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Book Review: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

21 Lessons for the 21st Century Yuval Noah Harari 2018 Penguin pp. 352 This book presents Harari’s vision for what lies in the future. He covers a variety of themes ranging from advancements in biotechnology, warfare, world politics, employment opportunities and changes in political and personal spaces. It is an interesting read. At some places,…

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Book Review: Janta Store

Janta Store Naveen Chaudhary 2018 Radhakrishnan Publication pp. 300 Janta Store is a story of three friends written in first person narrative of one of the three protagonists. The story revolves around the three friends’ experiences in college, hostels, and coffee shops. Much of the story revolves around university politics. A thinner, parallel strand revolves…

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Book Review: Ek Chithda Sukh

Ek Chithda Sukh Nirmal Verma 2017 (first published 1979) Vani Prakashan pp. 242 The book title, loosely translated as a patchwork of pleasure, is an exploration of pleasure, happiness and contentment. The life of each of the characters presents a struggle for finding meaning, purpose, and peace. These are ordinary people with not so ordinary…

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Book Review: The Diary of a Mathematician

The Diary of a Mathematician Kaushik Chug 2019 Amazon pp. 50 The debut work of Chug is a novella that presents the story of a gifted mathematician who is able to apply his genius to set chain reactions to modify social events. The story is nice and keeps you engaged. You want to know what…

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Book Review: Quiet

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking Susan Cain 2013 Penguin pp. 352 Susan Cain’s book is an excellent read, particularly for introverts who have for long wondered why they can’t seem to adjust to the world. While the introversion-extraversion debate continues in academic circles, the popular conception is to…

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Book Review: The Good Women of China

The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices Xinran 2003 Vintage Books pp. 229 This book presents stories of women in China in the last few decades of the twentieth century. As a document of what transpired in China, this is an important book for times to come. The writing is lucid and full of emotion…