Think like a freak by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

"Think like a freak" by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner. The book is published by William Morrow in 2014 and is 288 pages long. This is their 3rd book after highly popular 'Freakonomics' and 'Super Freakonomics'.

This is a non fiction book so it hasn't got a story, however it has a theme. The book is divided in various chapters.

1. What does it mean to think like a freak
It means differently, thinking unconventionally. Authors have taken example of final penalty kick may win you world cup. Where will you kick? Right or left or center? Up or down?

2. Three hardest words in English - I don't know.
First thing in resolution of a problem, issue or difficulty is to acknowledge that there is a problem and I don't know the solution. Cost of pretending to know more than you do is high.

3. What's your problem?
Authors emphasis importance of defining the problem. By defining a problem differently, you can push the boundaries. They have taken an example of Japanese hotdog eating  competition winner Takeru Kobayashi (Kobe).

4. Truth is in the roots
Try to find the route cause rather treating symptoms. Authors have taken example of why black Americans have lower life expectancy than white. Why did a young doctor swallow a batch of bacteria to find cause of ulcers.

5. Think like a child
Express your ideas fearlessly, like a child. Don't be ashamed even if it sounds stupid. If the idea is bad, don't act upon it. Recognize the power of thinking small. Here they have taken an example of drunk walking.

6. Like giving candy to baby
Intensivize people, but don't manipulate them. How to determine someone's true incentives. Authors have used example of 'Once-and-done' campaign by an NGO called 'Smile train' and Ping-Pong diplomacy between America and China.

7. What do King Soloman  and David Lee Roth have in common?
Both loved game theory. Both mastered the art of beating their opponent by anticipating their next move. A person who is lying or cheating will often respond to an inventive differently than honest person. Use this to teach your garden to weed itself.

8. How to persuade people who don't want to be persuaded.
Why are better educated people more extremist? Don't pretend your argument is perfect. Why you should tell stories. How many people remember ten commandments from Bible?

9. The upside of quitting.
You can't solve tomorrow's problem if you won't abandon today's dud. Know when to struggle and when to quit. There's nothing wrong in quitting. Let go. When taking tough decisions, flip a coin.

Like their previous two books, this books also makes extensive use of statistical data to drive home the point. And it's hard to refute the point they make. Authors have a knack of convincing the readers. Freak is a word used in keeping the tradition of first two books. It is used with meaning 'different'. The book is simultaneously entertaining, intriguing and enlightening.

You understand and agree with everything the authors say. The key would be in the successful implementation of some or all the ideas. That's the real challenge for readers and successful ones will reap the fruits.

It's a good book. Those who have liked the first two will enjoy this one too. Recommend reading.

The Anza deception by P.R. Ganapathy

"The Anza deception" by P.R. Ganapathy. This book is published by Hachette in 2012 and has 373 pages.

India and Pakistan have worked out a peace deal. There is opposition from both sides. Mr. Kirmani, Pakistani prime minister who worked out the deal with Indian prime minister Mr. Singh, has won a landslide majority in general elections in Pakistan.

Major Anwar Islam is ex military and now works for Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's spy agency. His commanding officer in army,  Colonel Gupta, now heads RAW.

Islam is stationed at Indian embassy in Islamabad and runs a spy network. One day he gets a news that a very important cargo would be transported from Pakistani city to Afghanistan. Islam intercepts the cargo. He is shocked to see a catch of 55 Anza Mark III missiles. These are shoulder fired, heat seeking, surface to air missiles. Taliban or any other terrorist organization has never possessed such an advanced wepon system. India has never got hold of Anza missiles till date. This catch will allow them to study and device counter measures for these missiles.

Gupta informs PMO, that they have acquired 40 missiles. He instructs Islam to take remaining 15 to Xinjiang region of China and hand them over to Muslim Uighur rebels.

Will the Uighur's accept them? Will they use them? Will Kashmiri terrorists get them? Will they deploy them? Will they use them? Will they succeed?

Author has used names of Indian politicians which sounds very similar to real life politicians like Manmohan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Sonia and Rahul. I felt that this was unnecessary.

