Now Reading : Go Kiss the World

My roomie got this book from the Hyderbad book-fair last week. I missed the book-fair was quite busy last week with some old pals I saw this book in the best sellers shelf during my last errand at “Landmark”. But did’nt go for it … may the bright yellow color turned me off  

Well, out of curiosity I started reading the prologue, and was surprised to find out that the author, Subroto Bagchi who is the co-founder of Mindtree Consulting is from my native place Orissa !!! Now I started reading it

There is actually more than Orissa in it, its ‘alluring’, there is something that captivates you, and I was caught in it. “Go Kiss the World!”.. These were the same words which Subroto’s blind mother told him before her last breath. Read it non-stop for 4 straight hours in the middle of the night, had to stop as I had morning shift the next day.

The author takes you on a journey through his life, his achievements, hardhips, failures, struggle and morsels of wisdom. The book is divided into 3 parts, the first deals with his childhood, the second (the one I am reading now) showcases the early years of his career, and the third deals with the later years of his life and days at Mindtree. 

 

I am yet to finish the book, but my verdict is out, “IT’S A MUST READ !!!”. The book shows how a small town guy makes his mark, what good mentoring and parenting can do to people. Must say, I loved the way Mr Bagchi has been brought up, so far I liked the first part of the book most, as it gives a sense of accomplishment after hard knocks. 

The book also has morsels of wisdom hidden in it, “Mentoring is not different from parenting, its like saying in your ears ‘Yes you can’ only then dreams are made and realised … ” “The power of Inclusion” and lot more … Through personal anecdotes and simple words of wisdom, Subroto brings professional lessons in working and living, energizing ordinary people to lead extraordinary lives..

The book really defines its caption “Go Kiss The World - Life Lessons For The Young Professional”

Now Reading – “Stay Hungry Stay Foolish”

During my weekly stroll @ Crosswords last Sunday I stumbled at this book “Stay Hungry Stay Foolish”. The first few lines on the cover were enough to inspire me to buy it and unwillingly I did so (coz I already have a pile of 3 unread books). Started reading it last night and here are a few initial thoughts about it.

 

Its a book written by an IIMA alumna (Rashmi Bansal), based on the stories of 25 IIMA Alumni and the book’s also released by IIMA. Ya these are the few words that inspired me to buy this book IIMA, IIMA, IIMA. The book talks about 25 students of India’s Harvard, IIM Ahmedabad, who let go of their cozy, well paying MNC jobs and chose the less trodden path of entrepreneurship.

 

The title has been inspired from the very famous Steve Jobs’ commencement speech. The first few pages give you a brief intro to the 25 ex-grads life and accomplishments. Whats surprising here is that this list doesn’t include the most famous IIMA grad, Chetan Bhagat (of Five point Someone fame), do I smell competition here ? It does have famous names like Sanjiv Bhikchandani, the founder of Naukri.com, Deep Kalra, the founder of the on line travel portal Makemytrip and 23 others whose names I don’t remember now, thanks to my photographic memory.

 

Well the book seems to be inspiring atleast by reading the first chapter of Sanjeev Bikchandani, but I felt it lacks proper narration. The stories are worth to be told but are not told in the right manner. The first chapter had a few acronyms and complex jargon like LED and PPID which are hard to figure out. I have just started the book, may be over time these notions would be gone and I may start liking the book. The content of the book is much alluring what I am looking forward to is the intent of the author, if she narrates the book as a end of college nostalgic scrap book then its crap, if it goes on to be an inspiring story of 25 beautiful minds achieving the impossible then it would be “worth reading… “