Brajesh's Review: Great by Choice

Speed read this one at Crossword today.

Jim Collins has loaded the book with many new terms which are powerful and could easily become part of the new management jargon. 10xers , 20 mile march, bullet then cannonballs, level 5 ambition, SMaC, ROL (Return on Luck) are words we need to get used to :) :) good modelling, sound and convincing logic. Can't comment on veracity of research as I didn't read the last empirical analysis part, but has to be correct given author's stature.

Rating: 3 / 5

 

Brajesh's Review: Chanakya's Chant

If you haven't read Rozabal Line & built up huge expectations from this Sanghi book, you would love every moment of the modern political fiction constructed along the ancient Chanakya's story. If I would have read this one first I would have given this a 3.5,  BUT his first book is such a stunner that I expected a similar level of complexity.

Now I know why Ashwin told me that he loved his first book more & hasn't taken similar risks in this one due to the pressures of delivering a best-seller.

Also read my review of Ashwins first book and masterpiece - The Rozabal Line and Kim's Review of Chanakya's Chant

Rating: 2.5 / 5

 

Brajesh's Review: The Sense of an Ending

Picked this one through a friend's reccomendation & Man Booker tag. The book was a 4 for me till the last 25 pages. Other books would have gotten penalised by 0.5, for letting me down, but given the title, had to bring this one down by a full point.

However I must say that, if you enjoy human psyche insights & are intrigued by behavioural nuances, this one is for you. Author has brilliantly used the language and story construction to take us on a memory ride. Had me questioning lot of my memories with sufficient intesity.

Rating: 3 / 5 

Brajesh's Review: In the Country of Men

The novel is set in post revolution Libya seen through the eyes of a 7 year old kid. The kid learns about life and his country run by Qaddaffi in one rollercoaster ride. The timing of jasmine revolution and fall of Libya made the read very contemporary.

Rating: 3.5/5

Brajesh's Review: The Secret Life of Tigers

India's biggest tiger crusader Valmik Thapar, pours his heart out in this beautiful book. He along with Fateh Singh Rathore re-wrote the history of Ranthambore. Today these two legends are the reason we have Ranthambore surviving & thriving. Do read if you love tigers and surly read if you don't, because after reading this you will :) :) Passionate writing bring the tales alive. The insights break a lot of standard myths, e.g. Male tigers don't get involved in raising family.

Rating: 3.5/5