Excuse Me, Can We have our Country Back

Author: Suraj ‘Eskay’ Sriram
Publisher: Niyogi Books, New Delhi
(Pp 168, ISBN 978-93-81523-94-0, Rs 450)

What an apt title for a book which deals with every Indian’s wish to have a better India? Every day, an average Indian struggles against the ills of corruption, poor governance, pollution, a dysfunctional educational system and more, leaving them betrayed, helpless and abandoned.

With tongue-in-cheek cartoons, illustrations prose and poetry, this book highlights the problems of aam aadmi. Sometimes humorous, sometimes satire – the book gives us the author’s take on the present and his vision of the future.

Readers would definitely agree and smile at some of the cartoons, which reflect the state of our country. In the time when general elections are fast approaching, the book seems to be well-timed.

–Varsha Verma

Spaces Inspired by Nature

Author: Shirish Beri, Publisher: Super Book House, Mumbai
(Pp 244, ISBN 978-93-81452-01-1, Rs 3,000)

Can the quality of our life improve when we live and work in spaces inspired by nature? Well, the book says ‘yes.’ 
An architect by profession, Shirish Beri attempts to address his concern for man’s alienation from nature through his work as an architect. His nature inspired designs featured in the book aspire to directly and indirectly help in bringing man closer to nature. Each project, through a number of relevant images and drawings, discusses its genesis and basic concept along with its expression in the actual design, technology, construction materials and user feedback.

Excellently produced, the book is a treat for eyes, with beautiful images and illustrations, which showcase the beauty of nature-inspired spaces. Must read for architects, lovers of nature and simply anybody who wants to know more about architecture.

Your Complete Forecast 2014 Horoscope

Author: Bejan Daruwalla
Publisher: Harper Element, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, Noida
(Pp 544, ISBN 978-93-5116-073-1, Rs 350)

As the new year dawns, each one of us wants to know what lies in store for us this year and Bejan Daruwalla is one of the most celebrated astrologer to look for. Your complete Forecast 2014 Horoscope is an in depth book, which includes month-by-month forecasts for every sign. Besides, it also gives the personality.

The book also supplements a few of Bejan’s articles on various issues like fate, chance, power of Jupiter, secrets of human nature by astrology, world horoscope 2014, to name a few. He also writes about Indian cricketer MS Dhoni and most-talked out politician Narendra Modi.

The only problem which I found in the book is that people who are new to zodiac signs might find it difficult to locate their sign as the dates under which each sign falls is not given on the main pages of the forecast.

In all, a very interesting and fascinating book from this world-renowned astrologer!

–Varsha Verma

Offset Printing & Troubleshooting

[Practical Guide for Technicians/Operators/Supervisors & Managers (English/Hindi)]
Author: K Goswami
Publisher: DK Consultant, Faridabad
(Pp 162, ISBN 978-81-921838-0-0 (English), 978-81-921838-1-7 (Hindi), Rs 400 each)

After the successful release of the English version and continuous demand for the Hindi version of this practical guide, the author K Goswami has released the Hindi version recently. The book is a complete practical guide designed to help commercial and packaging printers to achieve better printing results. Finer details of the printing process and troubleshooting are presented in a concise and easy to understand format. It not only sheds lights on the specific problems repeatedly faced by the printing industry but also gives remedies to counter them effectively as well.

Broadly divided into 12 sections in simple and lucid language, the book will be liked by both technical as well as non-technical staff and young learners of printing industry, who will be benefited in the implementation of their day-to-day production work in a better way.

–Varsha Verma

The Indian Economy: Environment and Policy

Author: Ishwar C Dhingra
Publisher: Sultan Chand & Sons
(Pp 928, ISBN 978-81-8054-990-8, Rs 585)

This is the twenty-eighth edition of this book that systematically analyses different aspects of the Indian economic scene in a proper theoretical backdrop. With help of current up-to-date data derived from authentic published and unpublished sources, it surveys the entire scenario, as it has emerged during the last three decades of economic planning. In course of identifying the potentials and pressure areas, it diagnoses the various economic problems in their entirety and suggests suitable remedies to deal with them.

