Saturday, March 29, 2008

A Toast



To Aakash...the sweetest and nuttiest of us nutcases. He's been in Bombay for the past year directing a movie. It is almost complete and there are plans of sending it to Cannes this year.
Don't wear the pink kurta on the red carpet ok?
Much love.


To Aditya...for highly 'satisfying' examination results :) We love successful men with deep voices! Grin!

Missed you both at the 6th birthday bash!

Friday, March 28, 2008

To Us




May we never stop playing.

Happy Birthday!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Nandini




To the new pre-teen...

Every birthday is a goodbye...and a hello. We say goodbye to the person we became in the last year...and say hello to our own personal new year.
Be sure to hold on to a little bit of the little girl you were. Magic, hugs, Disney songs and mad dancing around.



You're going to be an amazing pre-teen :)

Have a wonderful year

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

And now we are Six !!


Hi all,

For all those of us who love Pooh, and identify completely with Christopher Robin, know this – Now we are Six!

From a tiny infant struggling for survival to a precocious, confident, sometimes, “in your face”, twistntales has come a long way in these 6 years. The journey has been exciting, full of pitfalls, new learnings, lots of experimentation, fantastic support, many stories, and great commitment and ultimately through the pain, anguish is pure unadulterated joy. twistntales is complete joy for most of us who work here, and we do hope that our joy does pass on to you when you visit us.










The purpose is to create a happy place for genuine book lovers, but at the same time retain our focus and ensure that our happy store survives as a “business”… so that we can continue to make this a happy place for folks to come. We have had kids who have crawled in and are now taking their first steps in reading. While we do not have stories of generations of families who are customers, we have our own scrapbook of fond memories.

Of Shibashish who writes to us in response to every other happy mail, wherever he is, Of Mrs. Sarathchandran missing us, sitting in far away Detroit, Of Tapan, saying hi whenever he is in Pune, Of Ravindranath, who is surely in the Store, the day of the mail – esp. if there is a Gerald Durrell in the list, Of Aakash and Shibani, who call us every time they are in a bookstore ….. many many stories.

As we go through this journey, we also realize – the fun is more to do with the people, apart from the books. Its you folks who have added tremendously to this joy that we are boasting of creating….. of all of us who are asked for book recommendations, wherever we are spotted … in Shivsagar, in Pulse, in schools on open day ! And we are not complaining – believe me, we enjoy all the love and attention that you give us.

And it’s that which keeps us going. That and the threat of black flag demos (and we know who threatened as well!)

March is a happy month. Our financials look good. Our Happy Birthday is on 28th March. We start our 7th year of operations with lots of new books and new ideas ….. And we can do with some help! Summer Trainees? (Morning/ Evening – 3 months) Other part timers? Morning Slot - 10 to 2, Evenings – 5 to 9 - open from 01 April to 30 June. Do call or write back to us.

And now without much ado, on to new books:

Indian Writing:

“Breathless in Bombay” by Murzaban F Shroff @ Rs. 295/- (305 pgs)

From this Bombay born writer whose stories have been published in twenty-five literary journals; is a fascinating collection of fourteen stories. Each has characters drawn from myriad situations- the laundrywallah with his water problem to the heartwarming relationship of a carriage driver and his beloved horse! Each of these stories is richly crafted and arranged against the grand, chaotic backdrop of life that is Bombay.

“The Co-wife and Other Stories” by Premchand @ Rs.250/- (275 pgs)

From one of the greatest fiction writers in Hindi these are twenty classic short stories, which provide a glimpse of the authors’ extraordinary range of diversity. Exposing human foibles, casting harrowing looks at rural poverty, gently dealing with gender politics, irony and satire one is amazed at the range of the emotions that come across his stories. Ruth Vanitha’s sensitive translation captures the power and beauty of the legendary author.

“ The Blind Pilgrim” by Bapsy Jain @ Rs. 250/- (299 pgs)

A novel with the protagonist who is named ‘Lucky’ but is actually unlucky in whatever she chooses to do in life. In her quest to search for her real luck, she comes across interesting people in interesting places…. like a prison where she works as a Yoga instructor and goes on to realize that she needs to look within herself for the path that will help her break free from the vicious maze that she is caught in.

“New Life” by Vijai Dan Detha @ Rs. 225/- (206 pgs)

From an accomplished writer of short stories in Hindi- his stories were adapted for the stage performance of ‘Charndas Chor’ and more recently the very successful film ‘Paheli’- we have ten wonderfully translated short stories. Each of them path breaking in their own way and refreshingly free from being stereotyped, Detha’s deep understanding of human relationships and his matter –of –fact engagement with unconventional themes make this an unforgettable collection.

“ The Girl” by Sonia Faleiro @ Rs. 150/- (124 pgs)

The novel unfolds with every page turned from the diary of a young, dead girl. A story unravels - of loneliness, abandonment, memories and hope. A haunting, gripping debut novel by the author, this book is written with unusual, rich visual imagery.

“Book of Humour” by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 195/- (278 pgs)

This is a delectable offering of 29 chucky, smiley, guffaw short stories woven in a most delightful manner. It contains previously unpublished stories like “Respect your Breakfast’ and ‘Uncle Ken goes to the Sea’. The charm and wit will definitely make even the hardened among us crack a smile!

“Sally and the Warlocks” by Shashi Warrier @ Rs.195/- (223 pgs)

Three stories about plucky girls, a princess, sly dragons, brave fairies and characters with quaint names like ‘Bak-bak’, “Grubsneak’ ,’Grimstock’ and ‘Sharkovitch’ makes this book totally funny and fantastic. This is an ideal book for all those young and young- at- heart’s who love reading about adventure, and strange, delightful magical creatures.

“Gently Falls the Bakula” by Sudha Murty @ Rs. 150/- (169 pgs)

Written nearly three decades ago this novel remains startlingly relevant in its scrutiny of modern values and work ethics. It tells the story of a marriage that loses its way as ambition and self –interest takes their toll. As the story of Shrikant and Shrimati unfolds, we learn how every step of Shrikanth’s corporate climb is laid with Shrimati’s sacrifices and then, it makes one stop and reconsider the priorities that we set in our life. From the author of captivating books like ‘Wise and Otherwise’, ‘The Old Man and His God’, ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read’, this is another thought provoking, absorbing novel.

Fiction:

“Taking Pictures” by Anne Enright @ Rs.470/- (227 pgs)

From different countries are different stories of the many ways in which women can ever fall in love, love and be loved. Mapping the messy connections between people, the characters are captured in the grainy texture of real life. These are sharp, vivid stories of loss, yearning, surrender and awkward tenderness deftly woven by a wonderfully accomplished Irish literary stylist.

“Ines of my soul” by Isabel Allende @ Rs. 295/- (320 pgs)

Set in the wild 1500’s in Chile and Peru this is the true story of a fiery heroine –Ines Suarez -who travels to unknown lands in search of her missing husband, meets a war hero and together they fight a savage war against the Indians of Chile. Translated from Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden, the book very easily transports one back to the age of swashbuckling but savage conquistadors.

“Knitting Circle” by Ann Hood @ Rs.225/- (426 pgs)

Every Wednesday a group of women gathers at Alice’s sit n knit, spinning yarns, weaving tales and mending lives too. A heartwarming book about the lives of five women and their unlikely friendship, which sees them through the ups and downs of their lives.

“Spiral Road” by Adid Khan @ Rs.295/- (362 pgs)

Bangladesh is the backdrop of this unforgettable novel about family and betrayal. It traces Masud Alams discovery of some secrets through old family papers and leads to some spine chilling intrigue.

“The Rose Labyrinth” by Titania Hardie @ Rs.595/- (392 pgs)

As Lucy awaits heart surgery in London, her Will travels Europe attempting to unravel his mothers legacy and realizes that he is not alone in this quest of ....The Rose Labyrinth. This is a story which travels across time and thoughts, transcends the limiting fences of different faiths and religion.

“Who moved my blackberry” by Martin Lukes @ Rs.460/- (375 pgs)

An entire book in the form of sms / texts, this hilarious take on modern day communication entertains as well as alerts us to what ‘s happening to real time communication in today’s hectic, deadline tagged lives. Life through an sms. From inbox to outbox indeed!

“Mums the Word” by Kate Lawson @ Rs.225/- (392 pgs)

A book stuffed to the seams with love, friendship, humour …all spiced up with some drama weaved into a hilarious and fast paced novel makes this a ‘sit-com’ book- which promises a series of unadulterated chuckles!

Management:

“India and China: Comparing the Incomparable” by Vishnu Saraf @ Rs.385/-(157 pgs)

This book analyses the advantages and disadvantages of different models of growth adopted by India and China. It presents a comprehensive comparison of China and India on a variety of dimensions using most recent data, captures debates around sustainability of the development models of the two countries and also addresses issues of common interests such as “Why are Chinese exports cheap and will they always remain cheap?’ The simple language and avoidance of heavy jargon makes it accessible to a large readership.

“What Does China Think?” by Mark Leonard @ Rs.295/- (164 pgs)

The author provides fascinating and unexpected perspective on what really makes China tick, what kind of country are the Chinese dreaming of and shows us just how radically China’s rise will change the nature of the world. Replete with a geographical map as well as an eye opening section ‘dramatis personae”; a brief write up about the many learned men from China’s management and philosophy fraternity; this is a comprehensive book about what China thinks.

“Competing with the Best – Strategic Management of Indian Companies In a Globalizing Arena” by Rajnish Karki @ Rs. 450/- (240 pgs) HB

This book bridges the theory and practice of strategic management, focusing on under- explored yet globally significant aspects of Indian companies. Using eight case studies, it identifies four viable and effective configurations for Indian companies and describes the process of transformational and incremental changes. Considered to be the first world class book on strategic management of Indian companies it promises to prove indispensable for senior and top corporate executives as well as researchers and students of management.

“Successful Strategy Execution” by Michel Syrett @ Rs.250/- (164 pgs)

Going on a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit which suggested that companies typically realize only about 60% of their strategy’s potential value because of failures in planning and execution; drawing on original research, together with work carried out by London Business School, Cranfield School of Management, UCLA and consulting forums, this book outlines the ways in which organizations such as Reuters, Diageo, Pfizer, Deutsche Bank and IBM are carrying out their strategies effectively.

“Guide to Project Management” by Paul Roberts @ Rs. 350/- (311 pgs)

This guide explains the principles and techniques of project management. It deals with topics like the components of effective project management, conceiving projects, roles and responsibilities, organizations and resource management, various aspects of planning, initiating projects, delivery, support and assurance, project closure and beyond as well as embedded effective project management.

