Hi all,
Here’s hoping that rains arrive quickly and cheer us up! Till then, use our precious water wisely
And as we wait for rains, there are some lovely books waiting for you to explore in the neighbourhood bookstore. A small section of which we try and review for you every month.
New Arrivals
WOW
“Cutting Chai and Maska Pao: The Way it is Said in Mumbai Only” by Mithila Mehta, Priya Sheth & Digantika Mitra @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 100)
Mumbai is a jhakkas city with rapchik girls and pakaoing heat. Baffled? Don’t be. Welcome to the world of Mumbaikars! Cutting Chai and Maska Pao is what you need to translate the pulsating metropolis that is Mumbai. Study it, laminate it, tuck it into your back pocket- make it your linguistic survival kit! A Wow book!
Socio Eco
“Churning the Earth: The Making of Global India” by Aseem Shrivastava and Ashish Kothari @ Rs. 699/- (pgs 393)
In Churning the Earth, Aseem Shrivastava, an extensive writer on issues associated with globalization and Ashish Kothari, the founder of the Pune-based environmental group Kalpavriksh, engage in a timely inquisition on India’s dramatic economic rise. They present undisputable evidence on how the temperament of this recent growth has been rapacious and question its sustainability. Unchecked development has damaged the ecological basis that makes life possible for millions of Indians, resulting in conflict over water, land and other natural resources, and has also increased the difference between the rich and the poor. Rich with data and stories, this eye opening book argues for a radical ecological democracy based on the principals of environmental sustainability, social equity and livelihood security. The authors urge a fundamental shift towards such alternatives- already emerging from grass-root movements- if we are to prevent our descent into socio-eco turmoil.
Churning the Earth is unique in presenting what is wrong with India but also in providing solutions to the crisis that globalized growth has accumulated.
“Pakistan on the Brink: The Future of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the West” by Ahmed Rashid @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 233)
With Bin Laden dead, Pakistan is threatened by internal power struggles, relationships between the United States and Pakistan are at an all-time low, and as the US and Britain begin their withdrawal from Afghanistan, what are the possibilities- and hazards- facing the worlds most unstable region? In his follow-up to the acclaimed ‘Descent into Chaos’, Rashid focuses on the long-term problems: the changing casts of characters, the future of international terrorism, and the policies and strategies both within Pakistan and Afghanistan and among Western allies. Pakistan on the Brink offers sensible solutions and provides a way forward for all countries involved. The book is also one of the foremost chronicles of modern Afghan and Pakistani history.
“Mother Maiden Mistress: Women in Hindi Cinema, 1950-2012” by Bhawana Somaaya, Jigna Kothari and Supriya Madangarli @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 247)
Since Dadasaheb Phalke first portrayed a male to play the role of a heroine in India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), women in Hindi cinema have come a long way since then. Mother Maiden Mistress documents that journey: from a time when cinema was considered a profession beneath the dignity of ‘respectable’ women to an era in which women actors are icons and idols. Bhawana Somaaya, Jigna Kothari and Supriya Madangarli sift through six decades of cinema, bringing to life the women who peopled cinema and the popular imagination, and shaped fashion and culture. Contemporary readers will also find here a nuanced historical perspective- of the social milieu of the time, of the nation and of Hindi cinema. The book explores what makes women characters iconic in Hindi Cinema and analyses them in relation to their directors and, more importantly, to the society at that point of time
Management
“Jugaad Innovation: A Frugal and Flexible Approach to Innovation for the 21st Century” by Navi Radjou, Jaideep Prabhu & Simone Ahuja @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 317)
In this comprehensive book, the authors challenge the very way a traditional organization thinks and acts. In the midst of rising global competition and swelling R & D budgets, Jugaad Innovation presents ways to innovate, be flexible and do more with less. Peppered with examples of innovative entrepreneurs in emerging markets like Africa, India, China and Brazil this book illuminates paths to engender breakthrough growth in a complex and resource scarce world. So, whether to find ingenious solutions to problems or turn adversity into opportunity Jugaad Innovation is the solution!
