Tag: books

Alexander

Prasad Ajinkya3 Comments

By Valerio Massimo Manfredi, this is one epic which I highly recommend to you all. I bought this trilogy set from Crosswords on the spur of the moment, the fact that I play Rise of Nations also helped pique my interest about wanting to know more on Alexander and his Companions.

More popularly known as Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king is said to have conquered most of the known world. Very few people have tried to do this and reached so far. Reading the books struck me that even back then, there were concepts such as PR, Marketing and branding. The fact that King Philip had huge heroic effigies of his son made throughout Greece ensured a faster acceptance of Alexander amongst the greeks.

The set talks about the lift, the rise and the ultimate death of Alexander and his kingdom. It tells us about how great men make great follies, and how heroes are borne out of great deeds. How leaders come to the fore and take problems head on, how expectations are managed effectively, how people believe in their leaders. There is much to learn about history, Manfredi has truly provided a masterpiece.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Prasad Ajinkya4 Comments

I was initially very skeptical about reading this book by Rashmi Bansal. I prefer her blogs and the much more popular JAM-Mag. Most of you would already be knowing about her and the furor her blog had caused some years back. Well, the good madam has shown once again how to succinctly put together a practical book with an interesting theme – Entrepreneurship.

The point where it gets to be different is that each the entrepreneurs covered in the book are alumni from the top B-school in the country, thats right – the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The book is structured as chapters on each of these people, some who knew what they wanted at the outset, some who adapted their businesses to the demands of the market, some who struggled against difficult times – but all of those who have made a name for themselves in the end. Some popular names like – Naukri.com, Mastek, and even the company which I had worked for IRIS (Investment Research and Information Services) have been covered.

Altogether a good compilation, wherein each chapter tells us something about entrepreneurship.

Reality or Perspective?

Prasad Ajinkya3 Comments

In a world where the difference between real and virtual is diminishing day by day, I ask you … do you have your own version of reality?

We as a human race tend to twist the reality around us to suit our needs, to feel comfortable and self satisfied … to know that we are correct and proper. In fact saying this makes me feel as if I myself am doing that … sitting on my high horse. But is it not true?

Then one would say, you should empathize with that person and see the world from his perspective … true. If that is the case, then what is real? Or more importantly what is correct and what is wrong?

In the book Shantaram (read this one if you havent already!!), the character Kader Khan might be the closest one to that answer … if everyone in the world does that act, and that act simplifies the universe, then it is not correct (since the very nature of the universe is to become more and more complex). Take the example of murder, if everyone started committing this act, then the human population will dwindle … this simplifies the universe … not good. Or adultery, if everyone starts sleeping around … then marriage, relationships, etc, are inviolated … this simplifies the universe … not good either!!

If everyone starts blogging, this creates a complex blogosphere of opinions, information and thoughts … complex!! I blog, do you?

Book in your emails

Prasad Ajinkya2 Comments

Books I am reading right now –

  1. 3 mistakes of my life – Chetan Bhagat
  2. Sybil – Flora Rheta Schreiber
  3. Adrian Mole: The Cappucino years – Sue Townsend
  4. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
  5. Wessex Poems and Other verses – Thomas Hardy

The last two of these books I am reading via email!! In one of my feeds, I came across this new service DailyLit which sends you a small section of your chosen book a day. Its upto you when you want to read it.

The perfect service those busy people who do not get enough time on their hands to sit and read a book. How much time does it take to read an email!!

Go check your mail!!

Prince Caspian: The Chronicles of Narnia

Prasad Ajinkya2 Comments

Those who have not read the book, please read the book first and then see the movie. Often we see some beautiful gem of a movie which are based on books, wherein the rendition and the picturisation done is so perfect, that you have imagined the entire scene as it is when reading the book. This movie does not make that cut.

I was expecting a lot after watching Chronicles of Narnia, so … the movie turned out to be a slight disappointment. Maybe, the plot itself was too long to unfurl within 2 hours.

The IMAX screen helped, leaves your head reeling. A decent watch … the story has our four Pevensies back in the world of Narnia and in the middle of a family feud where the evil uncle wants to kill the heir and usurp the throne. Prince Caspian is needless to say the aforementioned heir. Go watch the movie and roar with Aslan (voice over by Liam Neeson). It’s a very decent 7.9.

Democracy

Prasad Ajinkya3 Comments

I just finished reading the sixth book of the Dune series. The story behind the plot is so esoteric that I do not want to divulge the details of the same in this blog … what is more interesting is that how the book sheds lights on issues like religion, governance and governance using religion.

If you decide to reflect on the same, then you will realize that there is some sense to it all. Right from our childhood, we have been taught that democracy is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Is that really true … from school we come into real life all misty-eyed and full of ideals, then real life hits us with shades of grey and a despairing need of black and white.

The very leaders we adulated over, and voted into power, we know are of no good. The false promises that they make will be of no use. Thus, democracy itself is based upon and runs on mistrust. I do not trust my government, thats the whole reason for having an opposition party in parliament so that I have a double check on them.

The entire system is based layer upon layer of mistrust. The lower layer knowing and not trusting the higher layer. And surprisingly, it works!! Well, thats just democracy for you. What will heckle you further, is that when you think of a governing system which is hierarchical (like democracy) and is based on trust (rather than mistrust), then we have dictatorship!!

Funny, isnt it, whats good at an individual level, is not a necessary thing at a cumulative level? hmm…