“An Introduction to Market and Social Research” by Karen Adams & Ian Brace @Rs.175/- (154 pgs)

This is an easy –to –use guide for anyone who needs to understand the basic principles and techniques of effective market or social research. Teeming with clear, practical examples and activities, tasks as well as multiple choice questions, it helps gain a good understanding of how research information can be used effectively in decision making.

“Effective Personal Communication Skills For Public Relations” by Andy Green @ Rs.295/- (219 pgs)

This book analyses how to transform your communication by managing the way you think, act, create messages and network. It also offers practical advice and guidance on understanding new trends and challenges facing communicators especially in the use of branding. Covering an array of topics such as understanding how to make communication happen, conflict resolution, networking etc it also offers exercises, checklists, examples and practical tips to help you formulate a winning communications strategy.

“Tarzan and Jane” by Margot Katz @ Rs. 250/- (216 pgs)

The author draws on her wealth of experience as a board director and consultant at Coca-Cola, Reuters and many other international organizations to show how we all need to adapt our styles not only at work, but in life as well. This entertaining and accessible guide contains revealing interviews with role models from Microsoft, BT and Chevron which explain- exactly what attributes you need to cultivate and improve in order to thrive in today’s corporate jungle.

“Kiss Theory Good Bye” by Bob Prosen @ Rs.395/- (230 pgs)

For all those who want to increase accountability, consistently accomplish objectives, have more time to plan and help their organization run more smoothly, this is the book! The corporate execution playbook with simplified guidance and proven tools and tactics can lead anyone to achieve extraordinary results. The easy to follow step-by-step instructions in this book sails you through to achieve consistent results, align your entire workforce to meet the organization’s top objectives, increase the accountability, attract and retain top talent, reduce costs while increasing quality and a lot more ….!

“Getting things done: The art of stress- free productivity” by David Allen @ Rs. 420/- (267 pgs)
In today’s world, yesterday’s methods just don’t work. The author considers that our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax and only when our minds are clear and thoughts organized can we achieve effective results and unleash our creative potential. He shares with us his breakthrough methods for stress free performance and maintains that this can transform the way you work and live.

“Why so stupid” by Edward De Bono @ Rs.250/- (123 pgs)

This book explores the true power of ‘thinking’. It focuses on the importance of thinking right to shape correct decisions and implement them successfully. The author explains how the Human race has never really ‘learned’ to think and as a consequence, such an important facility has been left underdeveloped for ages. Through this book, he makes one realize that it is possible to enhance our capability of powerful thinking and thus use the brain as a major tool in shaping our success. Also included is an interesting chapter about humour being linked with lateral thinking processes!

SocioEcoPol:

“Escape from the Benevolent Zookeepers: Best of Swaminomics” by Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar @ Rs. 495/-(253 pgs) HB

A witty sometimes-acerbic compilation of some of the best columns in ‘Swaminomics’ covers not just economic issues but also political, social and environmental ones. Topics which find special mention are globalisation and empowerment, politics and governance, communalism, economic reforms, poverty and its discontents(!), education, environment and international relations.

“Choice and Consequence” by Thomas Scheling @ Rs. 395/- (360 pgs)

From an acclaimed political economist comes a book which explores topics as awesome as nuclear terrorism, as sordid as blackmail, as ineffable as daydreaming, and as intimidating as euthanasia .He relates to issues like the economics of criminal enterprise, strategic analysis of social problems, evaluation of arms proposal and even nuclear terrorism.

“Spirit of India” by R Jahanegloo @ Rs.225/- (172 pgs)

In this fascinating exposition, the author; an eminent Iranian political philosopher; explains, how the vital principle inspiring Indian thought and action is the cross cultural debate which is deeply rooted in the daily practices of different communities. This viewpoint is brilliantly illustrated by examining the thinking of Indians who shaped and exemplified the Indian credo. The thoughts and philosophical reflections of Vinoba Bhave, Pandit Nehru, Gandhiji, Tagore, Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Abdul Kalam and Sri Aurobindo are effectively presented to put across this point.

Personalities:

“Clapton: The autobiography” @ Rs.750/- (342 pgs) HB

From a person who is more of an icon than a rock star comes an autobiography in which, with striking intimacy and candour he tells us the story of his eventful and endearing life. From the poignant reminisces of his strange yet warm childhood days, troubled teenage years, wild youth, disastrous decisions in mid life and coming full circle in the autumn of his life, the streaks of his brilliant musical genius come across - always alive, fresh and inspirational.

“Lessons from great lives” by Sterling W Sill & Dan Cormick @ Rs. 195/- (204 pgs)

This is more than a book about great people; it’s about knowledge, attitude, skills, habits and personality. Taking a leaf out of the lives of great people like Gandhi, Carver, Emerson, Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and many more…one learns how the purity of their wisdom has stood the test of time and is needed now than any other time in history.

Others:

“The Way to Freedom” by His Holiness The Dalai Lama @ 150/- (181 pgs) (Philosophy)

The library of Tibet was founded in order to preserve and disseminate the Tibetan cultural heritage. The inaugural volume of the landmark Library of Tibet series contains ten chapters, through which His Holiness The Dalai Lama, familiarizes us with the philosophy of Buddhism, the importance of a teacher, the true meaning of death and rebirth, the chakra of Karma and the Bodhisattva deeds. These discourses are presented in simple language and a lucid manner, which appeals not only to the earnest student of Philosophy but also any body who is curious about Buddhism.

“The Adventures of Amir Hamza” trs. By Musharraf Ali Farooqi @ Rs.750/- (948 pgs) (History)
The Arabian Nights of the Mughal world in its definitive English translation is spellbinding. Here are the adventures of Amir Hamza, adventurer and uncle of Prophet Muhhammad, who travels to exotic lands, defeats many enemies and encounters many kings, warriors, tricksters and fairies…. The magical stories are divided into four books with an interesting list of characters, mythical creatures, and deities.

“Bollywood Melodies” by Ganesh Anantharaman @ Rs. 295/- (261 pgs) (Films/Music)

A delightful history of the Hindi film and song and its hold over the popular psyche; this book traces the evolution of the Hindi film song to its present status as the cultural barometer of the country –through an evaluation of over fifty outstanding lyricists, composers and singers-from K. L. Saigal to Sonu Nigam, Naushad to A. R. Rahman, Sahir Ludhianvi to Javed Akhtar. A wonderfully melodious and nostalgic manner in which to understand the nations enduring love affair with the Hindi film song!!

“Outlook Weekend Breaks” - Chennai @ Rs. 295/- (Travel)

This book gives you 52 traveling ways in which you can enjoy your weekends from Chennai. It gives crisp directions and details about beautiful locales of Nilgiri’s to Yelagiri hills, beaches at Mahabalipuram and more! You will also find details of buses, planes and driving instructions, accommodation listings, a special section of light reads for the armchair traveler, tourist offices, transportation help lines and much more simply indispensable pointers, which go a long way in making a holiday/getaway successful!

“The Kingfisher explocity great food guide: Bangalore 2007” @ Rs.150/-

A comprehensive coverage of Bangalore’s restaurants and bars. Sorted in alphabetical order, by neighborhood and by cuisine. Great value add-ons like Wi Fi hotspots, home delivery…every thing you ever want to know is in there! Also a helpful ‘Kingfisher ‘s pick ‘guides you to the specialty of the place.

“Dots and lines – a teaching resource for art” by Tarit Bhattachrajee @ Rs. 200 (103 pgs) (Teaching/ Parenting)

A Tulika teacher resource, this book aims at focusing on creativity in the classroom. The authors consider it important to encourage children to express emotions and ideas through line, form, texture and colours. This book lucidly communicates fresh ideas and methods that can be used to elicit a positive response from children and may be used in any kind of teaching context.

“Mathematical Mysteries – the beauty and magic of numbers” @ Rs.295/- (312 pgs) (Sciences)

In this ‘simply’ written book, the author through fourteen interestingly titled chapters lets numbers sing their own siren song. Any of us recalling only the basics of high school algebra, can follow Clawson to the heart of mathematics and re learn to appreciate the wonder of the unexplainable symmetry, beauty and interconnectedness of numbers.

“Birdywood Buzz @ Rs.150/- (Nature)

This a zippy take on Bollywood in which the bird-loving author cleverly casts actual bird species and builds the story around their looks and features. The rich visuals and zany texts combine realism with a dash of comedy and a splash of over the top movie magic.

Comic series- “Quick and Flupke” by Herge @ Rs.199/- each

Quick and Flupke are two young men aged around ten and very prone to adventure. Quick is a street urchin from Brussels and Flupke his partner in pranks! Together they try to evade the bossy local policeman – agent 15 who is always on high alert to catch the trouble prone duo. Each comic series contains short really funny short stories, which are sure to entertain every child and adult alike.

Some interesting books from alternate publishers:

“Godhra : A Journey To Mayhem” by Nirendra Dev @ Rs.295/-
“On The Cultural Front” by Ritwik Ghatak @ Rs.100/-
“Prithviraj and Prithvi Theatres: Prithvi theatre yearbook” by Prithviraj @ Rs.395/-
“The School and The Society” by John Dewey @ Rs.195/-
“Constellations of Violence : Feminist Interventions in South Asia” by Radhika Coomaraswamy & Nimanthi Perera-Rajasingham @ Rs.400/-

Lots of new books in the Store:

“The sun rises in the evening” by Osho @ Rs.250/-
“A to Z of business strategy” by A.V. Vedpuriswar @ Rs.280/-
“Agra:The architectural heritage” by Lucy Peck @ Rs.295/-
“The Successor” by Ismail Kadare @ Rs.510/-
“Fl!p: How to succeed by turning everything you know on its head” by Peter Sheahan @ Rs.295/-
“A stubbornly persistent illusion: The essential scientific works of Albert Einstein” by Stephen Hawking @ Rs.845/-
“One master one disciple: A thrilling spiritual adventure” by Jyotii Subramanian @ Rs.250/-
“Awakening The Entrepreneur Within” by Michael E Gerber @ Rs. 525/-
“Hug Your People” by Jack Mitchell @ Rs. 630/-
“Setting the Table – the transforming power of hospitality in business” by Danny Meyer @ Rs. 475/-
“Physics for entertainment” by Yakov Perelman @ Rs. 565/-
“All Rise” by Robert Fuller @ Rs. 300/-
“What’s Next : the expert’s guide” by Jane Buckingham @ Rs. 785/-
“The Ugly Duckling” by Amita Mukherjee @ Rs. 295/-
“The Armageddon Mandala” by Gopal Mukherjee @ Rs. 395/-
“50 Prosperity Classics” @ Rs. 660/-
“Outlook Series – Wellness Holidays in India” @ Rs. 295/-
“Gang Leader For A Day – A Rogue sociologist crosses the line” by Sudhir Venkatesh @ Rs. 415/-
“The Kitchen God’s Wife” by Amy Tan @ Rs. 395/-
“Who stole my energy?” by Ariana Trinity @ Rs. 195/-
“A promise is a promise” by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer @ Rs.150/-
“The Indigo Children” by Lee Carroll & Jan Tober @ Rs. 295/-
“Right of passage: Travels from Brooklyn to Bali” by Rahul Jacob @ Rs.250/-

So, a lot of reading to catch up on!

