Category: Book Reviews

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Book Reviews Books Reading / Read digital Internet

God is a Gamer by Ravi Subramanian – a book review #bookreview

go is a gamer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publisher Penguin Books India
ISBN-10 0143421395
Imprint Penguin
Book Type Fiction Book
Number of Pages 324 Pages
Publication Year 2014 September
Language English
ISBN-13 9780143421399
Binding Paperback

Let me admit this, I am a fan of Ravi Subramanian, and happy that he keeps technology at the heart of his plot.

As the cover says this is a first – a novel with Bitcoin at the heart of the things, and author has been successful in creating a parallel world in this financial universe which in itself is a multi-layered economy.

Starting with the Washington blast the story travels across to India with a few interesting characters. The background of the internet as a business proposition and also how the online is seeping in the banking industry and how the security is exposed on many counts is a documentation that needs special mention.

The story line is well inter-linked and with short chapters keeps the readers abreast of the happenings, and successfully keeps the interest alive till the end.

The events in the plot are easily identifiable and you will see them happening across the story and the best part is you will be there in the midst of all these. The author successfully makes easy work of even the so called technological jargons and makes you understand how it works.

Bitcoin with its anonymity and the scale with which it is expanding is a nice setting especially when you know it can be used for anything negative than positive reason. Perhaps that is the crux of all those things which are anonymous and makes for interesting followups.

The power struggles, the startup syndrome, the losing of a client, the head start in a gaming company and a love affair are all mixed in a heady cocktail for you to sip and taste and gives you a high of the tallest order.

A super fast paced with suspense intertwined at necessary breaks the story moves seamlessly across the continents to connect the dots. Be it the FBI sleuths or the Indian CBI, the art of not taking things as they seem is very well read into, but would they know they are also being led to a conclusion, you go to read the story to find that.

The way technology especially the apps ecosystem works and the vulnerabilities associated with it or even the lap top batteries getting exposed are all real to a great extent and these are just the way the master crooks work their way to con the consumers.

In a digital world which has everyone leaving trails its but quite natural that the criminals here who are white collared will love to see the trails being erased or use things that may not be visible. But then there is always the to err is human thing and that plays spoilsport.

The characters that will stay with you are Varun and Tanya perhaps there is a little trait you might want to analyse in them. All the other characters add to the story and author makes you believe every little word and he has drawn the human emotions subtly to take you to the point where he leads.

Overall a great read, and you will want to know more about Bitcoin in case you haven’t read enough of it.

One more you could even tag this book under internet and digital!

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!
 

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Book Reviews Books Reading / Read

I want healthy kids – a practical guide by Alia Almoayed a Book Review

978-81-216-1876-2

Publisher Life Positive Publications
Publication Year 2014
ISBN-13 9788121618762
ISBN-10 8121618762
Language English
Binding Paperback
Number of Pages 310 Pages

A beautifully written book on how to raise healthy kids in a very lucid and simple style that will make you go to the book again and again.

The author draws from her experience as a nutritional expert and more so as a mom, probably that makes it all more interesting. This book also has contributions from experts from different places related to nutrition and child upbringing.

This is a step by step process if you ask me on how to care for kids and how to make them eat healthy foods. You will realize how important food habits could make up for the future health of the kids in terms of their learning potential, immunity energy levels etc.

I would suggest this to everyone across ages, especially if you are a parent you will feel inspired by knowing things about kids and how you could make it happen and it would be a wonderful way to bond too!

In case you work with teachers or in direct association with kids, then again you would benefit hugely with the inputs given here in this book. Its  a very practical way as the title suggests.

Then there are food ideas you would love. There are kids expert section with loads of scientific info in case you are looking for some references.

This is a very nice work with a great intent and also very practical in every sense of it.  Very nicely presented and you could actually open a page and you would be really gratified reading it and more so implementing the same would be a breeze.

As the author suggests in her note this is for kids – essentially a 2 years to 13 years bracketed in terms of a guide, but its a whole some presentation if you read it which can easily be extendable to the whole family without much ado.

I also loved the presentation format for a change and the narratives with different usage of fonts and makes for a easy reading and focuses on ease for the reader.

All in all a great book and you would thank me for sure. And for all those who care for a healthy generation in literal sense this is a nice recommendation.

Thanks Yawar and Life Positive for sending me this book and sorry for this delayed review due to some circumstances beyond!

