Brajesh's Review : Calico Joe

After a long time, I finished a book in one sitting. Started at 10pm and couldn't go to sleep until I was done with it around 1am. A very simple heartwarming story which is crafted in an extremely racy narrative. If you are a sports buff you will find greater connection and if you are a baseball buff, you have to read this NOW. I really didn't think the 25 page prologue explaining basics of baseball was required, but that could also be due to my basic knowledge of the sport. The books ability to bring the human emotions alive in a manner where the feelings of characters feel like mist on your mind is the real gem for me.

Rating : 4 / 5

Brajesh's Review: Going Places - India's Small Town Cricket Heroes

Legends like MSD, Viru & Bhajji or rising stars like Dinda, Abdullah & Jadeja or disasters like Sreesanth & Munaf or hopes like Raina, Praveen & Vinay .... Obviously a very diverse set of cricketers, visible thread of the book was the small-town up-bringing. However Guruprasad also brings a lot of other common themes in this well researched book. Pride of place for the first coach, family support, initial struggle, need to know the system of selectors and giving back to town post success makes this book different.


Rating: 3 / 5

Brajesh's Review: Doosra - A Tale Of Cricket, Crime And Controversy

Quick, Fast, Fully Filmy Masala. Clashing worlds of World Cup Victory, Match Fixing, PR Consultants, Media Tycoons &Channel Wars.

Rating: Not Rated as it's written by a friend - Jeeves Rajendra XLRI 97

Brajesh's Review: Chinaman

Shehan Karunatilaka impressed me during JLF'11, but the book was eventually gifted by a cricket-buff friend  in June. I am delighted to have finally finished the fiction epic written in a cricket non-fiction style. It's a unique quest for the greatest spinner (Srilankan Pradeep Mathew) who has broken every world-record and had all the dream deliveries (including the double bump double spin ball). Every kid growing up in cricket crazy nations would relate to the cricketing fantasies. The intertwined journey of Srilankan cricket and national evolution in a dark humorous tone makes this a good read. The first 100 & last 25 pages are the best. The book loses 0.5 rating points due to a very long and stretched out middle.

Rating : 3.5/5

Brajesh's Review: The Winning Way

Great concept, good stories, average application but a bad book. I think the construction of the book killed it. The book has no flow or continuity.

BTW if you want sports stories and applied learning, there is this brilliant book by Prakash Iyer "Habit Of Winning" - Must Read.

Rating: 1/5 for the book
overall rating of 1.5/5 (0.5 extra for Harsha, as I am a great admirer)

Brajesh's Review: The Habit of Winning

This book must be made a compulsory read for every professional manager. One of the best books I have ever read in my life. Must be priced at 2999 and not 299 :) I have been a huge fan of Prakash and my admiration for him admiration has gone up many notches. I suggest you order your copy NOW

Rating: 5/5 - first time I have rated perfect for any book

Also, I just got 15 Copies of "Habit Of Winning" for My team ... Thanx Prakash Iyer for creating such a wonderful read. . . . . .

Read an Interview with Prakash Iyer on BookChums.com

Brajesh's Review: Cricket! All you Wanted to Know about the World Cup

Written by a dear friend from XLRI whom I have always admired for his perspective on films and a great sense of humor. While the book was for kids, I read it in one sitting and found many a great story I had no clue about.



Cricket! All You Wanted to Know About the World Cup