From the team at,

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

To Whomsoever It May Concern

It's a joy to write a recommendation for Ahana.

Ahana came to us in twistntales in Aug 2005, when she had just registered for her bachelor's degree in literature.

We are a small bookstore that caters to the neighbourhood. Folks come to us for recommendations on what they should be reading. In such a scenario, Ahana fitted the role well.

But almost two years later, as she moved out, she created a void that's difficult for us to fill. Not only had she enlarged her role considerably, but also for folks that we serviced .... we had spoiled them with some exemplary reviews, amazing recommendations and completely personalising service for them.

As a bookstore owner, I was thrilled. As her boss, I was overwhelmed – she had performed way beyond expectations. But more than anything else, as a coach and human resources person, I was pleased at the constantly stretching targets that she set for herself, and successfully achieved, time and again. I was pleased to see her grow.

Ahana does things with a passion that is rare. While she was at the Store, she has often been asked, whether she owned the Store. That she did. She took ownership to get the job done and service the customer. While her knowledge about books, authors, writing styles was expected, it was her ability to interact with people that was going to be tested. But the care, the sensitivity and the interest that she took in people was surprising.

She joined us at an age when most girls tend to find social interactions a little painful, (except amongst friends their own age). She was breaking her own barriers and inhibitions with every interaction with a customer, in the process rediscovering her abilities to relate to people. Ahana is a child woman in many ways. She is completely unbiased when it comes to people. She is willing to give benefit of doubt. She is non judgmental. Her ability to relate to young kids and parents was natural, but to seniors was trying. She consciously worked on areas to develop tact, patience and sensitivity to deal with older people. That was very rewarding.

Ahana is a delight for a humanities person. From Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, her interests were varied. But reading and more so, writing seems more like her true calling. She writes with a sensitivity and fluidity that is difficult to achieve. She gets to the point, and conveys precisely in the manner she intends to. Rules, forms and the grammar of writing do not deter her. She has crafted her own unique way to communicate – and manages to touch the soul, everytime. Our book reviews were handled with flair !

As a student, Ahana learnt to do the balancing act very well. While managing the requirements of a demanding part time job, she coped well with academic pressures. Whatever Ahana does in life, it has to include an element of writing. She finds her way home through it. We wish Ahana all the very best in all her academic endeavours.


For the uninitiated, Ahana is Tia. We surely are hoping that our co-author on this blog is headed to Oxford into elite company.

Happy birthday, Tia. I know that this may be your last birthday in Pune. We will miss you. :))

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Sunday Herald story

This appeared in the Bangalore based Sunday Herald on 2nd Mar, 2008.

"A twist in the tale"

If Manneys has six decades of history surrounding it, the little 200 sq foot Twist N Tales (TNT) bookstore is a mere six years old. However, the cosy, bookshop situated in the leafy suburb of Aundh in Pune with the catchy tag line: ‘your neighbourhood bookstore,’ has leveraged all that modern technology can offer it.

It has two e-groups twistntales@yahoogroups.com and twistntalesreaderspace@yahoogroups.com and one blog: twistntales.blogspot.com to serve its approximately 2,600 customers.

Janaki Visvanath, a former MNC human resources executive and now proprietor of TNT, moderates both the e-groups and keeps in touch with all her customers by sending them regular mails about latest books available at the store. On the other hand, some 350 avid customers of TNT review books regularly and share their reviews with others on the ‘readerspace’ e-group.

But modern technology apart, TNT is a booklovers paradise. Says regular customer Ramgopal Rao, a Pune-based headhunter, “When I am stressed out at work, I run to TNT and spend an hour simply browsing and buying a few books. TNT, unlike the many assembly line bookstores of today, offers the quiet ambience for some intelligent debate and discussion with the staff, who is both young and intelligent.”

After six years of successful innovation and entrepreneurship, a happy Janaki says, “I have no reason to complain. The sales graph is looking up and so are the profits. I have also retained 40 of my oldest customers. I am happy that TNT has become a place where people come, not only to buy books, but to simply have a chat!”

Rahul Chandawarkar

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Message sent to twistntales@yahoogroups.com today

Hi all,

Welcome to the season of budgets, board exams, other exams, sleepless nights, financial year end, insurance policies, taxes.. and planning for summer holidays! Yeah! That’s something we wait for too!

In our next mail we will cover our plans for summer vacations, but as of now, we have a long list of lovely books that are just waiting to be read! But first, our good wishes to all kids who have worked so hard for impending Board exams. May your efforts be rewarding!

New Arrivals:

WoW:

“MAD” Box set @ Rs. 4695/-

Amongst MAD magazines usual gang of idiots Don Martin the artist, was aptly designated ‘MAD’s Maddest Artist’. Martin’s characters were unique- with bulbous noses atop bodies supported by pigeon-toed legs anchored by hinged feet! The characters include Fester Bestertester and his friend Karbunkle. What this certainly promises is two full volumes of the best of MAD!

All of Amitav Ghosh’s completely WOW books, though long lost, now coming back in fresh Hardbound versions. The following have been released this month.

“In An Antique Land” @ Rs. 495/- pgs 336

Combining fiction, history and travel writing, the mystery of Egypt in conjunction with India comes alive in this fantastic travelogue.

“The Shadow Lines” @ Rs. 395/- pgs 277

Out of a miraculously complex web of memories, relationships and images emerges a vivid, funny, introspective story of how your home could just as well become your enemy.

“The Calcutta Chromosome” @ Rs. 395/- pgs 262

Back to the nineteenth century from an unspecified time in the future, this is an intriguing journey through the adventures of an enigmatic scientist, keen on Sir Ronald Ross’s studies on malaria, in search of the elusive ‘Calcutta Chromosome’.

“The Circle of Reason” @ Rs. 495/- pgs 457.

Tracing an orphan’s journey across two continents from Calcutta to Goa and on to Africa the tempo of this story builds up to span a few decades initially, the second part unfolds over a few weeks and the third races through a single day -reminiscent of an Indian classic Raga.

Management:

“Billions of entrepreneurs: How China and India are reshaping their futures and yours” by Tarun Khanna @ Rs.595/- pgs 353

On–the-ground stories in conjunction with thorough research is used in this book to show how entrepreneurs in China and India are powering change through new business models and bringing hope to countless people. Issues such as the need for information accessibility, transparency and reliability; balance between private property and public interests, the need to encourage and fund indigenous enterprise etc are deftly handled and highlighted.

“Boom! 7 Choices for Blowing the Doors off Business-as-usual” by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg @ Rs. 395/- pgs 286

Twenty years of talking to America’s most innovative and unconventional business leaders and liberated employees has resulted in this eye-opening book by the Friebergs. They strongly advocate that that leadership doesn’t come from having an official title but from making choices; to serve others, take on risk, assume responsibility and discover a life where passion and excitement replace ho-hum routine. Boom! is the wake up call for every business leader who wants to change the DNA of an organization doing business as usual.

“The Inside Advantage: The strategy that unlocks the hidden growth in your business” by Robert H. Bloom @ Rs. 510/- pgs 224

Robert Bloom, CEO of Publicis Worldwide is the reason why companies such as Nestle and L’Oreal have become household names. The inside advantage or the hidden potential which exists in every enterprise can lead to the future growth of a company. Based on his 45 years of experience, Bloom explains a four-step method called the Growth Discovery Process .The process begins at the vital step of identifying a target group and goes right up to offering them more than your competitors.

“The Power of Unreasonable People: How social entrepreneurs create markets that change the world” by John Elkington and Pamela Hartigan @ Rs.1145/- pgs 239

The authors show how apparently unreasonable innovators have built their enterprises and made them consistently successful. By drawing powerful lessons from these pioneer’s market research, business models like- The Aravind Eye Care System in India, The social stock exchange in Brazil and Parquesoft in Columbia, one could gain vital insights into future opportunities for one’s organization.
Indian Writing:

“Tales from the Puffugees” by Jaspar Utley @ Rs.250/- pgs 179

A witty and entertaining book takes a definite crack at social do’s! Banished to the verandah, the puffers club vengefully have a good time entertained by a general!

“Stolen Treasure and other stories” by Rabindranath Tagore @ Rs.195/- pgs 230

Here is the short story elevated to a serious art form. Replete with wit, humour and intermingled with psychological and social realism are eighteen superb short stories that are refreshingly varied and display Tagore’s range as a writer.

“Generation 14” by Priya Sarukkai Chabria @ Rs.295/- pgs 284

Clone 14/54/G is troubled. The problem is her memory. Not the lack of it but its excess. In her world memory is forbidden. Yet, her past lives haunt her. This is not supposed to happen. Finally clone 14/54/G decides to research her original that lived in the 21st and 22nd centuries. Generation 14 is a political satire that explores the highpoints of India’s history, its plural identity and what it means to be human in today’s polarized world.

“Aditi and her friends help the Budapest Changeling” by Sunita Namjoshi @ Rs.80/- pgs 65 (Young Adults)

In this enchanting fairy tale, Siril the ant finds himself afloat in a matchbox in a river is captured by an old woman who lives in a shoe house and is later rescued by a strange creature called the ‘changeling’-who can change into whatever anyone thinks she is!

“Aditi and her friends meet Grendel” by Sunita Namjoshi @ Rs.80/- pgs 67 (Young Adults)

In this sixth book of the unique ‘Aditi’ series, when Aditi’s grandma is taken ill there seems to be only a certain magical Rose that can make her feel better. So off she goes to the coastal Devon in England where she meets the elusive Grendel, who lives under the sea, prowls around at night scaring others, who can’t remember anything and doesn’t really care! Exciting book indeed!

Fiction:

“Me, Borishailla: The epic saga of the rise of Bangladesh” by Mahua Maji @ Rs. 295/- pgs 508

An epic saga of the journey of a young man from youth to adulthood and hard work to success leading to politics and chaos .Set amidst the division of Bengal and formation of Bangladesh the book captures the pathos and struggle of the common man trapped in the crossfire of ambitions of the powerful ‘nationalists’.
“Remember me?” by Sophie Kinsella @ Rs.495/- pgs 34

What if you woke up and your life was perfect? … Wow!! Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it’s 2004 and that she’s 25yrs old with a disastrous love life. But to her surprise - its actually 2007. She’s 28 and married to a good-looking millionaire! She can’t believe her luck. What had happened to her? Will she remember? From the author of the bestsellers “Can You Keep a Secret?” and “The Undomestic Goddess” comes another ‘memorable’ book!

