Book Reviews (242)

  • David & Goliath

    By: Malcolm Gladwell   

    Pages: 320

    Non Fiction

    My recommendation: 8 / 10

    Date read: 13th Apr'2019

    Brief review: In this well researched book the author suggests that what we consider weak may actually have an inherent strength and what we think is worthy may not be so. Using the precursor of how David beat Goliath and several other real life instances, the author makes a compelling case that a positive mindset, courage and resilience can beat the odds of adversity, disability and discrimination. The book will break some of the myths that you hold along with giving a dose of motivation and inspiration. A few stories drag but overall a good read. Malcolm Gladwell is a master writer and story teller. I would also recommend his other books 'Outliers' and 'The Tipping Point'.

  • The Outsiders

    By: William N Thorndike   

    Pages: 272

    Business

    My recommendation: 8 / 10

    Date read: 10th Apr'2019

    Brief review: The book is about 8 unconventional CEOs who transformed their companies and created extraordinary wealth for shareholders. Mostly unheard (except Warren Buffet), these CEOs were great at capital allocation, shunned media attention and extremely conservative while acquiring other companies. They lead companies like General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway, General Dynamics, Capital Cities Broadcasting, TCI, and Teledyne. While the book is filled with ratios and numbers which made it a little boring at times, I got some great ideas reading it. A well researched book. If you are a business owner or wanting to start your own company in the near future, you should read this one.

  • Educated

    By: Tara Westover   

    Pages: 324

    Biography, Non Fiction

    My recommendation: 10 / 10

    Date read: 6th Apr'2019

    Brief review: It's a powerful, mesmerizing and inspirational story of a girl who, in-spite of all odds, carves out a life of choice for herself. Home schooled in early life, Tara Westover went on to get her PHD from Cambridge despite overwhelming challenges and an unknown outer world she knew little about. Reading this book will make you cry, make you laugh, make you sad and make you happy at the same time.  A awesome book which is also beautifully written. For me, it was pure joy to read this book. This true story is filled with humility, honesty and resilience which is rarely heard of. While I would recommend this book to everyone, I hope every mother would make their daughters read it too. 

  • Bad Blood

    By: John Carreyrou   

    Pages: 320

    Business, Non Fiction

    My recommendation: 10 / 10

    Date read: 30th Mar'19

    Brief review: It is one of the most thrilling fictional stories you would ever read, the only caveat being; it's not fictional. It's a story of boom to bust. It's about a 19 year old Stanford dropout girl, Elizabeth Holmes who founded a blood testing startup company called Theranos in the year 2003. Theranos claimed to do hundreds of blood tests from a tiny drop of blood. At it's pick, the valuation of the company reached a mind boggling figure of $9 billion. However, the company went out of business shortly after as it was all built on false premises and revolved around the charm and charisma of Elizabeth. The investors included prominent names like Rupert Murdoch and others. Elizabeth and Theranos got worldwide attention from start to finish. The author did a commendable job by putting it all in a fascinating story which I found unputdownable. A must read.

  • The Power of Habit

    By: Charles Duhigg   

    Pages: 400

    Self Help

    My recommendation: 9 / 10

    Date read: 27th Mar'2019

    Brief review: It's an amazing book. In this highly researched book, Charles Duhigg makes a strong case about the impact our habits can have on our lives; both positive and negative. The author doesn't just talks about personal habits but also about how organisations can rise and fall due to its habits & culture. You will be surprised to know how multinational companies are taking advantage of shoppers habit to sell more, how routine checks can avoid dangerous mistakes in hospitals and how a simple break in between work can increase your weight. A few concerns were; the examples and stories were quite long and a few chapters seemed repetitive and boring. Still, I would highly recommend this book.

  • Ikigai

    By: Héctor García & Francesc Miralles   

    Pages: 208

    Self Help

    My recommendation: 9 / 10

    Date read: 23rd Mar'2019

    Brief review: Ikigai is a Japanese word which stands for - a reason for being, living joyfully, having a sense of purpose and a feeling of well-being. While it may sound like a routine book giving lecture on how to live, it is not. It is far more enlightening. The book is full with real life stories which will touch your core. Authors have been able to decode the  essence of Ikigai and put forward simple ways by which all of us can follow its principles. Reading this book will make you re-look at your life. Your perspective and definition of success and happiness will change and you will definitely get a few tips to correct things which may not be going right for you.  A short book with a long shot.

  • 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

    By: Yuval Noah Harari   

    Pages: 368

    Non Fiction

    My recommendation: 10 / 10

    Date read: 20th Mar'2019

    Brief review: Yuval Noah Harari is a master writer. Every sentence and every word is worth your time to read it. Yuval's viewpoint on various topics covered in the book has a lot of weight. His in-depth knowledge of almost everything is quite visible in his writings. Apart from many issues, he discusses about the possibility of humans attaining immortality, why nuclear weapons may not be used  and how artificial intelligence is going to change things in the future. It's thrilling. When I finished the book it felt like something nice has ended. Pick it up right away.

  • Life’s Amazing Secrets

    By: Gaur Gopal Das   

    Pages: 208

    Self Help

    My recommendation: 9 / 10

    Date read: 15th Mar'2019

    Brief review: Gaur Gopal Das has an outstanding ability to give simple solutions to daily life problems by giving brilliant examples which are easy to relate. The book is an easy read. Even if you read it with no preconceived notion, it will surely give you some good insights on strengthening personal relationships, looking at things from a different perspective and how to live a life without stress. The quotes in the beginning of each chapter are very powerful. The book is set in the background of the author talking to his wealthy friend while stuck in traffic on Mumbai roads. While the authors's sharing of experiences are good, I found the other characters in the book not very impressive. 

  • Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

    By: Richard Carlson   

    Pages: 204

    Self Help

    My recommendation: 9 / 10

    Date read: 3rd Mar'2019

    Brief review: In this no nonsense book, Richard Carlson provides 100 life lessons which are simple, practical and can be applied by everyone. There are very books which contain so much of wisdom in so little words. We know it all and yet most of us never implement them in our daily lives. This book will change your life if you can make small changes in your thought process, attitude, belief system and approach toward environment around us.

  • Chasing Daylight

    By: Eugene O' Kelly   

    Pages: 201

    Inspiration, Self Help

    My recommendation: 7 / 10

    Date read: 14th Jan'19

    Brief review: Eugene O'Kelly was the CEO of KPMG when all of a sudden he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He was given just 3 months to live. He was just 53 years of age. Between his diagnosis and death, he wrote this inspirational memoir reflecting upon his life and forthcoming death. The most profound statement he makes in the book is, 'I worked hard and planned all my life for a happy retirement life which never came'.  He coins the word 'unwinding' from relatives, friends and colleagues before he leaves the world. A good read to reflect upon our own lives.

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