An editor's observations; random thrillers (IANS Books This Weekend)

A leading editor of a prominent Indian magazine admits he is almost computer-illiterate; another senior journalist takes readers through the notes of his "election diary" and then there are some thrillers. A lot to choose from the IANS New Year's book list. Take a look.

1. Book: Editor Unplugged: Media, Magnates, Netas and Me; Author: Vinod Mehta; Publisher: Penguin Viking; Pages: 281; Price: Rs. 599

This book takes forward the story of the author's first book in which he recounted his experiences in the corridors of power in Delhi. His views on Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and his decoding of the significant changes ushered in by the 2014 Lok Sabha elections are expressed with his characteristic sharp insights, wit and wisdom. So too is his analysis of the sweeping changes taking place in the print and TV media, and his pen portraits of personalities such as Ratan Tata, Niira Radia, Khushwant Singh, Sachin Tendulkar and Arundhati Roy.

Other chapters examine the lack of humour in our political life, the changing aspirations of the Indian middle class and the mistakes and regrets of his life

that are peppered with anecdotes and gossip.

2. Book: How Modi Won It: Notes from the 2014 Election; Author: Harish Khare; Publisher: Hachette; Pages: 242; Price: Rs. 599

Marked by deep ideological divisions, a massive advertising blitz and an election campaign that could claim to rival the US presidential polls, the 2014 general election has been called historic for its verdict - a political party received a majority in the Lok Sabha for the first time in three decades.

A journalist and former media advisor to then prime minister Manmohan Singh, Khare offers a meticulous account of what he saw, heard and read during this time and elucidates how the different political stakeholders kneaded into their day-to-day campaign rhetoric that latent cultural angst, economic anxieties and political

expectations of a nation that has changed irrevocably over the past decade, to persuade the Indian voter to cast a decisive vote.

3. Book: Business Unusual; Author: Sharmila Kantha; Publisher: Rupa; Pages: 222; Price: Rs. 295

It is January 2009. The global economic crisis is starting to make its presence felt in India, Delhi is reeling under an unprecedented cold wave and Ramji, an aide, has just discovered the body of Prakash Sahni, India's top tycoon. Summoned by Mataji, the formidable matriarch of the Sahni family, to find her son's murderer, Ramji sets off to investigate the tycoon's dealings, both business and personal.

Assisted by his comrade in Delhi Police, Riaz Khan, and Sahni's conflicted adolescent son Rana, Ramji uncovers a murky web of financial irregularities and family intrigues that threaten to shake the very foundations of the Sahni business empire and destabilize an already turbulent nation.

Will he be able to solve the case or will he be overcome by the villainous forces ganging up against him?

4. Book: Outsourced; Author: Maya Kavita; Publisher: Tara; Pages: 315; Price: Rs.299

Ella Laraway, an HR executive, leads a massive outsourcing of jobs in Toronto. Her US mentor, Odette Dodeur, is later found dead, her body shipped from Toronto to China in a barrel along with the message "outsource this".

Accusing Laraway of incompetence, the company's CEO makes her a scapegoat in Dodeur's death and assigns her as the company's liaison with the detective investigating the murder. But is Laraway safe? Will she be willing to kill in order to save herself?