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Category: Recommendations

Check in with yourself today through these books

Posted on by Penguin India

Books and stories are invaluable companions – especially to connect with and accept ourselves on a deeper, rawer level.

Times are challenging, and recent events have brought to the fore a dire need to address mental health concerns that most of us grapple with in silence and solitude. It’s crucial for us and our loved ones to know how to help and cope.

From personal stories to fictional characters that will speak to you and your struggles – scroll down below for a diverse list of books that will help you develop deep insights into your mind and your mental and spiritual health.

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I’ve Never Been (Un)Happier by Shaheen Bhatt

I’ve Never Been (Un)Happier, Shaheen Bhatt

I don’t write about my experiences with depression to defend the legitimacy of my pain. My pain is real; it does not come to me because of my lifestyle, and it is not taken away by my lifestyle.

Unwittingly known as Alia Bhatt’s older sister and diagnosed with depression at the eighteen, this tell-all memoir is an intimate and raw look at the day-to-day experiences of living with depression.

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Battles of the Mind by Anna Chandy

Battles in the Mind, Anna Chandy

Our minds fight battles, trials and tribulations on a daily basis. Anna Chandy, the chair of the Live, Love, Laugh Foundation along with actress Deepika Padukone, shares here a personal story of survival through pain and lows – a story that we all can take away something from. Above all, her story teaches us to hope.

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Death is Not the Answer by Anjali Chhabria

Death is not the Answer, Dr. Anjali Chhabria

Did you know that India is the world’s suicide capital with over 2.6 lakh cases reported every year?

From recognizing covert suicidal intentions to timely interventions – it has become more important than ever to develop insights into the minds of suicidal patients. Psychiatrist Dr. Anjali Chhabria attempts with to help thousands who are questioning the motive of their life, or dealing with grief – as well as people who have lost loved ones to suicide.

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Beating the Blues by Seema Hingorrany

Beating the Blues, Seema Hingorrany

According to a WHO study, a mindboggling 35.9 percent of India suffers from Major Depressive Episodes (MDE). India’s leading clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and trauma researcher Seema Hingorrany provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to treating depression, examining what the term really means, its signs, causes, and symptoms; and some accessible self-help techniques you can adopt to manage it in your day-to-day life.

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On Meditation by Sri M

On Meditation, Sri M

In today’s challenging world, don’t you wish you knew how to quieten your mind and focus on yourself?

Spiritual leader Sri M breaks down the practice of meditation into a simple and easy method that any working man or woman, young or old, can practise in their everyday lives.

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Happy for No Reason by Mandira Bedi

Happy for No Reason, Mandira Bedi

Mandira Bedi is a fitness icon. But behind the six-pack is also a snotty, complaining, can’t-get-out-of-bed-today girl who, in her own way, is still searching for true and unconditional happiness.

In her book, she invites you along on an ongoing discovery of some kind of non-scientific, non-spiritual and as-yet-non-existent formula for finding peace in everything; of how to be happy for no reason.

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How to Travel Light by Shreevatsa Nevatia

How to Travel Light, Shreevatsa Nevatia

Diagnosed as bipolar at twenty-three, a young journalist struggles for a decade, fighting a cycle of depression, and euphoria.

In this candid, stylish journey, we visit diverse former loves and eccentric fellow sufferers; mental health institutions and Benares; his moments with Diana Eck and Deepika Padukone-and reckonings with past wounds.

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The Beauty of Ally My Days by Ruskin Bond

The Beauty of All My Days, Ruskin Bond

 

‘So here I am, delving into the past like Monsieur Poirot, not to solve a mystery, but to try to understand some of the events that have helped define the sort of person I have become.’

India’s most loved storyteller embarks on a self-reflective journey alongside his readers. Each chapter of this memoir is a remembrance of times past, an attempt to resurrect a person or a period or an episode, a reflection on the unpredictability of life. Some paths lead nowhere; others lead to a spring of pure water. Take any path and hope for the best. At least it will lead you out of the shadows.

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The Younger Ones Struggle Too

 

Flyaway Boy by Jane De Suza

Flyaway Boy, Jane De Suza

Spirited and powerfully imaginative, Flyaway Boy is a story about embracing everything that makes you uniquely you.

Kabir doesn’t fit in. Not in the wintry hill town, he lives in, and not in his school, where the lines are always straight. Backed into a corner with no way out, Kabir vanishes. With every adult’s nightmare now coming true, finding this flyaway boy will mean understanding who he really is.

This one is a must-read for every parent to understand, accept, and connect with their child better.

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Inside a Dark Box by Ritu Vaishnav

Inside a Dark Box, Ritu Vaishnav

When you get trapped in darkness, finding your way out can be a long and lonely battle, especially when the war is within your own head. Here’s a peep inside a mind struggling with itself.

Powerfully illustrated and extremely accessible, Inside a Dark Box is a simple book about what depression can feel like.

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The Lies We Tell by Himanjali Sarkar

The Lies We Tell, Himanjali Sankar

 

Seventeen-year-old Irfan Ahmed is handsome, easy-going and deeply in love with his girlfriend, Uma. However, when Uma dumps him for his best friend, Rishi, Irfan’s life begins to unravel. Things haven’t been good at home ever since his sister left. And soon, they get worse.

when a photograph of Uma begins to circulate among their classmates, everyone suspects it’s Irfan taking his revenge on his two erstwhile best friends.

Is Irfan really going out of his mind or is there someone else out there playing games with him?

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Unbroken by Nandhika Nambi

Unbroken, Nandhika Nambi

 

So okay, I’m a monster.

But look what I have to deal with–my brother is a frightened little freak, my father is selfish and ill-tempered, my mother is an ignorant doormat and my friends are just plain irritating. And I’m in a prison surrounded by them all, with nowhere to escape.

