Book Review: Introducing the Other 'AI': Anthropology Intelligence

My CEO handed over this book to me and asked me to read it and and it was worth the time.

Introducing the Other 'AI': Anthropology Intelligence is an exceptional work of scholarship that brings much-needed attention to the intersection of anthropology and artificial intelligence. The authors have done a remarkable job of presenting a compelling argument for the importance of incorporating anthropological insights into the development of AI systems.

The book is well-structured, with each chapter building on the previous one to create a comprehensive and nuanced view of the topic. The authors provide a thorough review of the current state of AI research, highlighting the limitations and biases of existing approaches. They then introduce the concept of "anthropology intelligence" as a means of incorporating cultural and social factors into AI systems.

One of the strengths of this book is the way it brings together diverse perspectives and disciplines, weaving together insights from anthropology, computer science, psychology, and philosophy. The authors provide numerous examples of how anthropology intelligence can be applied to real-world problems, such as reducing bias in hiring and improving healthcare outcomes.

The book provides numerous real-world examples of how anthropology intelligence can be applied to AI systems.

One example is the use of facial recognition technology in security and law enforcement. Many AI systems that use facial recognition have been found to exhibit racial and gender biases, which can result in harm to certain individuals and communities. However, an anthropology intelligence approach would consider the cultural and social factors that contribute to these biases, and work to address them at the root cause.

“The last thing a fish would ever notice would be water.”—attributed to anthropologist Ralph Linton

For example, an anthropology intelligence approach might involve conducting ethnographic research to better understand the social and cultural contexts in which facial recognition systems are used. This could involve talking to people from different communities, observing how these systems are used in practice, and identifying any patterns of bias or discrimination. Armed with this information, AI researchers could then work to design more culturally-sensitive and unbiased facial recognition systems.

Overall, "Introducing the Other 'AI': Anthropology Intelligence" is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of AI and its impact on society. The authors provide a powerful and convincing argument for the need to incorporate anthropological insights into AI development, and their work has important implications for the design and implementation of AI systems. This book is a game-changer, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the intersection of technology, culture, and society.

While the book is very powerful in delivering an argument in the favor of Anthropological Intelligence, here are some potential critiques that someone may have about the book:

The book may overemphasize the role of anthropology in AI research, and not adequately address other disciplines such as computer science, mathematics, and engineering.

The authors may be overly optimistic about the potential for anthropology intelligence to address bias and other issues in AI systems. While cultural insights can be helpful, they may not fully solve these complex issues.

Some readers may find the book's language and writing style to be overly academic and technical, which may make it difficult for a general audience to engage with the material.

The book may not fully consider the potential ethical implications of using anthropology intelligence in AI systems, particularly related to privacy and data protection. The authors may need to provide a more comprehensive discussion of the ethical issues involved in incorporating cultural and social factors into AI design.

Should you read it? Definitely yes. 

Book review: Irrationally Passionate by Jason Kothari

What makes an entrepreneur successful is not just your education, your grit to push forward in the face of adversity, definitely not just luck and timing but the composition of her decisions come from the culmination of several experiences from childhood, friends, family values, traditions and a lot more than what you can read in a book. And there is no quick solution to any problem and that definitely is not in a book. Then why would you be reviewing a book on entrepreneurship?

Is it because, the author has helped turn around the down trail of not one, but many companies and that too in different cultures, markets, verticals? Maybe, yes, but more than that he exposes his vulnerable moments and how he was able to bring in his experiences and work towards the solutions and that is something really interesting about this particular book. Jason makes it look so easy but cautions you that the reality is harsh and how we are to maneuver through the problems and fight our battles. 

Writing style: While the writing style is that of a first-person, lifestoryish journal, it is unfair to call it a romanticized version of Banting gran. It is true, fresh, raw, direct and in your face facts kind of writing that makes you connect with the author, be in his shoes, face his enemies, fall in love with him for his failures make you hurt and his victories are having you cheer on. Easy to read and pleasant to finish over the weekend. 

Pros & cons: The problem in the book is that Jason is an excellent negotiator and makes it seem easy and then it helps you understand what Jason believes that one should learn. Every entrepreneur cannot be a great businessman and it is vital to note that and take corrective actions so that the business side doesn’t get affected. What I loved in this book is the fact that Jason doesn't sugarcoat it for you. He lays it out, bare naked truth. he was bullied, he was beaten, he was punished and had to do more than what his other counterparts could do but tat energy he takes in to build himself up. Whether being a great negotiator or taking tough decisions while rebuilding something or helping entrepreneurs learn how to be a great businessman, he is clearly digging into his lifetime of experiences and moving forward.

Whether it is SprayIT or Valiant or Housing.com, he has managed to bring in the change in the working style of the stakeholders, making things fit into a channel of success was tough. His seven pillared principles seem to be close to reality and being an entrepreneurial journey myself, I see gold in his glow. ‘Irrationally Passionate’ explores the turbulent and successful life of Jason and how it can inspire you to take up the entrepreneurial journey and helps few lifebuoys to fight out the rough waters. 

Verdict: A must-read if you are thinking about starting out your entrepreneurial journey. A perfect gift for youngsters to understand the nuances of being a business owner.

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review: Alphabet Soup for Lovers - Anita Nair

Not everyone loves a chilly morning in a wet countryside with laziness clinging to your side. You don't want to shake it off as the warm comforter refuses to let go. But then you need something that puts you out of this pleasant misery. A good cup of hot tea can do the trick but a hot soup is my favorite. A hot steaming soup that slowly crawls into your mouth greeting your lips, lighting up your palate, clearing your windpipe and literally waking you up is the one we love. Alphabet Soup for Lovers by Anita Nair one such wake up call for all our settled lives. 

