What we read this summer 2019: From our mentors and finalists
We asked our mentors and finalists to tell us about that one book that stood out from their summer reads. Here’s the list for this year:
- Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
Cibi Pranav, Mentor, 2018–2019
Being from NIT Trichy, I observe there is a natural desire for majority of us to be creative, to make impact, and we take pride in our ‘jugaad’. This book is all about how to become original and what constitutes to be an original thinker. It is a must read that would motivate us out of our conformist masks. This book is easy to read, contains compulsive cases to drive the key message, and also allows the reader to take a few leaves for implementing in their daily lives. More importantly its content aligns with what we desire to achieve out of the scholarship — original thinkers.
2. Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman!: Adventures Of A Curious Character by Ralph Leighton and Richard P Feynman
Swedha S, Jitheshraj Scholar, 2017–2018
A very humorous and jaw dropping book on the childhood reminiscences of Dr.Richard P Feynman, a Nobel Laureate in Physics. The book also consists of events from his college times and the time he was working on the Manhattan project (to produce the first nuclear weapons for WW 2 by the US with the support of UK and Canada). It is a must read for anyone who wants to savour a fun-filled content without spending much time to read the entire book. Each anecdote can be read separately without loss of continuity. It gives a glimpse of what really goes on in the mind of a well informed scientist, who at the very core is just an extremely curious person about his surrounding. It is this inquisitiveness that led him to be one of the greatest scientists. Don’t be afraid of the scientific technicalities that you may encounter while reading. After all, it is going to be explained to you by the best teacher, Mr. Feynman. Surely, I’m not joking!
3. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Ayushi Tiwari, Mentor, 2019–2020
This book is about a student visiting his old teacher every Tuesday to understand the various aspects of life. I loved this book as I personally learn a lot from someone who has seen various pedestals of life and this book is so good to cover the spectrum of life. Mitch visits his old teacher, Morrie, who is slowly losing his life to ALS. Mitch is a very successful man to the whole world but only when he is with his old teacher, he realizes that life is much more than the artificial success and happiness we seek for. I have personally recommended this book to all my close friends and to all who are growing in their formative years to understand deeper perspectives of life.
4. Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future by Ashlee Vance
Ashutosh Verma, Finalist, 2018–2019
The life of Musk, his struggles and the rise to his present status are portrayed with perfection. His determination, perseverance and tireless work reflects in his achievements which are not limited to just having great ideas but bringing them to fruition for the benefit of humankind with all that is available at his disposal. I have realized what it takes to become successful and strive for perfection: there is no shortcut, the road will be long and full of obstacles which will make you want to give up. But you need to keep moving forward, that’s the only way to go. I found the book incredibly inspiring and up-lifting. It is a great read for someone who aspires to bring a positive change in the world by challenging the existing conventions and is willing to take risks to get there.
5. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir by Sherman Alexie
Lakshmi Manoharan, Mentor, 2018–2019
This is Sherman’s memoir for his mother, mostly written as poetry than prose. He writes about his complicated relationship with his mother and the mixed feelings he has towards her, his life on the (native) Indian reservation and how he perceived/perceives his memories from childhood. This could be a very taxing read, emotionally — especially if you are a person with high empathy. Sherman uses humour and sarcasm to describe some of the very brutal events in native Indian history. Warning: Could be triggering.
6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Nithin Balaaji D V, Finalist, 2018–2019
The book is widely considered as a bible when it comes to personal mastery and development. Originally published 30 years ago, the book holds the key to unlock our immense potentials, even today, through practical developmental techniques and tools worth applying in our lives. This book has transformed my paradigm of thoughts and actions. Certainly I am progressively adapting my life, in line with the pearls of wisdom prescribed in this book and have already started to achieve quantum results. A must read for those who dare to make a difference in their lives and those around them.
7. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
Lakshmi K Ajayan, Mentor, 2019–2020
Have you ever pulled a door that was supposed to be pushed? Well, it is not your fault. It is bad design. But humans somehow tend to blame themselves for it.
This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in designing for the purpose of solving problems. You will never be able to look at daily objects like switches and keys the same way again. Somehow, even with all the well tailored information on good and bad design, this book makes you a better human being.
8. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Akshaya Subramanian, Finalist, 2018–2019
It is one gem of a book that takes the reader onto the streets of a scarred Afghanistan. The book poignantly captures the transition of Afghanistan from a flourishing nation to a Taliban-ruled prison through the eyes of the protagonist Amir who emigrates to America when the Taliban takes over his home and nation. Circumstances force him to return to his motherland and confront the ghosts of his past.
The book tugged at my heartstrings and gave me a bitter reality check of the situation in the war-ridden nations of the world. It made me realize that what I call ‘troubles’ are actually very trivial inconveniences, and that I should be grateful for what I have and should pitch in to help those, to whom life has not been so kind.
Anonymous, from the Jitheshraj Scholarship community
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a journey of a young Afghan boy before breakout of the war through its aftermath.The author’s descriptive writing style and serene storytelling, capturing the events and wide range of emotions from yearning, guilt, pain to loyalty, redemption and love in the foreground of a tragic timeline make it one of the finest books of all time.
9. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Himanshi Gupta, Finalist, 2017–2018
For all the sci-fi enthusiasts out there, this book is gold. What shone out in this book was the underlying thought that “ love knows no boundaries, not even in science”. A science fiction thriller based on the concept of multiverse, with numerous plot twists, this book is one sure entertainer with deep philosophical thoughts.
10. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Shiwang Singh, Finalist, 2017–2018 (Excerpts from a longer review)
The protagonist of the short novel or large short story can be described as a salao old man who has lost all but the will to go on. His self-belief and understanding of nature propel him to engage in the greatest catch of his life all the while facing multiple adversaries constitutes the plot.
Like most of Hemingway’s repertoire, crisply worded with apt descriptions, simultaneously drawing parallels with the themes of life, this one adds on with its contrasting shades spread throughout the tale. A heroic tale with a million dollar ending, mocking the idiosyncrasies of many around us, while highlighting a few courageous ones; the book centres around how lack of success doesn’t translate to loss.
I would definitely recommend it for the bibliophiles, and the ones who aren’t habituated to reading can try it out as well, owing to its conciseness and easy to grasp nature.
11. The Swastika Killer by Mahendra Jakhar
Sai Karthik K A, Finalist, 2018–2019 (Excerpts from a longer review)
Some of the most infamous personalities in Berlin during the 2006 FIFA
World cup are murdered by a mysterious serial killer who has left behind a very ironic symbol: a Swastika. While the Berlin police assume it to be the inverted Nazi motif, protagonist Bala, the ‘sharpest sleuth’ from the Indian Intelligence Bureau points out that it is the Hindu mythological symbol. The story further moves to various parts of the world including Amsterdam, Old Delhi, and the underground Bombay as Bala and his protégé Maksud’s set to find the serial killer.
Do it give it a read if you’re a fan of thriller novels and want to see an Indian in the middle of all the action and the madness happening.
More to consider:
- Freakonomics by Stephen J Dubner, Steven Levitt
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
- The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- The Polymath by Waqas Ahmed
- As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
- Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon
- Love her wild, The Dark between Stars by Atticus
- Vairamuthu’s Poetry Collection (Tamil): Tamizhukku Niram Undu, Indha Pookkal Virpanaikku Alla, Innoru Dhesiya Geetham
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
