Books
I liked reading…
2021
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
>>>
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
>>>
Demian by Hermann Hesse
>>>
Waking Up by Sam Harris
>>>
The Living Landscape by Douglas W. Tallamy and Rick Darke
>>>
The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
>>>
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson
>>>
The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
>>>
Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy
>>>
Die Empty by Todd Henry
>>>
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
>>>
Getting Things Done by David Allen
>>>
2020
Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America by Kendall Brown
Read for:
All about Japanese gardens and their adaptations in the US
>>>
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
Excerpts: “…if we have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think; if we escape a little from the common sitting-room and see human beings not always in their relation to each other but in relation to reality; and the sky, too, and the trees or whatever it may be in themselves…”“masterpieces are not single and solitary births; they are the outcome of many years of thinking in common, of thinking by the body of the people”“…when I ask you to earn money and have a room of your own, I am asking you to live in the presence of reality, an invigorating life”
>>>
An Un-stretched Canvas Essays by Shankar Palsikar, Vasudeo Gaitonde, Prabhakar Barwe and Prabhakar Kolte
Excerpts: “…I began an inquiry into the existence of the correlation between sacred chants and colour. This was something that necessitated a major change in my artistic process, at a technical as well as structural level… I realized that yoga practice would bring me to the answers I sought, and acted upon it. The thought of success or failure never once touched my mind and I was able to experience the force”“dialogue with the other begins only when our monologue with the inner is clear”“Just as in every seed is the potential to become a tree, in every inch of land exists the latent life-energy to nourish this seed. We have before us both of these but are unable to use them due to our preconceptions.”“It is necessary that a painter travel through the territories of music, culture, dance and literature as well as painting, in a systematic manner. It must be an exploration, and not just an aimless wandering.”
>>>
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Read for:
Raw poetry
>>>
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda
Some excerpts: “The Hindu scriptures teach that the first duty of man is to keep his body in good condition, otherwise his mind is unable to remain fixed in devotional concentration”“trees that bend low with the burden of ripening fruits; it is the barren tree that lifts its head high in an empty boast”
>>>
Become What You Are by Alan Watts
Some excerpts: “we want to enjoy ourselves, and feel that if we forget ourselves there will be no enjoyment – an entertainment without anyone present to be entertained”“because they take themselves lightly, angels can fly”“The world of form and illusion which the majority take to be the real world is none other than the play of the Spirit…man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun”
>>>
The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh
Read for:
The flow of the narration feels like being on a wave – with glimpses into various character’s lives, perspectives and the intermingling of their lives in the presence of historical events. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
>>>
Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Hector Garcia and Albert Liebermann
Read for:
Thought-provoking. The book refers to Viktor Frankl’s work, which is a very good pre-read for this. Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s search for meaning” is my favourite book and is included earlier on this page.
Some excerpts:“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years”Stress leads to degeneration of cells, like pathogens doFrustration can be a catalyst for change“The happiest people are not the ones who achieve the most. They are the ones who spend more time than others in a state of flow.”
>>>
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight
Read for:
A must-read. Fabulous story-telling. Phil Knight takes the reader in completely, sharing his journey in such an open manner that one comes out feeling as if they have lived his story. Some excerpts: “Geese in the rear of the formation, cruising in the backdraft, only have to work 80 percent as hard as the leaders. Front runners always work the hardest, and risk the most.”
>>>
The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe by Anuschka Rees
Read for:
Although this book is about clothes, its philosophies extend to life (and what we let in). Some excerpts:“(Your style is) a reflection of your experiences and the associations you picked up over the years”“Allow yourself to go down rabbit holes”“The way you shop is nothing but a set of habits you have picked up over the years…” to become a more thoughtful shopper, slow down the process so as to give yourself more energy and deliberation time to make better decisions.
>>>
2019
Read for:
An extensive array of powerful strategies distilled from a Former FBI hostage negotiator’s real life experiences.
>>>
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brene Brown
Read for: Some points that stood out for me:What stands in the way, becomes the way.Live into your values. Show up with whole hearts, pay attention and be curious.The armour is too heavy a price to pay, so don’t keep an armour.
>>>
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change by Charles Duhigg
Read for: Some points that stood out for me:To change habits, identify the trigger leading up the habit and the reward. Then change the way you respond to the trigger, in a way that the reward is still met. New behaviour should have something similar at the beginning and the end.Small wins convince one of bigger wins.Keystone habits, once changed, trigger other habits to change.
>>>
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie
Read for: Realistic and grounded. Some key points:“Each additional happy friend increases a person’s probability of being happy by 9%. An extra 5000 dollars in income in 1984 dollars increased probability of being happy by 2%.”Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices.Interest is on the surface. Engagement is deeper and based on a person’s core values.