Socio Eco Pol

“Red Sun: Travels in Naxalite Country” by Sudeep Chakravarti @ Rs. 495/- pgs 352
In this brilliant and disturbing examination of the ‘Naxalite phenomenon’, the author combines political history, extensive interviews and individual case histories as he travels to the heart of Maoist zones like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand in the country .He meets Maoist leaders and sympathizers, policemen, bureaucrats, politicians, security analysts even farmers and tribals and puts across a sobering picture of the deep divide in society and the dangers that lie ahead for India.

Cultural:

“Moro East” by Sam and Sam Clark @ Rs. 1315/- pgs 312

Bordered by the river Lea and the Grand Union Canal is Manor Garden where reside a community of Turks and Cypriots who cultivate and cook an amazing range of food which have a unique flavor of eastern Mediterranean. Sam and Sam Clark take us on a guided culinary journey from exotic starters to more exotic tongue tickling dishes in the ‘More ‘restaurant which has consistently won awards and plaudits since its opening in 1997. It was born out of a desire to cook within the wonderful tradition of Mediterranean food and to explore the exotic flavors, little known in the UK.

“The Story of India” by Michael Wood @ Rs. 845/- pgs 225

From the Khyber pass to the Himalayas and to the tropical jungles of India’s deep South, this original and striking survey of Indian history provides vivid portraits of India’s regions and cultures and new insights into some of history’s greatest figures like the Buddha and Ashoka. Dazzling colour photographs capture an extraordinary spectrum of landscapes, architectural splendours, customs, rituals and festivals (especially Holi!).A magical mystery of travelogue and history, it paints an everlasting picture of India- past present and future.

“Freud Along the Ganges: Psychoanalytic Reflections on the People and Culture of India” Ed. by Salman Akhtar @ Rs. 395/- pgs 451

The book delves into the Psychology of the mind, body and spirit from the perspective of the proverbial Indian and India as a country. With contributions from eminent people from the field of Psychology like Santanu Biswas, Prakash N Desai, Jaswant Guzder, Sudhir Kakar etc, essays on ‘The Development of Gandhi’s self’, Hindu–Muslim relations in India: Past, Present and future’, ‘Manifestation of God in India’, ’Psychoanalytic Process in a sacred Hindu Text: The Bhagwad Gita’ provide a refreshing viewpoint.

“From Kippers to Karimeen: A life” by Psyche Abraham @ Rs.295/- pgs 214

An amazing story of love- for people, places and a new country - through the eyes of a sensitive, intelligent British lady, this book maps her journey from working in a post office in London to Bombay then Calcutta and finally Kerala. Through her journeys, trials tribulations and immense joy one comes to realize her enduring love for India and the family that grew around her.

Inspiration:

“Strengths Finder 2.0” by Tom Rath @ Rs. 595/- pgs 175

In Strengths Finder 2.0, a new and improved version of the popular assessment, strength analyzing helps us to help people uncover their talents and nurture them to make the most of it. Loaded with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, this new book from Gallup promises to change the way you look at yourself and the world around you, forever.

“The Third Jesus: How to find truth and love in today’s world” by Deepak Chopra @ Rs.495/- pgs 241

Through this book Deepak Chopra searches for the Christ who stands in the heart of Christianity and Deepak Chopra also attempts to discover the identity of Jesus. According to the author, there are three separate figures of Jesus and by considering each of these, the author allows us to decide for ourselves which of them speaks the most clearly to us today. When we become familiar with Jesus as our spiritual guide, we will begin to create a brighter future, free from hatred fuelled by religious fundamentalism.

Others:

“No sex please, we’re parents: How your relationship can survive children” by Melanie Roberts-Fraser and Oliver Roberts @ Rs.295/- pgs 228 (Parenting)

The authors, who are parents themselves, have addressed the key issue of troubles faced by couples all over the world after the arrival of a baby. Becoming a parent is a life- changing experience and after interviewing numerous new parents and careful deliberations from both the male and female perspective, the book offers commonsense counsel on how to veer this change away from the negative and towards a positive phase in life.

“The Trial of Bahadur Shah Zafar” by H.L.O Garrett @ Rs.395/- pgs 450 (History)

From the author of highly acclaimed books like ‘The Shade of Swords: Jihad and the conflict between Islam and Christianity,’ Kashmir: Behind the Vale’, ’Riot after Riot’ and ‘Byline’ comes another well researched, beautifully worded book about the tragic story of the last Babar ruler –Bahadur Shah Zafar. Who was tried for’ treason’ and war crimes in his own country. The documentation and narration of the instigation of the Muslim citizenry and various factors which led to the downfall and despair of an entire perhaps incipient nation is invaluable material for the history buff as well as any historian.

More new books – will be reviewed next week:

“Outlook - Weekend breaks from Chennai” @ Rs. 295/-
“Dots and lines – a teaching resource for art” by Tarit Bhattachrajee @ Rs. 200/-(Tulika)
“Birdywood Buzz” (Tulika) – Hindi/ English @ Rs. 150/-
“An Intro to Market and Social Research” by Karen Adams & Ian Brace @ Rs.175/-
“Effective Personal Communication Skills For Public Relations” by Andy Green @ Rs.295/-
“Successful Strategy Execution” by Michel Syrett @ Rs.250/-
“Taking Pictures’ by Anne Enright @ Rs.470/-
“Breathless in Bombay” by Murzban F Shroff @ Rs. 295/-
“Guide to Project Management” by Paul Roberts @ Rs. 350/-
“The Co-wife and other stories” by Munshi Premchand @ Rs. 250/-
“The Way to Freedom” @ Rs. 150/- by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
“The Blind Pilgrim” by Bapsy Jain @ Rs. 250/-
“New Life” by Vijai Dan Detha @ Rs. 225/-
“Gently falls the Bakula” by Sudha Murthy @ Rs. 150/-
“Tarzan and Jane” by Margot Katz @ Rs. 250/-
“Ines of my soul” by Isabel Allende @ Rs. 295/-
“Yes! 50 secrets from the science of persuasion” by Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J Martin, Robert B Cialdini @ Rs.250/-
“The Girl” by Sonia Faleiro @ Rs. 150/-
“Book of Humour” by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 195/-
“Choice and Consequence” by Thomas Scheling @ Rs. 395/-
“Competing with the Best – Strategic Management of Indian Companies In a Globalizing Arena” by Rajnish Karki @ Rs. 450/-
“The Adventures of Amir Hamza” trs. by Musharraf Ali Farooqi @ Rs.750/-
“Bollywood Melodies” by Ganesh Anantharaman @ Rs. 295/-
“Mathematical Mysteries – the beauty and magic of numbers” by Calvin C Clawson @ Rs. 295/-
“Coffee with …….. series @ Rs. 250/- each. We have in the store - Marilyn Munroe, Mozart, and Oscar Wilde.

Happy Reading and see you at the Store!

From the team at,

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Message sent to twistntales@yahoogroups on 11th Feb'08

Hi all,

Welcome to another round of new books, all done lovingly for your reading pleasure! And as Valentine’s Day is approaching, we have put a rack of all time classic love stories. Do come and check it out!

New Arrivals:

Indian Writing

“The Japanese Wife” by Kunal Basu @ Rs. 395/- (203 pgs)
The twelve stories in this collection are about the unexpected. An Indian man falls in love with his Japanese pen friend and they fall in love and exchange vows of marriage over letters and live as a married couple without ever meeting each other. An American professor visits India with the intention of committing suicide but ends up on a desert journey with the daughter of a snake charmer. A Russian prostitute discovers her roots in the company of Calcutta revolutionaries. These are some of the stories that light up this collection. These stories are chronicles of memory and dreams born at the crossroads of civilizations. They parade a cast of angels and demons rubbing shoulders with those whose lives are never quite as ordinary as they seem.

“Lashkar” by Mukul Dev @Rs. 195/- (363 pgs)
An action packed political thriller, this book moves from Delhi to the rugged mountains in Kashmir-Lahore-Multan and Karachi. A terrorist attack during Diwali shakes the Indian public to demand for justice and only the elite, ultra secret force–22 of the Indian army, can achieve this. Slickly written, Lashkar is a gripping tale of terror and counter terror and the games that governments play.

“Bombay Tiger” by Kamala Markandaya @ Rs. 495/- (327 pgs)
Set in the 1980’s the story narrates the story of Ganguli – who arrives in Bombay penniless and goes on to become the city’s biggest industrialist. It’s a story of guts and nerve and ambition powered by a ruthless thirst to succeed. This sweeping novel is poignant and comic in turn and traces his rise and fall and finally – redemption. This posthumous publication of Kamala Markandaya’s novel is a tribute to her deep understanding of human traits. From the author of the much acclaimed book ‘ Nectar in A Sieve”, this novel makes a wonderful read.

Fiction

“Starbook: A Magical Tale of Love and Regeneration” by Ben Okri @ Rs. 455/- (422 pgs)
From the Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri, comes a book “A Magical Tale of Love and Regeneration”. On one level this is the story of a prince and a maiden who are both tested by trials in a mythical land where art, initiation and dynamic stillness are supremely important. On another level, this book opens up the nature of reality, where the essence of life is revealed, and where beauty, regeneration and fulfillment are perhaps possible. Ben Okri won the Booker Prize for his previous novel, The Famished Road, and his latest book is a pleasure to read, imaginative and a profound work of literature.

“Duma Key” by Stephen King @Rs. 720/- (579 pgs)
Duma Key is a beautiful, remote stretch of sand, a tangle of banyans, palms and pines. The only inhabitants are a few houses owned by an old lady named Elizabeth. Edgar Freemantle chooses Duma Key as his holiday location after a horrible accident costs him his arm. He discovers a unique talent for painting, encouraged by his youngest daughter. But soon he finds himself experiencing weird phantom pains in his missing arm. And something strange and disturbing is happening with his paintings: they are becoming predictive, even dangerous to those who but them. Freemantle teams up with Wireman, a fellow resident to solve the mystery of Duma Key which leads them to the mystery of Elizabeth’s lost twin sisters. Duma Key is a mesmerizing and compelling story about friendship, the bond between a father and his daughter and the power of memory, and truth, art and nature.