“All Marketers Tell Stories” by Seth Godin @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 220)
We believe that wine tastes better in a 500 Rs. glass than a 5 Rs. glass. We believe that a branded sneaker makes our feet feel better- and look cooler than a road side sneaker. As Seth Godin explains, great marketers don’t talk about features or even benefits, but instead they tell you a story- a story that we want to believe, whether it is factual or not. Most people have infinite amounts of choices but no time to make them. Hence every organization is a marketer, and marketing is all about telling stories.
‘Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School’ by Richard Branson @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 343)
In Like a Virgin, Richard Branson, the owner of Virgin Airlines and world’s most recognized and respected entrepreneur, shares his wisdom and experience that have made his business a successful endeavour. From his top tips on succeeding in business to some hard-hitting opinions on global financial crisis, this book brings together his best advice on all things in business. It’s B-school the Branson way! And if you are looking for advice on setting up your own company, improving your career prospects or developing your leadership skills whose advice can we take about business, if not from the best in the business.
Inspiration
“A Whole New Mind” by Daniel H Pink @ Rs. 640/- (pgs 375)
Daniel Pink presents in his path-breaking book. Based on research he states why the ‘The Right-Brained will rule the future’ in this wonderfully readable book. The ‘Right-Brained’ are designers, story tellers, teachers, caregivers, counselors and inventors who are able to intuitively create the need. The ‘left-brained’ skills are now commoditized and more importantly do contain the risk of becoming suddenly irrelevant. The book itself offers an education to equip oneself for this new world where creativity in product or service and its delivery will be rewarded. This book will shake you up to dare. Daniel Pink reveals the 6 fundamental human abilities that will enable you to achieve personal and professional success. A must read for oneself and to understand the world that the young will inherit and probably see successful careers in other than engineering, medicine and accountancy. This comes on the back of his bestseller “Free Agent Nation” from an author who has been a contributing editor to NYT, HBR and Wired.
“Innovate Happily” by Dr. Rekha Shetty @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 194)
The Happiness Quotient is an integral part to a successful corporate strategy, as studies show that happy people are the most innovative and productive. The book discovers the secrets that create progressive and happy communities by exploring Bhutan, a land that actually measures not the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), but it’s Gross National Happiness! Not only does this book explain how is the pursuit of happiness relevant to the corporate world, but it also points to the simple truth that happiness is the logical but often forgotten goal of every human endeavor.
Personalities
“Infinite Vision” by Pavithra K.Mehta @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 322)
This book recounts the true story of how Aravind became the world’s greatest business case for compassion. When a crippling disease shattered his lifelong ambition, a young surgeon named Dr. Govinappa Ventakataswamy chose an impossible new dream: to eliminate curable blindness. By 1976 he had personally performed over 100,000 sight-restoring surgeries. That same year he founded Aravind, an 11-bed eye clinic in South India, with no money, business plan or safety net. Dr. V (as he was to be known) was 58 years old at the time, and over the next three decades his humble clinic would defy the odds to become the largest provider of eye care in the world. Today Aravind is an organization built on hope, possibility, purpose deep insights and transformational, measurable impact.
“The Very Best of Common Man” by R.K. Laxman @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 201)
For half a century, the Times of India has thoughtfully provided an antidote to all the bad news brimming on its front pages. It’s a sketch, a single box inked with by R. K. Laxman, our neighborhood cartoonist! From financial woes of householders, from political instability to rampant corruption, the Common Man cartoons have captured the entire length of contemporary India. This special collection features the hundred most memorable Common Man cartoons of all time as a tribute to India’s best-loved cartoonist and one of the most striking voices commenting on Indian Sociopolitical life.
“The Chicken Chronicles: A Memoir” by Alice Walker @ Rs.350/- (pgs 186)
When Alice Walker grew up in the Deep South of America, her family always kept chickens. After many years she realized how much she missed them and hence decided to get a brood of her own. In this memoir she recounts the growing bond and the joy the experience brings- from building the first ‘chicken condo’ and discovering their fondness for fruit, napping and dancing- until one morning she realizes that one chicken is missing… With a genuine sense of expression the book is a journey to understand our relationship with other animals that share our world.
