Page 57 - Book Reviews

Trajectory of a killer disease

Vidya Krishnan been on the health beat for many years and meticulously documented weaknesses in global and Indian health policy, which have turned it into an unacknowledged pandemic

The recluse who confronted the mystery of the universe

This is a very human telling of the ways that we've figured out at least some of the mysteries of our universe since the mid-20th century

From India, with Pride

Five shortlisted writers for the 2022 Lammys had Indian connections even if they do not live here

A gambler in the casino called Wall Street

Mr Gupta is a raconteur par excellence. His autobiographical account could give any good work of fiction a run for its money

Lockdown economics: Arguments without conclusions

The last part, titled "Ruminations", is too short to present any meaningful analysis of how the author arrived at his conclusions

Mismatched expectations on the marriage market

While it's engaging, comforting, and even entertaining to read this book, it leaves more gaps than it fills

Planning, democracy and an idea of India

Dr Menon has wisely placed his acknowledgements at the end of the book

Four women who took on the Oxford establishment

The biographical material in Metaphysical Animals is evocative and sparkling

Dealing with Black Swans

A Princeton economist convincingly shows that human enterprise and innovation could yet cope with them successfully

The rationality behind irrational decisions

The book is a good read for people trying to foray into behavioural economics

'Cash doesn't crash'

Cashlessness doesn't actually limit crime but it does limit access to the levers required to commit large white-collar crimes

A misguided solution to the communal divide

Mr Suroor's unifocal concentration on the Hindu-Muslim divide has prevented him from analysing the reality of the caste divide that undermines the projection of a monolithic 'Hindu' community

How Jack Welch re-shaped capitalism

David Gelles describes unbroken capitalism's exemplary big companies in the 20th century that treated employees fairly and focused on long-term growth - such as GE

The strange bestiary of the ancient world

A collection of reality-bending animal stories reveals the strong ties that once existed between humans and nature

Creating a SHE company

The book is replete with examples of the twin benefits of humility of ignorance and curiosity from passion

A CEO's counsel for 21-year-olds

References to popular movies and a conversational writing style make this book an easy read

A sedate ringside view

Mr Khanna's narrative is easy to read and as simply structured as the notes he must have written as an IAS officer

Out in the cold in Putin's Russia

Like its prequel, this book is not a bald account of the intricacies of high finance and arcane law-making only

Chilling tales of blasts, fallout and meltdowns

Atoms and Ashes recounts six accidents in detail, the first three connected to 'atoms for war' (bomb-making) and the last three connected to 'atoms for peace' (energy production)

Meet Geetanjali Shree, first Booker awardee for an Indian language

First Booker International awardee for an Indian language, Geetanjali Shree shines the light on many Partition writers through Tomb of Sand