Don’t Fall Through CracksAuthor: Sid SanghviPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 3/5 The Indian Education System is flawed and it is a bleak reality from which no one can shy away. When we were in school, we did question the content being taught to us but those questions never made it past our lips! Now, students have started questioning the authorities. The pandemic brought about a great technological revolution and that served as the last nail in the coffin for the students, for they found it/ are finding it extremely difficult to cope with the voluminous syllabus that actually doesn’t teach them any practical life skills! Don’t Fall Through Cracks is a straightforward…

When the Wildflowers BloomAuthor: Rupa BhullarPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4/5 Wildflowers symbolize happiness and optimism. When wildflowers bloom, quite literally they make their surroundings look bright and colourful. They aren’t planted intentionally; they grow more by accident. Using this symbolism, ‘When Wildflowers Bloom’ presents us Tara, a wildflower who struggles in her marriage for 17 long years and finally decides to take a leap of faith when she abandons the despair and embraces uncertainty. Tara, Tej’s wife, is often looked down upon by her husband just because she doesn’t work (outside the house). While she carries a patient and polite exterior, Tara is also the one who manages the household chores…

The Great Indian Rope TrickAuthor: Ruskin BondPublisher: Rupa PublicationsRating: 3/5 Ruskin Bond is known for his simple writing style yet quite impactful imagery that lends the readers a much-desired virtual vacation to the mountains and valleys that bloom with the fragrance of daffodils and roses. ‘The Great Indian Rope Trick’ is an anthology of 29 stories-both long and short- that elicit emotional overflow of nostalgia of those golden old days when people were simple and knew how to find happiness in the littlest things. Whether it is about his trip to Badrinath or vast collection of plants that Ruskin Bond holds so dear, each story presents a figment of his…

Perfect ParentingAuthor: Sushant KalraPublisher: Rupa PublicationsRating: 4/5 Parenting is more challenging when one embarks on this journey. For the ones who are just armchair critics, parenting might seem exciting and fun but seldom do parents share the nitty-gritty of the complex web of judgements, peer pressure and parenting problems so openly. Hence, it becomes all the more overwhelming for the new parents to choose the ‘right way’ of parenting and execute the role in the ‘perfect way’. Perfect Parenting is more like an oxymoron, for there is no sure shot or foolproof way of parenting. Every child is different and so is every set of parents. A lot of methods…

Inflection PointAuthor: DishaPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4/5 Inflection Point refers to a breakthrough in a situation that changes the curve for good or bad. Collating experiences, strategies, modus operandi and growth curve of 22 different organizations, institutions, ventures and startups, Inflection Point presents before us a blend of hardships and survival stories. Even though the times were/ are tough, people who have the will, go a long way. Citing examples of new ventures like Zerodha, UrbanClap and established organizations like Manipal Hospitals, ITC and Emerson, the author, with her fool-proof research and easy-to-grasp narrative, brings forth the journeys of these leaders who fought tooth and nail during the pandemic. Battling with…

Venus Mars: Love and MarriageAuthor: P. KhurranaPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 3.5/5 Knowing or learning astrology is an incredibly challenging art. In ‘Venus Mars: Love and Marriages’, celebrated astrologist, P Khurrana, discusses the role of planets and stars in love and relationship. This book is not meant for the sceptics. It will serve as a guide for the willing and help them understand how Venus, the planet symbolizing love, sex and cordial relationship, and Mars, the planet symbolizing passion, assertion, discord and anger, affect the eventual fruition of any relationship. This book gives an insight into the importance of matching horoscopes and eliminating the negative elements by using simple methods. The author…

The GutAuthor: Payal KothariPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4.5/5 Just like how it’s said that ‘it is all in the brain’, most of the times, we forget that our ‘gut’ acts as our second brain. There is a reason why the ‘gut feeling’ should be believed! The gut or the gastrointestinal tract is the tract that connects our mouth to our anus. Hence, whatever happens midway, governs how smooth the journey of the food particles is going to be. Often we miss out on taking care of our gut as we think it isn’t important. ‘The Gut’ by Payal Kothari is just ‘the book’ that’s needed to make people realize the importance…

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of PowerAuthor: Rajiv malhotraPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 3.5/5 The advent of Artificial Intelligence has definitely augmented the way humans work. Not only have the machines become smarter but also more dependable. But the debate on how will AI shape our future still continues to invite opinions and counter-arguments. Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power is an earnest attempt to decipher how prepared the common people are to allow AI to take over their lives without knowing the actual impact it would make. Dependent and unaware, Indians rely on their leaders to tackle the complicated matters. Hence, their unawareness about the development in technology and its…

Gurgaon to GurugramAuthor: Suptendu P. BiswasPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 3.5/5 Most of us have either a direct or an indirect connection with the Cyber City of India, Gurugram. It is one of the fastest developing cities that houses youngsters who land in this place with the dream of giving their ambition wings! In Gurgaon to Gurugram, the author traces the city’s journey from its inception to its rise to glory! Gurgaon, which was once a city where people dreamt of owning land and building beautiful houses, has now transformed into a city that now has connections with the world. The author deftly includes the name of several landmarks that defined this…

Right Under Your NoseAuthor: R. GiridharanPublisher: Rupa PublishersRating: 4/5 Belonging to one of my favourite genres, Right Under Your Nose is a compelling murder mystery that is based on the Science of Deduction. Right from conflict and pacing to the atmosphere and red herrings- everything keeps you hooked till the very end. The narrative is smooth and the author doesn’t waste any time in losing the attention of the readers. Right Under Your Nose, as the name suggests, is about all the bad that happens in the broad daylight and right under the nose of the ones in power. The cops have no clue about the identity of the murderer,…