Set in a picturesque backdrop of a tea estate around a majestic house built in British architecture and lots of openness that lets you explore, implore and gives you the space to relax, think, evaluate. For hosts you have the young accomplished lawyer - KK, his wife Lena who finds it interesting to follow her own pursuits in decorating, teaching, taking care of kids at the crèche and finds peace in her routine walks. Everything is wet, warm, damp, cozy and comfortable in its own way. 

In comes the superstar who wants a break from his exciting routine that came to irritate him and finds this place offers him exactly that. At least that is what he was expecting. What happens next is what you need find out in the novella. Set to the theme of food and following what seems to be a trail of alphabetic order, the story presents you chaos in a warm tea cup. Many a time we choose to ignore what is there for us and take things for granted. This story narrated by the elderly, all observing Komathi who is fierce, motherly yet handles her role of the self-appointed caretaker well.

The story is narrated in quick matter of fact way but with the right ingredients of love, passion, beauty and what nature can do to you if you allow it to play with your emotions. Something as morbid as a cemetery can turn into a cauldron of inhibitions and enormous possibilities. The fallen angel in a calm cemetery speaks volumes of the state we are in sometimes. Some dishes are to be relished when hot and can be tacky when they get cold, old and forgotten. The story of Komathi and Rayar is one such tale of a spicy beginning yet calm eternity while Lena chooses to add tadka to her life in her own terms. 

While this can be called another love story, Anita chooses to add spice to an exciting Malabar sojourn in a sweet way. The reader is left guessing for his own interpretations of the story and characters and where they would end up. The flow is smooth and creamy while the protagonists choose to stand out with their own textures adding character to this hot bowl of soup. At the end you are left refreshed but wanting for more. Say hello to possibilities and second chances.

Pick it up today from here.

Book Review: Punjabi Thali

Things change after marriage. Any change is good but usually the change is met with resistance. Some people fight it and lose. Some people welcome and win. I had a friend called Shalini. She got married about four years ago and went out of touch. It was a love + arranged marriage and we all went to the wedding. Soon after the wedding we lost contact though we were on facebook and stuff. I heard she was doing great from other friends but she rarely met us at any of the social gatherings. 

Recently I met her at a mall and we got to catch up and over coffee the chatterbox that she is, she told me everything that happened over the last four years. We had so much fun. I loved meeting her. I always wondered if this bubbly chatterbox, Shalini would get tamed at her in-laws or would they get bugged by her. But she surprised me. She fit right into the Punjabi family and won their hearts with her sincerity and love. 

Now I am not talking about my friend Shalini but the protagonist in Swati Gulati's book - Punjabi Thali! Yes, Swati manages to build a character so interesting and lucid that she wins over your love and makes space in your close friends list. Shalini is married to in to a Punjabi home and has to cope with the pressures of a joint family and a well oiled machine like life where the diktat of elders is final and any change is questioned. It doesn't end there. 

What actually troubles her is that her all caring, loving husband is neutral to the fights that happen at home and rarely ventures to defend her. Her mother-in-law is a lovable mom but turns all her anxieties amplified towards the new claimant to the house. In this situation how does Shalini cope up with the Punjabi Thali and understand all the nuances of life is what ensues in the book.

Though the book sounds like a long complaint, it actually is readable with the pleasant narrative used by Shalini with ample doses of humour and anecdotes woven in. This book is the story of every woman married in to another family and how she matures to be the Bhabhi or Wife. This transformation happens to everyone in the family and is very pleasant if you want it to be. Unfortunately very few put in the effort to make the journey happy. Shalini's in-laws are much better to be frank and Shalini is smart in her ways too. 

So why should you buy the book and read it? Buy it to see how you can make your journey from a girlfriend to a wife fun, buy to know why you should take up the cause and not the sides, buy to see how you can fall in love with a family, just like in the movies. This book is fun, joyous and true in its core, a tad bit direct. A plate full of sweet, sour, hot, spicy, chunky and fun just like its name.

Buy Punjabi Thali here on flipkart.

Book review: The Fall of Shuruppak

Are you someone who likes fantasy books and appreciate a technical writer who uses his creative writing skills to recreate history? Are you someone who loves academic writing and non-fiction books that makes novels look like a mirror of a civilization readable? 

Well then you must love Dr. Shankar Kashyap. I was asked to review his latest book - The Fall of Shuruppak. In this book he brings to life the ancient kingdoms of Harappa with a finesse of a surgeon with the chaos of the magic from the ancient civilizations as if he has been there really traveling with the protagonist hero and his small group of truth seekers who take up this adventurous journey through the ravishing jungles, fighting ferocious creatures, long sojourns in treacherous rivers, storms and shipwrecks.

What makes you buy this book is the impressive storyline that will grip you and keep you inspired to read more. The interesting, awe inspiring well planned cities of ancient India thump your pride as the doctor uses his years of research to paint a very realistic picture for your reading pleasure. When the lovable protagonist Upaas, a doctor himself, is accompanied by his wife Lopa and the crown prince and the fearless soldier Parthava narrates the story to you, you just sit there and listen.

The interesting turn of events take them in search of various sages while they encounter extraordinary people, scientific discoveries, new lands, threats, fire fights, abductions, miraculous and close encounters while being street smart and move on to the next location.

If this book were a movie, you wouldn’t have anything less than the Lord of The Rings scale. Unfortunately we don’t have many books celebrating the great civilisations of Harappa and Mohenjedaro around Indus Valley with their advanced technology, know-how and what not! When I came across Shankar’s book, this was pure joy.

The epic battle between a mythical creature demon and Enkidu and the great loyalty and friendship between Emperor Gilgamesh and his journey to seek a solution helps us understand the great cultures and values of the Sumerian civilization and their practice of medicine, cultures, religions, how they treated their people, visitors and guests, their economy and what not. The Fall of Shuruppak is less of a fantasy book and more a journey of self-discovery and bonding while educating us about one of the greatest civilizations of the world.

For more book reviews check out this link.