First half of novel is paced moderately. Once  the action moves back to India, the pace improves. Second half is written like a thriller. Ganapathy has displayed his knowledge of the working of intelligence agencies, bureaucracy and aircrafts.

The plot is good, but the narration is jerky. Some important events like change of prime minister or death of a Major are covered only in one sentence. Fate of Karandikar is left for the readers to imagine. The person who pulls strings from behind the curtain is revealed on the last page, but intelligent readers can guess him about 100 pages earlier.

Although it's a very good first attempt, the amateur style of writing is evident. Finess in writing is still not there but should come in subsequent books.

Full marks to the good cover design. It summarizes the book. Use of blue color is also very effective.

An OK book. Read if you have time.

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai

"Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" a debut novel by Kiran Desai. This book is published by Faber & Faber in 2012 and has 224 pages. Kitten is winner of Booker prize for her second novel.

Shahkot is a typical town in north India with government offices, schools, bazaar etc. Mr Chawla and his wife Kulfi are expecting a child who they would name Sampath. When Sampath Chawla was born, a number of coincidences happened. An airplane dropped relief aid meant for someone else in their backyard. Suddenly thundering rain came to douse the unbearable heat causes by drought. When he grew up, he was considered good for nothing. He was differently wired. This trait has come to him from his mother's eccentric family.

He drapes himself in women's cloths at the wedding of daughter of his boss. Then enters fountain and disrobes completely. Obviously losing his job in post office. Shamed by his behavior his family does not know what to do. In order to escape from all of it, he takes a bus out of town. Goes to a guava orchard on the outskirts, climbs a guava tree and tests in peace. The news of a man living on the tree reaches Shahkot.

Few people go their to see the spectacle. Sampath spots a couple of persons, whose letters he had read in the post office, and asks them questions based on that secret information. Suddenly people start thinking that this baba living in the tree has special powers. He becomes a cult figure, a baba. He keeps delivering one liners that are absurd and meaningful at the same time. His father shrewdly turns this into a money making opportunity.

What does the baba really know? How do monkeys come into equation? Will baba descend from the tree? Will it become a business or will some good come out of it? Will the atheist spy who is trying to expose baba succeed?

This book is written in the fashion of a satire with parody sprinkled over it for flavor. The characters are bizarre. The book even become melodramatic once or twice. The town society, government, establishment everything is made fun of.

This book sould be read with a different mindset, without applying  too much rationality. It should be looked at as a satire. Various Baba's have come to be in India because of irrational behavior of common public. This book tries to depict one such scenario.

Kiran has written a good book. (Mind you, she and her mother are both winners of Booker prize). While reading this book, I could not help remember a fantastic Marathi story Mhais (म्हैस) of Pu. LA. Deshpande (पु. ल. देशपांडे) written many years before this book.

A good book. Read if you liked the flavor of the story.

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

"Deep Storm" by  Lincoln Child. This book is published by Random House USA in 2008 and has 419 pages. It's a science fiction.

Dr Peter Crane is engaged on a short, special and secret assignment by US government. He is taken to an oil platform called Storm King, in Atlantic. He finds out that the platform is not managed by oil company but by US Navy (Headed by Admiral Spartan) and scientists (Headed by Dr. Asher). After signing secrecy agreements, he is taken to a facility located below the platform embedded in the ocean bed. The facility is called Deep Storm and is 12 storey deep. He is given an indication that they have found Atlantis. Deep storm is drilling into Earth's crust to reach Mohorovicic discontinuity and retrieve something that is transmitting signals. While drilling they encounter small discs that float in air, at the center of the room they are in, and emit light. They are called centinels.

Inhabitants of Deep Storm are facing medical problems ranging from vomiting to lack of concentration to insomnia to psychological issues. Dr. Crane is tasked to find out the root cause. His experience as diagnostician of mysterious deceases under stressful circumstances is considered his unique qualification. There is an attempted sabotage that would destroy Deep Storm under ocean water pressure.

Dr. Asher is close to decoding the message transmitted by centinels. He succeeds but his chamber catches fire and he dies, his laptop burned.

Is this a sabotage too? What is the message? Can Dr Crane find it? Does he get help? Will this drilling help humanity? What is the buried secret?

