Page 15 - Book Reviews

Becoming Bangalore: Roopa Pai's book explores the city's history, culture

The book is an introduction to the city as seen through the eyes of one of its own

The World After Gaza: Pankaj Mishra's book draws parallels with Holocaust

Pankaj Mishra's book sees a parallel between those who witnessed the Holocaust and those who became involuntary witnesses to Israel's 'political evil' in Gaza's annihilation

Bill Gates' memoir reflects on childhood passions and early coding feats

In the first of his three-volume memoir, Gates roams freely in the memory palace of his youth, avoiding the thickets of his later life, including allegations of affairs and questionable friendships

World Book Fair 2025: Your ultimate guide to Delhi's book extravaganza

World Book Fair 2025 is all set to begin this weekend, Feb 1 at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi for all book lovers. Documentaries, panel discussions and round tables are among the exciting events

Everyday Reading: Tracing the evolution of Hindi magazine culture

Diving into Everyday Reading raises many questions. Did the consumer become a passive viewer with the rise of television as opposed to active participation in the magazines?

Exploring the beauty and dark past of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

A lavishly produced coffee table book contrasts the ethereal beauty of the Andaman's with its sordid colonial history

K Ganesh's book offers insights to navigate modern business complexities

With traditional business models being upended by innovative startups, K Ganesh's book is a useful resource for anyone looking to understand and navigate the complexities of modern business

'Mad about Cuba': Exploring the unique connection between Cuba and Kerala

Cuba is a metaphor in Kerala for communist values, but there is another, lesser-known reason for Malayalis to feel a special affinity for Fidel Castro

Dark Laboratory: Tao Leigh Goffe ties environmental collapse to colonialism

Aiming to centre Black and Indigenous history and ecology, Dark Laboratory is a pointed response to the dominance of scientific rationalism as the language best suited to the climate crisis

How Hindu culture spread: Manu Pillai's book traces its origins, evolution

How did Hindu culture originate? How did this tradition leap across rivers, climb mountains, and cross deserts to spread its roots? Manu Pillai's exhaustively researched book offers some answers

The Gujaratis: Salil Tripathi's book shines but falters under its ambition

The book, he says in the epilogue, has been the labour of love: Eight years of interviewing 213 people and the reading of more than 100 books about the state

G20 from the backroom: Amitabh Kant on navigating crises and consensus

Kant describes with ill-concealed glee how slack-jawed reporters reacted when a joint communique was indeed accepted as the New Delhi declaration of the G20

India's infrastructure journey: A data-driven perspective on growth, gaps

Some of the suggestions are spot on, such as evolving a new strategy at scale for vocational training, improving access to technology for medium and small enterprises

Two books explore the reigns, legacies of Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II

Queen Victoria's reign of more than 63 years was overtaken by Queen Elizabeth II, who had reigned for 70 years when she died in 2022

Viewfinder: Palekar's memoirs capture his story, a bygone Bollywood era

Palekar believes that it was a series of serendipitous accidents that led him through most of his life

'Open Socrates': Self-improvement is reimagined as idea-driven growth

In Open Socrates, Callard describes how we can get so caught up in our own thoughts that we don't let evidence from the world in

Negotiating India's Landmark Agreements: Historical lens on diplomacy

The author's research on the India-China Agreement on Tibet, 1954 was based on the Nehru papers from the Prime Minister's Museum and Library

'How I Write' explores publishing challenges, writers' creative struggles

Each interview in this collection is insightful, unpacking for the uninitiated how the publishing industry works and the types of desirable and undesirable challenges they face

Manisha Pande's book reveals middle class India as a driver of change

Ms Pande persuades us well to stop thinking of the middle class as a static, ahistorical entity

Budget 2025: What real estate sector seeks for homebuyers under Modi 3.0

Home affordability remains a pressing concern in India, with rising costs keeping ownership out of reach for many