Book Reading
The deep mind of Demis Hassabis
Written after hundreds of hours of conversations with the DeepMind founder and his associates over three years, this could well be a definitive account of AI
 "The deep mind of Demis Hassabis")
America's war on Muslims
A new book by Rozina Ali traces the rise of anti-Islamic sentiment in the wake of 9/11, showing how ordinary residents became targets of fear and suspicion
 "America's war on Muslims")
AI: Prometheus unbound
As the AI frenzy sweeps the globe and data centres multiply, consuming local water and power, who exactly is this new world being created for? That is the question at the heart of this book
 "AI: Prometheus unbound")
Making room for better futures
Can political events wound us as intimately as private loss? This book explores that question, ending not on an optimistic note, but with an acceptance that we must keep making room for better future
 "Making room for better futures")
Tomorrow's route map for India's economy
Eleven essays by noted economists and academics tackle questions concerning India's economy, society and polity, and explore pathways for the country to emerge from the prevailing turmoil
 "Tomorrow's route map for India's economy")
The spy who came in from the Cold War
Ben Macintyre's Redwood explores a Cold War spy defection that had deadly consequences for Iran
 "The spy who came in from the Cold War")
An epic attempt at data gathering
Using data to control people is nothing new. A digital humanities professor attempts to show how data has been used from pre-history to modern times to control empires
 "An epic attempt at data gathering")
Indian democracy in brick and mortar
The story of how the Indian Parliament was built after the capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi is a riveting account of a building that radiated power, and later became the centre of Indian democracy
 "Indian democracy in brick and mortar")
Migrants on the margins
From climate change to survival and resilience, a story of a family in Kolkata weaves together many aspects of migration
 "Migrants on the margins")
Leader of the 'free world'
A new book by two veteran New York Times journalists examines Donald Trump's "imperial presidency" during his second term
 "Leader of the 'free world'")
The hidden complexities of daily life
From stories about Indian cricket to undersea cables that bring us the internet, a collection of essays uncovers the hidden systems and unseen connections that shape our interconnected lives
 "The hidden complexities of daily life")
The art of judgement by stealth
The new edition makes the exercise more interesting because Mr Parameswaran has added the decade from 2015 to 2025
 "The art of judgement by stealth")
The unmaking of the nation state
One of the most perceptive chapters in the book relates to international law
 "The unmaking of the nation state")
The two-faced governors of Empire
The first English voyages to India ended for want of knowledge of the sea routes
 "The two-faced governors of Empire")
Software, made in India
It was not as if Tally had a smooth ride. Mr Ahmed points out periods when the company was bloated with numerous senior managers, multiple tiers and delayed decision-making
 "Software, made in India")
'D K Shi' in his political labyrinth
The best part of Mr Kidwai's book may well be its timing
 "'D K Shi' in his political labyrinth")
Rule by automation
The experience of living in the Artificial State might feel new, but Lepore says the dynamics are in fact extremely old
 "Rule by automation")
Bullet Nani and other Badass Indian Grandmas: Nanis beyond the stereotypes
The first generation of women of independent India carried within them important fragments of our history
 "Bullet Nani and other Badass Indian Grandmas: Nanis beyond the stereotypes")
The descent of Israel
The "best tool" for this diversion from criticism comes from a globally accepted definition of antisemitism endorsed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016
 "The descent of Israel")
Creating a life in prison
Mr Farooqui describes in detail various aspects of Asia's largest and most famous jail - its food, atmosphere, his inmates and their backstories
 "Creating a life in prison")