ECLECTIC READING FROM DIFFERENT GENRES: BOOKS THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR READING LIST

Chirdeep Malhotra . Updated: 2/28/2022 2:09:51 AM Books and Authors

Compiled by: Chirdeep Malhotra

1) “Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World” by Maliha Abidi

(Feminist Theory | Format: Hardcover/Kindle)

BLURB: This book celebrates the inspirational stories of 100 remarkable women of colour. From the entrepreneur with a homemade marmalade business who went on to found Women’s World Banking, to the educator who built the first university in the world; and from the athlete who fled civil war on a sinking boat and then swam in the Olympics, to the first Black female astronaut, these trailblazers have risen above challenges to reach dizzying heights. These scientists, entertainers, sportswomen, artists and activists hail from more than forty countries. Past and present, famous and forgotten, they have worked both behind the scenes and under public scrutiny to make our world a better place. Featuring stunning portrait illustrations by noted artist Maliha Abidi, “Rise” reveals the creativity and courage of these pioneers, and is essential for all.



2) “Shuttler’s Flick” by Pullela Gopichand, with Priya Kumar

(Autobiography | Format: Hardcover/Kindle)

BLURB: When Pullela Gopichand had to undergo a risky arthroscopic surgery, chances of his full recovery were not great. His return to the badminton court seemed a far-fetched dream. The odds were stacked against him. Then, in 1998, he won the bronze in the Commonwealth Games. His biggest win was yet to come. In 2001, Pullela became the second Indian to win the All England Championship.
This is the story we know. From not being able to walk to winning the most prestigious title in badminton, this is Pullela the player. But his success hasn’t stopped at just him. The Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, set up in 2008, boasts of a host of World No. 1s including Saina Nehwal and Srikanth Kidambi and World Badminton Champion PV Sindhu. What is it about his teachings that propels players right to the top?
In his official autobiography, we meet Pullela the coach. Through his own voice, as well as those of his students, mother, and wife, we get a look at the mind that revolutionised the game. We are shown not only what it takes to get to the top, but also, and more importantly, how to stay there.
With the principles of his play laid bare, we are invited to apply them to our own everyday lives. In doing so, we ask questions, take accountability for our actions and perhaps find the answer to the greatest question of all—what does it take to become a champion?



3) “Reluctant Technophiles: India’s Complicated Relationship with Technology” by Rakesh Kumar

(Non-Fiction | Format: Paperback/Kindle)

BLURB: The past was glorious. A future disrupted by technology is almost here. But India still awaits its technology-based prosperity.
With deep-rooted inequalities, disinformation and corruption running through the veins of the Indian society, it’s hypocritical to pretend that technological solutions can solve all our problems. We are also relatively unprepared for the genuine challenges technology presents. While the benefits of technology are numerous, the challenges have the potential to magnify existent biases, exacerbate social and economic inequality, and break the social fabric.
“Reluctant Technophiles: India’s Complicated Relationship with Technology” sheds light on what technology can solve and what it can’t. Drawing from the discussions of ancient religious text, quantum computing, Greek mythology and current events, the book tries to find the sweet spot at the intersection of technology, policy and society.



4) “My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird: New Fiction by Afghan Women”

(Fiction | Format: Paperback/Kindle)

BLURB: A woman's fortitude saves her village from disaster. A teenager explores their identity in a moment of quiet. A petition writer reflects on his life as a dog lies nursing her puppies. A tormented girl tries to find love through a horrific act. A headmaster makes his way to work, treading the fine line between life and death.
“My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird” is a landmark collection: the first anthology of short fiction by Afghan women. Eighteen writers tell stories that are both unique and universal - stories of family, work, childhood, friendship, war, gender identity and cultural traditions.
This collection introduces extraordinary voices from the country's two main linguistic groups (Pashto and Dari) with original, vital and unexpected stories to tell, developed over two years through UNTOLD's Write Afghanistan project. This book comes at a pivotal moment in Afghanistan's history, when these voices must be heard.