>>>
Love, Loss, and What We Ate : A Memoir by Padma Lakshmi
Read for: Life has so many possibilities. If one has the openness, the experience of multiple lives can be lived in a single lifetime. The author has lived thus, beautifully, and shared it with us.
Some excerpts: Chutney was useful for reasons of “time, weakness or inertia”
>>>
Anti-Inflammatory Eating for a Happy, Healthy Brain by Michelle Babb
Read for: Everyday meals full of nutrition, taste and variety, incorporating minimal cooking. Key points: The book considers Mediterranean style cooking, which avoids processed foods and includes fresh vegetables, to be the go-to approach for brain health.
>>>
Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein
Read for: Who knew that originally, Blue was considered a more feminine colour. No wonder so many Disney female characters have blue attire – Snow White, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel. Pink was a pastel hue for red, symbolising strength, not girlishness. At some point, marketing messages bulldozed this.
I was concerned this book was going be a 200-page-long-rant but it turned out to be pretty interesting for parenting/sister-ing. The author vents out her frustrations relating to the “girly-girl” culture, Disney princesses and its impact on young girls.
I had recently visited an American Girl store – it is a toy brand for young girls, which (dare I say) feels apocalyptic. You could easily spend 500$ customising a doll, getting her a change of clothes, some accessories and salon treatment (for the doll!). I find out now that the brand’s original objective was to connect young girls to the real life by sharing stories and values of women from various periods of American history. Ironically, it has somehow now moved into promoting consumerism, despite the simple values it was meant to connect girls to.
>>>
The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
Read for: The author, a self-proclaimed unhappy person, dons his journalist hat and moves from country to country, exploring which place is happy and possibly why. Some interesting observations:
“By telling us that happiness lives inside us, it’s turned us inward just when we should be looking outward. Not to money, but to other people, to community and to the kind of human bonds that so clearly are the sources of our happiness.”
“Commuting in particular has been found to be detrimental to our happiness, as well as our physical health.”
“What you’ve danced, can’t be taken away”
“We can’t love a place, or a person if we always have one foot out of the door”
“The golden thread – a path appears. Faint at first but increasingly clear if you are willing to look closely”
“There is a question… the answer to which identifies your true home. That question is, where do you want to die”
These are associated with happiness: Trust, gratitude, friends, family.
“The good life cannot be mere indulgence. It must contain a measure of grit and truth”
>>>
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
There are many versions/editions of this book, so you may want to explore various editions before deciding which one to read. I read a highly abridged version of the original text, which suited me well as I was looking for a quick introduction to the manuscript. Some insightful excerpts:
“In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns”
“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting”
“The good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision”
“Regard your soldiers as your children. Spoilt children are useless for any practical purpose”
>>>
Take Your Time: Finding Balance in a Hurried World by Eknath Easwaran
Read for: I feel lucky that this book found me, so had to make sure I share it.
If you value balance, peace and compassion, this book is calling out to you. While the speed of life can easily scatter our energies if left unchecked, the author shares useful approaches to removing noise, cutting out unnecessary distractions and making simple choices to move to a more centred living.
I found it to be amazing and cannot recommend it enough. Do read it if you get the chance!
>>>
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal
Read for: Very practical and very useful. This book gives exactly what its subtitle says. Some notes:
“In the quest for self-control…guilt, stress, and shame – don’t work. People who have the greatest self-control aren’t waging self-war.”
“The most effective stress-relief strategies are exercising or playing sports…reading…spending time with friends or family…The least effective strategies are gambling, shopping, smoking…Rather than releasing dopamine and relying on the promise of reward, the real stress relievers boost mood-enhancing brain chemicals..” >>>
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Read for: Dreamy, romantic fantasy, connecting one to an alternate beautiful world. Beware – this may onset a lot of daydreaming! Some excerpts:
“You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity”
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” >>>
Women’s Power by Vinoba Bhave
Read for: The author’s progressive thoughts about women empowerment despite other impending national challenges is an inspiration. Some excerpts:
“Experience shows that the advance of any creature can be achieved only by the own strength of that creature”
“It is a form of theft to refrain from speaking when it is necessary to speak” >>>
I Too Had A Dream by Verghese Kurien
Read for: A definite must-read for every Indian and anyone interested in the development sector. It is not often that one comes across such a hero, and even less often that one gets to know the balanced story of their journey. Candidly shared, Dr Kurien’s life stories, vision and values are bound to inspire. Some excerpts:
“Any sensible government must learn to unleash the energy of its people and get them to perform instead of trying to get the bureaucracy to perform.”
“Each one of us has a responsibility, as a member of our nation’s privileged elite… we must hold ourselves accountable for that future…act not only as advantaged individuals but as concerned members of our society. Criticise and correct.” >>>
Into The Shoes by Yash Jain
Read for: The parallel lives of the main characters help the reader navigate and discover various angles from which to look at the challenges in the education system, and the possible opportunities. The interactions between the characters are heartwarming. Straight-from-the-heart and thought-provoking!
