Page 39 - Book Reviews
Talking about disaster management
In a comprehensive compendium of disasters of various types, three scientists explore the challenges of policymaking when every technology created by man so far has pros and cons over its life cycle
 "Talking about disaster management")
Politics and the second sex
Women politicians, the author suggests, bring to politics and policy a sensitivity that most of their male counterparts, at least until a generation back, lacked
 "Politics and the second sex")
The Vaishyavisation of India
With a practical eye, Ramachandran Vaidyanathan's book discusses the applications (and implications) of caste rather than its theory
 "The Vaishyavisation of India")
Why the West fears China
The book is a vital read because it moves away from the current body of literature that posits China as the "bad boy" by negating the expectations of the West...
 "Why the West fears China")
Joe Biden and The West Wing fantasy
If Biden is the last politician, we should presumably cling to him for as long as possible. Boomer hegemony as destiny: This is the future sketched for us by Foer's thin and yet telling book
 "Joe Biden and The West Wing fantasy")
Tracking the history of the cheetah
The debate over the cheetah is a reminder of how our own power needs to be tempered not just by knowledge but wonder. This is not a book to be missed
 "Tracking the history of the cheetah")
The Constitution in interesting times
Gautam Bhatia's book situates the judicial pronouncements of the past decade in the context what has been achieved (or destroyed), providing an incisive look into the state of the judiciary
 "The Constitution in interesting times")
A non-conformist in the political cauldron
Mani Shankar Aiyar's memoir is an account of his unique journey, his chequered career, friendships, and the pursuit of ideals that led to his unorthodox path
 "A non-conformist in the political cauldron")
On the surface of electoral politics
What shapes election outcomes in India? Psephologist Pradeep Gupta's book attempts to answer this question and argues money is not the sole determinant
 "On the surface of electoral politics")
The rise and fall of the pocket calculator
The ancients grappled with the question of whether we always benefited from making tasks easier for ourselves
 "The rise and fall of the pocket calculator")
How Britain became Criminal Inc
Oliver Bullough's book offers a whirlwind trip of the dark underbelly of global finance, covering everything from tax law changes to aiding criminals to decamp with money from bank accounts
 "How Britain became Criminal Inc")
The DIY handbook for mutual fund investing
Personal finance columnist Monika Halan's book steers clear of needless complexity and provides knowledge that is useful
 "The DIY handbook for mutual fund investing")
Prejudice, hubris, crisis management
A book of thumbnail biographies of Indian prime ministers delves into the motivations behind their history-altering decisions, revealing a narrative that centres around survival
 "Prejudice, hubris, crisis management")
The majoritarian impulse
Farahnaz Ispahani's compilation of essays provides a comprehensive, varied, and critical analysis of the rise of religious majoritarianism in South Asia
 "The majoritarian impulse")
Old discoveries, new cheer
In the hands of d'Herelle and others, the phage became a potent tool against cholera
 "Old discoveries, new cheer")
Between art, flesh and motherhood
Having had to restart many times in her life, Rekha-bai had "mastered the art of the return"
 "Between art, flesh and motherhood")
India's nuclear champion
From nuclear power to policy gaps and female literacy, former principal scientific advisor Rajagopala Chidambaram's memoir leaves readers with a lot to think about
 "India's nuclear champion")
The growth conundrums
Nikhil Gupta's book offers and insightful exploration of the potential of the Indian economy and the problems facing it
 "The growth conundrums")
Little big inventions
Roma Agrawal's book is a masterclass on how to make technical content connect seamlessly with the reader's life experiences
 "Little big inventions")
Realist perspectives on national security
Kanti Bajpai's exploration of realism in external relations serves as a useful guide for gaining different perspectives on India's foreign policy
 "Realist perspectives on national security")