Page 45 - Book Reviews

Strong man with feet of clay

Thirunellai Narayana Seshan's posthumously published autobiography reflects on his impactful career, enduring reforms, and reminds us that even strong leaders are fallible

Oceanic exploration: In too deep

Humans have "conquered" the world's surfaces and mountaintops. The oceans, however, have largely escaped such scrutiny, with their floors far less well known than the surfaces of the moon, or Mars

The disruptor

What emerges from these interviews are some remarkable stories, some by people who knew him intimately and others who only worked with him

Islam & the spirit of non-violence

Abad Ahmad's book is a timely reminder of the true essence of Islam as contained in its Quranic verses, but does little to address the criticisms directed at the faith and its followers

Harnessing the power of martyrdom

What drives Pakistani men to join its military, despite the toll it takes on them? Maria Rashid's book explores the narratives that sustain the Army's appeal among the country's population

Issues of modern era not very modern: Finance secretary T V Somanathan

Speaking during a panel discussion at the book launch, chief economic advisor in the finance ministry, V Anantha Nageswaran, agreed that the book could be called the history of the finance ministry

5IR: Inventing a positive world

Amidst the bewildering advancements and debates surrounding technology, Pranjal Sharma's book offers a peek into the potential benefits of the Fifth Industrial Revolution

Enigmas of independence

'Freedom and Partition' explores forgotten facets of history and reflects on the complex perspectives surrounding independence celebrations in India

Global warming: The heat is on

This is a propulsive book, one to be raced through; the planet is burning, and we are running out of time

Reimagining value investing for the tech era

In his book, author and fund manager Adam Seessel makes a strong case for embracing the transformative power of technology stocks in order to stay ahead in the market

Global norms with Chinese characteristics

Elizabeth Economy's book offers insights into how China is reshaping global norms and raises the question of whether it can truly coerce nations with its economic power to serve its own interests

The future is out there

Tim Marshall's book sets out the dangers of the growing belligerence of astropolitics and the future race for space

The secondary sex

Aaliya Waziri's book is a brave and articulate attempt at dismantling patriarchy

Bankruptcy in the name of efficiency

Government, these books say, has been remarkably supportive of an industry that has helped hasten downward mobility and widen economic inequality

A calculating look at literature

The only sections that may require more than secondary school knowledge are on cryptography and fractal dimensions

On terror firma

Shahbaz Taseer's book is a gripping account of his abduction by Islamic militants in Lahore and years of captivity under the Taliban in Afghanistan-a nightmare from which he miraculously emerged alive

Beyond tribal instincts

Kasturi Ray's biography of President Droupadi Murmu is an exploration into her childhood, her deep inner sorrow, and the impact of her cultural upbringing, which values generosity, on her life

A soft tale of hardware

Ajai Chowdhry's autobiographical tale is a charmingly narrated account of his journey from Abbottabad in Pakistan to Jabalpur in India, and his rise to becoming a key figure in the Indian IT industry

FTAs beyond the zero-sum game

V S Seshadri's book makes a case for why India's collective thinking on FTAs needs to evolve in order to leverage their intrinsic value, both in economic and strategic dimensions

1848: Reaction and response

The sense of failure that hovers around 1848 cannot be dispelled by counting the rail lines laid down in its aftermath