As December wraps up the year, it’s time to lose yourself in stories that feel like a warm hug or a thrilling escape. End the year on a high note—one page at a time! Check out our picks—you might find your next favourite!
In Gods, Guns and Missionaries, Manu S. Pillai takes us through remarkable dynamics. With an arresting cast of characters—maharajahs, poets, gun-wielding revolutionaries, politicians, polemicists, philosophers and clergymen—this book is ambitious in its scope and provocative in its position. Lucid and exhaustive, it is, at once, a political history, a review of Hindu culture and a study of the social forces that prepared the ground for Hindu nationalism. Turning away from simplistic ideas on religious evolution and European imperialism, the past as it appears here is more complicated—and infinitely richer—than popular narratives allow.
Ila Arun burst into public view with the controversial song from Khal Nayak (1993), Choli Ke Peechhey. But several years before that, she was already well known for her contribution to Rajasthani folk music. A writer herself, with several original plays and many adaptations to her credit, this is her first book, an autobiography. Told in her inimitable style, with sincerity and a touch of humour, this is Ila at her candid best, sharing a glimpse into her life and experience onstage and backstage, parde ke peechhey.
Kabir is the most alive of all dead poets. He is a fabric without stitches. No centres, no edges. Anand threads his way in. Over the years, as a publisher and editor, Anand immerses himself in the works of Babasaheb Ambedkar and other anticaste thinkers. The Notbook of Kabir is the result of this pursuit with no end in sight. This is the story of how Anand loses himself trying to find Kabir.
Intimate, subtle and deeply personal, Caged … Memories Have Names is probably Gulzar Saab’s first autobiography in verse. Gulzar Saab ruminates and writes in rainbow colours. From Rumi to Pablo Neruda and Jibananda Das, among others, have coloured him in myriad of hues. With this he has painted the portraits of Birju Maharaj, Mehdi Hasan, Pancham, Asha Bhosle in words. Their palpable presence, thoughts and words are etched in Gulzar Saab’s existence.
As Yildiz Karasum, a Turkish detective, and her mysterious assistant, Tobias Becker, investigates the suspicious murders, they uncover secrets that could destroy the city that stubbornly clings on to its diversity without forgetting its past. And just as they seem to grasp the core of the missing and imperfect pieces of the puzzle, a new name is revealed… And a truth, that is beyond the reach of any mortal justice. Because when the Gods demand a sacrifice, there is always one to be chosen….
Subbu embarks on the most unique journey of his life, filled with indelible experiences. Aghori 1: An Untold Story is not just a tale, but an opportunity for readers to undergo an exuberant expedition that incorporates different and diverse activities that are spiritual, intriguing, ethereal and, at times, frightening.
Subbu returns from the Himalayas, having spent many remarkable days with the Aghori sadhus. Three powerful mantras have been successfully embedded in him, and must now be extracted and transferred to Subbu’s revered guru. The sequel to the bestselling Aghori 1: The Untold Story is filled with spiritually invigorating adventures that readers will love.
With its focus on Nehru’s understanding of history and of India’s cultural past, the book opens a window to his deep understanding of communalism and commitment to secularism. Six decades after his demise, do Nehru’s principles which reflected the values of India’s independence movement still hold water? Candid, argumentative and thought-provoking, Nehru’s India is a brilliant work on the man who made sincere efforts to discover, champion and defend the idea of India.
Can Princess Kundavai fight her way through the web of political intrigue and deceit in which she is trapped? Will valiant Vandiyatevan continue to surmount the colossal challenges fate throws at him? Kalki paints a study in contrasts in The Slaying Sword, the third in the Ponniyin Selvan series, and Gowri Ramnarayan translates his world of conflicts with empathy and adroitness.
In the fourth part of the sprawling Ponniyin Selvan series, we learn more about the intricate complexities and histories propelling our characters towards their ultimate destiny. What will happen in Kadambur? The mute Mandakini Devi has been forcibly taken to Tanjavur, and Poonkuzhali rushes there to help her aunt. What will happen when the betrayed Mandakini meets the royal family?
Play to Potential offers a refreshing exploration of human potential, emphasizing discovery through play rather than work. Deepak Jayaraman weaves insights from his eponymous podcast, his coaching work and his lived experience to share a powerful yet simple framework that can act as a guide to navigate the pulls and pressures of life. This book is a guide to living a fulfilled life, integrating family, aspirations, value creation, and deep relationships.
The Start-Up Code is more than just a guide—it’s your road map to transforming bold ideas into enduring success. Whether you’re a fledgling entrepreneur or a corporate leader aiming to ignite innovation within your organization, Bansal’s practical frameworks and proven strategies will empower you to dramatically improve your odds of success.
Through captivating anecdotes and insights, Why The Heck Not delves into Padma Bhushan awardee KP’s interactions with industry leaders, policymakers, farmers and communities. Learn how he navigated challenges, fostered collaborations, and revolutionised the Indian real estate landscape. A must-read for entrepreneurs, business enthusiasts, and anyone seeking inspiration.
The Power of Decision-Making is a collection of powerful learnings that will change the way you think about making choices. It will help you make decisions for the better to achieve lasting success in different walks of life. Conceived as a self-help guide, the book includes stories and quotes from some of the most successful people, whose decisions have changed their lives for the better.
Every day, millions of videos are uploaded, but only a handful break through to the mainstream. What separates viral content from forgotten content? It’s not luck. It’s not talent—it’s strategy. In this no-nonsense guide, Varun and Achina Mayya—creators of multiple successful YouTube channels and online businesses—reveal the strategies, tactics and insider knowledge that have helped them master the art and science of content creation.
Life is tough, so you better get a helmet. You’ll run into pain, anguish, and obstacles. But who says that they need to affect you? How to Suffer Well is a literal guidebook to learn how to defeat the voices in your head that tell you to give up. Instead, they’ll be replaced with voices that tell you it’ll be okay, this will pass, and life can be happy despite the suffering; only if you know how to suffer well.
Like all human interaction, even love is primarily guided by our hormones, and there is a definitive science to attraction. This book is your field manual to understand the instinctual, and evolutionary triggers of attraction. The Science of Attraction is an in-depth look at human attraction and what draws people together. Diagnosing and recommending highly actionable steps to take your dating life to the next level. No tricks, no manipulation; only getting inside the human psyche.
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