Rating: 3.5/5
Verdict: Pick it up just for celebrating our ancient culture

Buy Harappa 2 : The Fall of Shuruppak

Book review: Doppelgänger Short stories

If you like reading, you would love a good book with a good story. Wouldn’t you? How about 18 of them in one book? Well that is what these 18 stories with varied emotions, varied themes and interesting twists have in store for you. Doppelgänger: Short stories promises to be a great read.

Promising to keep you interested with its dexterity of characters that spring out to your side and explain their versions and share their life with you. It is interesting to say the least as some of the stories really touched me. The pain, emotions and the easily forgotten small incidents we all encounter in life are portrayed with flamboyance. Madhavi S Mahadevan has carefully strung 18 different unique pearls, sorry soul stirring stories, on a nerve and served it up to us in this book.

Doppelgänger, published by Alchemy Publishers, short stories explores the themes of isolation, anger, passion, inexplicable relationships, responsibilities, love, hatred and pure aggression among others and delves into looking at life as a roller coaster of events, small but significant, to change our perception about what normal life is. After all what is termed as a normal life? What goes on in the life of a normal individual? 

How often do we really care about the people who love us and care for us in the first place? Can you put a price tag on the love of a parent, sibling or the value of a relationship until you lose them? What can be the correct measure of passion or abuse? Hard to explain unless you get a close up chance to stare at the naked reality of truth and confront the hard blatant complexity of a double life or an extra marital affair and how these strange situations, characters come out and make bare their stories and life experiences with you. 

Overall the book is an excellent read and I love the selection set in modern India are highly recommend. To close here is a quote from the book.

"Rangi ko narangi kahen, banay doodh ko khoya

Chalti ko gaadi kahen, dekh Kabira roya"

Pick it up from Flipkart here.

Rating: 3.5/5
Verdict: Pick it up!

Book Review: In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence

Someone said you should not judge a book on its cover or title or the review or the first page or the last page for that matter. I am not saying you should not. I do. Sometimes. But once in a while you are right. The book cover shows a thrown high heeled sandal, red in color, on a carpet. The book comes recommended by Shaadi.com! Sujata Parashar whips up one more tale in her series about relationships, marriage, love and how things work. Let me tell you she is an expert in it.

The plot runs around Avinash Vyas and Sangeet Mishra who are just the opposite of each other in a serendipitous meet have their lives entwined as the whole world of their love and families crumble around them. They grow closer as things around take tumbles and this might seem to be yet another love story where the two prime characters in the story end up together. While this is partly true the narration keeps you engaged and glued to the story line with an unflinching interest.

The characters are woven well into the story with the ease of making a coffee. Yes, get a cup of coffee and get comfy on your sofa on an afternoon and immerse in to this lovable story and you will love that you did that. You would find Sangeet definitely among one of your friends and Avi could just be there too. With the growing rate of divorce among young men and woman, the story of Sangeet shows that divorce can be painful but you can grow out of it and love your life to the fullest when you are strong.

While looking at the modern rendition of a lovabale marriage and man-woman friendships, Sujata manages to show a warmth, calmness in introducing a different lens to look at the same feelings. This is a different kind of a story and I was amused at the way it kept me engaged. A modern story reflecting the changing sentiments and a refreshing one at that. In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence is a story of second chances and what is life without second chances.

You can pick up In Pursuit of a Lesser Offence on flipkart.

Rating: 2.5/5
Verdict: Pick up if you love a pleasant read.

Book Review: The Nidhi Kapoor Story

I love mysteries. Especially the ones involving a crime or murder. Won't we all? In this context if you have a special liking to a thriller of a story, The Nidhi Kapoor Story gives you just the one to match your intellect. It is intense, sensual, super fast and yep, get that coffee. Nidhi Kapoor is a famous, fictional, Bollywood actress. One day, she comes home to find her beloved pets dead in her study. Along with the mangled dead bodies of the pets, is a letter threatening Nidhi and her family. 

Scared for her life, she calls up the police for help. The case lands on the desk of ACP Prakash Mohile who is the most decorated policeman in Mumbai. A photo-journalist, Rujuta Singh is tailing Prakash for a story and inadvertently gets embroiled in the chase.

Unwarranted incidents start happening around Nidhi and with each incident, the attacks get more vicious and dangerous. While investigating, Prakash and Rujuta also discover a long tale of lies, deceit and murder in the past of the Kapoors - a tale that Kapoors want to keep hidden! However the investigating duo is convinced that the answers to the Nidhi Kapoor mystery are hidden somewhere in the past. 

The question thus is, can Prakash and Rujuta unearth the horror buried in the Kapoor household? Can they save Nidhi? 

Saurabh Garg weaves a tale of death, revenge, bollywood, beautiful women, alchohol, Mumbai rains, drives to the most scenic parts of Mumbai ourskirts, love, affection, trust, thrills, violence and good food. He lets you in to his web slowly and then holds you and your insecurities barely in the night warm humid breeze of the sea while you sweat but still stay on waiting for the end.

TNKS as it will be known can be your Ram Gopal Verma thriller with some class thrown in. Very few could guess the story in advance and it will be etched in your memory for its characters and the love of the narration. I would also recommend for the style of writing which is simple, direct and can make you feel you could have easily written it but the depth is amazing too. 

Racing against time and with a mission to save Nidhi, you wouldn't notice reading the 316 pages. You wouldn't regret picking it up too.

Rating: 3/5
Verdict: Pick up

Book Review: 50 things you did not know about China

Strange! That is the word that comes to my mind when I think of what all I have read when I picked up the book, "50 things you did not know about China". Sometimes we think we know most of the things about a place. We are not in the world where information is hidden in the form of directories and encyclopedias and yet it is humbling to know that we don't really know everything. This book by Alchemy Publishers tells you just that - facts about China.