5) “The Twyford Code” by Janice Hallett

(Mystery | Format: Paperback/Kindle)

BLURB: Forty years ago, Steven Smith found a copy of a famous children's book by disgraced author Edith Twyford, its margins full of strange markings and annotations. Wanting to know more, he took it to his English teacher Miss Iles, not realising the chain of events that he was setting in motion. Miss Iles became convinced that the book was the key to solving a puzzle, and that a message in secret code ran through all Twyford's novels. Then Miss Iles disappeared on a class field trip, and Steven has no memory of what happened to her.
Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Steven decides to investigate the mystery that has haunted him for decades. Was Miss Iles murdered? Was she deluded? Or was she right about the code? And is it still in use today?
Desperate to recover his memories and find out what really happened to Miss Iles, Steven revisits the people and places of his childhood. But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn't just a writer of forgotten children's stories. The Twyford Code has great power, and he isn't the only one trying to solve it.
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Alex Pavesi and S.J. Bennett, “The Twyford Code” will keep you up puzzling late into the night.



6) “Principles for Dealing With The Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed or Fail” by Ray Dalio

(Non-Fiction | Format: Hardcover/Kindle)

BLURB: From legendary investor Ray Dalio, author of the international bestseller “Principles”, who has spent half a century studying global economies and markets, “Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order” examines history’s most turbulent economic and political periods to reveal why the times ahead will likely be radically different from those we’ve experienced in our lifetimes - but similar to those that have happened many times before.
In this remarkable and timely addition to his “Principles” series, Dalio brings readers along for his study of the major empires - including the Dutch, the British and the American - putting into perspective the 'Big Cycle' that has driven the successes and failures of all the world’s major countries throughout history.
Dalio reveals the timeless and universal forces behind these shifts and uses them to look into the future, offering practical principles for positioning oneself for what’s ahead.



7) “Agribusiness and Technology: Revolutionizing the Future of Farming” by Sujit Sahgal

(Non-Fiction | Format: Paperback/Kindle)

BLURB: The future of farming is here. Countries all over the world are racing to revolutionize farming. Indian agricultural sector, however, is facing several challenges and needs a makeover. India should adopt agritech to make farming lucrative on a sustained basis and liberate its farmers.
Based on the author’s grassroot level discussions with thousands of farmers, entrepreneurs and policymakers, and a deep study of global trends, “Agribusiness and Technology” deliberates on the future of farming in India. It takes into consideration the farmers’ views and pain points, and pitches modern methods, best practices, effective business models and the use of technology as the best solution to make farming more lucrative, even for the small farmer. It provides a pathway for an early and impactful adoption of the various solutions.
The book will speak to all—social entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, farmers, policymakers and students invested in the Indian agricultural sector and agribusiness.



8) “The Last Prince of Bengal” by Lyn Innes

(Non-Fiction | Format: Hardcover/Kindle)

BLURB: The Nawab Nazim was born into one of India's most powerful royal families. Three times the size of Great Britain, his kingdom ranged from the soaring Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. However, in 1880, he was forced to abdicate by the British authorities, who saw him as a threat and permanently abolished his titles. The Nawab's change in fortune marked the end of an era in India and left his secret English family abandoned.
“The Last Prince of Bengal” tells the true story of the Nawab Nazim, his wife and their descendants, as they sought by turns to befriend, settle in and eventually escape Britain. From glamourous receptions with Queen Victoria to a scandalous Muslim marriage with an English chambermaid; from Bengal tiger hunts to sheep farming in the harsh Australian outback, Lyn Innes recounts her ancestors' extraordinary journey from royalty to relative anonymity.
Exposing complex prejudices regarding race, class and gender, this riveting account visits the extremes of British rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is also the intimate story of one family and their place in defining moments of recent Indian, British and Australian history.


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