Tag: Bookstrapping

Bookstrapping: Ashoka – Portrait of a Philosopher King

Ashoka’s upbringing was multicultural- both Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara had Greek wives. Naturally, Ashoka was a ‘universalist’ with an expansive vision, connections and influence all over the world. (Image source: Amazon)

Ashoka’s conquests were as bloody a those of his father and grandfather. The difference is that Ashoka acknowledged it and apologised for it. Ashoka speaks of an ‘offence’ committed by the state of Kalinga, because of which he ‘had to’ attack! And yet, he regretted it. He was a King with a conscience and that is why, we cannot get over him fully, reviews Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta.

Bookstrapping: Your songs, my songs and the pleasure of poetry

Poetry transcends every celebration there ever has been and ever can be, writes Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta. (Image source: Amazon)

In this week’s Bookstrapping, our reviewer Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta reviews Arundhathi Subramaniam’s ‘Wild Women’, Harish Bhat’s ‘Restless Lives’ and ‘The Days of a Small Book and Other Poems’, by film director Seenu Ramasamy.

Bookstrapping: The Great Flap Of 1942 by Mukund Padmanabhan

The British seemed to be preparing for a great Japanese threat. They referred to this as the The Great Flap of 1942. This threat, however never came through, even though at one point, the Japanese attempted to enter India’s mainland via the north-east from their base in Burma. (Image source: Amazon)

The question the book leaves the reader with is this- ‘how much did the Japanese threat change political attitudes and influence the national movement in 1942?’ How did it change British attitudes towards India? And how does war time threat alter the social fabric?, highlights Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta.

Bookstrapping: Same as Ever by Morgan Housel

According to Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, one's role models, folks who think about the world in unique ways (you like these), also think about the world in other unique ways (you don’t like these). Unique minds therefore have to be accepted as a complete package. (Image source: Amazon)

One of the insights in ‘Same as Ever’ is recognising the fact that some things never change. And that helps to appreciate the fact that some of the biggest and most consequential changes in history happened because of a random, unforeseeable, thoughtless encounter or decision that led to magic or mayhem. Not because of great planning.

Bookstrapping: Marginlands – Indian Landscapes on the Brink by Arati Kumar-Rao

The book captures the tumultuous lives – both human and non-human – of those who inhabit the margins of the subcontinent. And the author includes unusual suspects like Bombay too!, states Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta. (Image source: Amazon)

Because Marginlands is not about geography alone; it is about the people, the microhabitats and any aspect of a place that we don’t pay attention to. Something that is on the margins of our attention; a place and people that are endangered and on the brink; even though we don’t see it clearly, writes Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta.

Bookstrapping: The W factor in literature

In our column today, we present a cross section of favorites from celebrity women readers. (Image source: Amazon)

Women’s contribution to literature has obviously brought a better understanding of the world. By sharing their point of view, using their own bylines and making their voices heard, they have been powerful agents of change, states Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta.

Bookstrapping: Gut Check by Steven R Gundry MD

As per Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, the author makes a strong case that despite there being no oxygen deep down in your colon, it has its own working logic and the food you eat must not impair it. (Image source: Amazon)

In ‘Gut Check’, Dr. Gundry highlights that the gut ecosystem plays a major role in producing neurotransmitters like serotonin. Hence, there is a direct correlation between the gut and depression. This is why ancient Chinese medicine has always approached depression treatment via the gut.

Bookstrapping: Never Not Working by Malissa Clark

As per the Bookstrapping insights put down by Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, she highlights, "The funny part is that even though workaholism leads to serious, negative physical and mental effects, the workaholics believe themselves to be immune from it; just like other patterns of addiction. But the science doesn’t lie." (Image source: Amazon)

The author Malissa Clark, an associate professor of industrial and organisational psychology at the University of Georgia, says in the book, that “workaholism, is the only socially acceptable-dare I say, respected-addiction.”

Bookstrapping: The Showman by Simon Shuster

How Zelensky realised that his audience was not not Ukraine but the world, the‘Medvedchuk' factor and conflicts within Ukraine are the nuances one misses in the regular news. Also, bear in mind who Simon Shuster is, as you read the book, writes Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta. (Image source: Amazon)

As reviewed by Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, The Showman by Simon Shuster, touches upon the dynamics of the war, raises the question between reality and perception, and a lot more.

Bookstrapping: Never out of Print by Rajen Mehra

This is a story of emergence, assimilation and re-emergence. And like all autobiographies, there is plenty of nostalgic flavour, writes Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta. (Image source: Amazon)

In her review, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta states, “The book is a pictorial odyssey-and the shots themselves are worth the journey of the book. Because they represent unsung heroes who did their part and faded into the twilight.”