Written by Brendan O’Reilly who is an authority on the topic having observed the local customs and traditions first hand while he taught English at Jiujiang University in China for three years makes it more interesting and authentic. Brendan’s work has been featured in various publications, including Asia Times, BBC Vietnamese, Business Insider, The Diplomat and China Outlook. Brendan is conversational and literate in Mandarin Chinese.

It is a pleasant read with a smooth flow and a matter of fact way of story telling. He manages to build up the facts into interesting tit bits which dispel your notion of knowing the details about the Middle Kingdom, their forbidden cities and things not to do in China as well as things to do in China. Several interesting stories are here in this little books, many facts from ancient China. Some strange, some bizarre and some downright shocking! 

Here are a few: A Chinese Muslim eunuch once kidnapped the king of Sri Lanka. The one-child policy only applies to a third of Chinese couples. China loans more money than the World Bank does. Four hundred million Chinese people can’t speak Chinese.  China will soon have more bullet trains than every other nation in the world – combined.

Though we could get most of the facts mentioned in the book on the Internet, the way the story is built up, narration, suspense and the excitement is what kept me reading the book. To be frank I believed in the contrary to some of the cool facts about China mentioned in the book or have had a misconception about their origin. Such small tit-bits of information woven into interesting stories that keep your interest high packed into a pocket sized book is a good read to have a peep into the customs and traditions of the Middle Kingdom. Definitely worth if considering you don't know most of the facts about 1/7th of the world population and our neighbour.

Whether you are checking for the top things to do in China or things not to do in china, you have it all in here. Pick it up today from flipkart here.

Rating: 3.5/5

Verdict: Pick up

Pic is from here.

Book Review: The Faceless Saldirgan

Simply put, it is not your regular story of two people falling in love and the killer trying to avenge some long gone mishap that happened in his life and all this for the sadistic pleasure he gets out of killing and hurting people. That is what you expect out of a murder mystery. Not when you are talking about the new book on the shelves - The Faceless Saldirgan.

Written by a cool kid in glasses who looks like Vishwanathan Anand and you might think has a cool brain that is worried about maths and science or his next exam, this psychological thriller is quite manipulative, layered and a puzzle that lures you in and makes you helpless. The style is contemporary and pleasant. Quite a fast read and the events in the book hurl at amazing speeds though the story unravels itself over the official timeline at Greenwich.

The Faceless Saldirgan is a breath of fresh air in the growing stories about murder, rape, pain and abnormality as it doesn't just focus on the murder but is quite a lot about the psychology of the killer or the killer instinct, if I must put it that way. The ease with which the Saldirgan executes his meticulous plans and reaches his goal is amazing. While you would be intrigued by what happens in the end and are clueless in the puzzle about who the killer might be, very few could actually guess who the killer is and understand the grand finish the plot is reaching out for. I could :)

I usually get bored if the details are more and are not related to the story or, how do I put it pleasantly, not actively contributing to the story, but this was an exception. I actually read through the passages where biology, chemistry, psychology, quotes of religious texts were mentioned verbatim. This was because these small trinket of information was more to do with the story than to show off the knowledge the author had about the topic or pointed out how lazy you were for not checking that on Google. The Faceless Saldirgan could comfortably bring out the beauty in the characters and build the plot effectively.

The characters are lovable and reasonably delightful and are good in what they do. You are given a good detail about how they go about in their day and don't waste any time to become friendly with the characters. Jack, Ralph and John live an interesting life to say the least and Jack has the best of everything happening to him along with the beautiful Danielle who adds the jing to the story. Danielle is unfortunately killed off in a horrific manner right in the beginning and the Saldirgan makes a grand appearance albeit being faceless. From then on the story picks up pace and is a good read till you get to know who the killer is and how and why he was hell bent upon ruining Jack's life. Alec, Lucy and all the other characters play their roles pretty well in the shadow of the killer while you search for some clue that the author might have left in there somewhere.

Towards the end, I wished it was faster but you can never get a perfect pause to the explosive end. While the deaths were dealt clinically, I would have preferred slightly more effect to the process. Overall a good read, especially if you like murder mysteries and love a quick read. Sahil Loomba has a winner for his first book.

Check it out on flipkart here.

Rating: 2.5/5

Book Review: Elijah... Among the Shades of Time

I am a literature student. I know it is tough to write. Especially if the story is a known one. Known one for about 4000 years. From one of the most famous books. Take one of the most famous battles of epic proportions and try and breathe words into the scenes. How do you do that? How do you attempt something so ginormous and yet come out a winner.  You don't write it. It comes to you. One page at a time. Once scene to another. You live it. It is a rare experience and Susy could make it happen. I am talking about the latest book from Susy Matthew - Elijah: Among the Shades of Time.

Taking a story right out of the historical chronicles in The Bible, Queen Jezebel and Elijah fight it out in their quest to prove the supremacy of the God they believe in and how they turn the favour of the people, Susy does an amazing job handling various complicated characters. This is a rare topic as you would have now imagined and is for the serious reader who likes the heavy stuff and actually enjoys his history and literature. But Susy makes it easy for you. Adds a bit of love, romance and explores the hard facts as they are and could have been. This makes the story easy on your mind when you venture in to it. Though the obvious love story lures you to believe that this is just another book, it actually helps you soak in the seriousness of the times and how futile several of the adventures were. After all those were the times of the mighty kings and the subjects. How Elijah, one of the most powerful prophets in the Old Testament, turns from a reluctant follower to a formidable hero and leader and helps bring in the Lord - Yahweh's will is the crux of the story.