The book fantasizes about other world civilizations that are far more advanced than humans. Lincoln Child has lured the readers into the realm of sci-fi easily. Unless you know, you do not recognize the story as sci-fi in the beginning. It may also be because the writing style at the start of the book is Clive Cusslerish.

With the way this story was poised at half way mark, there were numerous possibilities to take the story to a different level of imagination, but the author appears to have taken less imaginative route. Thus the climax does not live upto the heightened expectations of readers. The book falters towards the end. It is a Sci-fi and happens under water, so there is a lot of medical and technical jargon. Authors research in that matter is evident.

An OK book. You can give it a miss.

Revenge - a fable by Taslima Nasreen

"Revenge - a fable" by Taslima Nasreen.  This book is published by The Feminist Press in 2010 and has 176 pages.

This book is translation of her bangla book 'Shodh'. It is translated by Honor Moor with Taslima Nasreen.

Jhumur (what a beautiful name!) is an educated and beautiful young lady in love with Haroon. Haroon is young & handsome entrepreneur. He is fond of music, likes flowers, finds time for Jhumur whenever she wants and courts her till she agrees to marriage.

The moment she becomes wife and daughter in law, he changes. Now he expects her not to contact her friends or relatives, not go to her mother often, cover her head, not go out alone, take care of his family and home. He doesn't take her out or bring her flowers. From a vivacious young graduate Jhumur becomes a docile cow with a status of a glorified servant who has lost all her independence.

Six weeks into marriage, Jhumur becomes pregnant. And the world changes for her. Haroon becomes suspicious and says it is not possible to get pregnant in six weeks. So he forces her to abort. Jhumu's pleas that it is his child and he should not kill  it fall on deaf ears.

Jhumur can not forget this murder of her child and decides to take revenge. What can she do? What does she do? How does she take revenge? Does she leave her husband? How does the story end?

Although the story is set in Dhaka (Bangladesh), the same could happen in any of the south Asian country where tradition runs strong.

It's a sea change for Jhumur after marriage but author has failed to provide adequate explanation or justification as to why Jhumur gives in meekly? Why she does not fight; being fearless and educated (She has a degree in physics)? She submits to her husband's dictates meekly and puts herself in vulnerable position. Of course had she fought then, the abortion and subsequent revenge would not be necessary. Taslima also does not provide explanation of second behavioral change of Haroon.

Taslima has written a good story. The delivery is simple and uncomplicated. The revenge she takes is unique. It is difficult to imagine this revenge. The revenge gives her the will and power to fight back. It's a bold revenge & difficult to digest for an orthodox society. Bangladeshi culture and tradition is picturized very well by author.

A good book. Recommend reading.

The incredible banker by Ravi Subramanian

"The incredible banker" by Ravi Subramanian. The book is published by Rupa in 2011 and is 308 pages long. This is his 4th book.

Deepak and Karan are two mid level managers in Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) in Mumbai. Karan has always performed better. When Deepak is moved to head audit and compliance, he takes his revenge by finding inexistent deficiencies in Karan's department with the help of Savitha, a young beautiful widow in Karan's team and other enemies of Karan. Karan quits the bank. Later Deepak become head of credit cards division. He is not able to achieve his monthly targets for two consecutive months and tipped by his new friend, referee, in attempt to meet impossible targets and be always ahead of competition makes a block deal with a company called Symbiotic technologies.

Later Deepak is arrested after referee is killed in a naxalite encounter. Karan who has now joined media makes biggest exposé of the year.

What is the exposé? Is Deepak involved or is he framed? Is this Karan's chance to get even? How do naxalites come into picture? What role does CBI play? Who is the mastermind behind it?

The central theme of the story is cut throat competition in banking industry leading to procedural lapses and frauds with the backdrop of naxalite movement.

The story is a bit slow in first half but picks up speed as it goes. Fictitious GB2 is Ravi's brainchild and appears in his subsequent books. Some of the characters like Karan & Kavya also appear in subsequent books. I could draw parallels between this book and Ravi's  other book 'The Bankster' as far as the revelation of traitor and mastermind is concerned. I think author should have given better explanation about Karan's exit and why his management did not support him.