Senthilkumar

One post a day 26/30

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Book Reviews Books Reading / Read Management

60 minutes by Upendra Namburi – a book review

60 Minutes

Publisher Westland
Publication Year 2014 June
ISBN-13 9789384030247
ISBN-10 9384030244
Language English
Edition 1st
Binding Paperback
Number of Pages 372 Pages
Book Type Fiction Book

We all know that Corporate life is a high stakes game, and that is what is presented in the “60 minutes” a fast read by Upendra Namburi. At times makes us wonder if it could be so stark I mean the corporate way of life mixed with manipulation, sex, extra marital affairs and derailment of the adversary.

Sometimes makes you sit and smell the coffee if its ok to be doing whatever you want and achieve the goal. Obviously this is the generation which feels end is the focus no matter what the means. Thats some rant from my side!

The story revolves around two corporate professionals in question, Agastya and Sailesh and how they continue to take personal rivalries to their professional life and sometimes even at the cost of the companies to end up spending crores and crores.

The narrative is very fast as the author sets the time of 60 minutes to go into a press conference for a launch of a product and the every minute makes up for so much of action sometimes its streched but overall he has a hold on the things for the reader and the narrative being interspersed with flash backs make it worthwhile sometimes actually trying to justify the now!

The series of actions and the game of chess, the BlackBerry messenger chats to looking at the tab for the market info all are placed in a way to keep you hooked and add to the flavour of the moment, possibly you will be wondering will there be a message or will the bourses take a hit for Agastya.

It would make for film as good as Corporate if you make one.  The characterizations of the narrative sometimes is so stark and the protrayal of women needs much to be desired. Be it Maithili, Priyanka and the wives of the two men in the story.

As a story it lends itself to mass appeal of corporate culture and the has a alls well that ends well to it, but after a real acrimonious bout of ego clash and personal rivalry.

A fast paced and easy read this is bound to be a best seller. You could do it easily at a single stretch if you want and may be two sitting is all you will need. Since its got only three characters you need to work with its pretty easy to follow the story and I think author has got it pretty right and tight with those characters.

I would like to thank Blogadda for the opportunity to review this book!

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Senthilkumar

One post a day  18/30

Categories
Book Reviews Just about it Stories/storification

The Charles Darwins theory of Bhagavatham!

Vishnu_Avatars

So today evening after my last meeting around 6 and back home got a call from Gopa saying they were at school, our old school at Chinmaya to be precise and wanted me to just join them. With the campus just 10 mins drive from my house I reach there in about 20 minutes and was surprised to see that it was a School day, and well it was also Teachers’s Day if you know!

The air of celebrations was evident when I could see  a lot of kids with make up and also in their dance costumes walking up and down. The get together happened to be an idea by our juniors and have been successful in getting some 13 people to be at the campus.

After the mandatory classroom visits we went to the ground, where the school day celebrations were in full swing.

We had arrived to the show of the Dasavathara of Mahavishnu being made in a song and dance format. The choreography seemed well done and the costumes and the lights have been well orchestrated to get the best of visual impact.

We traversed from the Matsya, Kurma, Varaha avathars of Maha Vishnu and then led to the next set of incarnations.

If you look back at your Biology or Zoology classes these are akin to the Charles Darwins theory of evolution. If you know he had proposed that life started from the water the moved to reptiles before landing up as a mammal on the earth. A close analogy of Matsya the water animal,  Kurma the water and land animal, then Varaha the animal on earth.

As we became evolved according to Charles Darwin we took the form of Narasimha that is half animal half man then we went to dwarf mode to be a Vamana!

Then Maha Vishnu chose to be Parasurama, the fiery brahmin who would go on a killing spree. Something our ancestors also did according to Charles Darwin.

Then it was the time of Rama! A wonderful human being and epitome of whatever was right  morally. May be Charles Darwin had found the perfect human being or may be not.

Then he is followed by Krishna and Gautama Buddha!

I just keep wondering at which stage are we at the present moment, the post Rama Stage or the Buddha stage.

Whichever we need to grow into the next level of Kalki may be!

One post a day – 16/30

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Book Reviews Books Reading / Read

Private India by Ashwin Sanghi & James Patterson – a book review

private india

CONTRIBUTORS
Authored By Ashwin Sanghi, James Patterson
BOOK DETAILS
Publisher Random House India
Imprint Arrow / Random House India
Publication Year 2014
ISBN-13 9780099586395
ISBN-10 0099586398
Language English
Binding Paperback
Number of Pages 448 Pages

When Blogadda announced the Book review, I knew this is what I was waiting for – an author signed copy from Ashwin Sanghi was the best deal as always!

And when the book arrived it was big all of 448 pages and it did go fast!  Thanks Blogadda!

It is yet another title from Ashwin Sanghi, a collaboration of a different kind with one of the world’s detective best sellers James Patterson.