The book is a fast read and paces the story well so that you are in sync with the timelines and are kept engaged to understand what is happening around you. The kind of dread that Queen Jezebel's actions bring up in you is superb. With her command on the intricate details about the levels of the demonic world and the futility of being in the illusion of command is handled quite well. For those of you who like to understand the power of bodily aura, projections and enjoy a thrill in seeking the pleasures beyond the visual, obvious, this book is a delight as it serves you quite a handful. The war in the physical world is just a reflection and a minor representation of the war in heavens but that doesn't make it any less interesting. While I am tempted to reveal the main plot, I don't want to take away your joy in reading and let the story unfold. Despite all the historical significance, a dash of the world of witchcraft, demonic control of the dark world, secretive mystic sisterhood of Baal, a theme of love and a raging war, Elijah promises a racy tale of the fight between good and evil, a story of intricate supernatural manifestation that is served in a small book you can't resist.

A welcome approach to bring out the usually ignored and untouched stories from the ancient books. Susy Matthew does ample justice in representing the landscapes of ancient Israel, culture, relationships, values, family ties and much more. Pick it up today from flipkart by clicking here.

Rating: 3/5

Pic is from here.

Book Review: Pirates of Bollywood

There were very few legal thrillers in India. Growing up with John Grisham's literature and being really impressed with the strength  the legal system holds and is incomparable to what a normal job would give you. The books usually do not celebrate the deliverer of the law or the defender of the weak but are usually elaborate in the plot and curt in the avenging. In India, the genre is just warming up and leading space is Kalyan's genuine effort and I am really happy with the way his books are being well received. I recently happened to read his latest book and here is the review.

Outline: The plot is simple and is open from the beginning. It is about the combating the rotten piracy issue in Bollywood and the title suggests the same. Though for the commoner the story might sound simple, the amount of research gone in to the book is clearly visible as the intricacies of the piracy schemes, the combative investigation and the passion with which the police (the sincere ones) work is clearly shown. I am particularly impressed with the treatment of the legal hands in the book as Arjun is already famous. With little need for introduction Arjun helps in handling the case deftly and helps in the conclusion too. 

5 reasons why you should pick it up?

1. Engaging writing style of Kalyan keeps you glues to the book and even if you are not a movie buff the concept is still engaging and entertaining.
2. Action! The story is never dull and is full of chasing, fights and a lot of action. 
3. The lady in charge. Taking a realistic look at the story the book engages you on many levels while keeping the chase active. The lady cop is an added advantage and I like her style and finesse of handling things.
4. Reality: A well researched book is always a delight to read and the author doesn't disappoint you. Right from the beginning, you feel the command on the subject and how deftly he makes you learn a thing of two about the crime industry!
5. The genre: Rare to start with but growing at a healthy rate the genre needs intellectual brains to write stuff that keeps feeding the hunger for thinking writing and Kalyan as the right prescription for you.

I am really glad that people like Kalyan, who are in the industry and in the workplace are looking beyond keeping their trade secrets are looking at sharing the things from the battlefield and this is a bold yet necessary move as it helps in creating a knowledge base that would help young people to understand the nuances of the industry. 

One thing I would like to change in the story is to get the hero - Arjun hit somewhere else other than the nose! How would the hero look on the camera with his nose in a plaster all through the movie?!

Rating: 2.5/5

Book Review: Chetan Bhagat's Half Girlfriend and why you will read it

When you burn your tongue with the first sip of hot double shot coffee, you tend to feel the singe of one too familiar after taste. While this would remain for a couple of days, you would be munching tasteless food while your brain doesn’t understand what you are eating and once in a while you should check your plate to see if it is really the same as what your eyes see. You feel bad but you neither skip coffee nor stop munching food.

When you pick up a Chetan Bhagat novel, you expect to have something new, something amazing and some interesting plot that would keep you mesmerized, teases you, tickles you and engages you in a philosophical dialogue and motivates you in such a tremendous way that you are inspired! Wait! That is not Chetan Bhagat I was talking about. You know what you can expect from a Chetan Bhagat novel. Now that you have removed the sugar coating, you can dust off the last few particles of genius-like-fruitiness; expect what you can get when the title is - 'Half Girlfriend.'

Like I agreed we don't skip coffee or stop munching, Chetan's works are like a second bowl of popcorn. You know you have had enough but are not easily going to skip them. I pre-ordered 'Half Girlfriend', paid 37 bucks more and got it yesterday. Here is the review.

Plot: Take a bit of Three Mistakes, problems mentioned in Satyameva Jayate, imagine a non-English type village boy (like what Arjun Kapoor desperately tries to enact) who is a state level basketball player??? coming to Delhi with small iron trunk to join St. Stephen's. Meet Riya, a rich girl who hates her money-clogged-parents-home and is looking for an escape to a real-rural-self-proclaimed-admiration for poor life where she wants to make fame on her own! Madhav hates poverty and wants to be rich. Riya wants to live a normal life with her own name and dignity. As the book specifies, Madhav and Riya don't want the same thing. Madhav wants Riya to love him. She is confused. Riya is okay being a half-girlfriend. Hugs okay, kisses okay, cuddling okay. Nothing more okay?

Madhav tries to make out with her but she sticks to her half-girlfriend theory. He cusses her and she walks out of the relationship. He gets a 50k/month salary from HSBC in 2007 because he is honest! (No I didn't see this in 3 idiots. Trust me it is a new plot. I have tears in my eyes. Someone pass me a tissue). He doesn't take it and goes back to being the rural poor prince he is to take care of his school for his mom and spends time teaching poor kids. A noble cause stolen from the Satyameva Jayate, TaareZameen Par like twist and is rewarded when he gets a chance to get some funds from Bill Gates and succeeds.

Enter Riya back from her small but personal honeymoon-wedding-divorce while Madhav is trying to learn English in a private coaching class and Riya tries to teach him English and succeeds. A good story would end here. But Chetan wants a story after the interval too. So Enter Madhav's mom who chides her to get out of her son's life. Riya runs away and how Madhav recovers his life, wins lakhs of rupees in funds from Bill Gates foundation and travels to USA (too many Telugu/Tamil movies have shown this already) to find the love of his life. If you stay back till the end, you will find hope in a New York bar with live music.