But one day, something happens … and suddenly I see what these relationships and people (however annoying) mean to me. I’ve been a monster for such a long time now, I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to be human. Is it too late?

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In the end, all these books and characters come together to convey a simple yet strong message – you are seen, and you are not alone. It is okay to reach out. Your mental health matters.

Team Penguin wishes you safety, health and wellbeing.

Yoga Reads for Everyone!

Posted on by Penguin India

Yoga really has something for everybody. It has a number of benefits for the mind, the body as well as the soul. There have been many books that inform us not only about the practice, its tips and tricks, but also the fascinating story behind all of it.

In celebration of the International Day of Yoga, we’ve put together a list of six books for you and your child that can act as an introduction into the world of yoga, or for improving your knowledge and practice.

 

For you:

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

A contemporary interpretation of the foundational text for the practice of yoga. Patañjali’s Yoga Sutra (second century CE) is the basic text of one of the nine canonical schools of Indian philosophy. In it the legendary author lays down the blueprint for success in yoga, now practiced the world over. Patañjali draws upon many ideas of his time, and the result is a unique work of Indian moral philosophy that has been the foundational text for the practice of yoga since.

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Laughter Yoga

Laughter yoga is a revolutionary idea: simple and profound. A practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter, it is based on scientific studies that have concluded that such laughter offers the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. This comprehensive book by the founder of the laughter yoga club movement, Dr Madan Kataria, tells you what laughter yoga is, how it works, what its benefits are and how you can apply it to everyday life.

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Beyond Asanas

Have you ever wondered how the names for yoga poses came about, inspired from animals, nature, and even sages?
Using thirty carefully researched asanas, yoga teacher Pragya Bhatt draws upon her own yoga practice and research to make a connection between ancient Indian mythology and modern yoga practice in Beyond Asanas.

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The Story of Yoga: From India to the Contemporary World

This comprehensive history sets yoga in its global cultural context for the first time. From arcane religious rituals and medieval body-magic, through muscular Christianity and the British Raj, to the Indian nationalist movement and the arrival of yoga in the twentieth-century West, we discover how the practice reached its present-day ubiquity and how it became embedded in powerful social currents shaping the world’s future, such as digital media, celebrity culture, the stress pandemic and the quest for an authentic identity in the face of unprecedented change.

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For your little one:

Peppa Pig: Peppa Loves Yoga

It is a very busy day at Peppa and George’s playgroup, but they have a very special visitor coming in the afternoon. Miss rabbit is going to teach the children how to calm down and relax with yoga. The children love learning all the different positions… And the parents love picking up their calm children! Read more here.

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Om the Yoga Dog: Fun and Easy Asanas for Happy Kids

 

It’s fun yoga time with Om the Yoga Dog, Prana the Frog and Moksha the Elephant! Learn and master essential asanas like Roaring Lion and Tummy Sandwich, pranayama techniques like Anulom Vilom and meditation exercises like Yoga Nidra.

Books to Read Together, this Father’s Day

Posted on by Penguin India

Every day is father’s day but let’s be extra nice and make this a super special day for him! Shower him with lots of love and pampering. We believe one of the best gifts you can give your loved ones is quality time. How about a lovely evening at home (hello, social distancing!) with a good book to read?

We’ve put together a list of books for you to choose from and enjoy a cozy reading- eve along with your family! There’s something for everyone, even the little ones! Many of these books explore unique relationships with fathers, and all are topics your father might enjoy! Whatever your preference, we’re sure you’ll find something you love.

The Man Within My Head by Pico Iyer

Ever since he first read Graham Greene, Pico Iyer has been obsessed by the figure of the writer and by one of the great themes of Greene’s work: what it means to be an outsider. Wherever he has travelled-usually as an outsider himself-Iyer has found reminders of Greene’s life, observed scenes that might have been written by Greene, written stories that recall Greene. Yet, as Iyer recounts the history of his obsession, another phantom image begins to assert itself, one that Iyer had long banished from his inner life-that of his father.

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Red Lipstick by Laxmi

Struggling with existential questions, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, eminent transgender activist, awakens to her true self: She is Laxmi, a hijra. In this fascinating narrative Laxmi unravels her heart to tell the stories of the men-creators, preservers, lovers, benefactors, and abusers-in her life. Racy, unapologetic, dark and exceptionally honest, these stories open a window to a brave new world.

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An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma

Ram Karan, a corrupt official in the Delhi school system, lives in one of the city’s slums with his widowed daughter and his eight-year-old granddaughter. Bumbling, contradictory, sad, Ram is a man corroded by a guilty secret. An Obedient Father takes the reader to an India that is both far away and real – into the mind of a character as tormented, funny, and ambiguous as one of Dostoevsky’s anti-heroes.

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Pregnant King by Devdutt Pattanaik

Among the many hundreds of characters who inhabit the Mahabharata, perhaps the world’s greatest epic and certainly one of the oldest, is Yuvanashva, a childless king, who accidentally drinks a magic potion meant to make his queens pregnant and gives birth to a son. This extraordinary novel is his story.

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We That Are Young by Preti Taneja

Jivan Singh, bastard son, returns to Delhi after fifteen years of exile to find a city on fire with protests and in the grip of drought. On the same day, Devraj, father of Jivan’s childhood playmates, founder of India’s most important company, announces his retirement, demanding daughterly love in exchange for shares. Sita, his youngest child, refuses to play, turning her back on the marriage he has arranged. Her sisters Gargi and Radha must take over the Company and cement their father’s legacy. As they struggle to make their names, a family and an empire begin to unravel.

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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

What makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens? Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human in the perfect read for these unprecedented times.

Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.

In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we’re going.

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Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

We all have an Ikigai. It’s the place where your needs, desires, ambitions, and satisfaction meet. Finding your ikigai is easier than you might think. This book will help you work out what your own ikigai really is, and equip you to change your life. You have a purpose in this world: your skills, your interests, your desires and your history have made you the perfect candidate for something. All you have to do is find it.

