Archive for the ‘Non Fiction’ Category

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Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity

Sunday, December 9th, 2012

“Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” by Katherine Boo is a story of the economical situation of slum dwellers and the penetration of corruption in Indian society. It’s a story of how India might be shining for all Indians except the poor such as slum dwellers. It’s the story of the attitude of “survival of the fittest” amongst the slum dwellers.

This book was depressing and discouraging but it’s a reality. It is definitely not the entire reality of the situation of slum dwellers yet it’s sad and inhumane. I’m glad I read it even though it was a hard book to read emotionally.

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The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Learning DangerouslyMy husband surprised me by giving me a book on the day it was released. This has never happened before. I loved it! He gifted me “The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling” by Quinn Cummings. I read it in about 3 days as it was such an easy read and so interesting for me.

I could relate to the author as my reason for homeschooling is not religious just like the author. My kid sounded a bit like hers with respect to academic capabilities and I guess, I am doing the right thing by not granting him the opportunity to get bored and get into trouble. I could completely relate to her with respect to the event when she tries to join a homeschool group in the park. I could relate so much to her and after reading the book, I felt encouraged and determined to continue my journey of homeschooling for another year! Also, it was enlightening to know the history of homeschooling and current statistics too. I feel optimistic and present seems to be fun and promising!

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The Woman Who Wasn’t There

Monday, July 16th, 2012

“The Woman Who Wasn’t There” by Robin Gaby Fisher and Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. is a true, chilling story that comes to my mind each time I think of that terrible day of 9/11. I just cannot believe that a human being is capable of playing with fragile emotions of survivors of 9/11. It’s pathetic! I just couldn’t put this book down because Tania’s audacity to do what she was doing was mind-boggling. There are so many questions that I wish Tania would answer. Why did she do this? What was she thinking? Does she feel sorry now? Did she apologize especially to Linda? After I read the book, I had to look at Tania’s photo online. I really want to watch the documentary now.

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Expecting to Fly: In Search Of The Spirit

Monday, June 18th, 2012

Expecting to Fly“Expecting to Fly: In Search Of The Spirit” by Patrick Sheridan is a book that I can never forget and I need to read it at least once again. It was very hard to put this book down. I am filled with awe about how Shri Mataji cleansed, nourished, comforted and guided the author.

Shri Mataji didn’t look at his personality or appearance but looked at his heart as he was a seeker and took him under her protection. She transformed him from a heavy 60s style drug addict who had abandoned his son to a loving family man who gave up all addictions and is leading a respectable, normal, happy life. This book should serve as a warning to anyone who seeks through drugs and/or any black magic. My favorite parts of the book are Patrick’s interactions with Shri Mataji. Also, it was inspiring to learn about the beginnings of Sahaja Yoga in London. There’s so much I learnt from this book that inspires my own spiritual journey. Above all, I love the transparency, that is, I love how the author has bared his life, thoughts and heart out without concern for being judged. I wish I had met the author when I was living in London.

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Steve Jobs

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Steve Jobs

“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson is a gift from Dhanesh and Marga. Thank you! It is like no other biography I have read. When I started the book, I was expecting to learn about the great values and life of a visionary person. But, I was completely in shock! He is a visionary yet his anger and the way he treated people if they are not as he expects them to be is shocking to me. It seems that he could easily walk over any person for selfish reasons without much regret and this scared me.

It specially struck a chord with me because a part of his personality gave me an insight into my father’s personality. I feel my father is extremely hard to please as he has really high expectations. His anger scares everyone. I have seen my father returning food in restaurants and home because it didn’t meet his standards. My father shares reality distortion field with Steve Jobs. He started his career with loading steel in trucks and today he is a highly successful industrialist. Even today, my father’s first priority and the only passion is his work. Thanks to this book, I am able to understand my father little better! This book has really helped my heart.

I believe that one has to be extremely lucky as Steve Jobs if one wants to be successful with his kind of personality. All the biographies teach me one important lesson over and over. There is no black and white but there are many shades of gray with respect to human beings. If someone seems horrible, look close and you are bound to find some extraordinary good in that person. If someone seems like an angel, look close and you are bound to find that the person is not perfect.

Above all, I do believe that Steve Jobs was a true seeker. I strongly believe in the Steve Jobs’ point of view with respect to religion: “I think different religions are different door to the same house…” (page 15)

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