Books I read in 2014

In terms of reading, 2014 was a mixed year. I read in bursts — I didn’t read a single book for many months together and then read a lot in some months. I even picked up a few books that I couldn’t complete and after some struggle, gave up. Was it the books or my state of mind? Time will tell.

These are the ones that I managed to read through. I have marked the ones that I especially liked with a *.

*Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson

This book offers a much deeper insight into the personality of Steve Jobs, with all his idiosyncrasies. For me, the clear insight was the impact of Zen, and corresponding single minded focus on the unity of design and function.

*From Beirut to Jerusalem

by Thomas L. Friedman

A set of articles of the author’s travels and observations in the Middle East.

*The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati

Michel Danino

Finally, a book that consolidates multiple views on the Indus-Saraswati civilization and provides a hypothesis that people on the subcontinent can easily vouch for as realistic and highly probable. A lot of water has flown past Harappa and Mohenjo-daro and all the action is on the banks of the river Saraswati. More in this book review.

*Hitler’s Scientists: Science, War, and the Devil’s Pact

John Cornwell

Is science truly neutral? Or, the better question would be, are scientists truly neutral? Where does their allegiance lie? Is there a definitive answer? How does political climate influence scientists, and therefore science? These are some of many interesting questions questions that pop up while reading this book and the questions are relevant even today.

Gods of War

Ashok Banker

I am a big fan of his Ramayana series of books (the first few books at least), and his 1st book of the Mahabharata series is quite wonderful. Gods of War is mythological futuristic science fiction. After an interesting start, the book gets convoluted and preachy.

*The Miniaturist

by Kunal Basu

The story is set in Akbar’s time. Its about a painter, a prodigy. A painter whose first teacher doesn’t teach him any rules, doesn’t let him see any other paintings so that he can be himself when he paints. How he finds his muse and is consumed by it. His blasphemous paintings. His exile from the land. His going blind. The story has a wonderful ending.

Mumbai Fables

by Gyan Prakash

The book strings together some events from Mumbai’s history to give insights into the multiple hues of Mumbai and how it has evolved over time. A bhel puri of sorts. An interesting read.

Longitudes and Attitudes: The World in the Age of Terrorism

by Thomas L. Friedman

This is a compilation of the author’s columns, notes and experiences of his post September 11 travels. There is evidence of the event’s impact on a journalist — it is difficult to be a neutral observer and keep sight of the big picture in such circumstances.

*Tales from Firozsha Baag

by Rohinton Mistry

A deep dive into the life of Parsi families staying in a Parsi colony — many intertwined stories. A wonderful read — about a unique community of Mumbai and India who live life to the fullest, in their own way.

Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States

by Bill Bryson

I have always been fascinated by patterns (memes), their origins and evolution, be it language, rituals, traditions or ideas. This book explores the influence of USA on English, driven by people from Europe as well as native Americans, the geography, occupations, events etc. The book has its share of interesting and dry patches.

The Extras

Kiran Nagarkar

Another Mumbai book, set in a central Mumbai chawl. It takes some really strange twists and turns.

Gods And Godmen Of India

by Khushwant Singh

Only Khushwant Singh can write about this loaded topic with complete irreverence and bring out the mundane and the hilarious, ask some serious questions cloaked in satire and get away with it!

*A Handful of Rice

by Kamla Markandya

A beautifully written story about a family struggling for space and survival, and the never ending clash between poverty and morals, set in British India.

False Economy: A Surprising Economic History of the World

by Alan Beattie

The book recounts events and decisions that shaped the economy of nations and regions in the past. The key question is — can the direction of world economy be controlled, or is it just the result of many complex, random events and forces?Does the past have any lessons for us?

The Mathematical Traveler: Exploring The Grand History Of Numbers

by Calvin C. Clawson

This is considered to be a classic book, but somehow I couldn’t connect with it at all. I have read other books that have probably done better justice e.g. The Nothing That Is: A Natural History of Zero by Robert M. Kaplan, Ellen Kaplan.

Bad Ideas?: An Arresting History of Our Inventions

by Robert Winston

A bit of an anti-climax this one. I was expecting a map of ideas/inventions that were initially rejected or considered to be bad but then over time gained acceptance and changed the course of the world. Nothing of that sort in this book. This is more of an essay on how all inventions in general have a negative side.

*The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems

by Fritjof Capra

Systems and Synthesis, networks, feedback, self organization, diversity, mutation. Complete resonance with my view of the world!

The Story of India

Michael Wood

I am usually quite skeptical about books by non-Indian authors that attempt to recount the story of India. It can be a struggle for someone not exposed to the living culture of India to understand its mythology, separate facts from fiction and connect the dots. But Michael Wood has, in this regard, done a great job. The book is difficult to put down.

East Of The Sun: A Nearly-Stoned Walk Down the Road in a Different Land

by Siddhartha Sarma

I haven’t read many books that are based in the North East of India. I remember being mesmerized by “The Legends of Pensam” by Mamang Dai, a beautiful multi-hued painting of the culture of Arunachal Pradesh. That was an insider’s view. You could call this an outsider’s view, but that of an involved outsider, not the average touristy traveler. It is breezy, humorous, unpretentious but insightful. It has helped me build a mental map of the North East, which I must admit, I didnt have before (knowing all the states and their capitals is not a mental map) — and now I am ready to go deeper and read more.