Santosh Wagh heads Private India and is challenged by a series of murders with a precision that involves a thinking serial murderer on prowl. The weapon used is a simple one and the murderer makes no mistake and leaves no trail for investigation authorities to take a call. Even if he leaves some its to mislead the process than help it to the see the logical end.

The challenge is no sooner Santosh starts the investigation in the first murder, they are faced with a series, with a pattern and it is for Santosh and his team to unravel them at the earliest since they have little time before the next one happens.

The story is a riddle which deconstructs the psychological attitude of the murderer and his relationship with victims. Santosh does his best to get to the trail using the best of technology and investigating minds helping him gets to the murderer.

There is this Ashwin’s stamp of the mythological thread to the events unfolding with every murder as it continues to happen at a regular interval within days. You cant be happy when circumstantial evidences point to some one in the organisation.

A very light and a fast read, this is page turner though the intensity of the plot is broadened with some instances pointing to multiple suspects at different points in the story.

Yet another best seller from Ashwin for his style sprinkled in ample measure – a bit of Bollywood, page 3 celebs, the gang war and the spiritual guru which helps you identify with Mumbai ofcourse.

Ashwin uses his innate ability to relate things and makes it easy for the readers to go on one rollercoaster ride. You could finish it off in the fastest time possible thats usually a sitting.

On a personal note this would have been an easy novel for Ashwin & James having read all the other three works with such a lot of research material that he is used to. Or is that he is making me think so.

A fast read and a page turner, Private India if you ask me might be poised for sequels and I am sure Ashwin and James sure can come up with many more cases that Private India can handle with Santosh still at the helm of affairs.  

So its time to get your copy:

Check here for Flipkart : http://www.flipkart.com/private-india-english/p/itmdxu6kshmpzmga?pid=9780099586395

Check here for Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/Private-India-8-James-Patterson-ebook/dp/B00JWVKWWO/

Happy Reading!

Senthilkumar

This review is a part of the biggest <a href=”http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews” target=”_blank”> Book Review Program </a> for <a href=”http://www.blogadda.com” target=”_blank”>Indian Bloggers.</a> Participate now to get free books!

(Also past of one post a day series 4/30)

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Book Reviews Books Reading / Read social media

The World of Malgudi and Lawley Road…

malgudi days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a post on one of my favorite authors arguably favorite among Indian authors for a generation or so. R K Narayan is one of the authors who brought the Indian life to the fore in his wonderfully planned town of Malgudi.

Right from the first novel, Swami and friends to the works of his later days he held the readers interest like no other. He has this innnate ability to weave stories with the common man and his life.

His characters have always have had the rustic Indian feel. The first three novels in Swami and Friends, Bachelor of Arts and English Teacher are absolutely wonderful stories in an autobiographical way for RKN. The three stories set the stage for him to explore the human psyche and portray the Indian in the context of the Indian independence and more important the neo middle class after Indian independence and I am sure we can relate to the Malgudi.

For me the travel on Marudhamalai Road is incomplete without the remembrance of RKN. Lawley Road junction is a part of the Malgudi and I always have  wondered about it. RK Narayan also has a connection with Coimbatore especially because his wife hails from here. It is believed he convinced his future father-in-law even in those times for marriage. How romantic!

Lawley is actually a character who builds the Malgudi town and this character is believed to be based on the then Governor of Madras.  You can check this here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Lawley,_6th_Baron_Wenlock

In Malgudi, R K Narayan probably created a mini India and we can easily relate to the characters as much as you travel through each of the titles. In fact there is a story called Lawley Road, about a municipality where the roads are named after Freedom Fighters after Independence.

So the next time you cross the Lawley Road, think about R K Narayan and the story of Arthur Lawley.

Senthilkumar

#3of30post

Categories
Book Reviews Books Reading / Read Management Spirituality Training

The Seven Mystical Laws of Self Healing by Sanjiv Ranjan – a Book review

the-seven-mystical-laws-of-self-healing-400x400

 

Publisher Life Positive
Publication Year 2013
ISBN-13 9788121618755
ISBN-10 8121618754
Language English
Binding Paperback

The book in review is a fantastic read to know oneself and how super human everyone is if they can harness the power they innately have in them. This book is a result of the authors experiences with healing people who otherwise never thought healing or cure was a possibility. It takes a whole lot of inner transformation for individuals to get them to heal themselves of the problems their body faces and resurrect themselves as happy selves.

The author in his simple and a very direct conversational style of writing  makes you very sensitive to what he wants you to feel. This is a work book in essence and if you could do it the way , you will already feel positive vibes around you and may be look like you have lost some weight. It has a soothing effect on you, as you start to identify that we can heal ourselves. As much as you start appreciating the fact that you can love your body it should start responding to your touch or your sensory perceptions.

