Page 35 - Book Reviews

Hindutva's star culture warriors

The book builds on his experience as a journalist tracking the ascent of Hindu nationalism in the country and reporting on hate crimes

Assam's multicultural identity

Through her exploration of Assamese identity, culture, cuisine, and politics, journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty's book paints a full portrait of a state and its people

Animal instincts, human survival

Just when we are beginning to forget the lessons the Covid pandemic taught us the hard way, Poorva Joshipura's book serves as a stark reminder of the perils that befall when humans mistreat animals

Perfumed peregrinations

Delving into the intricate world of fragrances, Divrina Dhingra weaves a sensory tapestry that connects personal memories with the aromatic landscape of India

A reality check of India

Annie Zaidi's collection of essays explores diverse issues from banditry to hunger, weaving together a narrative that demands reflection on the pressing challenges faced by the country's marginalised

Milton Friedman: Nuances and complexity

At the end of Jennifer Burns book, she allows herself to get wistful for what might have been

#MeToo beyond the Global North

A collection of essays explores the nuanced dynamics of the MeToo movement in India and South Africa, delving into questions of origin, evolution, and the appropriation of the narrative

The salience of constancy

Diving into the paradox of constant change and our innate desire for certainty, Morgan Housel's Same as Ever offers timeless wisdom to negotiate the unpredictable currents of life

Women who walk on the wild side

A collection of essays featuring women wildlife scientists, both past and present, serves as a tribute to their contribution to conservation efforts that might otherwise have been lost to history

The theatre of showmanship

Prahlad Kakar's memoir, while showcasing the flamboyance of the ad world, falls short in delving into the transformative era of advertising, leaving readers craving more substance and depth

Toxins in moderation

'You don't need a degree in neurophysiology to enjoy the book - though I imagine it would add to the experience, which can at times feel like a riveting lecture by a passionate professor'

Feline fables in Indian culture

There are Buddhist fables from the Jatakas, Islamic tales of cats beloved of the Prophet and his followers, references to them in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali, and the Egyptian deification

Anatomy of a terrorist organisation

What motivates Lashkar-e-Tayyaba's three-decades-long history of cross-border assaults? A book on the literature of the outfit attempts to provide some insights into this pressing question

A Chinese puzzle

LSE Professor Keyu Jin explores China's economic trajectory , and the challenge of moving from its successful 'old playbook' to a nuanced 'new playbook' in the face of evolving global dynamics

Ghosts of pandemics past

Foreign Bodies takes us on a sweeping journey through time and empires, detailing the history of mass vaccination and the intrusive imperial approaches to public sanitation

Irish author Paul Lynch's 'Prophet Song' named winner of Booker Prize 2023

Set in Dublin, "Prophet Song" tells the story of a family grappling with a terrifying new world in which the democratic norms they are used to begin to disappear

The weight of a uniform

In her revealing memoir, former cop Meeran Chadha Borwankar sheds light on her career in the Indian police service, offering insights into the challenges faced by a woman in a male-dominated field

The case against Fox News

A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. Fox News, at this point, resembles a car whose windshield is thickly encrusted with traffic citations

The siege that shaped Naga destiny

Kohima and Imphal decisively turned the tide against the Imperial Japanese Army in Southeast Asia

Seven Indian-origin authors feature in NYT's 100 Notable Books of 2023 list

The list of 100 notable books of 2023 includes seven books written by Indian-origin writers, including Salman Rushdie and Pico Iyer