Travel
“Highway 39: Journeys through a fractured land” by Sudeep Chakravarti @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 387)
The author Sudeep Chakravarti attempts to unravel the brutal history of Nagaland and Manipur, their violent and restive present and their uncertain yet hopeful future as he travels along Dimapur, Kohima, Senapati, Imphal, Thoubal and their hinterlands- all touchpoints of brutalized aspiration, identity, conflict and tragedy. This book brings into focus a region long neglected and often forgotten by Mainland India- a region India can continue to ignore only at the peril of the very idea of India.
“Acts of Faith: Journeys to Sacred India” by Makarand R. Paranjpe @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 230)
Here is a sensitive and enriching exploration of the essential meaning and inner dynamics of sacred India. It is a combination of an inquiry into the meaning of India with actual visits to sacred sites, encounters with contemporary Gurus and reflections on perennial themes like faith and love. Using both textual sources and actual experiences, Acts of Faith tries to define what constitutes the sacred, making for a highly interesting cartography of ‘India of the Spirit’!
“The Liquid Refuses to Ignite” by Dave Besseling @ Rs.395/- (pgs 336)
Ten years of travel, sex, drugs and spiritual misfires brings artist and journalist, Dave Besseling no closer to finding the eternal truth-whatever that may be. Then, a moment of clarity presents itself while sipping a glass of Lassi in India’s holiest city.
In a series of essays that define the travails of those who prefer life on the road. The book see Dave and his alter-ego Dr. Heagney theorize upon, ruminate over and scoff at everything from Kurt Cobain to Kundalini. Hitting out at the modern traveller, Dvae stumbles upon the epiphany he’s been searching for: Behind the robes and rituals of wise men everywhere, they’re selling the same thing- the answer to emptiness and need. In energetic, needle-sharp prose, Besseling unpacks ten years of global wandering making this book an addictive and anarchic riff on travel, relationships and the crowded bazaar of spiritual enlightenment
Nature/ Wildlife
“The Soul of the Rhino” by Hemant Mishra with Jim Ottaway Jr. @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 234)
The Soul of the Rhino is a spirited account of one man’s journey to protect the Rhino in the foothills of the Himalayas. Since 1970 when he graduated Hemant Mishra has been a leading figure in the field of conservation animals. Over the years, he was helped by an ornery but steadfast elephant driver, the Nepali Royal family, and like minded scientists. Through his outstanding work he has erected nature reserves, arm-wrestled politicians and raised awareness. But Mishra hasn’t won the battle to save the Rhino yet. Armed insurgence, political violence, and poaching are driving this endangered species to complete extinction. The book makes us delve into the labyrinths of South Asian wildlife conservation and one man’s endurance in the face of it all.
DK Nature Guide:
• “Trees” by Tony Russell @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 352)
Discover and explore trees from around the world with this compact and easy-to-use guide. Packed with stunning close-up photographs and information of more than 500 species of trees, this book is the ideal funnel for nature enthusiasts everywhere.
• “Birds of the World” by David Burnie @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 352)
Discover and explore the diverse world of birds with this compact and easy to use guide. The book covers every major bird group, with full page profiles of the most spectacular species. Stunning close-up photographs bring each bird to life! Packed with more than 700 species of birds, this book is the ideal guide for Birdwatchers.
Indian Writing
“Chennaivaasi” by T.S. Tirumurti @ Rs.299/- (pgs 268)
When Tam-Bram Boy Ravi goes to the US and falls for a Jewish American girl Deborah he is left thinking- ‘She is quite pretty…if only she were an Iyer Girl!’
Set in the Heart of Chennai, this is a delightful story of a Father who disowns his son for going against tradition, of a mother torn between a fuming Husband and a US-returned Son, of an American girl struggling to get used to being stared at on the streets of Chennai and of a young man caught in the middle of it all! Hilarious!