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Feel Better In 5: Your Daily Plan to Feel Great for Life by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Feel Better in 5 is the first daily 5-minute plan that is easy to maintain, easy-to-follow and requires only the smallest amount of willpower. Drawing on Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s twenty years of experience and real-life case studies from his GP practice, Feel Better in 5 is your daily plan for a happier, healthier you at no extra cost.

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The Body by Bill Bryson 

Bill Bryson sets off to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up.

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The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger

This book is about the relentless curiosity that has driven Iger for forty-five years, since the day he started as the lowliest studio grunt at ABC. It’s also about thoughtfulness and respect, and a decency-over-dollars approach that has become the bedrock of every project and partnership Iger pursues, from a deep friendship with Steve Jobs in his final years to an abiding love of the Star Wars mythology.

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For the little ones:

Looking for the Rainbow by Ruskin Bond

At age eight, Ruskin escapes his jail-like boarding school in the hills and goes to live with his father in Delhi. His time in the capital is filled with books, visits to the cinema, music and walks and conversations with his father—a dream life for a curious and wildly imaginative boy, which turns tragic all too soon.

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In My Heart by Nandana Dev Sen

A very special story to be read with loved ones, In My Heart takes us on a child’s journey of discovering who she really is and where she comes from. Warmly illustrated and deeply felt, this is a fearless and tender celebration of the magical ways in which different kinds of families are born.

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Pops by Balaji Venkataramanan

My name is V. Arun. I am seven years old. My father’s name is Venkatesh. He is very good. He never gets mad at me. He buys me a lot of toys and chocolates… I love My father. That’s a big bluff. Arun has never met his dad. He has only seen his photograph in the wedding album. And he hates him. Then one day, his father comes back.

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My Daddy and theWell by Jerry Pinto

As a child in Goa, Daddy used to jump in a well, to water the bananas. Years later, the bananas are gone. But the pump is there, the well is there, Daddy is there… Splash! The hook books are for very small readers, aged five and above (for being read to) and six and above (for reading independently). written by some of the best-known writers for children, and illustrated in exuberant colour by some of India’s most-loved illustrators. Hawaldar hook is the endearing mascot of the hook books.

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Puffin Classics: Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster

A trustee of the John Grier orphanage has offered to send Judy Abbott to college. The only requirements are that she must write to him every month and that she can never know who he is. Judy’s life at college is a whirlwind of friends, classes, parties and a growing friendship with the handsome Jervis Pendleton. With so much happening in her life, Judy can scarcely stop writing to ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’, or wondering who her mysterious benefactor is…

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Puffin Classics: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Little Heidi goes to live with her grandfather in his lonely hut high in the Alps and she quickly learns to love her new life. But her strict aunt decides to send her away again to live in the town. Heidi cannot bear being away from the mountains and is determined to return to the happiness of life with her grandfather.

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Where’s Home, Daddy Bear? by Nicola O’Byrne

From the creator of open very carefully, Nicola o’byrne, comes a tender, touching story that voices all the worries a child has about change, and celebrates the loving bond between father and daughter. Making her debut to the Walker list, bestselling author Nicola O’Byrne tells a heartfelt, emotionally true tale inspired by her own experience. Particularly pertinent for children who may be going through some kind of change – whether that be moving to a new house, a new school, or a new country.

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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

A novel that explores the tragedy of racism in the 1930s and the dramatics of the ‘Great Depression’, Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is a tale that infuses humour and sorrow into a touching story that lives on eternally in the minds of the readers. Set in a town that has its roots in a history of prejudice, violence and hypocrisy, the story follows the lives of Scout and Jem Finch as they come of age and experience the discrimination that floods their society. They watch their father (a lawyer) struggle for the justice of a black man who is charged with the rape of a white girl.

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Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley – but his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London.

Let us know which book you pick!

Books to Understand the Indo-China Relationship Better

Posted on by Penguin India

There has been constant conflict on the Indo-China frontier for many years. As Indian troops face a standoff with the Chinese along the Indo-Tibetan border, it’s a good time to better understand the genesis of this conflict between the two countries.

We’ve put together a list of books by various authors to help you understand this relationship better.

What China and India Once Were – The Pasts That May Shape the Global Future

In the early years of the twenty-first century, China and India have emerged as world powers. In many respects, this is a return to the historical norm for both countries. For much of the early modern period, China and India were global leaders in a variety of ways. In this book, prominent scholars seek to understand modern China and India through an unprecedented comparative analysis of their long histories. Using new sources, making new connections, and reexamining old assumptions, noted scholars of China and India pair up in each chapter to tackle major questions by combining their expertise.

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Super Economies: America, India, China and the Future of the World

With its demographic advantage, a surplus of skilled labour, a potentially rising GDP, a strategic geographic location and a new, decisive political leadership, India has every chance of becoming the third Super Economy after the USA and China. Drawing on history, current affairs and political and economic analyses, Super Economies projects how India can soon become a world leader and help secure a future of peace and prosperity for all.

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India Turns East: International Engagement and US-China Rivalry

India Turns East tells the story of India’s long and difficult journey to reclaim its status in a rapidly changing Asian environment increasingly shaped by the US–China rivalry and the uncertainties of US commitment to Asia’s security. The Look East policy initially aimed at reconnecting India with Asia’s economic globalization. As China became more assertive, Look East rapidly evolved into a comprehensive strategy with political and military dimensions.

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India & China: The Battle Between Soft & Hard Power

India and China focuses on these two countries, both in the middle stages of market-led development and grappling with the problem that societies have faced since the dawn of capitalism- reconciling equity with the claim that free markets are not just efficient but just. The author charts out trajectories for both China and India.