Ravi is a good story teller. The internal politics and rivalry in the banking industry. Misuse of position and power. Internal working of banking industry. Targets. Cut throat competition. Ravi paints a canvas of all this meticulously. Naxalite movement and how the banking system is milked by terror organizations is shown in great detail.

Ravi is called John Grisham of banking and he deserves it.

A very good book. Recommend reading.

The Mahabharata Secret by Christopher C. Doyle

"The Mahabharata Secret" by Christopher C. Doyle. This book is published by Om Books in 2013 and has 386 pages.

There is a legend about King Ashoka. It is said that after he embraced Buddhism, he wanted his subjects to live in peace and prosperity. He came across ancient knowledge from Mahabharata that could be used for violence and destruction. In order to save it from unscrupulous elements he formed brotherhood of nine unknowns. The Mahabharata secret was hidden. In order to make it extremely difficult to find it a series of puzzles and clues were devised. Each one of the nine unknowns carried a part of the knowledge or puzzle. Ashoka also ordered destruction of all written records of wiman parva (विमान पर्व) from Mahabharata and decreed discontinuation of it from verbal records.

Vikram Singh, a nuclear scientist is killed for this Mahabharata secret by a Pakistani nuclear scientist turned LeT terrorist, Farooq Siddiqui. When Vikram knows of the impending attack, instead of saving himself he sends a series of cryptic emails to his nephew, Vijay, in USA. The same LeT gang abducts Vijay and his friend cum business partner Collin upon reaching Delhi but they escape. Then these two with the help of Dr. Shukla (Friend of Vijay's uncle and linguist of ancient languages), his daughter Radha(A nuclear scientist) & Dr. White, friend of Vikram start to decipher the emails, follow the clues and obtain artifacts that should eventually lead them to The Mahabharata Secret. There is a global conspiracy afoot that will benefit from Mahabharata secret.

What is the conspiracy? Who are the conspirators? Do the nine unknowns still exist? Can Vijay find Mahabharata secret? Can LeT get their hands on it? What is the secret?

Earlier this year I had read a book called 'The Tenth Unknown' by Jwalant Nalin Sampat on the same legend of 'Nine Unknowns'. Looks like this legend is  catching imagination of Indian fiction writers.

The study and background work that has gone behind this book is evident. Christopher has written the book well. The story is interesting. It is paced to keep you interested. He has used the mythological and historical details properly. Edicts of Ashoka, their locations and correlation of their locations are impeccable. The puzzles and clues are created keeping the mythological and historical references and significance in mind.

I would have preferred if the clues were a little more cryptic. The traitor should have been camouflaged in a better way. Readers can identify the traitor easily but characters can not. Although readers don't know what the secret is, they can make a close-enough guess. The secret should have been better hidden and the readers should have been kept guessing till it's revelation.

This book reminded me of Dan Brown thrillers. Is Christopher C. Doyle India's Dan Brown? Not yet, but he is close.

A very good book. Recommend reading.

Silkworm by Robert Galbraith aka J. K. Rowling

"Silkworm" by Robert Galbraith aka J. K. Rowling. The book is published by Sphere in June 2014 and is 464 pages long. This is the second book (after The Cuckoo's calling) of Cormoran Strike series.

After solving the Lula Landry murder in first book, Cormoran Strike has become famous. Now he gets the work regularly and has rented a small apartment, above his office, to live. Robin is now his permanent secretary.

A new case comes to him. A writer, Owen Quine, has disappeared. His wife thinks he has gone away; being a writer and moody. But he hasn't. He has really disappeared. He was writing a book titled 'Bombyx mori'. Bombyx mori is a Latin name for a silkworm. Quine has added characters in this book based on real people in his life like his publisher, editor, competitor, wife, girlfriend, agent, he himself etc. His manuscript was never published.

Cormoram Strike finds him dead. His murder is elaborate, sadistic and grotesque, literary in inspiration and ruthless in execution. Moreover he dies exactly in the way protagonist of his unpublished book dies. Now Strike starts murder investigation.

Who killed the writer? What was the motive? Who had the opportunity? Was it a suicide? Can Cormoran Strike find the killer? What are aspirations of Robin?

Cormoran Strike spends a lot of time making the ends meet rather than investigating. The relationship between Cormoran and Robin has crystallized in this book and it appears that author has delayed the inevitable for subsequent books.