“The Sirens of Baghdad” by Yasmina Khadra @ Rs. 350/- (310 pgs)
Three events transform a student who has been forced to leave the University of Baghdad for his village, after the American invasion. First, American soldiers at a checkpoint kill the beloved village idiot. Then an American plane bombs a wedding nearby. Finally one night, soldiers come to his home and humiliate his father in full view of his terrified family. Consumed by vengeance, he leaves for Baghdad and is taken in by a radical group. After participating in several attacks he is sent to Beirut to undertake a top-secret mission in London. As the time to board the plane nears, he struggles to reconcile his mission with his moral principles. A masterful and chilling look at violence and its effects on ordinary people, The Sirens of Baghdad probes situations few writers dare examine.

“World Without End” by Ken Follett @ Rs. 995/- (1111 pgs)
On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. But always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day. A sequel to the best-selling The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End takes us back to the medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change.

“The Quest” by Wilbur Smith @Rs. 760/- (504 pgs)
Wilbur Smith returns with the eagerly awaited sequel to his thrilling Egyptian series. Following on from River God, The Seventh Scroll and Warlock, The Quest continues the story of the warlock, Taita, wise in the lore of the ancient gods and a master of magic and the supernatural. The Quest is an extraordinary, compelling novel of adventure, proving that, once more, Wilbur Smith is at the height of his storytelling powers.

“The Appeal” by John Grisham @Rs. 245/- (501 pgs)
The Appeal is a powerful and shocking story of manipulation and political and legal intrigue, a story that will leave the readers unable to think about the electoral process or judicial system in quite the same way ever again. When, in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste, the company decides to appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it. Mr. Trudeau, owner of the company, is convinced the jury is against him and decides to buy himself a seat on the Court. His political operatives recruit a young, unsuspecting candidate, finance him, manipulate him, market him and mould him into a potential Supreme Court justice, their Supreme Court justice.

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak @ Rs. 340/- (554 pgs)
In 1939, the Nazis have taken over Germany and the country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. The novel is narrated by Death. Unsettling, thought provoking, life affirming, triumphant and tragic, this is a novel of breathtaking scope and masterfully told.

“Antony and Cleopatra” by Colleen McCullough @ Rs. 250/- (594 pgs)
This is the seventh and last volume in the best-selling Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough. Brutus and Cassius, Caesar’s assassins, are dead at Philippi, leaving two men to inherit the world. One is the 21 year-old Octavian, whose brilliance, subtlety and cunning give the lie to his small, sickly appearance. The other is Mark Antony, a man in his prime – proven on the battlefields of war, politics and love. At first glance, it seems no contest: Antony is the clear winner. In Egypt meanwhile Queen Cleopatra mourns the death of Caesar, yet is utterly focused on attaining world power for her son by Caesar, Caesarion. In order to achieve this she must seduce and hold in thrall either Octavian or Antony. She fails with Octavian but succeeds with Antony. Undying love, unquenchable hate, the bitterness of defeat and the exaltation of victory march through the pages as Antony and Cleopatra pit themselves against Octavian and Rome.

“My Mistress Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories from Chekhov to Munro” edited by Jeffrey Eugenides @ Rs. 295/- (542 pgs)
Twenty-six great love stories from across the globe and through various cultures, this book is a compilation of missives from the hearts of authors ranging from Chekhov, William Faulkner, Milan Kundera, Maupassant, Eilleen Chang and Malice Munro. Edited by Pulitzer –prize-winning author Jeffrey Eugenides, one ought to read this book ‘not to confirm the brutal realities of love, but to experience its many, variegated, compensatory pleasures’. Good thought to ponder upon…now that Valentine’s Day is closing in!

“At First Sight” by Nicholas Sparks @ Rs. 253/- (342 pgs)
Jeremy Marsh has always vowed he’d never do certain things: leave New York City, give his heart away again after barely surviving one failed marriage and most of all become a parent. Now Jeremy is living in the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Caroline, married to Lexie Darnell, the love of his life and anticipating the birth of their daughter. But just as his life seems to be settling into a blissful pattern, an unsettling and mysterious message re-opens old wounds and sets off a chain of events that will forever change the course of this young couple’s marriage. This new romance by the best-selling author of The Notebook is sure to please many of his fans amongst us.

“Notorious: An It Girl Novel” by Cecily Von Ziegesar @ Rs. 270/- (282 pgs)
Jenny Humphrey arrived at exclusive Waverly Academy with dreams of becoming it. And, rooming with popular, cool girls Callie Vernon and Brett Messerschmidt, as well as having some of the hottest guys after her, it finally seems to be happening! But things get tricky when Callie’s gorgeous, arty boyfriend Easy Walsh starts paying Jenny too much attention. And it really heats up when notorious Tinsley Carmichael, expelled last year, comes back. She’s not impressed to find a perky, rosy-cheeked new girl in her bed. Four beautiful girls, outrageous gossip and more trouble than ever, Notorious is the second book in the It Girl Series.

“Heirs of Ravenscar” by Barbara Taylor Bradford @ Rs. 295/- (563 pgs)
Set in the times just after World War II, this is a compelling story of the proud Deravenel clan of Ravenscar. When jealousies, gossip and irresponsible behaviour tarnish the family’s image, the fortunes of the house of Deravenel begin to suffer. This is when the youngest generation rises to uphold the family’s name and secure the Ravenscar inheritance – by whichever possible means.

“The Fifth Woman” by Henning Mankell @ Rs. 235/- (438 pgs)
Translated from the Swedish by Steven T. Murray, this is a Kurt Wallander murder mystery. In a bid to solve a pair of baffling murders, Wallander has to trace other happenings in Africa where four nuns and an unidentifiable woman were murdered. What ensues is a case which tests Wallander’s strength and patience and goes on to hold the attention of the reader from the beginning to the last page.

“Neither Night nor Day: 13 Stories by Women Writers From Pakistan” Ed. by Rakshanda Jalil @ Rs. 250/- (191 pgs)
The stories in this book present an everydayness of life as it is lived and experienced by Pakistani women. The majority writers chosen actually live in Pakistan and those who live and work abroad have maintained close links with their country. Fantasies, memoirs, near-autobiographical accounts, even a good old-fashioned put-your-hair-on-end ghost story as well as realist storytelling – this collection is a mixed bag, one that will yield something of interest to readers regardless of gender.

Management/ Business

“Dragons At Your Door: How Chinese Cost Innovation Is Disrupting Global Competition” by Ming Zeng and Peter J. Williamson @ Rs. 1249/- (239 pgs)
With awareness that China is indeed a force to reckon with in global business competition, the book examines this new force and exposes the strategies, strengths and limitations of the fast rising competitors and surfaces the logic enabling them to attack high end industries. With critical insights of the nature of companies like Huawei, Lenovo, Haier etc just tells us - how Chinese cost innovation is disrupting global competition.

“Big Think Strategy: How to leverage bold ideas and leave small thinking behind” by Bernd H. Schmitt @ Rs. 1249/- (180 pgs)
Through numerous business case studies and commentaries on cultural phenomena like the Trojan War, the film Fitzcarraldo and the composer Gustav Mahler, Schmitt shows us how to ‘think big’ by sourcing and implementing bold ideas that change markets. He carefully breaks down his ‘think big’ approach to create simple tools that can be adapted and applied within any company. The book provides step-by-step instructions for sourcing innovative ideas, evaluating them, turning them into strategy and executing them.

“Executing Your Strategy: How To Break It Down and Get It Done” by Mark Morgan, Raymond E. Levitt, William Malek @ Rs. 1250/- (290 pgs)
In this book, the authors show the reader how to overcome barriers between strategists and project leaders in your organization. The authors identify the six INVEST imperatives that will enable you to do the right strategic projects and to do these projects right- namely Ideation, Nature, Vision, Engagement, Synthesis, Transition. Filled with practical advice and examples form companies as diverse as AT&T, American Power Conversion, and DPR Construction, this new resource shows you how to make strategies happen in your organization.

“What the Customer Wants You to Know: How Everybody Needs to Think Differently About Sales” by Ram Charan @ Rs. 295/- (178 pgs)
More than ever these days, the sales process often turns into a war about price. In this book, the author says that instead of starting with your product or service, start with your customer’s problems. Focus on becoming your customer’s trusted partner, someone he or she can turn to for creative cost-effective solutions that are based on your deep knowledge of his values, goals, problems and customers. This is the latest book from best-selling author Ram Charan who has written What the CEO Wants You To Know and co-authored Execution.

Personalities

“The Devdasi and the Saint: The Life and Times of Bangalore Nagarathamma” by Sriram V. @ Rs. 275/- (207 pgs)
In this book, the rise and fall of the Devdasi tradition is intertwined with the life and times of Bangalore Nagarathamma. Bangalore Nagarathamma was an icon of that age, highly skilled in arts and well regarded by connoisseurs of music. She was an exceptional woman, much ahead of her times, champion of the rights of the Devdasis and women in general. From small beginnings, Nagarathamma rose to become a stellar figure in the cultural firmament of Madras of the 20s and 30s. This work is a tribute to her indomitable spirit and her unrelenting efforts to perpetuate the memory of her patron saint, Tyagaraja.

“India’s Bismarck: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel” by Balraj Krishna @ Rs. 300/- (281 pgs)
As Prime Minister of Britain, Winston Churchill had ordered the preparation of an imperial strategy with the intention of balkanizing India and tightening Britain’s post-war hold over her. However Sardar Patel foiled Churchill’s imperial strategy. He stood in the way of transfer of power unless Punjab and Bengal were divided amongst India and Pakistan. Fearing the loss of Congress cooperation, Lord Mountbatten was forced to reach an agreement with Patel. Patel’s most significant achievement was to integrate over 560 princely states over a period of 19 months to create a united India. This book examines the extraordinary contribution of ‘the Iron Man of India’, from his unflinching support to Gandhi’s satyagrahas and the Indian freedom struggle, to his farsighted and courageous approach in building a strong and integrated India.

Socio-Eco-Pol-Philo

“Eating India: Exploring a Nation’s Cuisines” by Chitrita Banerji @ Rs. 350/- (329 pgs)

In Eating India, award-winning food writer Chitrita Banerji takes us on an extraordinary journey through a national cuisine formed by generations of arrivals, assimilations and conquests. Travelling across the length and breadth of the country – from Bengal to Goa and Karnataka, via the Grand Trunk Road, then northwards to Amritsar, Lucknow and Varanasi, on to Bombay and Kerala – Banerji discovers a civilization with an insatiable curiosity, one that consumes the old and new with eager voracity. Certain to enchant anyone enamored of Indian food and culture, Eating India is a heavy blend of travelogue and food writing.