The story teller in the author is a clear winner as we are led through the parables to drive home the point.

The idea of the body as the residence of divine would make all the difference and that in effect would change the way we look at the way body reacts.

These seven magical ways are very practical doesn’t need you to be religiously inclined to adopt these methods into your life. There are very practical ways of guided meditation which are very effective even in psychological terms tuning you to think positively and sense the feeling of healing in you.

You would be thankful to the world and me too for having read this book, it has a visionary zeal to it in terms of talking to your inner soul. The language makes it so easy to read and digest everything the author wants to convey.

I might just add here for those looking at weight loss technique how an integrated approach to your living can make losing weight such an easy job. I think this can be a big USP for the book with so many diet and weight loss programs making a queue for the big bucks.

A nice read and you will be feeling a lot less heavy that’s a bit sublime when i say that and it will reflect in your physical weight too.

Thanks to Yawar and the publishers for sending me the copy. It did take some real time to digest and apologies for the delay in the review due to some unforeseen circumstances!

Go here on Flipkart to buy your copy:  http://www.flipkart.com/seven-mystical-laws-self-healing-english/p/itmdngqyz6z2b2qy?pid=9788121618755

Go here on Amazon to buy your copy: http://www.amazon.in/SEVEN-MYSTICAL-LAWS-SELF-HEALING/dp/8121618754/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407824593

Senthilkumar

Categories
Book Reviews Books Reading / Read Management

Business Doctors by Sameer Kamat – a Book Review

Business Doctors - Consulting Gone Wild
Business Doctors – Consulting Gone Wild By Sameer Kamat
Publisher Booksoarus
Publication Year 2014 April
ISBN-13 9789351569640
ISBN-10 9351569640
Language English
Binding Paperback
Number of Pages 241 Pages
Territorial Rights Worldwide
Book Type Fiction Book

I must admit this was a different take from all the books that we are getting to read. Set in the land of the United States, this debut novel by Sameer Kamat takes us through the mafia in a very clinical methodical business way as any other business you would think of.

As much as the title Business Doctors, the book makes for an excellent fast paced read on how management consultants adorn the coat that doctors wear for all the practical purpose of getting a business back on track and regain health.

Micheal Schneider, the consultant in this drama here, has little idea what the future holds when he chooses to make a presentation to a mafia don sometime during a downturn in his business. He thinks some of the out-of-the-box solutions to get his client out of the red and he almost is getting there. There are lot of action packed scenes that get enacted like the escape of some of the well known convicts – so called specialists to aid the turnaround of the company .

There are places where it could be a moral dilemma but then the money and the lure of power and may be the fame gets a little head and the story moves fast forward.

A ll the characters are very well defined and the author takes us through the American mafia and consulting day rigor quite effortlessly with their portrayal.

I can imagine and see a cinematic version in front of me as I flip through the pages. The description lays bare in front of you and you can walk through the doors.

The basics in terms of business especially the mafia stuff makes for a fun read the casino, the pornography and other business of the don being given the strategic treatment if you call it. The digitisation of the pornography as a recommendation made me laugh. The romance in the novel goes as an integral plot to the story. How Schenider accomplishes his assignment and what the future holds remains the plot of the story. The unusual aged techie and other characters are quite a nice addition which makes it worthwhile read.

A very well written novel, and a fast read material could have been enhanced if it was in a better presentation.

The best part is the language is easy to follow an definitely takes you through the consultants’ mind if you ask me.

Watch the trailer here:

Check out to buy the book here:

On Amazon here : http://www.amazon.in/Business-Doctors-Management-Consulting-Gone/dp/9351569640/

On Flipkart here: http://www.flipkart.com/business-doctors-management-consulting-gone-wild-english/p/itmdvfjpdgt379vs?pid=9789351569640

Last word, thanks to Sameer Kamat for reaching out with a review copy and wishing him all the best and yes this is self published.

About the author:  Sameer Kamat is the founder of MBA Crystal Ball and Bookosaurus.

Senthilkumar

Categories
Book Reviews Books Reading / Read Humour Management

How to Become a Billionaire by Selling Nothing #bookreview

how-to-become-a-billionaire-by-selling-nothingSo you know @jhunjhunwala on twitter. Well you would esp if you are a fan of cricket and then those commentaries that changed the complexion of commentaries. To me and some fans there was a cricket commentary on twitter with pre @jhunjhunwala era and post.

It was always going to be sarcastic, but had we have had enough of them?

