: The Devil's Prayer

Author: Luke Gracias

Pages: 294
Genre: Thriller
Price: Rs. 189.58 (Amazon.in Kindle Edition)

Publisher: Australian eBook Publisher (18 February 2016)

The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias

Blurb: 

A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago. 
In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul. 


As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors. 
And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it. 
Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction? 

My Review:

Needless to say the name of the book itself is intriguing. With a stellar start of a nun allegedly committing suicide, this book becomes unputdownable and captivating from the word go. The book is cleverly divided into four parts with each part seamlessly connecting the next. 

One can read the first three parts in quick succession; I found it difficult to tear away from the book (sacrificed some sleep in the process). The fourth section deals with a lot of research and details pertaining to religious history where the author has done a lot of his homework well and with supporting proof. It is here that I lost some interest, a tad too much history had me waiting for the cliffhanger. Eventually, I did finish reading it and boy, it has me waiting for the second part.(I really hope he writes it.)

I totally recommend this book to lovers of supernatural fiction. All I can say is, Mr Luke Gracias is certainly a Dan Brown in the making. Goosebumps guaranteed!



Disclaimer: I've received this ebook from Writersmelon.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Honest Season

Book Title: The Honest Season
Author: Kota Neelima
Pages: 376
Genre: Political Fiction
Price: Rs. 206 (Amazon.in)
Publisher: Random House India

Blurb: 

Sikander Bansi, an unlikely political heir in Delhi, secretly records politicians in Parliament as they haggle to become cabinet ministers, bag defense contracts, dodge criminal charges and collect corporate largesse. Among them is a rising leader of the People’s Party, Nalan Malik, whose success has come through unscrupulous means. When Sikander suddenly disappears, Mira Mouli, a newspaper journalist with an unusual gift of knowing people’s thoughts, receives the controversial Parliament tapes along with clues to find him. She is attracted to Sikander’s principles and is wary of Nalan’s deceit. But her powers of knowing tell her a different story, one that she can unravel only at the cost of her life. From the bestselling author of Shoes of the Dead, this is disturbing political fiction that reveals why Parliament functions behind gates closed to the public.

About the Author:

Kota Neelima has been a journalist for over twenty years, covering politics in New Delhi, India. She is Senior Research Fellow, South Asia Studies at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced international Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. Her recent academic research in India on perception seeks to develop a structure based on rural and urban voter choices .Her previous books include the bestselling Shoes of the Dead and Death of a Moneylender, among others. Also a well-known painter, Neelima’s works are a part of several collections in India and abroad, including the Museum of Sacred Art, Belgium.

My Review:

It would be an extremely rare case that I would pick up a book on politics. But the word fiction added to it certainly drew some intrigue. And boy, I'm glad I picked it up. Right from page one, the author does not let you put this book down. She has orchestrated the plot so beautifully, I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns. Kota Neelima has a impeccable hold of the language and the subject matter that she is an expert in. Each page shows the amount of research that has gone into writing the book, and not leaving any loose strings. I would readily recommend this book to those who are uninterested in Politics as I am, because this is nothing short of a best-seller!

Disclaimer: I've received this book from Writersmelon.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Ramayana The Game of Life - Stolen Hope

Book Title: Ramayana The Game of Life - Stolen Hope

Author: Shubha Vilas

Pages: 312

Genre: Mythology 

Price: (Paperback): INR 299

Publisher: Jaico Publishing

I was elated when I was directly contacted by the author Shubha Vilas to read and review 'Ramayana - The Game of Life - Stolen Hope' early in January this year after reading and reviewing the previous book in the 'The Game of Life' series. Pleased that this book landed in my lap just as soon as I took up the #HTBrunchBookChallenge 2016 for the first time ever. And it helps the criterion of the Brunch Book Challenge of having to read at least 3 books surrounding Indian context.

But perhaps the main reason for me to read the books - even though it is definitely not my favourite genre of reading - is that I haven't been lucky enough to know the entire story of Ramayana from my grandparents or parents. That somehow motivated me to read this book.

A beautiful note from the Author Shubha Vilas

About the Author: 

Shubha Vilas, a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker, holds a degree in engineering and law with a specialization in patent law. 

He has just launched his first book, Ramayana - The Game of Life Book 1 which is a modern rendition of the Ramayana with practical life lessons. 

His leadership seminars are popular with top-level management in corporate houses. He addresses their crucial needs through thought- provoking seminars on themes such as ‘Secrets of Lasting Relationships’, ‘Soul Curry to Stop Worry’ and ‘Work–Life Balance’ to name a few.

He believes that a good teacher, no matter how knowledgeable, always sees the process of learning and teaching simultaneously as an inherent aspect of personal and spiritual growth.

Shubha Vilas periodically interacts with the youth in premier institutes across the country, inspiring them to live a life based on deeper human values. Close to his heart is his role as a guide and teacher to school children, teaching foundation values through masterful storytelling.

He also helps individuals apply the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and other dharmic traditions in dealing with modern- day life situations.