“To Uphold the World: The Message of Ashoka and Kautilya for the 21st Century” by Bruce Rich @ Rs. 495/- (326 pgs)

Emperor Ashoka’s name continues to shine even after 2000 years! Mostly because his ideas remain critically pertinent to the problems of our time. Bruce Rich discusses how Ashoka’s ideas on social responsibility and his general diagnosis of the power of behavioral improvement can help to overcome significant drawbacks in contemporary thinking. Supported by Kautilya, who exhorted the effectiveness of social institutions through the force of restraint, punishment and well-devised incentives, the age of Ashoka has an applicability that is timeless and ephemeral.

“The Present as History: Critical Perspectives on Global Power” by Nermeen Shaikh @ Rs. 495/- (276 pgs)

The author has worked at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute at Islamabad, the International Institute for Environment and Development in London and is now at the Asia Society in New York City. She has interwoven enlightening and empowering conversations with thirteen stalwarts like Amartya Sen, Joseph Stglitz, Sanjay Reddy Shirin Ebadi, Talal Asad and Saba Mahmood. These interviews with contemporary intellectuals open surprising vistas of thoughts on secularism, social development, liberal economics and many more issues that are the basic fabric of today’s global society.

Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich @ Rs. 535/- (320 pgs)

In a previous book, entitled Blood Rites: Origins and History of the Passions of War, Barbara Ehrenreich studied the ‘dark side of human collective excitement.’ Dancing in the Streets explores the other side…the need for collective joy and ecstasy to cement social ties. Dance, music and physical touch were the main ingredients in the rituals of joy-making…until the stern doctrines of orthodox Christianity stamped them out, terming them ‘hysterical’ forms of worship. Journeying through ancient Greece and Aboriginal Australia to the present-day exhilaration of rock music and football hooliganism, Ehrenreich brings us a mixture of social anthropology and story-telling, bringing to life the age-old struggle between ‘popes and dancing peasants.’

Parenting

“50 Easy Ways Kids Can Help Animals” by Ingrid Newkirk @ Rs. 250/- (266 pgs)

An educative book for children and adults alike, it lists simple and effective means by which people can be sensitized about animal rights/ways in which cruelty to animals can be prevented. It contains simply worded suggestions with quotes from celebrities like Anil Kumble, John Abraham, Madhavan etc. Targeting the young and impressionable phase of childhood, this book is a classic case of spreading awareness at the grass roots level of a population.

“Incredible You” by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer @ Rs. 375/-

From the author of 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace comes a book based on the same principles. Only it’s for children! The author believes that it’s never too early for children to know that they’re unique and powerful beings, and that they have everything they need within themselves to create happy, successful lives. And at the end there are questions that kids can answer to connect these ideas to their lives. The ten concepts are given in small rhyming verses with brilliant illustrations, making it easier for parents to read out to their kids.

Nature

“The Drunken Forest” by Gerald Durrell @ Rs. 150/- (176 pgs)

The Drunken Forest is an account of the trip taken by Gerald Drruell and his wife to South America, to make a collection of the strange animals and birds available in this part of the world and bring them back alive to the zoos. The Argentine Pampas and the little-known Chaco territory of Paraguay provide the setting for The Drunken Forest. With Durrell for interpreter, an orange armadillo, or a horned toad, or a crab-eating raccoon suddenly discovers the ability not merely to set you laughing but to actually endear itself to you.

“Two in the Bush” by Gerald Durrell @ Rs. 150/- (189 pgs)

Two in the Bush is an account of a trip taken by the author, his wife and two cameramen through New Zealand, Australia and Malaya. The objective was to see what was being done about the conservation of wildlife in these countries, and to make a series of television films for the BBC. This account is an absorbing narrative, revealing the ardours, ironies and disappointments, the organizational miracles and the hilarious human mishaps.

Other newer arrivals

“The complete MAD Box set”
“Strengths Finder 2.0” by Tom Rath @Rs. 595/- (175 pgs)
“Moro East” by Sam and Sam Clark @ Rs. 1315/- (312 pgs)
“The Story of India” by Michael Wood @Rs. 845/- (225 pgs)
“Freud Along the Ganges: Psychoanalytic Reflections on the People and Culture of India” Ed. by Salman Akhtar @Rs. 395/- (451 pgs)
“Boom: 7 Choices for Blowing the Doors off Business-as-usual” by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg @Rs. 395/- (286 pgs)
“Red Sun: Travels in Naxalite Country” by Sudeep Chakravarti @ Rs. 495/- (352 pgs)

Drop in and have a look,

From the team at,
twistntales

Monday, February 11, 2008

Linkless and Tedi-ess

Ok, I've been trying to create links, but it doesn't seem to be working. I really want yall to read this excerpt I found...so I'll be tedious and tell you how to get to it.

Go to books.google.com and search for 'Bumping Into God.'
The full name is Bumping Into God: 35 Stories of Finding Grace in Unexpected Places by Fr. Dominic Grassi.

I think the whole book is available online, but please read the chapter titled 'a bookshop one flight down.'

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Review of books sent out today to twistntales@yahoogroups



Hi all,

Welcome to another long list of lovely books, some great ones to give us company as we brave the winter chill and unit tests!

As we enter the exam season, we at twistntales are a bit stretched in terms of in-store help …. So the call goes around again. We are happy to have Samar and Jahnavi come back to do short stints, but as summer vacation is round the corner, we are starting to look at extra hands to help us out. We are looking for folks who will do 4-hour part time slots – vacancies exist from March to July. If you know of students/ others who may be interested, kindly ask them to call us. Minimum XIIth class, appearing this year is also fine, but primarily interested in books and people, staying in Aundh or around.

Now we get on to the business of books!

WOW:

“Fundoo t-shirt quotes” @ Rs.95/- (320pgs)

This book contains quotes that we generally find in T-shirts. The book contains 300 smart quotes to be used in a variety of situations & we find most quotes apt and appropriate to our day-to-day life. Quotations are witty. While some of these are plain funny others are ironic and thought provoking. For e.g.: “Reality keeps on ruining my life”, “Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life”, “Take my advice I don’t use it anyway”, “Success is a relative term – it brings so many relatives” Go for it J J.

“Fully Empowered” by Pablo Neruda @ Rs.150/- (135 pgs) – a bilingual edition (English-Spanish - Poetry)

Fully Empowered was first published in Spanish in 1962 and was one of Neruda’s favourites among his own works, and he specifically asked his finest translator Alastair Reid, to translate it into English. Thirty-six poems in this collection vary from short intense lyrics, characteristic Neruda odes, whimsical addresses to friends and his magnificent meditations on the role of the poet. Within Fully Empowered are many poems among the greatest of Neruda’s work, including ‘The People’, his most celebrated later poem.

“Do - it -Yourself Art / Educational kits – @ Rs. 150/- (Fine Arts)

Six sets of D I Y kits, each with an amazing topic and truly capturing the essence of Indian folk art/paintings across the country. The art of Warli painting, Madhubani, Patua, Gond, Phad painting and Indian clay beads are made ‘child’s play’ for one and all! Each kit comes equipped with all ingredients and materials required to complete a single painting. Makes a perfect gift, pastime, new hobby or project. Made and marketed by Intach, Pune.

FICTION

“The Bad Girl” by Mario Vargas Llosa (Translated by Edith Grossman) @ Rs. 495/- (276 pgs)

Ricardo Somocurcio is in love with a bad girl. She appears in various guises over many years but does not seem to remember who she was earlier. She treats Ricardo very poorly but yet he is doomed to worship her. Gifted liar and irresistible, maddening muse – does Ricardo ever know who she really is? The answer is as unclear as what has become of Ricardo himself, a lifelong expatriate shadowed by the sense that he is only ever drifting. In Mario Vargas Llosa’s beguiling new novel, the strange bedfellows of good and bad turn out not to be what they appear.

“Sisters” by Danielle Steel @ Rs. 230/- (413 pgs)

Four sisters who have been fervently pursuing success and their own lives come together to share one New York brownstone, to support each other and to pick up the pieces while one sister struggles to heal her shattered body and soul. A bustling house is soon filled with eccentric dogs, laughter, tears, friends and men…and the kind of honesty and unconditional love only sisters can provide. But as the four women settle in, each is forced to confront the direction of their respective lives. With unerring insight and compassion, Danielle Steel tells a compelling story of four sisters who are irrevocably woven into the fabric of each other’s lives.

“Then We Came To The End” by Joshua Ferris @ Rs. 252/- (389 pgs)

They spend their days – and too many of their nights – at work. Away from their friends and family, they share a stretch of stained carpet with a group of strangers they call colleagues. Amidst the boredom, redundancies, water-cooler moments, meetings, flirtations and pure rage, life is happening, to their great surprise all around them. Then We Came To The End is about sitting all morning next to someone you cross the road to avoid the lunch. It’s the story of the life of most people. “The best comedy debut of the year”

“Bungalow 2” by Danielle Steel @ Rs. 995/- (338pgs)

In this new novel Bungalow 2, author Danielle Steele takes us beyond the dazzle of Hollywood – the story of one woman’s journey from suburban mom to award-winning screenwriter and all the joy, heartbreak and challenges that come along the way. Steele takes us into a world few ever see – a world of fame and fortune, celebrity and genius – daring to show us the real lives, real dreams and real struggles hidden beneath the flash and glitter of Hollywood.

“Airman” by Eoin Colfer @ Rs. 275/- (424 pgs)

Conor Broekhart was born to fly. Or more accurately he was born flying. Little wonder he became what he became. In an age of discovery and invention many dreamed of flying, but for Conor flight was more than just a dream, it was his destiny. In one dark night on the island of Great Saltee, a cruel and cunning betrayal destroyed his life and stole his future. Now Conor must win the race for flight, to save his family and to right a terrible wrong. Airman is the new hugely entertaining and action-packed thriller by the best-selling author of the Artemis Fowl series.

INDIAN WRITING

“Lunatic In My Head” by Anjum Hasan @ Rs. 295/- (291 pgs)

In the early 90s, in Shillong, eight-year-old Sophie Das just realizes she is adopted, but there is also a baby kicking inside her mother’s womb whom she’s dying to meet. IAS aspirant Aman Moondy is planning a first-of-its-kind Happening and praying the lovely Concordella will come. College lecturer, Firdaus Ansari is going to finish her thesis, have a hard talk with her boyfriend and then get out. Poetic, funny, tender and reflective, Lunatic in My Head is a moving portrait of a small town and of these three people joined to each other in an intricate web, all determined to break out of their small town destinies.