Book reviews published

Tick-Tock We’re 30 Author: Milan Vohra

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Publisher: Westland Ltd
(Pp 402, ISBN 978-93-82618-22-5, Rs 250)

Thirty…considered a deadly age for women…well….when will women understand that age is just a number? Tick-Tock We’re 30 is a story of a bunch of friends, who have reached the milestone in their life – 30. To celebrate, Lara’s 30th birth anniversary, the whole gang arranges a get-together…honouring the pact to meet when all of them turned 30.

The book narrates the lives of these young men and women, who fall in and out of love and much more. Since all the characters are Indian and the story is based in Delhi, many Delhites would surely find some instances picked up from their own life.

The only thing I found bothering was sometimes, too many details were given, which could have been avoided. Else, it is an entertainer…a light read for young people.

Leading from the Front

Author: Col. SP Wahi (Retd)
Publisher: Crossbill Publishing Co, New Delhi
(Pp 222, ISBN 978-93-82297-34-5, Rs 699)

This book is a treatise on management by a world-renowned technocrat- Col SP Wahi- a legend with over 58 years of hands-on-experience, within the country and abroad, in a variety of industrial manufacturing units, both in the public and private sectors, Army (corps of EME), management and technical institutes and professional associations.

Though partly an overview of management practices, this guide is invaluable for its information on recruiting and training former military officers for corporate management, particularly in the oil industry. Topics covered include leadership development, the importance of human psychology, maintaining morale, developing a long-term vision for growth, and the importance of safety and security - this last being a major problem for which oil and other energy-producing companies are seeking solutions. 

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The Marvels of Palmistry

Authors: Pt Gopal Sharma, Shastri Bhori Lal Kala
Publisher: Lotus Publishers, New Delhi
(Pp 164, ISBN 978-81-8382-126-1, Rs 125)

Palmistry has always enchanted people…the thin lines on our hands intrigue us to know what they say. Palmistry is a method of counseling that originated in India over 3,000 years ago.

The book The Marvels of Palmistry is like a drop in this vast ocean….but a drop which gives an insight into it! Written in an easy-to-understand format, the book will be helpful for novices who wish to know more about it.

21 Things Every Girl Should Know

Author: Sneha Mehta
Publisher: Grapevine India Publishers, New Delhi
(Pp 260, ISBN 978-938-184-1297, Rs 125)

An interesting book for all girls and for all boys who wish to know more about girls! The book details simple things like why are girls allergic to mathematics to complex things like why do women seek commitment. Readers of all ages would something or the other which relates to them.

In this practical, humourous and easy-to-read guide, readers can get new solutions to the age-old problems. To make it more reader-friendly, the book contains funny anecdotes and fascinating insights into the world of women.

The author Sneha Mehta is a majors in psychology and she loves to write. This book is her peek into the life of women from a women’s perspective – how they can live a life which is more fulfilling, by understanding the traps and reacting to a situation wisely. A must-have for girls and boys of all ages!

- Varsha Verma

merce…

- Jyaneswar Laishram

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Oleander Girl

Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Publisher: Penguin Books India, New Delhi
(Pp 289, ISBN 978-06-70086-73-3, Rs 499)

When it’s a book from Chitra Banerjee Devakaruni, you can be sure that you will get to read an insight into a girl’s mind. Author of sixteen novels like The Mistress of Spices and The Palace of Illusions, Chitra knows where and how to click the right chords in the reader’s mind.

Oleander Girl is a story of a young girl Korobi (meaning oleander) who takes on a quest to know more about her ‘dead’ parents. What she learns on her journey to her truth shatters her completely…but like her name oleander which is capable of surviving drought and frost and the loss of love, Korobi emerges as a mature and confident young woman. There are moments of despair, shock…then there are moment of love, cheer and ultimately happiness. The emotions shown in the book are so real…you feel sympathy when the girl is in shock and you love her when she emerges strong. A beautiful book from the acclaimed author!

- Varsha Verma