2018
The Case for India by Will Durant
Read for: Every young Indian should read this book to remember the struggles of our forefathers. Many facets of India from when it was a part of the British Empire are not prominent in the modern memory – this book enlightens the reader with these.
Some excerpts: “one-fifth of the human race – suffering poverty and oppression bitterer than any to be found elsewhere on the earth” “since English manufacturers destroyed the domestic industries of India…for half the year 80% of the Hindus are unemployed through no fault of their own” “…a century of unmitigated rape on the resouces of India…They taxed the provinces under the Company so exorbitantly that two-thirds of the population fled…fathers sold their children to meet the rising rates.” “(Gandhi) wonders what is the purpose and fruit of this Western bustle and “overproduction,” this strange mechanism for concentrating wealth, in which the rapid production of goods leads to universal depression and poverty” “When the West is sick to the heart of its “progress” and its prosperity, its machines and its speed, it will turn to India to be saved.” >>>
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
Read for: the mysterious life of trees. Surprising facts and methods of the trees. Discover an entire new world of this creative, methodical and ancient life form.
There are many lessons for us to learn.
Some excerpts: “Isolated trees have far shorter lives than those living connected together in forests” “If every tree were looking out only for itself, then quite a few of them would never reach old age” “As almost no habitat on Earth offers ideal living conditions, it’s actually got more to do with the tree adapting than the niche being ideal” >>>
We: Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love by Robert A. Johnson
Read for: Re-balancing perception of Romance and finding a sustainable and accepting approach to relationships, without the hue and cry that has become common. Not for: Anything related to casual dating. >>>
Mahavira: Prince of Peace by Ranchor Prime
Read for: Accessible mythology. Beautiful illustrations. Much to reflect on. >>>
Dream with Your Eyes Open: An Entrepreneurial Journey by Ronnie Screwvala
Read for: Engaging fast-paced narration, honest reflections. Readers will find it very easy to connect to the content, which is very relevant to the current economic environment. >>>
Men and Ideals by C Mahajan
>>>
Read for: The inspiring story of persistence, courage and vision that led to the building of the Apollo empire. Go the distance is not just a brand tag-line, but also an underlying philosophy that the entity has followed to reach its respectable position. >>>
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray
Read for: Eye-opening and clear perspective into gender-specific idiosyncracies in relationships which everyone is bound to face at some point Not for: Not a guide to falling in love, but definitely good tips on treating it right >>>
Psychic Powers (Collins Gem) by Carolyn Boyes
Read for: An over-arching and interesting perspective on spiritualism that connects everything from meditation to reiki, and positive thinking to voodooism Not for: Actually becoming a (professional) psychic >>>
Zero to One: Note on Start Ups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
by Patti Breitman
Read for: You CAN reclaim your personal space Not for: Subtle and graceful ways to say no – so many of the suggestions in the book are rude, that a more appropriate title might be “How to say no by being rude”
. . .
2016-2017
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
>>>
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
>>>
Mastery (The Robert Greene Collection) by Robert Greene
>>>
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
>>>
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
>>>
A Short History of Financial Euphoria by John Kenneth Galbraith
. . .
2013-2016 (approx)
The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan Read for: The youthfulness in the writing and the author’s honest portrayal of her age (there are no words supporting pretentious ideals over-reaching for the age). Not for: The benefits of a self-help book!
>>>
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment Read for: Meditative Reading and reflections on living in the present.
>>>
Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann
>>>
Big Babies by Michael Bywater I did not read through this book page by page. It became quite an effortful reading when the author’s endless cynicism continuously dismissed any outside opinion. While delving into the ‘childishness’ of present day grown-ups, the author himself is entrapped into playing an argumentative game of a child. In one of the latter sections of the book: “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Mother”, i.e., how to ‘grow up’, the author puts forth some rather interesting reflections, such as denouncing relativism, not trusting estimates, or indulging in manners and that not to associate skills with moral. However, he poses serious thought-contradictions when he professes “writers know everything”, literally and by implication of his tone. Incidentally this is one of the better sections of the book. Literary Review called him ‘the funniest man in England’. Either I personally don’t share a similar sense of humour, or, my unmet expectations result from finding this book in the wrong section of the library (Psychology). Read for: Wit Not for: Psychological analysis (as I did!) >>>
Sexual Fluidity by Lisa M. Diamond Read for: Novel understanding/Breaking stereotypes/Personal Reasons Not for: Reinforcing homophobia
>>>
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie Read for: ‘Magical realism’. And of course it won the Booker of Bookers prize. Not for: Historical account!
Recent Posts
See AllI liked watching… There are just so many of them that as soon as I get the time, I tend to move to a new one rather than put notes on them up here. However, I intend to record at least those books and