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A Great Clamour: Encounters with China and its Neighbours

Full of unexpected ideas and fresh insights, A Great Clamour is an extraordinary account of contemporary Asia from one of our finest essayists. Journeying through China, Tibet, Mongolia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan, Mishra explores the contradictions and dynamism of modern-day China, simultaneously drawing a vivid portrait of its neighbours and the shadow the restless giant casts over its stage.

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The Great Game in the Buddhist Himalayas: India and China’s Quest for Strategic Dominance

The Great Game in the Buddhist Himalayas includes several unknown insights into the India-China, India-Tibet and China-Tibet relationships. It reads like a geopolitical thriller, taking the reader through the intricacies of reincarnation politics, competing spheres of sacred influence, and monastic and sectarian allegiances that will keep the Himalayas on edge for years to come.

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Fateful Triangle: How China Shaped US-India Relations During the Cold War

A key question today is whether India and the United States can or should develop ever-closer ties as a way of countering China’s desire to be the dominant power in the broader Asian region. In Fateful Triangle, Tanvi Madan argues that history shows that such a partnership is neither inevitable nor impossible. Fateful Triangle updates our understanding of the diplomatic history of US-India relations, highlighting China’s central role in it, reassesses the origins and practice of Indian foreign policy and non-alignment, and provides historical context to the interactions between the three countries.

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Running with the Dragon: How India Should Do Business with China

Running with the Dragon seeks answers about what Chinese companies are likely to do next to expand in the Indian market under different scenarios. Things are likely to change as the government is keen on removing stumbling blocks for Chinese investments amidst a decelerating economy. Indian businesses in different sectors will have to decide if they want to fight the new competition or collaborate with rivals. The book reflects the experience of over forty Indian and Chinese businesspeople, officials and experts besides the author’s own analysis.

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Belt and Road: A Chinese World Order

China’s Belt and Road strategy is acknowledged to be the most ambitious geopolitical initiative of the age. Covering almost seventy countries by land and sea, it will affect every element of global society from shipping to agriculture, digital economy to tourism and politics to culture. Most importantly, it symbolizes a new phase in China’s ambitions as a superpower: to remake the world economy and crown Beijing as the new centre of capitalism and globalization.
Bruno Macaes traces this extraordinary initiative’s history, highlighting its achievements to date and its staggering complexity.

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The China – Pakistan Axis: Asia’s New Geopolitics

China and Pakistan, India’s two most powerful neighbours, share an ‘all-weather’ relationship that is as reputed for its depth as it is layered in secrecy. Based on years of research and interviews, Andrew Small has put together the story of China and Pakistan’s growing, and in parts troubled, friendship.
Essential reading to understand the economic, political and security map of Asia, especially India’s neighbourhood.

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The Noodle Maker of Kalimpong: My Untold Story of the Struggle for Tibet

For over half a century, noodlemaker Gyalo Thondup has been a familiar figure in the Himalayan hill town of Kalimpong. But it was not until 2010 that the townsfolk discovered his true identity: Gyalo Thondup is none other than the older brother of the Dalai Lama and his special envoy, a trusted interlocutor between Tibet and foreign leaders from Chiang Kai-shek to Jawaharlal Nehru, Zhou Enlai to Deng Xiaoping. Indeed, only the Dalai Lama himself has played a more important role in the political history of modern, tragedy-ridden Tibet.

Now, for the first time, Gyalo Thondup is prepared to tell his story.

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An Officer and His Holiness

In 1959, the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet into India, where he was granted refuge. Few know about the carefully calibrated operation to escort him safely from the Indian border. An Officer and His Holinessnarrates how political officer Har Mander Singh successfully managed this assignment in the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) with limited resources, and despite a treacherous terrain and external threats.

Har Mander Singh kept careful diary entries of the period, which have been reproduced for the first time in this book.

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Staggering Forward: Narendra Modi and India’s Global Ambition

Analysing Prime Minister Modi’s foreign and military policies in the context of India’s evolving socio-political and economic milieu, this book offers a critical perspective that helps explain why India has not progressed much towards becoming a consequential power. Argumentative and thought-provoking, Staggering Forward is a must-read to understand India’s foreign and national security policies since 2014.

 

What to Read this Eid

Posted on by Penguin India

Eid Mubarak, everyone! We wish you and your family lots of positivity and happiness. To be a part of the joy, we’ve put together a list of books you might like to take a look at today!

Prophet of Peace: The Teachings of Prophet Muhammad

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, one of the most eminent scholars of Islam in the contemporary Muslim world, draws on original Arabic sources to correct misconceptions about Islam’s early history and to establish that the revolution brought about by the Prophet was entirely bloodless. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad formulated an ideal ideology of peace which he faithfully and rigorously put into practice. In his time, there were some minor skirmishes, but no full-fledged wars.

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Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent

Researching across wide-ranging scientific disciplines and travelling with scientists all over the country, biochemist Pranay Lal has woven together the first compelling narrative of India’s deep natural history, filled with fierce reptiles, fantastic dinosaurs, gargantuan mammals and amazing plants. This story, which includes a rare collection of images, illustrations and maps, starts at the very beginning—from the time when a galactic swirl of dust coalesced to become our life-giving planet—and ends with the arrival of our ancestors on the banks of the Indus. Pranay Lal tells this story with verve, lucidity and an infectious enthusiasm that comes from his deep, abiding love of nature.

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Makers of Modern India

In Makers of Modern India you will see caste, religion, colonialism, the economy language, gender, nationalism, democracy and secularism in a historical context. The book is a treat for those who are curious about the formation of the multifarious collection of people, ideas and religions in India.

The author shows you how the lack of unison in the opinions of the makers of India complemented each other and resulted in the finished product called India.