“Animal’s People” by Indra Sinha @ Rs. 396/- (374 pgs)

Animal’s People is a stunningly humane work of storytelling that takes us right to the heart of contemporary India. The voice of Animal, the narrator is bawdy, irreverent and smart. Animal’s vernacular with its mangled, Yoda-like syntax, conjures up the colour, cruelty and camaraderie of life in the Indian city of Khaufpur. Compellingly honest and entirely without self-pity, Animal lights up our journey into his dark world with flashes of pure joy. Shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize.

“The Age of Shiva” by Manil Suri @ Rs. 495/- (455 pgs)

This story starts in a college scenario where two sisters, Roopa and Meera are listening to
a song sung by Dev. Roopa is older than Meera as well as more beautiful. Dev sings a passionate song in praise for Roopa unaware of the fact that the same song arouses passionate feelings in the heart of Meera. The story starts on this background and depicts the tragedy that Meera faces in her life. The story is very revealing of the true face of India society about how the women have been tortured and her struggle for existence. The Age of Shiva is the powerful story of an ancient society in transition and an extraordinary portrait of maternal love.
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“The Shattered Thigh and Other Plays” by Bhasa (Translated by Aditya Narayana Dhairyasheel Haksar) @ Rs. 200/- (128 pgs)

Bhasa is one of the most celebrated names in classical Sanskrit literature. He lived and wrote about two thousand years ago and even preceded Kalidasa, the great poet and dramatist of ancient India. In fact Kalidasa himself praises Bhasa in one of his plays. Bhasa’s works were considered lost until the beginning of the 20th century when thirteen of them were discovered in Kerala. Six of these, which form this collection, are based on the Mahabharata, which provides a thematic unity to the plays. The short and fast-paced plays in this collection are remarkable in their nearness to modern idiom despite their antiquity.

HISTORY

“Rani” by Jaishree Misra @ Rs. 350/- (416 pgs)

When thirteen-year-old Manikarnika is married to the King of Jhansi, little does she realize the burden of greatness awaiting her. She is renamed Lakshmibai – after the Goddess of Wealth. As she grows from a girl to a woman she desires to emerge as a capable Queen beloved of her people. When the British under Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse annex Jhansi after the death of her infant son and husband, she turns to Robert Ellis, an officer of the East India Company and Jhansi’s political agent. When he tries to assist her while trying to stay loyal to his government, he is sent away in disgrace and meanwhile she in the company of her comrades-in-arms, Nanasahib (the Peshwa Bajirao II’s adopted son) and Tantia Tope is inexorably drawn into the vortex of the Great Revolt of 1857. Unfolding against the events leading to the first war of Indian Independence, Rani is a majestic yet human story about the ageless conflicts between love and loyalty, duty and desire.

“Prison and chocolate cake” by Nayantara Sahgal @ Rs.295/- (216pgs+)

The book is about an unusual childhood of Nayantara Sehgal, who was born into the ‘first family’ of Indian politics – The Nehrus. It is a dramatic portrayal of a family for whom the country’s fight for freedom was more important than anything else, certainly coming before comfort and riches. Sehgal describes growing up at Anand Bhavan in Allahabad, the home her family shared with her maternal uncle Jawaharlal Nehru. The book is particularly delightful in its portrayal of Nehru as a man of friendly humanity and joy, which made him a beloved uncle, yet with an inborn greatness that inspired awe and admiration in the little girl.

“War of civilizations: India and 1857 (in two hardbound volumes)” by Amaresh Mishra @ Rs.2500/-

This two-volume work, details for the first time, the shaping up of a titanic, and the most, bitter conflict of the nineteenth century. The 1857 revolt was a turning point in the history of modern India. The world still bears the scars, victory marks, and the results of India versus the West, War of Civilization that ensued in 1857 and went on for over a decade. More than 10 million Indians – 7% of the country’s population – lost their lives, most of them massacred in cold blood by marauding British troops. The author shows how the British even killed their own women and children and blamed Indians for, to justify their excesses. The author also shows how the West’s overall defeat in 1857 prepared the world for de-colonization, making it ultimately safer for democracy.

“The Mutiny” by Julian Rathbone @ Rs. 295/- (447 pgs)

Julian Rathbone succeeds brilliantly in recreating the chaos, the savagery and the clash of cultures in India in 1857. The stories of his own characters – the young army wife Sophie Hardcastle whose son disappears amid the fighting, the gallant but naïve spy Bruce Farquhar, and Uma Blackstock, the Eurasian daughter of a British officer forced to choose where her loyalties lie – are all woven seamlessly into the wider narrative of a world turned upside down. The Mutiny is fiction that movingly reanimates the history upon which it draws.

PERSONALITIES

“Shakespeare” by Bill Bryson @ Rs.325/- (200 pgs)

William Shakespeare, the most celebrated playwright and poet in the English language left behind nearly a million words of text, but his biography has long been a thicket of supposition arranged around scant facts. With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bill Bryson sorts through this colourful muddle to reveal the man himself. Vivid, unsentimental, witty and fast-paced, it’s a biography that does justice to Shakespeare’s achievements.

“Perfect Hostage- A Life of Aung San Suu Kyi” by Justin Wintle @ Rs. 670/- (450pgs)

Like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi has become an iconic figure. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, since 1988 she has steadfastly opposed Burma’s brutal military regime, instituted by General Ne Win in 1962. But her leadership of the Burmese democracy movement, and her ardent advocacy of human rights, has landed her in desperate trouble. Author Justin Wintle, gives us the fullest biography of Aung San Suu Kyi to date, asking searching questions along the way.

“Brushing Up The Years: A Cartoonist’s History of India 1947 to the Present” by R. K. Laxman @ Rs. 495/- (302 pgs)

Brushing Up The Years is a selection of the very best of cartoonist R. K. Laxman’s cartoons, drawn over a career spanning six decades. From India’s first general elections to Nehru’s Five-Year plans, from wars with China and Pakistan to the reign of Indira Gandhi and the Emergency, from Rajiv Gandhi’s government, the rise of regional politics and the fall of the Babri Masjid to economic liberalization, the rule of the BJP and the Congress’s return to power, these cartoons trace a history of modern India, a history that is perceptive, provocative and humorous. This new paperback edition of Brushing Up The Years contains 8 new pages of cartoons, bringing the story up to the present.

“About Me (Apni Khabar)” by Pandey Bechan Sharma ‘Ugra’ (Translated with an introduction by Ruth Vanita) @ Rs. 250/- (162 pgs)

Pandey Bechan Sharma Ugra’s memoir, Apni Khabar, is considered to be the first autobiography written in modern Hindi that displays a striking originality in its tone and style. It marked a radical departure from the established autobiographical and biographical conventions of its time, and is now regarded as an example of a new genre of writing because of its intrinsic modernity and individualism. Translated for the first time into English by Ruth Vanita, About Me depicts Ugra’s exploration of the making of the modern, North Indian male intellectual self, with layers drawn from urban and rural orthodox and radical, Hindu and Muslim cultures.


“Ammi: Letter to a Democratic Mother” by Saeed Mirza @ Rs. 395/- (306 pgs)

Ammi: Letter to a Democratic Mother is a novel that takes the form of a letter written by Saeed Mirza to his late mother, a pastiche of memories that honour the political creed she stood for, the egalitarian spirit of democracy she believed in, the faith from which she drew strength. Shifting deftly from one form to another – short story, poetry, parable, legend, satire, travelogue, memoir, history, diatribe, film script – Mirza creates an unforgettable literary installation.

“Krishna: Life and Song of the Blue God” by Ramesh Menon @ Rs. 395/- (271 pgs)

This book is a magical unexpurgated life of Krishna, told in a spirit of Bhakti for the modern reader. Krishna: Life and Song of the Blue God, opens on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, on the brink of the Great Mahabharata War, when the Pandava warrior Arjuna suffers a crisis of courage and conscience. His divine cousin, the Blue God, begins to expound the eternal dharma, the Bhagavad Gita. The story quickly shifts back to Krishna’s birth and childhood and then again to the battlefield, chapter by chapter, until finally both narratives flow together near the end, just before the war erupts. Never before have Krishna’s Holy Gita (from the Mahabharata) and his brilliant life (from the Bhagavat Purana) been juxtaposed with such enchantment.

MANAGEMENT/ BUSINESS

“Chin India Rising: How China and India Will Benefit Your Business” by Jagdish N. Sheth @ Rs. 495/- (207 pgs)

The rise of China and India will have a profound effect on businesses in the developed as well as the developing world. Prof. Jagdish Sheth produces a thought-provoking treatise on contemporary events involving China and India, which will have a major impact in the foreseeable future. Sheth propounds an extremely well reasoned point of view of these developments, which will appeal to a wide cross section of readers around the world. Chinindia Rising is a visionary work encompassing multiplicity of dimensions of the unprecedented impact and influence of the two great nations: India and China, on the world’s political and economic future.

“A Class With Drucker: The Lost Lessons of the World’s Greatest Management Teacher” by William A. Cohen @ Rs. 1040/- (258 pgs)

At once a philosopher, historian, family man and professor, Peter Drucker is hailed as the Father of Modern Management. William Cohen learnt from Drucker for 4 years. What Drucker taught Cohen literally changed his life. In A Class With Drucker, Cohen shares many of Drucker’s teachings that never made into his countless books and articles, ideas that were offered to his students in classroom or informal settings. Cohen expands on Drucker’s lessons with personal anecdotes about his teacher’s personality, lack of pretension and interaction with students and others. He also shows how Drucker’s ideas can be applied to the real-world challenges managers face today.

“Know Can Do!: Put Your Know-How into Action” by Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer and Dick Ruhe @ Rs. 175/- (118 pgs)

Why is it that so many things we try so hard to learn just don’t stick? Because we spend all our energy on learning new skills and better habits, but we lack effective strategies for retaining and applying all the helpful information we take in. Know Can Do! is a simple and totally powerful book for anyone involved in learning. The authors highlight how to use what you know and learn and make a difference in your life and the lives you touch.

“Think Better (your company’s future depends on it… and so does yours)” by Tim Hurson @ Rs. 550/- (293 pgs)

In this new book, Tim Hurson explains how to use Productive Thinking to solve many of the problems that managers face today. Hurson starts by explaining how we all build barriers to effective thinking. He identifies our habits of thinking that severely limit our behaviour and demonstrates how to overcome these barriers. More than anything Productive Thinking is an attitude that will let you look at problems and convert them into opportunities. To create the future, you must first be able to imagine it. Productive thinking is a way to help you do that.

