Page 43 - Book Reviews
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")
Penguin Random House announces imprint for publishing in Indian languages
The imprint will focus on exploring literature in various Indian languages and making English language books more widely available through translations
 "Penguin Random House announces imprint for publishing in Indian languages")
Looking for peace in war
Mann, the author of the four-volume The Sources of Social Power, disputes the idea that humans are genetically programmed to make war
 "Looking for peace in war")
Foreign policy through a neoclassical lens
Rajesh Basrur's book brings a new theoretical lens and a fresh perspective to the study of Indian foreign policy-making
 "Foreign policy through a neoclassical lens")
The white man's barbaric burden
The Wager is a fantastical historical account of the white man who sees himself as a hero when the beast lies within
 "The white man's barbaric burden")
Rahul's ideas of India
Sugata Srinivasaraju's book explores Rahul Gandhi's ideas on violence, power, religion, spirituality, democracy, and the Constitution, offering both fascinating and problematic insights
 "Rahul's ideas of India")
The legacy of positive power
Former IBM chief Virginia Rometty's memoir is not the typical account of a leader's achievements, deals, and glory days. It stands out with its focus on how things were accomplished
 "The legacy of positive power")
A minority report
Izgil is a soft-spoken poet, not an orator or activist; that's perhaps one reason his understated account is so effective
 "A minority report")
A suitable choice
The 30th-anniversary edition of Vikram Seth's landmark novel A Suitable Boy is a timely reminder of India's nascent democratic aspirations
 "A suitable choice")