Very rarely does a book appear with the quintessential element of relevance crying out from every page. Amitav Ghosh's"The Great Derangement" is exactly one such book. In a time characterised by an undesirable and unfortunate transmogrification where Riparian states wreak vengeance upon one another over what has been contrived into a contentious issue such as … Continue reading The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the unthinkable by Amitav Ghosh

In "The Turning Point", Fritjof Capra, the bestselling author of "The Tao Of Physics" elucidates the perils of being obsessed with the Cartesian-Newtonian paradigm. The effect of acruthless and focused reductionist approach, Capra argues, would only result in a world that is restless, impoverished, polluted and disillusioned. Capra's proposed solution to the problem of reductionism … Continue reading The Turning Point: Science, Society, and the Rising Culture by Fritjof Capra

Jorge Luis Borges was an inveterate thinker, an incorrigible genius and an inevitable tinkerer of thoughts. One need not go beyond a reading of "Ficciones" to grasp these facts. Borges auscultates his readers with a preciseness that puts the word 'clinical' to veritable shame. He hurls them into an inescapable and powerful vortex of contemplation, … Continue reading Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges, Anthony Kerrigan (translator), Anthony Bonner (translator)

"Numero Zero" by the late Umberto Eco is a thriller rendered willingly readable on account of a plethora of plots and sub-plots. The one time Italian dictator and a sworn ally of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini a.k.a The Duce along with his mistress, Clara Petacci was captured trying to flee a lost cause, by the … Continue reading Número Zero by Umberto Eco

Jorge Luis Borges takes the oeuvre of fiction to an ethereal plane, a plane where fantasy ceases to be the tug and pull of human imagination and concocted tales breathe more conviction and credibility than recorded reality. Along with 'The 'Ficciones', 'The Aleph', represents one of the most enduring collection of stories penned by this … Continue reading The Aleph and Other Stories by Jorge Luis Borges, Andrew Hurley (Annotations)

Too short a book for an autobiography and even shorter to qualify as a John Irving novel, "The Imaginary Girlfriend" is easily one of the most endearing books ever written by this marvelous author who has created a formidable niche for himself in the American literary landscape. Dedicated to two of his most beloved wrestling … Continue reading The Imaginary Girlfriend by John Irving

This is Kurt Vonnegut at his satirical and comical best! "Slapstick or Lonesome No More" is a science fiction comedy that will have you guffawing. Dr. Wibur Daffodil-11 Swain, 2 meters tall, 100 years old, a former pediatrician and also a former President of the United States pens his quasi autobiography while taking refuge in … Continue reading Slapstick or Lonesome No More by Kurt Vonnegut

Reading "The Middle Passage" is akin to attempting parallel conversations with both Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. While the book reeks of astounding clarity, the illuminating bits are punctuated by a condescension that is to say the least, infuriating. The style is typical Naipaul - irascible, irreverent and yet, indispensable. In 1960, V.S.Naipaul undertook a year long … Continue reading The Middle Passage by V.S. Naipaul

Francis Fukuyama drawing on his invaluable expertise brings together a collation of views, theories and postulates that dwell on the merits and drawbacks of an enhanced role played by a State in institutionalising political, social and cultural reforms. Citing the example of nation building activities resorted to by the Bush Administration in both Afghanistan and … Continue reading Nation-Building: Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq by Francis Fukuyama (Editor)

Mick Wall is undoubtedly the slam dunking, home run bashing, touch finding bad ass king of biographies featuring musicians and musical artists. In 'Prince Purple Reign', Wall takes on the reclusive figure of Prince and deconstructs - or attempts to in a honest mein - the incredible life of one of the most brilliant artists … Continue reading Prince: Purple Reign by Mick Wall