SOCIO ECO POL / CURRENT AFFAIRS

“The ugliness of the Indian male and other propositions” by Mukul Kesavan @ Rs.395/- (301pgs)

This collection of essays is a distillation of Mukul Kesavan’s thoughts on some of the central concerns of our time. They are outrageously funny, profoundly cosmopolitan and devotedly ‘pseudo-secular’ all at once. Kesavan’s entertaining writings crackle with cerebral wit and originality. A historian by profession, Kesavan is distinct from his tribe because his prose ploughs a lonely furrow: it is sparkling, accessible, aphoristic and uncommonly elegant cocktail of serious thinking and unserious fun, often standing commonly held notions of our head.

“The Logic of Life: The Rational Economics of an Irrational World” by Tim Harford @ Rs. 824/- (258 pgs)

The Logic of Life presents an X-Ray image of human life, stripping away the surface to show us a picture that is revealing, enthralling and sometimes disturbing. Tim Harford argues that life is logical after all. Under the image of everyday insanity, hidden incentives are at work, and Harford shows these incentives emerging in the most unlikely places. The stories that emerge are not about data or equations but about people. Once you have read this quotable and addictive book, life will never look the same.

“Creating a world without poverty- Social business and the future of capitalism” by Muhammad Yunus @ Rs.395/- (261pgs)

Founder of the Grameen Bank and author of Banker to the Poor, Muhammad Yunus has now established a completely new way to use the creative vibrancy of business to tackle social problems. In this book he pioneers the idea of social business. What is a social business? Simply put, one designed to meet a social goal. The goals in this case include collaborating with Danone to produce affordable, nutritious yogurt for malnourished children in Bangladesh, to building eye care hospitals. Yunus’s “Next Big Idea” offers a pioneering model for nothing less than a new, more humane form of capitalism.

“The Real Price of Everything-Rediscovering the six classics of economics” edited by Michael Lewis @ Rs. 835/- (1467 pgs)

This book is concerned with Economics and its treasures. This book contains 6 masterworks that revolutionized the way we understand markets on a National, Regional and Global scale. The book presents a collection of writings of Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, Charles Mackay, Thorstein Veblen, and John Maynard Keynes. The 6 masterworks presented in this book remains as new as ever even today.

“Cut-Outs, Caste and Cine Star: The World of Tamil Politics” by Vaasanthi @ Rs. 295/- (286 pgs)

Tamil Nadu is a state very different from the rest of India, both culturally and historically. It has retained a fundamentally separate identity for itself in language and caste structure, and this is most evident in its politics. Cut-outs, Caste and Cine-Stars tells a political story that has all elements of a blockbuster film, where ironies and larger-than-life characters abound. Well-known writer and journalist Vaasanthi has observed the dramatis personae in this epic drama at close quarters for a decade. Now updated with an additional chapter on the war of succession, the book offers an objective and insightful view of a political world that is both fascinating and perplexing.

“Anatomy of An Abduction: How The Indian Hostages in Iraq Were Freed” by V. Sudarshan @ Rs. 295/- (219 pgs)

In July 2004, Tilak Raj, Antaryami and Sukhdev were part of a convoy of trucks from Kuwait to Iraq. The convoy never reached its intended destination. Instead, the three Indian drivers along with others were abducted by a group that called itself ‘The Holders of the Black Banner. They accused the drivers of collaborating with the Americans. In this book, V Sudarshan explains tactics that the Indian Government had to use during negotiations with the abductors. This behind- the- scenes narration explains the medias role and the pressures the governments faced in the delicate situation. The author is currently Associate Editor, The New Indian Express. He has been writing on foreign policy and diplomacy for a number of years.

TRAVEL/ FOOD

“Experience India” by the Times Group @ Rs. 295/- (590 pgs)

This guide contains the essential details for any tourist traveling through the Country. Details of accommodation, transport, eateries, shopping and must-sees of the cities are provided for. There are planned itineraries and side trips, which can be done as per your budget. So whether you’re planning an adventure in the hills or you wish to learn about the Nizams’ legacy, this guide will help you truly experience India.

“Eating India: Exploring a Nation’s Cuisines” by Chitrita Banerji @ Rs. 350/- (329 pgs)

In Eating India, award-winning food writer Chitrita Banerji takes us on an extraordinary journey through a national cuisine formed by generations of arrivals, assimilations and conquests. Travelling across the length and breadth of the country – from Bengal to Goa and Karnataka, via the Grand Trunk Road, then northwards to Amritsar, Lucknow and
Varanasi, on to Bombay and Kerala – Banerji discovers a civilization with an insatiable curiosity, one that consumes the old and new with eager voracity. Certain to enchant anyone enamored of Indian food and culture, Eating India is a heavy blend of travelogue and food writing.

“Tea and Me: A Memoir of Planting Life” by E. J. S Davidar @ Rs. 200/- (215 pgs)

When tea was first cultivated on a commercial scale in India, it remained the preserve of British planters who braved great odds and suffered much privation to grow the plant which they hoped would make them prosperous. Even after India attained independence, some companies continued to be managed by British planters. One such company was Southern India Tea Estates Company Limited (SITE). Which was established in the princely state of Travancore. E. J. S. Davidar was the first Indian executive hired by SITE and he went to become its first Indian Chief Executive. In his memoir, he describes the Company’s transition from a firm run by Britons to one that was entirely managed by Indians. Interweaving history, lore and wonderfully evocative descriptions of life on plantations, this book brings to life the romance of tea.

INSPIRATION/ SELF HELP

“Empower Yourself: New Life Solutions for Health and Well-Being” by Ajay Poddar @ Rs. 295/- (239 pgs)

The book describes the ancient sciences and modern research studies that surround us. It also explains the Chakras and the energy centers within our body. The book also narrates the way the vibrations created by planetary movements affects us. It also describes about healing through Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Reiki, Yoga, Acupuncture and Shiatsu. It also tells the value of Religious and Cultural symbols and so on.

“Egonomics: What Makes Ego our Greatest Asset (Or Most Expensive Liability)” by David Marcum and Steven Smith @ Rs. 575/- (258 pgs)

Using five years of exhaustive research, Marcum and Smith provide compelling evidence and matter-of-fact answers on striking the balance between ego and humility to reach the next level of leadership. The book deals with the difference between defending ideas and being defensive, how talent can keep the best ideas from winning and veracity, which finally clinches the deal.

“Sex Matters - From Sex to Super consciousness” by Osho @ Rs. 500/- (290pgs)

Sex Matters: From Sex to Super-Consciousness puts forth a vision of sex that is healthy, natural, innocent and free from guilt and repression. This book offers insight into the inner psychological and spiritual dimensions of sex. Osho shows how we can, by accepting and celebrating sex as a gift of nature, begin to use it as a valuable stepping-stone in a lifelong journey toward greater self-awareness and joy.

“Why Mars and Venus Collide” by John Gray @ Rs. 295/- (249 pgs)

Men and women are different, we all know that, but if our genes have stood still then social changes have not. Overworked, stressed-out and time-poor, we can barely keep up with the frenzied pace of our lives – and our relationships are breaking down as a result. John Gray, the best-selling author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, has written a definitive manual to help men and women thrive together in the 21st century. He shows how we can use everyday pressures to build greater intimacy with our loved ones and strengthen our relationships to make them last.

“Lifespan Investing: Building the Best Portfolio for every Stage of your life” by Clifford Pistolese @ Rs. 250/- (208 pgs)

The smartest, healthiest way to invest is for the long haul. In Lifespan Investing, veteran investor and author Clifford Pistolese deftly explains the need for this approach and provides proven techniques for maximizing wealth at every age and stage of your life.

SCIENCES/ GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

“The Penguin Yearbook 2008” compiled and edited by Derek O’Brien @ Rs.150/-(816pgs)

The Penguin Yearbook now in its fourth year of publication is a mine of information on various topics such as Politics, Economics, Career, Arts, Sports and General Knowledge. It has been completely revised and updated and also includes GK quizzes on India and current affairs.

“On Intelligence” by Jeff Hawkins with Sandra Blakeslee @ Rs. 535/-(261pgs)

In this book, author Jeff Hawkins develops a powerful theory of how the human brain works. The brain is not a computer, but a memory system that stores experiences in a way that reflects the true structure of the world, remembering sequences of events and their nested relationships and making predictions based on those memories. It is this memory-prediction system that forms the basis of intelligence, perception, creativity and even consciousness. Written acclaimed science writer Sandra Blakeslee and endorsed by a host of scientists and technology experts, On Intelligence reveals how we truly think and how this understanding will transform the technology age.

“Astronomy- the definitive guide to the universe” by Duncan John @ Rs. 495/- (256pgs)

Man has been studying the universe right from the time of ancient civilizations. Yet there is so much more too learn about it. Astronomy does not refer to only the stars; it is the study of all celestial phenomenon. This book explains man’s study of these phenomenons since the time of ancient civilizations worshipping them, to the 2005 Huygens-Cassini space probe image of Titan. This guide will appeal not just to students of astronomy but also to those who would like to just begin exploring beyond the 3rd rock from the sun.

“Mysteries of the world-Unexplained wonders and mysterious phenomena” @ Rs.495/- (318pgs)

Ancient places and mysterious beings, sunken worlds and cultures, landscapes imbued with symbolism, unexplained apparitions and unbelievable finds from ancient times – all of these remain mysteries for humankind, despite intense investigation. This book explores mysteries that continue to intrigue us. Among these are holy places, ancient sites located at power vortices, about whose builders we know very little. Topics also include legendary civilizations and their lost cultures, about which so little information was left behind.

“Bournvita Book of Knowledge 14” by Derek O’Brien @ Rs. 150/- (150 pgs)

The Cadbury Bourn vita Book of Knowledge is one of the best quizzing books to sharpen General Knowledge skills by answering questions on Sports, History, Entertainment, Mythology, Wild-life, Food, and several others. The interesting sections of this book are Speed Round, Find the Answer, Take your Pick and Guess the Question.

Newer Arrivals :

“Senior Leadership Teams” by Ruth Wageman, Debra A. Nunes, James A. Burruss, J. Richard Hackman @Rs. 1250/- (241 pgs)
“Executing Your Strategy” by Mark Morgan, Raymond E. Levitt, William Malek @Rs. 1250/- (290 pgs)
“Dragons at your Door” by Ming Zeng, Peter J. Williamson @Rs. 1250/- (239 pgs)
“Big Think Strategy: How to Leverage Bold Ideas and Leave Small Thinking Behind” by Bernd H. Schmitt @Rs. 1250/- (177 pgs)
“At First Sight” by Nicholas Sparks @ Rs. 253/- (342 pgs)
“To Uphold the World: The Message of Ashoka and Kautilya for the 21st Century” by Bruce Rich @ Rs. 495/- (326 pgs)

And many new ones coming in everyday! Do drop in and have a look! See you at the Store !

From the team at,

twistntales