Page 46 - Book Reviews
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
 "1848: Reaction and response")
Jab sleazy and kitschy met arty and popular
After the economic and political background my favourite portions of the book are ones chronicling the rush of Hindi films made in the south and the rise of parallel cinema
 "Jab sleazy and kitschy met arty and popular")
Tomorrow's world: Comforting incrementalism
Journalist Hamish McRae's book predicting future events lacks novelty in the projections compared to some other publications
 "Tomorrow's world: Comforting incrementalism")
Finance ministers and their balancing acts
A K Bhattacharya's book delves into the challenges, decisions, and political dynamics of India's economic policies through the lens of its finance ministers
 "Finance ministers and their balancing acts")
Omens from a Canadian wildfire
Journalist and author John Vaillant's book explores the devastating wildfire that engulfed Fort McMurray, revealing the ominous implications of climate change and the destructive power of fire
 "Omens from a Canadian wildfire")
The maritime realm of Oman's sultans
Seema Alavi's book sheds light on the often overlooked role of Omani sultans in shaping regional dynamics. It shifts from the Western perspective and provides us with the view from Oman
 "The maritime realm of Oman's sultans")
How traders win big when society collapses
Perhaps what comes through most strongly is just how many theories there are about how financial markets behave
 "How traders win big when society collapses")
History through climate change
Historian Peter Frankopan traces the story of human civilisation through its impact on the biosphere
 "History through climate change")
Lost subtext of the planetary crisis
Siddarth Shrikanth's book explores the urgent need to prioritise nature and adopt a nature-positive approach in addressing the global environmental crisis
 "Lost subtext of the planetary crisis")
The roots of male dominance
Angela Saini's book is a thought-provoking exploration of patriarchy, its historical roots, and its impact on society, offering glimpses of resistance and the search for alternatives
 "The roots of male dominance")
Reinventing capitalism for the digital age
Ro Khanna's book reveals the dual nature of the Digital Revolution, urging policymakers to decentralise growth and ensure inclusivity in the face of its transformative impact
 "Reinventing capitalism for the digital age")
Why history matters
Eminent historian Romila Thapar's collection of essays urges us to confront the past critically for a more inclusive and enlightened future
 "Why history matters")
A tale of five hacks
"Fancy Bear" and "Cozy Bear" refer to cyberespionage units linked to Russian intelligence that gained access to Democratic National Committee's computer systems before 2016 presidential election
 "A tale of five hacks")
A contemporary look at Indian history
John Zubrzycki's brief book is a perfect antidote to self-inflicted ignorance
 "A contemporary look at Indian history")
What to do when skill and energy wane
When professional and physical decline set in, what does one do?
 "What to do when skill and energy wane")
Anglophile scientist, ardent nationalist
Bhabha was born into a wealthy Parsi family (he was related to the Tatas). He studied physics at Cambridge and wrote several well-regarded papers
 "Anglophile scientist, ardent nationalist")
The political anatomy of caste
Mr Mitta addresses complex question. If we are all avowed Hindus, why do we fight, rape and kill each other in the name of caste?
 "The political anatomy of caste")
Vajpayee's true colours
Over decades, Vajpayee and Mr Modi were on opposite sides of the playing field, most infamously in 2002
 "Vajpayee's true colours")
Indo-Pak: The more things change…
Book review of In Pursuit of Peace: India-Pakistan Relations Under Six Prime Ministers
The content of a character
King Jr. was born in 1929. Were he alive he would be 94, the same age as Noam Chomsky. The prosperous King family lived on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta
 "The content of a character")