Although the plot is not bad, author does not demonstrate the flair that was evident in first book. The story starts at a decent pace but drags for major portion of the book. Narration is not interesting and I had a serious thought of whether I should abandon reading.

This book is definitely not as good as the first one.

AVOID

Adhuri ek kahani (अधुरी एक कहाणी) by Anant Tibile

"Adhuri ek kahani (अधुरी एक कहाणी)", a Marathi historical novel, by Anant Tibile. This edition is published by Riya Publications in 2013 and has 184 pages.

The story is set during the reign of Shivaji (शिवाजी महाराज). Location is the city of Surat (सूरत) and timing is after Shivaji's first attack on Surat and before the second attack.

Fateh Khan (फतेहखान) comes to the notice of administrator of Surat as an excellent fighter and bright youth. He appoints him as head of 25 men squad. He stays with Allabaksh and his elder daughter falls in love with him though Fateh looks at her as a sister.

Administrator's daughter, Jannat (जन्नत), is engaged to Mubarak who commands 100 men. Mubarak is an alcoholic and makes love with any young girl that he likes. He seduces them by any means; be it love, money or rape.

Jannat falls in love with Fateh and Fateh reciprocates her feelings. But Fateh is restless. He loves Jannat but can not take the relationship further. Why? Because not only he is not a Musalman but he is also an enemy spy. He works for Shivaji Maharaj.

What is his mission? Why has he become a spy? Does he love Jannat? Will he acknowledge his love for Jannat? Will he marry her? Can he complete his mission? What will he choose, love or duty? What is his real name?

This is a love story with a historical background. Author has chosen the time period very well. The historical background makes the story exotic.

Reader wants to know how it ends because there are many possible endings to this story. Author has successfully created the 'period' atmosphere. Fateh is always torn between love and duty. The choice that he has to make is very difficult one. No one wants to be in his shoes. Anant Tibile delivers the story deftly. Narration is precise and pace is appropriate. He has concentrated on the love story and avoided making it a spy thriller. The book is short and sweet. I finished reading this book in one sitting.

However there are errors and incongruities in the book. Use of wrong name, Sayyad instead of Chandkhan etc, could have been easily avoided by paying little more attention during proof reading. Such errors cause hindrance in the joy of reading.

A good book. Recommend reading.

The Winds of Hastinapur by Sharath Komarraju

"The Winds of Hastinapur" by Sharath Komarraju. This book is published by HarperCollins and has 301 pages.

This book is the story of great war which is also the story of Ganga and Satyawati.

First section of the book is story of Ganga. Mount Meru is the abode of celestials like Indra, Yama, Ganga, Agni, Prabhas etc. Celestials are men and women who drink water from crystal lake on Meru and due to miraculous properties of the water live very long life, though they are not immortals. They also have special powers, know magic and can probe mysteries. Celestials have
a unique ability of passing on their memories to their successors. The successor knows everything that had happened in the lives of his predecessors as if it was his own memory. Thus they appear immortal to human beings on earth and are considered Gods. However the real God or Goddess is mother nature, Bhagwati.

Ganga comes back to Hastina after giving birth to eighth son. Devavrat learns Vedas, weponery and justice at Meru. Ganga does not want Devavrat to return to Hastina and convinces Prabhas to make him his successor. So she smuggles water of crystal lake and make Devavrat drink it. Usually level of crystal lake drops in winter and rises in summer. It also drops when there is a war on earth.

What kind of water is it? Why does the level rise and fall? Is it water? What is the secret of crystal lake? Why does Devavrat renounce Meru and opt Hastina instead?

Second part is story of Satyawati. A Fisher girl who becomes mother at the age of 14 through a willing union with Sage Parashar. A girl who has acquired secret formula from Parashar to make a fragrant powder that will suppress the smell of fish. She is a girl without inhibition who takes a new man once every month managing her cycles deftly.

When Shatanu comes to her hut, she obtains numerous concessions from him and expresses desire to marry him, become queen and eventually king mother.