Wait! Don't you like the story? Want some suspense? Let us make the hero run for the last 10 minutes of the film and put a song, a slow but romantic dark melody that ensures you have tears in your eyes while the hero's shoes hurt, feet splinter and blood oozes from the shoes and he reaches just in the nick of the moment. Now get out of here. You have had enough for the 150 bucks you paid for this film. What?!!! I haven't added a love making scene. Ya. They make love in about 20 words. No space you see!

While I know Chetan would have already pictured Kriti Sanon in the film and would have decided how to make her look taller than she is, he must be counting 300 crores he would get for the film deal. Wait! I think the book would have made him a 100 crore too.

To be concise: The book is fat, Chetan. I would have loved to read some 50 pages less and could do away with the preachy tone in some places. I liked it but as a... how do I say it... forget it, I liked it.

If there is a positive note I have to write about the book, it shows how village grown Madhavs can make out and win over the richest girls and win over anything in their life if they just don't give up. Yes. Don't give up yet! The second one is bringing back basketball to Indian cinema. When did Kajol lose to Sharukh last?

Will I pick up the next book from Chetan? Did you give up on coffee?

Rating: 1.5/5

Book Review: IDRIS - Keeper of the Light

Life is a journey and it becomes a joy when you travel with someone you love. It turns out great when it is an adventure and in the process you discover the joy of being with your loved ones and grow closer. Anita Nair's new book - Idris: Keeper of the Light is a close account of one such journey.

Anita Nair explores one of the most revered yet very rarely celebrated relationships between a father and son. How does the son grow to fill his father's shoes and start taking his own decisions and move ahead in life? When does a father start realizing his kid is no longer a small child and a grown up man
? What is the father has a lot to tell and but very little time?

Idris takes you on a personal travelogue from the cold harsh deserts of Ethiopia to God's own country. When you feel the story is settling and get ready for action, Idris whisks you away on a ship across the turbulent sea to the east coast in search of the glittering stones. Idris, though acts stoic and poised, fights his own demons throughout the story and remains the anchor to the story. His realizes the fire in him melt down to the warm mystery of Kuttimalu and the wall of poise melt down to the innocent and rather stupid briskness of his son Kandavar. Further in his journey Idris is finally comforted when he embraces the challenge of letting his guard down and finds comfort in the reality of life, the futility of chasing for the unknown and the joy of forgetting yourself in Thilottama. He may be a mysterious firefly to Kuttimalu but he will remain as dear Aboo to his Kandavar.

Kandavar is a joy to watch like a young puppy he jumps at things with a jest and fervor that reminds you of your childhood and grows easily under the guidance of his Aboo. His love for animals shows his ability to share, care and win over other people's hearts. He adapts easily to the things around him and takes them in his stride. You find traces of his warrior/kalari blood from his mother boiling and the calm demeanor of his Aboo which can be a deadly combination knowing his life's dream is to fight and avenge something he doesn't know. It is a joy to watch him grow in to a man and in an otherwise serious story Kandavar is like a cold breeze on a summer night.

Kuttimalu, Thilottama, Golla, Sala and other characters remind you of someone you know very closely. I loved seeing animals from cats to oxen being given prominent roles in the story. Maccanto, Musa, Vajra and Aamira come in and lighten the burden of the travel with their innocence.

I can see how much research has gone in to the creation of Idris as you are taken on a picturesque treat with a lot of detailing from the livelihood, culture, language, custom, traditions, way of conducting business, seafaring, astrology, celestial navigation and the art of writing. Even a long-lost story of amputation on a ship recorded during the period is given an important place in the journey.

Will Idris manage to build a character and strength in his son? Will he ever be able to grow in to someone Idris would be proud of? Will he learn the ways of the world? Will he be a survivor or a leader?

Will Idris ever end his journey and find peace? Will his quest for rare diamonds end fruitfully and will he find his crown jewel? You have to read to find out.

What can you expect from Idris: Keeper of the Light?

A wonderful treat to read and discover the joys of the seventeenth century South India and the changing customs, traditions and life.  When it is an unexplored and unfamiliar territory that you want to venture into, when you are about the little nuances of the four hundred year old traditions and when you realize life is an arduous journey you wish you were with Idris: to be safe, alert and engaged and safe.

Only Anita can make you sit down and wait while a traditional dinner with chicken curry, spices and butter is cooked and then lets you dine in peace on a whirlwind tour which is why you must trust me when I say the book is like that delightful savory your grandmother used to make. Can't wait for two more years for the next part to come!

Rating: 4/5.

Art by Bindu.

Brave your Anu aunty

Varun Agarwal is a celebrity and has been a wonderful motivator to the millions of young minds both by the example of his life and his cheeky book: How I braved Anu aunty and co-founded a million dollar company.

Here is he on stage after a couple of years. Work now, put in all the hours you need to and the stage will follow. For the book review: click here.

Book Review: Carte Blanche

For someone who grew up on volumes of Ian Flemming and someone who appreciated the slow seeping tension while Bond comes out with impossible situations and emerge a winner; For someone who watched Golden Eye, Tomorrow Never Dies and all the newer Bond movies several times and loved them; For someone who then watched Sean Connery and other battery of bonds relive the legend, I have a fairly good idea of how you would want a Bond should look like, act like, run like, think like and shoot like.

Carte Blanche sets the tone for a new Bond series to get a reboot; a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and former smoker. Everything you would expect in a Bond novel/movie is still here; the cars (a Bentley Continental GT and even a Subaru Impreza WRX) the girls (so many of them), the gadgets (including a custom iphone called a qiphone) and of course the over-the-top action.