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Collected Short Stories 

Ruskin Bond wrote his first short story, ‘Untouchable’, at the age of sixteen, and has written memorable fiction ever since. He is famous not only for his love of the hills, but for imbuing the countryside with life and vibrancy through moving descriptions. The simple people who inhabit his stories evoke sympathy and laughter in equal measure. This wonderful collection of seventy stories, including classics like ‘A Face in Dark’, ‘The Kitemaker’, ‘The Tunnel’, ‘The Room of Many Colours’, ‘Dust on the Mountain’ and ‘Times Stops at Shamli’, is a must-have for any bookshelf.

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Absolute Khushwant

Absolute Khushwant covers Khushwant Singh’s life since his birth in 1915 in the pre-partitioned Punjab thereby making him a witness of the various political, economic and social changes that the nation had undergone prior to independence and thereafter. Being gifted with a unique style of writing, Khushwant Singh captured the many of the historical events of modern India in his writings. Not only that, Khushwant Singh was a well read man on religion and had at times produced works of highly volatile and controversial issues.

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Pax Indica

The book Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century, written by an Indian author Shashi Tharoor, is an emphasis on the Indian diplomacy and its role in the global world. The book gives us an insightful and an interesting coverage of India’s foreign policies and how the policies affect the common man. It also explains that in Indian politics why policies are important to an India focused on domestic transformation. Shashi Tharoor surveys and examines the major International relationships, offers suggestion about the country’s need for the required platform, along with the country’s responsibilities to maintain its position globally, making his book an informative text to the people of the world.

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Sea of Poppies 

A motley array of sailors and stowaways, coolies and convicts is sailing down the Hooghly aboard the Ibis on its way to Mauritius. As they journey across the Indian Ocean old family ties are washed away and they begin to view themselves as jahaj-bhais or ship brothers who will build new lives for themselves in the remote islands where they are being taken. A stunningly vibrant and intensely human work, Sea of Poppies, the first book in the Ibis trilogy confirms Amitav Ghosh’s reputation as a master storyteller.

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The Mirror of Beauty

It is the sunset of the Mughal Empire. The splendour of imperial Delhi flares one last time. The young daughter of a craftsman in the city elopes with an officer of the East India Company and so we are drawn into the story of Wazir Khanam: a dazzlingly beautiful and fiercely independent woman who takes a series of lovers, including a Navab and a Mughal prince and whom history remembers as the mother of the famous poet Dagh. But it is not just one life that this novel sets out to capture: it paints in rapturous detail an entire civilization.

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In an Antique Land

Packed with anecdote and exuberant detail, In an Antique Land provides magical and intimate insights into Egypt from the Crusades to Operation Desert Storm. It exposes the indistinguishable and intertwining ties that bind together India and Egypt, Hindus and Muslims and Jews. By combining fiction, history, travel writing and anthropology, to create a single seamless work of imagination, Ghosh characteristically makes us rethink the political boundaries that divide the world and the generic boundaries that divide narratives.

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Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman

Who really is A.R. Rahman? We know the music. But do we know the man? For the first time, a nation’s pride-–winner of National Film awards, Oscars, Grammys and hearts-–opens up about his philosophies: hope, perseverance, positivity and love. From his early days as a composer of advertisement jingles to his first big break in feature films, from his keenness to integrate new technology with good old-fashioned music scores to the founding of his music school, from his resounding entry on to the international stage to his directorial debut, from his philanthropy to his inner life, Notes of a Dream captures Rahman’s extraordinary success story with all the rhythm and melody, the highs and lows, of a terrific soundtrack by the man himself.

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The Complete Book of Muslim and Parsi Names

On the day of Qayamat you will be called by your names and the names of your fathers. Therefore keep good names.’―The Prophet The Complete Book of Muslim and Parsi Names is a practical guide for choosing the perfect name for your child. The result of several years of research; it is an erudite and thorough compilation of approximately 30;000 names taken from ten languages. With the actual and the construed meanings and the history or mythology associated with the name given against each entry; this is a precise and invaluable sourcebook for scholars and lay readers alike.

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Siyasi Muslims: A Story of Political Islams in India

How do we make sense of the Muslims of India? Do they form a political community? Does the imagined conflict between Islam and modernity affect the Muslims’ political behaviour in this country? Are Muslim religious institutions-mosques and madrasas-directly involved in politics?Are Muslims truly nationalists? Or do they continue to remain just an ‘other’ in India?

While these questions intrigue us, we seldom debate to find pragmatic answers to these queries.

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Ghalib: A Thousand Desires 

In this lively, witty and illuminating account, Ghalib emerges from these pages as a man of his time but also one who looms large over history.
Raza infuses his research with just the right amount of anecdote and trivia, evoking Ghalib as an outspoken genius, a game-changer who never shied away from aiming a witty barb (or three) at his rivals. Moreover, Ghalib also lived in a crucial age that saw the end of Mughal rule and the destruction of his beloved Delhi.

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The Colours of My Heart: Selected Poems

Faiz Ahmed Faiz is widely regarded as the greatest Urdu poet of the twentieth century and the iconic voice of a generation. Although he is best remembered for his revolutionary verses that decried tyranny and called for justice, his oeuvre also extended to scintillating, soulful poems of love. In this remarkable selection of Faiz’s most memorable poems and ghazals, readers will be able to experience a new dimension of the great poet’s genius.

*

Uparwali Chai: The Indian Art of High Tea

The ultimate teatime cookbook, with an Indian twist

From Saffron and Chocolate Macarons to Apricot and Jaggery Upside Down Cake to a Rooh Afza Layer Cake, Uparwali Chai is an original mix of classic and contemporary desserts and savouries, reinvented and infused throughout with an utterly Indian flavour. A beautifully curated set of recipes full of nostalgic flavours and stories, this is a book every home cook will be referring to for generations to come.

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Dastan-e-Ghadar: The Tale of the Mutiny

Zahir Dehlvi, an accomplished poet and young official in the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar, lived through the cataclysmic 1857 Revolt that changed the course of history, marking the end of Mughal dominion and the instatement of the British Raj.
Dehlvi’s memoir, written on his deathbed, not only chronicles the fading glory of the Mughal court and his entry into a vanishing way of life, but also, most importantly, pivots on the horrifying spectacle of the Revolt and its aftermath-from the violent siege of Shahjahanabad to the bloody reprisals that followed.

