Page 13 - Book Review

Devina Mehra challenges investment myths with data-driven insights

In this book, Ms Mehra strongly advocates global diversification to counter single-market, single-currency risk

Natural allies in the Global South: A deep dive into India-Indonesia ties

Unlike the colonial endeavours of European powers, Indian influence in Indonesia was characterised by cultural and regional integration rather than political domination

Jeffrey Toobin's book explores the dubious history of presidential pardons

In some ways, Toobin's book is impeccably timed. In December, President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to

Bollywood's versatile genius: Karma's Child captures Subhash Ghai's journey

Between 1976 and 1999, Ghai made 15 films, 11 of which were blockbusters, and one of which (Karz) attained cult status

Truths about Savarkar: Arun Shourie's book is not a biography or analysis

In an early chapter of his book, indicatively titled "History is Made-Up", veteran editor and writer, Arun Shourie scrutinises an old speech/poetic recitation of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

India's green startups: A promising selection, but a patchy narrative

One question the authors ask every startup founder in the book is: Imagine your startup as a character from Indian mythology. Who would it be and why?

Amitava Kumar's The Green Book: A professor's ways of seeing the world

People who aspire to write their own book someday might want to take a cue from Dr Kumar's writerly routine

Close encounters in Israel-Palestine: Original Sin traces history, conflict

The book is structured around the pivotal events of October 7, 2023-the Hamas attack that reshaped regional discourse-and is divided into seven chapters

AI and the human soul: What new books reveal about us and our purpose

Could AI ever function as a spirit ambulance, shuttling us through the uncanny valleys that keep us, as Shantideva knew, from accepting others?

Becoming Bangalore: Roopa Pai's book explores the city's history, culture

The book is an introduction to the city as seen through the eyes of one of its own

The World After Gaza: Pankaj Mishra's book draws parallels with Holocaust

Pankaj Mishra's book sees a parallel between those who witnessed the Holocaust and those who became involuntary witnesses to Israel's 'political evil' in Gaza's annihilation

Bill Gates' memoir reflects on childhood passions and early coding feats

In the first of his three-volume memoir, Gates roams freely in the memory palace of his youth, avoiding the thickets of his later life, including allegations of affairs and questionable friendships

Everyday Reading: Tracing the evolution of Hindi magazine culture

Diving into Everyday Reading raises many questions. Did the consumer become a passive viewer with the rise of television as opposed to active participation in the magazines?

Exploring the beauty and dark past of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

A lavishly produced coffee table book contrasts the ethereal beauty of the Andaman's with its sordid colonial history

K Ganesh's book offers insights to navigate modern business complexities

With traditional business models being upended by innovative startups, K Ganesh's book is a useful resource for anyone looking to understand and navigate the complexities of modern business

'Mad about Cuba': Exploring the unique connection between Cuba and Kerala

Cuba is a metaphor in Kerala for communist values, but there is another, lesser-known reason for Malayalis to feel a special affinity for Fidel Castro

Dark Laboratory: Tao Leigh Goffe ties environmental collapse to colonialism

Aiming to centre Black and Indigenous history and ecology, Dark Laboratory is a pointed response to the dominance of scientific rationalism as the language best suited to the climate crisis

How Hindu culture spread: Manu Pillai's book traces its origins, evolution

How did Hindu culture originate? How did this tradition leap across rivers, climb mountains, and cross deserts to spread its roots? Manu Pillai's exhaustively researched book offers some answers

The Gujaratis: Salil Tripathi's book shines but falters under its ambition

The book, he says in the epilogue, has been the labour of love: Eight years of interviewing 213 people and the reading of more than 100 books about the state

G20 from the backroom: Amitabh Kant on navigating crises and consensus

Kant describes with ill-concealed glee how slack-jawed reporters reacted when a joint communique was indeed accepted as the New Delhi declaration of the G20