Even some of the common friends of Bond make an appearance in this book, including; M, Moneypenny and Felix Leiter. The characters, while slightly updated for the contemporary setting, are almost Fleming'ish gave us, especially Bond himself and M (unfortunately back to the original male version and I am glad that the movie has Judi Dench). This does become something of a cliché though in the first half of the book, where I found myself wondering which classic character would show up next rather than focussing on the plot. I was super impressed by Deaver’s plot which stands realistic to the Bond theme and is not drawn and influenced by the new age publicity. Carte Blanche moves at the perfect pace to hook the reader while remaining true to the attention to detail of Fleming’s prose.

After a hair-raising opening sequence in Serbia featuring car chase, shoot-out and the near-derailment of a train carrying lethal chemicals, Bond's main mission is to prevent a massive terrorist atrocity. The only clue is an intercept promising thousands of deaths on the night of Friday 20th, with British interests adversely affected. Bond has only five days to determine the nature of the threat, identify its main players and stop them, while dodging unknown assailants who want him dead and the usual buffoonery of chinless incompetents within the British security services, sticklers for procedure who oblige him to interpret Carte Blanche in his own way.

Bond finds himself pitted against the murky Severan Hydt, magnate of a global empire of refuse collection and recycling – a nicely topical metaphor. Hydt is a particularly Deaveresque villain, a man whose macabre fascination with death and decay verges on pornographic. With the help of his old friends Felix Leiter and René Mathis, Bond follows Hydt's trail from the Balkans to Dubai to South Africa. How he closes the case and ends up with the women he loves is the plot.

The plot promises intensified fights, chasing sequences, fighting bad guys, having fun and chasing his own devils about his life. Deaver does a long dwindling chase with massive disturbances promising to eat up the land.

I loved the book and my rating might be colored by my love for Flemming's hero but I guess there can be an exception! 

Rating: 4/5.

Book Review: Cut Like Wound

Isn't it textbook for a police officer to solve a case when he is suspended? Isn't it true that children end up doing what you tell them not to do? Isn't it funny that you have all the films of a police officer who is rogue, cares little about the rules, ignores his superiors and has a devoted family or has a problem at home? Isn't it text book to have a villain who is mysterious, powerful and cunning that you cannot find out who he is when he is standing right next to you? Well, take all these regular recipes and try to cook something new or you have an option to create a similar recipe but make it into a pleasing familiar dish that takes you to a nice place.

Anita Nair is a wonderful writer. In fact, hers would be one of my first choices for a weekend with a book, coffee and chips. I love the way she can bring out words and play with emotions easily out of the unknown. Her understanding of the human psyche, especially women psyche, is beautiful. Here in "Cut Like Wound" she comes out with a familiar story without delving in to what she can actually do. "Introducing Borei Gowda" comes as an early warning and sets out the course clear in this story. May be I should have known...

Anita Nair’s Inspector Borei Gowda, “soft in the middle, blurred at the edges” who knocks back shots of Old Monk, lovingly tends to his Bullet, and is blessed with superior deduction skills, that superpower of every hero detective from Poirot to Dalgliesh, is an anomaly in the Bengaluru police force and therefore a perfect protagonist.  Borei Gowda is a middle aged father, husband who fails on both parts, at least on what he feels she should be doing for them and is a old football-you-bought-and-used-for-a week in the police department. Known for his keen ability to excel and propel himself into the strongest and unclear situations and is ruthless Dabang attitude, Borei forms what you look for in a middle aged hero contemplating a divorce while wooing his high school sweetheart who is rich but conveniently divorced.

The plot is simple and tight. First a dead body appears of out no where. And sometime later another. Soon there are bodies every Friday night. All of them seem to be linked but there is no common link. Only Borei seems to have a link established between them and chases the ghosts of his own imagination while fighting with the system , authority, drug dealers, a powerful corporator, and himself. I like the way he personifies his bike and draws immense pleasure from simple situations that usually are the solace of a tired lonely soul. Nair's characterization runs with Borei and captures him in many angles and she has done a wonderful job of keeping the story simply attractive and with in a short span of 38 days. The rest of the story is about how Borei and his team finds out the mysterious murders and brings them to justice.

What Anita has managed to do in the book is to explain the realities of the shady areas in any town and how people are so madly driven by the experiences they have in their childhood and every day. "Cut Like Wound" also tries to look at the changing phenomena of the acceptance of transgenders and the reality. I am thrilled with the way she explains the streets of the city in Shivaji Nagar which can be in your city as well and places where you cannot go or are usually advised to keep out. Cut Like Wound takes you there and beyond while keeping the hair on your neck raised, every moment of the way. There is more to come in the next adventure of Borei...

I have an author-signed-copy thanks to flipkart :)

Rating: 2.5/5

Book Review: The Shadow Throne

How would you feel if you suddenly got up and find out you are back in time? How would you feel all the movies you have in bollywood are time-themed? That's how I feel when I see the literature available today. How wonderful is tha to a history lover! Aroon Raman brings out a hot thriller that matches Ek Tha Tiger and probably Jab Thak Hai Jaan and a couple of other romantic crime thrillers. Ok minus the romance but then this is a men's movie with a woman cracking the case.

Chandra is a journo who is recovering from the death of his wife to cancer. He is entangled by Hassan, mostly willingly falls for a scoop of a story. He has to know more for himself than the the news article that would come from the plot. What starts with a murder of a flat-skulled giant thrown from the top of Qutub minar ends up in a chase from the caves of Afghanistan to the Pak- India border. What happens in between is like any other old thriller, only here we have a nuclear disaster to avert. But am surprised that I could finish a 300+ page book in two days flat.

Let's analyze the characters a bit without giving away the suspense of the book. Chandra is a unwilling crime seeker with a penchant for mysteries and a freelancer. His wife's friend Meenu plays an excellent teacher or professor who could come up with a choice solution to a riddle Tom Hanks could only dream of solving because she is a history professor! But I love the concept of RAW and ISI working together to solve the sovereignty of two states. Chandra exhibits a rare love for History and travel and is taken on a roller-coaster tide to unveil a nerve wringing thriller and as always he is cool as a cucumber because he is taking notes in his brain all the time.