Bookish Gifts for Mother’s Day!

Posted on by Penguin India

Mother’s Day is coming and we do miss scrambling and shopping for gifts to pamper our mothers with.

While we brainstorm ideas to make this day more special than it already is – we decided to ask our fellow Penguins about the books (because, what else, right?) they would love to gift to their mothers!

 

 

My mother and I share a relationship where most things go unsaid. She lost her mum at a very young age and to bring her some comfort, I would like to gift her LEGACY by Sudha Menon which is a collection of personal and evocative letters from parents to their daughters. The wisdom my grandmother couldn’t give her now, some of these delightful and inspirational letters might!

Vaishnavi Singh, Manager – Digital Platforms & Video Rights

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My mother loves everything written by Gulzar and ofcourse loves his voice too (she always wanted dad to speak like him). I grew up listening to ghazals and songs written by Gulzar because my mother is a huge fan of his writings  I love the way my mom actually makes me understand each and every word in a song written by him as if he actually sat with her when he was penning it.

For her undying love for Gulzar, i’d like to gift her the book, SELECTED POEMS BY GULZAR. She will love reading them!

Soumili Sen, Executive – Digital

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I would love to gift Mumma Sudha Murty’s THREE THOUSAND STITCHES. She adores short, impactful stories and especially the ones that are more about people rather than the plot. She has enjoyed other books by Sudha Murty in the past, is an ardent fan of her writing, so I think Three Thousand Stitches would be perfect for her collection.

Ananya Mathur, Consultant – Marketing & Digital

*

While my entire family is a bibliophile, it was my mum who fired our crazy obsession for books, so much so that books became a part of our household, our home décor, our dinner tables, and our bedtime rituals. Believe it or not, she started working only to be able to afford the books she wanted to read, after her father couldn’t expend any more money to her. Presently, she is over 70 years old and books seem to have lost their charm on her. She no longer has the patience or the span of attention and I have seen her struggle to read. Now if I am asked to gift her a book, I think I will give her Sudha Murty’s HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE. A simple book with real stories and a message at the end of each. My mom discovered Sudha Murty at the Penguin Annual Lecture 2019 and she was thoroughly taken with her personality, her life story, and her charisma. I believe my mother would enjoy traversing through Mrs Murty’s world of timeless stories.

Pallavi Narayanan, Senior Manager – Corporate Communications

*

My pick is LEGAL CONFIDENTIAL: ADVENTURES OF AN INDIAN LAWYER. My mother’s always loved consuming content surrounding crime and the legal system. The context of this book being a memoir as well as it being based in Delhi will make it an absolutely thrilling read for her.

Veer Misra, Freelancer – Digital

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Quarantine Travels: Take a Trip into These Books

Posted on by prhi-dev

 

‘Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.’ – Mason Cooley

If you are a reader like us – we’re sure you’d agree that we have never needed to step out to have our own adventures and travels. Times are uncertain and quarantining is not always easy. But one perk of being a book lover is that we always have an escape within reach!

We have piled up some (e)books that you can dive into if you are craving a bit of retreat from the real world!

The Best of Ruskin Bond

What better to transport you than Ruskin Bond?

This one brings together the best stories and poetry from one of our favourite storytellers. This literary landscape is worth disappearing into for its rich web of emotions and unforgettable characters.

*

The Torchbearers

We suggest bringing some exciting adventure into your homes with Prem, Kushal and Samhita – three endearing kids whose designated roles as ‘The Torchbearers’ set them on the path to fight demons and find the Nectar of Immortality to bring the gods back in power.

Also – there is a very punny fish in there!

Puffin Book of Bedtime Stories

Here’s one for the restless young ones! From a wandering elephant to a helpful yeti, from flying houses and faraway galaxies; delight the kids with a range of imaginative stories that would make their bedtime more exciting and active.

*

Artemis Fowl Series

Impossible to recommend just one – so we advise diving into this whole series of misadventures!

Join twelve-year-old Artemis in discovering a whole new a world of armed and dangerous – and extremely high-tech – fairies.

This is a major Disney film now, so we think it’s high time to prepare on the page before the onscreen adventure!

*

Little Women

Timeless tales are perfect to transport yourself into different times and memories. Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth are always a delight to revisit in the rural neighbourhood of Marmee in Masuchusetts.

*

The French Lieutenant’s Woman

A classic, delightful, and often irreverent postmodernist novel, this one takes you to back to the Victorian age in the most metafictional way possible. AND you get to choose from three endings!

*

The Shadow Lines

Another celebrated classic – Amitav Ghosh’s story a must-read in these times for its themes of memory and its stream-of-conscious narrative. This is a perfect read to tie in with the reflective and nostalgic headspace we are in these days.

*

Chats with the Dead

Whodunnits are so brilliant at sucking you in – and Shehan Karunatilaka’s novel puts a delightful spin on the genre! This one takes you to a lot of places: the aftermath of the Sri Lankan civil war, life, afterlife, and everything in-between.

*

Sarojini’s Mother

This literary masterpiece is in our list mostly because of Kunal Basu’s cinematic prose that would take you right into the sights and scenes of Calcutta. This is a perfect window to the city to transport you while sitting on your beds and chairs.

As eclectic as we have tried to keep this, there are ALWAYS more worlds out there to step into. If you know about them, hit us up!

A Book I Love: We Share Our Favourites this World Book Day

Posted on by Penguin India

There are characters that brought us closer to ourselves, and stories that we didn’t know we needed to read.