Source: LinkedIn.com


What I liked about this book:

You need not have to read the previous books to understand the overall story of Ramayana. 

This book helps you reflect on the teachings of Ramayana and apply it to your day to day life. This book not only narrates the story of Ramayana, but is packed with the interpretation of wisdom from the popular epic.


What I did not like about this book:

This book comes across as a mythological book, but is actually is a pleasing read. A lot to takeaway. I felt the length of this book is a mighty constraint for hardcore fiction readers like me who want their readings to be that hooks them, understandably this genre is not one.



Why you should read this book:

There are literally many nuggets of wisdom packed into this book. It took me a lot of time to read and review this book as mythology is really not my cup of tea, my I'm glad that I determinedly finished reading it.


Disclosure: I have received the author signed copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 

Book Review: Life Mantras

Book Title: Life Mantras
Author:'Saharasri' Subrata Roy Sahara
Pages: 298
Genre: Memoir
Price: Rs. 160 (Flipkart)
Publisher: Rupa Books

Image Source: amazon.in

About the Author:

Subrata Roy Sahara (born 1948) popularly known as 'Saharasri', is one of the most successful, bold, vociferous and talked-about figures of corporate India. When he laid the foundation of Sahara India Pariwar in 1978 with a capital of `2,000 (about $32) and three workers, who would have imagined his company's meteoric rise to a worth of `1,80,000 crore (about $27 billion) within a span of thirty-seven years! A teacher, guide and a proud guardian to his over 1.2 million fellow workers, he ascribes his success to his philosophy of 'Collective Materialism' which means continuous collective growth for collective sharing and caring. Renowned institutions like Harvard School of Business, USA; the Indian Institutes of Technology; the Indian Institutes of Management; and Banaras Hindu University have invited him to address their faculty and students, besides which, a host of awards have been bestowed on him that include the 'Indian Business Icon of the Year' at the Powerbrands Hall of Fame Awards in London; the Doctor of Business (honoris causa) by the University of East London; and the highest honorary degree, 'D. Litt.' by the Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Bihar for his contributions in various fields.

At first glance of the book, the cover is not very appealing, rather it is just pleasant to look at.
Perhaps my only reason for picking this book up for a read, is wanting to know the pysche of the renowned Subrata Roy Sahara and how he built his empire -The Sahara Group - keeping the current soup he's in aside for a while. However, contrary to my expectation, this book is not an autobiography, but certainly unravels some life lessons that we have long forgotten.

This book can be said to be a reminder on how to progress with life with certain 'mantras' to make it into a fulfilling one. It speaks to you about the meaning of life, about happiness and positivity, just what an optimist like me would like to hear. It is certainly something that anyone in general can relate to. You might too.

On the flip-side, some bits in the book may get rather preachy. And some bits made me lose interest for a while. 

All in all a good book if you are looking to reinforce and pump in some motivation and positive thoughts back into your life pick up Life Mantras.

Book Review: Raakshas

Book Title: Raakshas: India's No.1 Serial Killer

Author: Piyush Jha

Pages:  242

Genre: Thriller

Price:   Flipkart: INR | Amazon: INR 192

Publisher:  Westland Ltd

One look at the cover of the book and you'll know what it's all about. But the question I asked was, 'do serial killers really exist in India?' or is it purely a work of Indian fiction writers in a bid to mimic the West? The 'Soon to be a motion picture' had me interested.

Intrigued, I picked up a copy in lieu of Writersmelon book review program. And once it landed in my lap, I could not put it down.

The author of this book is Piyush Jha,a noted filmmaker in Bollywood, who is not new at writing books. 

The blurb:

What made him a serial killer?Was he born with homicidal tendencies?Did a harrowing childhood render him criminally insane?The questions haunt, Additional Commissioner of Police, Maithili Prasad as she discovers the horrific murders across Mumbai. As she spearheads the greatest manhunt in Mumbai’s history, she’s determined to contain the reign of terror unleashed by the ruthless serial killer. But before that she must grapple with her personal demons that surface to plague her with self-doubt.Just as it seems that Maithili has begun to understand the deep-rooted resentment that drives the serial killer, he turns around and makes her the object of his revenge. Will she emerge unscathed from this ordeal?

The first few chapters had me hooked with the entire description bordering on graphic details. Sinister yet gripping, is not for the faint hearted. One begins to question, whether serial killers are born so or is it the environment they are in or conditioning they get make them so? 

Initially, the chapters highlighted the story of the main protagonist interspersed with chapters on the history of Maithili Prasad. I had thought initially that it is the author narrating the story, but in fact the author weaves the story together from the point of view of  Maithili. 

Through and through the language used is good, and so is the flow of narration. I felt somehow the pace of the book dips halfway through. But overall, I feel Piyush Jha has done a remarkable job in storytelling and touches the right emotions of the reader.

At the end of the book, is a special section dedicated to Serial Killers in India - which answered my initial question.

I recommend this book to those want a real slice of a thriller.