Hassan, on the other hand, is a double agent trying to figure out what it right to do! Let us put it this way till you read the book. Hassan is trained and is mechanical when he is executing what his bosses want him to be doing and even otherwise. What we come to know is a multifaceted character with a single mean goal. Hassan also plays a good Salman Khan in the book and ends up mashed, tattered and tortured. What else can you get through when you have nothing to lose!

The other characters in the movie are the agents who play smart and cool. What I liked about them is that the book refers to them by names and designations that needn't be remembered as they have helped execute a plot so supreme that they are not significant in the story. What is measured as an outcome is a prophesy that makes the whole attention go on with a could of million lives at stake. Aroon takes it to his best of skills here when he brings the massive villain with a cult following and how he is remarkably versatile with the ways of the world and psychologically plays with everyone.

As I always believe, the greater the villain, the better the plot and the chance for the hero's redemption. I also love the fact that there are no artificial love scenes in the book and is very practically written. Aroon deserves a pat on his shoulder for what he has come up with but there are point which could improve the story. For example how can someone finish off so many things and slip out to Afghanistan so easily from India? A touch of Uncle Sam's troops and an agenda to include them would have helped. A slice of brotherhood in India and Tibet or China would have helped too.

What I would have done to end it in a perfect note would be to have an attempt on Hassan's life and a letter in Chandra's home stating that the Shadow throne still is on and you better watch out! I feel the book ended... how do I put it... too easily.

Rating: 2.5/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

The Taj Conspiracy: Book Review

Long. Really looooooong. That's how I felt when I saw this book and it came as a surprise package. I have to agree this is heady stuff. Coming from a background in history with special interests in architecture, especially Hindu and Mughal aerial topography, I have found this interesting. To put into perspective, this is a combination of history meets crime meets bollywood meets murder meets emotional atyachar meets chemistry meets carbon dating meets snake charmer meets communal riots meets reality of life in India meets unity meets sincerity! But for a change I kind of liked it!

Here is how the story goes. A dead body is discovered by Mehr, a Katrina Kaif styled history loving, Indian origin NRI who comes to India in search of her roots and finds herself entangled into the exploding story of communal riots and how some elements play the cards to fight it out for the Taj Mahal and the Shiva temple in the same structure.

In the process she meets, archaeologists, fanatics, survives several murder attempts, meets police officers, has close encounters with her own ghouls and goes through what we can call a bollywood style chasing sequence with mysteries all around. It is an exciting journey to follow Mehr and try to understand why we need to accept the reality of History and move on with a wider all accepting view. In between you find yourself transported on a lesson in linguistics and calligraphy, to a cave in Kashmir and enter in to the minds of criminal eradicating pest-control mode of policing by Pratap and SSP Raghav who are true in their spirit and passion but have different styles.

Sprinkle in some onion sautéing and old monk fueled revelry and a delirious liking for the dead bodies and how they are treated. You would need to find time and effort to follow the actual plot of declaring Taj as a Shiva temple and different pieces in the puzzle to make sense. How Mehr, aided by her two police friends solves the mystery and comes to a close shaving climax where she is rescued by the hero is very entertaining to read.

I liked the small chapter style and a matter of fact reporting with importance on food, moments that can get missed in a blink, action, in fact well packed action and the depth of knowledge in the author, especially when treating architecture and mystery. This is beautifully handled and woven into the story. Though it can be slightly cut short, may be by 50-60 pages, I think it is ok as long as the reader doesn’t get bored. The book made me go back to my college days where we used to spend hours discussing the differences in the temple architectures and the materials used and what was the reason. 

To summarize, this is folklore + action + local detective + politics served with hot masala chai for you. What is missing is sugar, but isn’t that the way SSP Raghav likes it?

Rating: 3/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

How I braved Anu aunty and co-founded a million dollar company - book review

Koyal Chengappa made this happen! Sorry for the delay in posting this up Koyal.

When I first saw the book and its cover, I was expecting a fun ride with a lot of gyan on how to start a company and why you need to be different in doing things to succeed. But let me tell you that I was surprised the way it was written. How I braved Anu aunty and co-founded a million dollar company is a wonderful read with very less gyan and more practical look at how a brilliant idea can be translated into a reality.

Every corner in your life you encounter naysayers, people who belittle your ideas, beliefs and your passion and try to make you fall in line with others. Varun takes us on a journey on how you can still be successful when you follow your heart and have a good sound idea. The book traces few points that make it a master piece.

1. Language: Written in a matter of fact style of reporting and being blunt and straight about what he feels about everything he has encountered in the process, Varun keeps the reality closer and cleaner. Here is a book for the new generation of readers and authors who matches their age group and hence the easy connect.
2. Life: Taking life as it comes and living life on facebook is very realistically put and with snippets and with info related to actualities make it a worthy read. Being a Bangalorean has its own advantages and this book finds out how you don't need a classy MBA to figure out life's secrets and lessons.
3. Friends & family: It is very important to have a good support system which primarily consists of your family and friends and the people you choose to surround yourself with. The decisions you take are mostly influenced by these people and they love you whatsoever. So build this network up before you look for something else.
4. Networking: If there is one thing you can learn from facebook is that it is important to have a good network and keep at it all the time. It is your network that makes you stronger, the power of your ideas and decisions multiply themselves with the no. of people in your network. Every business needs one strong network and Varun tells us how he would go on to build a strong network with the technology and a little passion.
5. Fun: Doing what you love is fun and this book tells you how to do it. Chase your dreams and do what you love. Simple solution to love.

Varun's book is a must read, especially if you are stuck doing what is not fun. It is more important if you are in the process of building your strengths to reality. Keep writing Varun. The journey has just begun and we really like to see how this goes forward. 

You can buy it here from flipkart!