“How to Fight Islamist Terror from the Missionary Position” by Tabish Khair @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 191)
Satirical and humane, How to Fight Islamist Terror from the Missionary Position tells the interlinked stories of three unforgettable men- the flamboyant Ravi, who falls in love with a beautiful women who is incapable of responding in kind, then Karim, a fundamentalist and the unnamed and pragmatic narrator- whose paths cross in Denmark. When a terrorist attack takes place in town, all three men find themselves embroiled in doubt, suspicion and danger. An acerbic commentary on the times, the book is also a bitter-sweet and stunning novel about love and life today.
“Intermission” by Nirupama Subramanian @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 272)
From the Author of the bestselling Keep the Change comes the new novel about Delhi’s suburbia. Set in Gurgoan, Intermission takes us into the lives of Varun and Gayatri Sarin, not so happily married corporate couple who are trying to come to terms with life in India after several years of ordered existence in the first World. A beautifully told story of illicit love and divided loyalties, Intermission explores lives within a gated community with just the right touch of irony and compassion
“Revolt of the Fish Eater” by Lopa Ghosh @ Rs.299 (pgs 261)
A philanthropist ghost of a chairman’s mother; a footless whore in Siberia who has mastered the art of love making; Rita of the sexual politics lessons; the witchcraft-practicing mother of a village prodigy who plots to ensnare the World’s Richest Man; the trade union leader who wrung a promise of jeans and perfumed soap out of the factory bosses- these are but a few characters of the compelling world that ‘Revolt of the Fish Eaters’ bring alive. Set in the twilight zone of glass towers, elevators and late-stage capitalism, this is a collection of stories about the business world: recession-struck, and facing threats from rogue forces such as ghosts, lovers and communists. Lopa Ghosh’s first book leaves you with a surreal yet fulfilling experience.
Science
“The Big Questions: Mathematics” by Tony Crilly @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 208)
Tony Crilly is the author of the acclaimed biography of the English mathematician Arthur Cayley and the international best-selling ‘50 Mathematical Ideas You Really Need to Know’. The Big Questions Series answers the fundamental problems that have perplexed enquiring minds through out history. Ranging from the first known numbers and Plato’s ideal forms to chaos theory and Fermat’s last theorem, this book confronts the 20 key questions at the heart of mathematics and our understanding of the world.
Health
“eat.delete. – How to get off the weight loss cycle for good: The Anti-Quick Fix Approach” by Pooja Makhija @ Rs.199/- (pgs 239)
Trying to lose weight? Running around in circles where you Lose. Gain. Lose. Gain? But what if weight gain is only a symptom? A symptom of not only how we eat food, but of how we treat food? What if losing weight doesn’t begin with what’s on your plate but with what’s on your mind? For the first time in India, a leading nutritionist has worked with psychologists to give you a combined mind-body weight loss solution. Pooja Makhija reminds us that food is not something to be feared, worshiped or abused. Her scientific approach puts food at the centre of weight loss, so that you can eat yourself to a thinner you. Equipped with a daily record diary and super tips from well known celebrities, let this book be your new diet plan so that you can Eat.to.Delete.
Young Adults
“The Serpents Shadow” by Rick Riordan @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 405)
Despite Carter and Sadie Kane’s best efforts, Apophis, the giant snake of Chaos, is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Battling against the forces of chaos the only hope for the Kanes is an ancient spell- but such magic has been lost for millennia. Will they find the serpent’s shadow or be led to their death into the depths of the underworld? Don’t miss any of the action in the final thrilling episode of the Kane Chronicles Trilogy.
“Hip-Hop Nature Boy and Other Stories” by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 113)
For the first time Ruskin Bond’s poems for children, old and new, come together in this illustrated volume. Beautiful, poignant and funny, His verses for children are a joy to read on a lazy Sunday afternoon or to recite in school among friends and teachers.
“The House of Silk: The New Sherlock Holmes Novel” by Anthony Horowitz @ Rs. 350 /- (pgs 389)
November 1890, London is gripped by a merciless winter. As Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are enjoying a tea by the fire, an agitated gentleman appears unannounced with an unnerving and gripping case which swiftly draws Holmes and Dr. Watson into a series of puzzling and sinister events. Stretching from the gas-lit streets of London to the teeming criminal underworld of Boston and the mysterious House of Silk, Horowitz takes you on a journey which many of us have already witnessed, but this time in new epic with all the old characters back to life!
