Book Reviews

Shankaritya Kanpatimar: The procedural failures that helped a serial killer

An account of India's most dangerous serial killer who struck people at night in their deep sleep and remained elusive for years

Human First, Machines Second: A road map to restore faith in the human mind

At a time when AI has become a buzzword with companies and leaders parroting its transformational effects, this book ushers in a timely and pragmatic debate

The 'Bard of Google' spins a tale of tech idealism and disillusionment

Claire Stapleton's Don't Be Evil recounts her 12 years at Google, the 2018 employee walkout and her growing disillusionment with the company's culture and corporate values

Reading the smoke signals of history through the comparative lens of myth

This is a book about the why and how different myths from different cultures should be compared, writes Doniger. Comparison is critical to understanding mythology and other cultures

Ashes to Light: How patriarchy shapes women's everyday lives in hidden ways

From architectural designs that disregard women's needs to being treated lightly at work, this book is a compendium of the many everyday forms of discrimination that women face

Improving Nutritional Outcomes: Ground-level lessons for India's nutrition

As India moves from food security to nutrition security, this book serves as a guide for policymakers, bridging the gap between theory and grassroots realities

'What we ask Google' offers intriguing insights, but few fresh revelations

For at least three generations now, Google is like a second conscience. Simon Rogers, data editor at Google, mines our search data for clues into who we are becoming

Familiar optimism over 'Chindia' overlooks a changed China reality

Shastri Ramachandran's book revives the optimism of the 2010s, when every India-China engagement was seen as a breakthrough

Rivals of the polio vaccine and the race to defeat a deadly disease

The adulation served to marginalise the contributions of others, none more so than Albert Sabin, whose competing polio vaccine proved essential in controlling the disease

Engineering success at the IITs: The story behind an enduring brand

Prabhat Kumar's book traces the rise of the IIT ecosystem over 75 years, celebrating its achievements while prompting debate on whether India's premier institutes are ready for the future

Perfect Dream Girl: A bold critique of tech, desire, and gendered power

Readers can expect discussions ranging from the influencer economy, deepfakes to AI girlfriends, algorithmic desire, & the male loneliness epidemic - all packaged as witty letters to a faceless man

Tim Berners-Lee makes a case for reclaiming the web's original ideals

Why the inventor of the internet is building a new web - and why he believes today's internet is not what he intended it to be

The Communist Party of China: A timely study of the CCP's grip on power

This book is an earnest attempt at decoding the mystique of the Chinese Communist Party

The Trees of My Country: A journey through India's roots and branches

Evoking feelings of awe and wonder, this book on trees is a treat for those who have an interest in nature as well as those who do not care about the planet at all

Was America supposed to be a democracy? Two books revisit its founding

A review of two books explores James Wilson's overlooked role in shaping the US Constitution and examines the enduring tensions between democracy and republicanism

The Sunday Book Bazaar: Delhi's enduring kutub khana and literary legacy

One of Delhi's most beloved cultural institutions, the Daryaganj Sunday Patri Kitab Bazaar has for decades drawn students, collectors, families and tourists to its pavement

Like, Follow, Subscribe: The hidden costs of childhood as online content

This book uncovers the messy realities of mom and family vloggers, untangling the issues of consent and privacy involved in putting their children's lives online

Defying China: A powerful memoir of Tibetan resistance under Chinese rule

A Tibetan nun's memoir chronicles the persecution she faced under Chinese rule while giving voice to those still suffering in Tibet

Microstimuli: How tiny cues can reshape decisions and public behaviour

How micro stimuli, not 30-second commercials, can change human behaviour

China's 90% Model: America has the tools, but can't counter China alone

The identification of industries and products to apply chokes on China merits attention and greater focus on execution