The book ‘How to Become a Millionaire by Selling Nothing’ is a extension of his writing style to a full 370 pages of fun with the main characters in Rakesh Jhunhunwala and Ramakant Sastry.

A solid take on the ways people take to extremes to make money with doses of humour and how they take the common people for granted.

The story is how Ramakant Sastry makes a huge profit with an idea of selling nothing and in the process takes everything to the heights literally, actually he starts off by forging the documents when Jhunjhunwala sends him off with a lakh of rupees so that he can free himself off the Nothing idea from Ramakant.

This has it effect from the market bourses to the customers who want to buy nothing. Aditya takes the production and marketing to humorous levels on how they are bent on producing products and advertising campaigns to sell it.

So when you thought this was all too good there is a new legal issue coming up with another company taking them to court over the rights over who invented nothing. That would be the way things go for nothing literally a brouhaha for nothing.

Aditya also takes up the way people get intoxicated with wealth especially if its from get rich kind of way up a faster ladder. The portrayal of Ramakant and Jhunjhunwala in contrast has a lot to be praised for.

The value of money is a relative or rather a subjective one. Hilariously depicted across different categories of people all eyeing for market and studying the consumers psyche, the author hits the brands for the way they take the consumers for granted.

A fast paced light read page turner, personally feel it could have been made some parts crisper since we all get used to the awesomeness of Jhujhunwala!

Kudos to Aditya for an awesome debut in a genre which is very less predictable.

To buy the book on Flipkart and Amazon click here:

http://www.flipkart.com/become-billionaire-selling-nothing-english/p/itm9788184004342

http://www.amazon.in/How-Become-Billionaire-Selling-Nothing/dp/8184004346

Categories
Book Reviews Books Reading / Read

Ramayana: The Game of Life Series – Rise of the Sun Prince by Shubha Vilas a book review!

ramayana-the-game-of-life-400x400-imadqqfhg2tbgzua

 

Publisher Jaico Publishing House
Publication Year 2013
ISBN-13 9788184955309
ISBN-10 8184955308
Language English
Edition 1st
Binding Paperback
Number of Pages 256 Pages

 

The beauty of Indian classics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata is always enhanced positively when you reread them. The different versions of the story from different parts of the country is a testament to the fact that our country had a different way of looking to meaningful discussions and interpretations of the wonderful stories and also how it moulded the generations to think and act.

Ramayana for all its splendour from the Valmiki’s world to Kamban’s storyline to Tulsidays’s renditions with soulful music accompaniment has always been a great story for kids as well as for adults. Here in this series called Ramayana: The Game of Life, and the first book in review – Rise of the Sun Prince, we find a classical and easy to read narrative of the early life of Lord Rama and the setting in which the original classsic took its first shape.

In a different world sought to be mythological and storified, Ramayana would remain exactly that – a story. The quintessential idea of the story was more of the thoughts and morals and the way of life for us mortals to understand in its relative terms of living one’s own life. That perhaps was lost in the story being celebrated and the idea of the living being relegated in what was perhaps the historic distortion in a way.

Here the author Subha Vilas decodes the essence of life, from looking at the wonderful instances or rather every instance that happens in the life and times of Rama the Lord incarnate and his associates in the family and others.

This book is a long read which I believe is one to be read and digested. You would add to the beauty of the composition and also the understanding that you would love to have. The author has taken exceptional effort to paraphrase and link the resources to all materials that make for a great reading.

I believe this attempt at rendering the Ramayana will be one of the best life changing efforts from a storified version.

There’s so much to learn from every instance of the story, you get glimpses of the character’s strength, the weakness and how they have held their nerve to be what they are. This is not a one – off  reading but a life book essential for anyone looking to learn from Ramayana and help oneself to tune to better thoughts and better days.

The author has kept a nice prose in effect making it very readable to modern day young audience and has taken care not to lose the charm of the story telling especially that of the young princes in question.

It has some great revelations in the story as much as we have taken Ramayana for granted. Read it for its sublime and sheer ecstasy of story telling  and the nitty-gritties of the characters involved.

As I said earlier, you would take time to read and then digest them. Once you are done I am sure you are going to go back, open it and continue relishing those and discover for yourself newer meanings and ideas.

As always the scriptures have been pregnant with meaning and this holds true for this series too. Look forward to the remaining series and live to celebrate the life of one of the most charming and greatest kings the world has ever seen – Lord Rama.

Senthilkumar Rajappan

PS: I was very happy to receive a mail from the author, and I believe this review is a destined one in a way that I should write about the wonderful series to be. Thanks a lot to author Shubha Vilas for the review copy and this opportunity to review the book.