If you ever wondered which books left a mark on the people who work on (almost) all your favourite books, here’s a list this World Book Day:

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

As a (trying) writer, a lot of the books I get attached to are those that bring me closer to the themes I want to write about. Arundhati Roy’s fiction is rooted in the rawest socio-political fabric of India. This one is my pick because of the surprise element – I picked it up accidentally, not really braced for the enormity of the characters, themes, story of the book. It was cinematic and incredibly immersive, and left me with a hangover of sorts where I couldn’t read anything new for about three months. I think her characters really blend fact and fiction; the way she writes about the pit, absolute rock bottom of human suffering shakes you to the core. Not to mention that this has some of the most powerful lines I have read: “…the fact that something so fragile, so unbearably tender had survived, had been allowed to exist, was a miracle.”

This was one of the very few books that have made me bawl.

– Swara, Freelancer – Digital

To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird will never stop being a good book, and it will never stop inspiring people. This richly textured novel, woven from the strands of small-town life, lets readers walk in the shoes of one fully realized character after another. It’s one of the most important books of our times, Atticus Finch’s message should be heard in the midst of all the global conflicts that we hear of on the news every night.

Importantly, everyone who reads it can take something out of it which no one has before.

–Sanjeeta, Assistant Manager – Marketing & Digital

 

The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh

My favourite read and re-read is the The Shadow Lines. No matter how many times you read it, you find something new. What are the shadow lines? Are they around me? There are days when I actually feel like Tridib. That’s the magic of this book.

I was in college when I first read it. I thought that my life was not perfect because I had just come out of a relationship and everything felt bad. But when I started reading this book, I started to think differently. This book helped me understand the importance of having multiple perspectives.

–Soumili, Senior Executive – Digital

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 

The book that I keep going back to again and again is Jane Eyre. It was the first classic I read and I really enjoyed reading about a simple, stubborn and intelligent woman who beat the odds stacked against her. Jane and Mr. Rochester ignited a passion for reading in me and I cannot thank this book enough for it!

I revisted the book in college and loved analyzing it’s depths especially the character of Bertha Mason.

–Kadambari, Consultant – Digital

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy 

Nothing I say about The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse can ever explain how it feels like a warm hug on a cold night. You don’t have to be feeling lost or down to find a ray of light in it. It’s a book about friendship, love, kindness and hope, but it’s not preachy at all. Everything in this book is so beautiful; the flow, the illustrations and the characters. It’s a story I wish I had read a long time ago.

–Ananya, Consultant – Marketing & Digital

 

 

Quarantine Travels: Take a Trip into These Books

Posted on by Penguin India

‘Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.

– Mason Cooley

 

If you are a reader like us – we’re sure you’d agree that we have never needed to step out to have our own adventures and travels. Times are uncertain and quarantining is not always easy. But one perk of being a book lover is that we always have an escape within reach!

We have piled up some (e)books that you can dive into if you are craving a bit of retreat from the real world!

The Best of Ruskin Bond

What better to transport you than Ruskin Bond?

This one brings together the best stories and poetry from one of our favourite storytellers. This literary landscape is worth disappearing into for its rich web of emotions and unforgettable characters.

*

The Torchbearers

We suggest bringing some exciting adventure into your homes with Prem, Kushal and Samhita – three endearing kids whose designated roles as ‘The Torchbearers’ set them on the path to fight demons and find the Nectar of Immortality to bring the gods back in power.

Also – there is a very punny fish in there!

 

Puffin Book of Bedtime Stories

Here’s one for the restless young ones! From a wandering elephant to a helpful yeti, from flying houses and faraway galaxies; delight the kids with a range of imaginative stories that would make their bedtime more exciting and active.

*

Artemis Fowl Series

Impossible to recommend just one – so we advise diving into this whole series of misadventures!

Join twelve-year-old Artemis in discovering a whole new a world of armed and dangerous – and extremely high-tech – fairies.

This is a major Disney film now, so we think it’s high time to prepare on the page before the onscreen adventure!

*

Little Women

Timeless tales are perfect to transport yourself into different times and memories. Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth are always a delight to revisit in the rural neighbourhood of Marmee in Masuchusetts.

*

The French Lieutenant’s Woman

A classic, delightful, and often irreverent postmodernist novel, this one takes you to back to the Victorian age in the most metafictional way possible. AND you get to choose from three endings!

*

The Shadow Lines

Another celebrated classic – Amitav Ghosh’s story a must-read in these times for its themes of memory and its stream-of-conscious narrative. This is a perfect read to tie in with the reflective and nostalgic headspace we are in these days.

*

Chats with the Dead

Whodunnits are so brilliant at sucking you in – and Shehan Karunatilaka’s novel puts a delightful spin on the genre! This one takes you to a lot of places: the aftermath of the Sri Lankan civil war, life, afterlife, and everything in-between.

*

Sarojini’s Mother

This literary masterpiece is in our list mostly because of Kunal Basu’s cinematic prose that would take you right into the sights and scenes of Calcutta. This is a perfect window to the city to transport you while sitting on your beds and chairs.

As eclectic as we have tried to keep this, there are ALWAYS more worlds out there to step into. If you know about them, hit us up!

#WorldHealthDay: What to Read to Improve your Physical and Mental Wellbeing

Posted on by Penguin India

It’s an important time to stay healthy ― mentally and physically. Let’s encourage each other to look after our health and support the health of others with the help of some bookish friends!

 

I’ve Never Been (Un)Happier

Shaheen was diagnosed with depression at eighteen, after five years of already living with it. In this emotionally arresting memoir, she reveals both the daily experiences and big picture of one of the most debilitating and critically misinterpreted mental illnesses in the twenty-first century. Equal parts conundrum and enlightenment, Shaheen takes us through the personal pendulum of understanding and living with depression in her privileged circumstances. With honesty and a profound self-awareness, Shaheen lays claim to her sadness, while locating it in the universal fabric of the human condition.