“Who was Steve Jobs?” by Pam Pollack & Meg Belviso @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 105)
Who was Steve Jobs? Was he boy who loved to build and fix things or a man who showed up barefoot to business meetings or a genius who changed the way the world communicates? Not only is he all of the above but also an inspiring personality who has given the world one of it’s greatest invention! Discover more about the real Steve Jobs in this fun and exciting illustrated biography for Young Adults!
Tulika NEW Arrivals!
‘Boodabim’ by Alankrita Jain @ Rs. 95/- Language- English
‘Work’ by Shreya Sen @ Rs. 135/- Language- Hindi-Eng, Bilingual
‘The Great Birdywood Games’ by Shamim Padamsee @ Rs. 150/- Language- English
‘The Sweetest Mango’ by Malavika Shetty @ Rs. 135/- Language- English
‘Why Paploo was Perplexed’ by Devashish Makhija @ Rs. 135/- Language- English
‘Click!’ by Students of Olcott Memorial High School @ Rs. 85/- Language- Eng-Hindi, Bilingual
‘When Ali Became Bajarangbali’ by Devashish Makhija @ Rs. 160/- Language- English
‘The Sky Monkeys Beard’ by Niveditha Subramaniam @ Rs. 150/- Language- English
‘The Kite Tree’ by Avanti Mehta @ Rs. 160/- Language- English
‘Monday to Sunday’ by Sowmya Rajendra @ Rs. 95/- Language Eng-Hindi, Bilingual
‘Magnolias’ by Malati Shah @ Rs. 135/- Language- English
‘Where’s The Sun?’ a story inspired by a painting by Warli artist, Janu Bhiva Ravate @ Rs.160/- Language- English
‘The Magic Feather’ by Roma Singh @ Rs. 120/- Language- English
Other new books
“The Invisible Assassin” by Jim Eldridge @ Rs. 350/-
“Vampire Diaries: The hunters Moonsong” by L.J. Smith @ Rs 350/-
‘The Morning After’ by Kamini Patel (Metro Reads) @ Rs.199/-
‘Naughty Men’ by Siddharth Narayan (Metro Reads) @ Rs. 199/-
‘The Man Who Tried to Remember’ by Makarand Sathe (trns. by Shanta Gokhale) @ Rs. 399/-
‘The Woman Who Flew’ by Nasreen Jahan @ Rs. 399/-
‘A Tale of Things Timeless’ by Rizio Yohannan Raj (trns. by Supriya M. Nair) @ Rs. 299/-
‘The Angels Share’ by Satyajit Sarna @ Rs. 250/-
‘Career Intelligence: The 12 new rules for work and life success’ by Barbara Moses Ph.D. @ Rs. 299/-
‘Sparks of Divinity: The Teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar From 1959 to 1975’ Complied by Noelle Perez-Christiaens @ Rs.575/-
‘The Other Side of Light’ by Mishi Saran @ Rs. 250/-
‘Let Her Rest Now’ by Vijay Nair @ Rs. 295/-
‘Sky Train: Tibetan Women on the Edge of History’ by Canyon Sam @ Rs.350/-
‘Making News, Breaking News, Her Own Way’ Stories by winners of The Chameli Devi Jain Awards for Outstanding Women Mediapersons Ed. by Latika Padgaonkar & Shubha Singh @ Rs. 250/-
‘Tamarind City: Where Modern India Began’ by Bishwanath Ghosh @ Rs. 295/-
‘Stupid Guy Goes to India’ – A graphic novel by Yukichi Yamamatsu @ Rs. 395/-
‘Portraits From Ayodhya: Living India’s Contradictions’ by Scharada Dubey @ Rs. 295/-
‘The Taj Conspiracy’ by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar @ Rs. 250/-
“Turning Points” by APJ Abdul Kalam @ Rs. 199/-
“Great Arc – How India was mapped” by John Keay @ Rs. 299/-
“Physics of the Future – The inventions that will transform our lives” by Michio Kaku @ Rs. 499/-
Enjoy your books! Support your neighbourhood bookstore!
From the happy team at
twistntales
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