Devavrat's terrible oaths enable the marriage. When she looses both her sons she invites Vyas to sire sons to ensure continuance of Kuru clan. The book ends with she deciding to rear all three sons of Vyas in same fashion together so that they will not fight for kingdom.

Although this is the start of Mahabharata, it does not dwell into more famous part of the story. Sharath has chosen the section of epic well. It gives a startling new dimension to the story. The angle of approach is fresh, new, ground breaking and realistic. Author had a knack of keeping the readers interested even when not much is happening the story.

I liked the first part, especially life on Mount Meru seems interesting. I would not mind if the writer decides to write a special book just about Mount Meru, life on it & it's inhabitants.

Ganga and Satyawati both have a destiny. Both do not agree with it. Both want to change it. Both try their best to change it. Both do not succeed and finally give-in.

Sharath has displayed excellent imagination in creating the Meru world. Although his imagination runs wild, he has somehow managed to sound it real. The books pace is optimum. You are lost in the winds of Hastinapur.

Knowing the story of Mahabharata, a sequel is in order. Will Sharath be able to resist the temptation of a sequel. I wish he can. This was Sharath's third book and now I would like to read first two.

A Very good book. Recommend reading.

Aapt (आप्त) by Anil Awchat

"Aapt (आप्त)", a Marathi book, by Anil Awchat. This book is published by Mauj Prakashan in 1997 and has 164 pages.

This book is a collection of word sketches (व्यक्तीचित्रे) of personalities author had met during his life. These are common people who have uncommon characteristics.

In Tin Vyawasayik (तीन व्यवसायिक) he introduces us to three professionals. Ghatge (घाटगे), a chivda (चिवडा) vendor who runs the family business & does not compromise with quality. Kaka Varne (काका वर्णे), a tailor who does not use tape for taking measurements and prepares all designs on sewing machine rather than using readymade laces and embroidery material. Kumar (कुमार), his son who is a graduate and a band master. He is sad that his profession is not looked at with respect and does not want his son to join the same trade. All three of them are master of their respective arts. They do not run after money and concentrate on quality.

Minita Santizo (मिनिता सांतिझो) is a Mexican American program officer in Iowa university's International writer program. She is extremely helpful to the visiting writers and goes out of the way to make them comfortable. She also leaves an indelible mark on author.

JP (जेपी) and Claso (क्लासो) are patients in mental hospital. They are cured and make themselves useful in the hospital administration. They have their pasts but author has concentrated on their present.

Marutrao Sarode (मारूतराव सरोदे) is an illiterate farmer who is a scientist at heart. He has his own inventions useful for farming and has ambition to do something for the aircrafts and to invent a perpetual machine.

Patilsaheb (पाटीलसाहेब) is a rare honest Police Inspector who devices various tricks to maintain ratial harmony in his area. He also sends the drug addicts to rehabilitation center and ensures that they do not relapse after their release by monitoring them. He is not only a police officer but also a social activist.

Don Guru (दोन गुरू) is the tale of Yoga teacher Ahashe (आगाशे) who teach Yoga at a negligible cost enthusiastically and without tiring. He is a rare teacher who is not good at public speaking, knows his limitations but teaches very well. Second Guru is massager Sane (साने) who does malish (मालिश) for free. He keeps improving his repertoire by learning Thai, Chinese, Light and Magnet therapies but still does not charge.

Vinayakrao (विनायकराव) Kulkarni, a socialist thinker & freedom fighter who refuses to apply for a pension, a person who lives the principal of reduce-reuse-recycle to the hilt. A person who has numerous books at home, all of them are written by great writers and leaders, none of them novel. Someone who can speak with authority on any subject and who is an excellent sounding board for writers.

It is easy to write about famous personalities. It is difficult to identify peculiarities in common men, observe them and write them in a way that readers will like it. Anil has achieved this easily. He shows us the person behind the facade and introduces us to amazing personality traits in men we see in our everyday life. I liked Vinayakrao and Patilsaheb most.

What is the common thread in this book? The special traits in common man. They are honest and lovable human beings. They are fantastic and interesting personalities.

In one or two instances I thought that the length of that particular chapter should have been shorter. Notably most of the personalities are males, only one female. Apart from these there are no complaints.

A good book. Even if you don't have time to read all the book you can choose any chapter and read it.