Everyday Ayurveda

Time is scarce and precious in today’s world and we seek solutions that are quick. While allopathic medicine tends to focus on the management of disease, the ancient study of Ayurveda provides us with holistic knowledge for preventing disease and eliminating its root cause.

Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya takes you through a day in the life of Ayurvedic living.

Made In India

How does Milind Soman do it? What makes him tick? On the twenty-fifth anniversary of ‘Made in India’, the breakout pop music video of the 1990s that captured the apna-time-aagaya zeitgeist of post-liberalization India and made him the nation’s darling across genders and generations, Milind talks about his fascinating life-controversies, relationships, the breaking of vicious habits like smoking, alcohol, rage, and more-in a freewheeling, bare-all (easy, ladies-we’re talking soul-wise!) memoir.

The Essence of Yoga

In this book Osho explains how, through yoga, one can attain the grace of the body and of God. He talks about crucial concerns of love, marriage, faith and contentment. It is a perfect blend of ancient wisdom and contemporary knowledge.

Also contains a series of questions and answers through which Osho addresses key issues like hope, worry and the relationship between the Master and his disciples.

Skin Rules

What if you could achieve glowing skin in just six weeks? Sounds unbelievable, but it’s true!

In Skin Rules, Dr Jaishree Sharad, one of India’s top cosmetic dermatologists, gives you a revolutionary six-week plan to healthy, blemish-free skin. From the basics-identifying your skin type, acquainting yourself with the fine print on labels-to home remedies, choosing the right make-up and the latest advancements in skincare treatments, this book has the answers to all your skin woes.

You’d be amazed at what a short, six-week routine can do for your skin. So what are you waiting for?

Glow

Did you know that saffron can make you calmer? Or that tulsi protects you against pollution? Or that turnips and radishes clarify your complexion?

Whoever said that great skin is purely genetic has obviously never harnessed the power of beauty foods. While it is possible to fake great skin with make-up, you can only be truly radiant when you nourish your body from within. From basic garden-variety fruit and vegetables to potent Ayurvedic herbs, this book tells you what to eat to ensure beauty inside and out.

Happy For No Reason

Mandira Bedi is a fitness icon. But behind the six-pack is also a snotty, complaining, can’t-get-out-of-bed-today girl who, in her own way, is still searching for true happiness.

Not conditional, materialistic, transactional happiness, but just happiness. So has she cracked it yet? Mandira says ‘No’. But she genuinely believes that she’s headed in the right direction. In her own chaotic way, she seems to have discovered some kind of non-scientific, non-spiritual and as-yet-non-existent formula for finding peace in everything. Just being happy-for no reason. This book is about that.

The Laughter Yoga

BBC and Google have used it in their offices.
Oprah Winfrey promoted it on her show.
Aamir Khan loved it on Satyamev Jayate.

Today, laughter yoga has become popular worldwide as a complete workout. It is practised in more than 100 countries, with as many as 2.5 lakh people laughing out loud in India alone.This comprehensive book by the founder of the laughter yoga club movement, Dr Madan Kataria, tells you what laughter yoga is, how it works, what its benefits are and how you can apply it to everyday life.

Roots to Radiance

Do you wish you looked perfect, but don’t have the time or money for expensive treatments? Look no further than Roots to Radiance-your self-care bible to good skin, hair, teeth, nails, etc., and, most importantly, good health.

From refreshing life lessons to inevitable struggles and motivational inspiration, this book will help you sail through every beauty or life concern you’ve ever had.

The Athlete in You

A diet plan may help you lose weight; a gym routine may help you with a great-looking physique—but that does not necessarily translate into a stronger, healthier you. In fact, you may not even need the gym; you can pick a sport you enjoy, even something as simple as running. Take charge of your health and achieve your fitness goals in a way that improves not just the way you look, but also your performance and quality of life—just like an athlete!

This book will help you eat, exercise, think, look and most importantly, perform like an athlete. There is an athlete in all of us and it is time to bring that athlete out.

I’m Not Stressed

Are you stressed?

The workplace has become increasingly competitive, family life has its never-ending complications, and when you step outside, you have to deal with heavy traffic, aggression, and massive pollution. No wonder that you’re tense and agitated, have hyper reflexes and blood pressure that’s higher than the midday sun. But you’re not alone. Fifty percent of Indian professionals suffer from stress with stress-related diseases from depression to lack of fertility drastically on the rise. In I’m Not Stressed, Deanne Panday, one of the country’s leading health and fitness experts, shares with you her secrets to tackle this looming lifestyle problem.

The Beauty Diet

Can eating make you look good? Yes, it’s true.

Diet provides nutrition but also makes you look beautiful by helping you lose weight, getting a proportionate body, making your skin glow and your hair and eyes shine. In The Beauty Diet, celebrity dietician Shonali Sabherwal, whose clients include Katrina Kaif, Neha Dhupia, Esha Deol, Hema Malini, Jacqueline Fernandez, Chitrangada Singh, Shekhar Kapur, and Kabir Bedi, among others, offers easy-to-follow and tried-and-tested diet advice for women of all ages to look younger and more stunning.

So get ready to welcome the fab new you!

N for Nourish

Do you know why eating right is so important? Because it’s food that makes you zip through classes, tear across the football field or win that game of chess.

With the aid of innovative models and striking visuals, this book will help you understand the components of a healthy diet, what makes the five fingers of nutrition (and how they turn into a power-packed punch) and the importance of sleep, water and exercise in your day-to-day life. Not only does this contain the ABCs of nutrition but also a series of amazing facts about how food can change your life.

N for Nourish will make you look at yourself and what you eat in an absolutely new light!

Inside a Dark Box

When you get trapped in darkness, finding your way out can be a long and lonely battle, especially when the war is within your own head. Here’s a peep inside a mind struggling with itself.

Inside a Dark Box is a simple book about what depression can feel like.

 

With these books you can be armed and ready to begin your health journey!

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