Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Writer: Robert Pirsig

Genre: Philosophy

Do not let the genre be a turn off! A fabulous book that I caught hold of after a long long time. By the way it has got nothing to do either with Zen or motorcycle maintenance as such, but maintenance of motorcycles seems to serve as a good analogy for the author for explaining his point of view.    

The book is a first person narration of a motorcycle journey of the author with his son, Chris and family friends from Minnesota to California. The book jumps between 2 characters - the author in his present state and a state in which he identifies himself as Phaedrus. Phaedrus, a rhetoric teacher and becomes engaged in identifying what is it that makes something better than something else. In short, he wants to define Quality. His pursuit of Quality drives him insane and the mental asylum changes his personality completely.

It’s almost impossible to explain the contents of this book without sounding insane yourself. It is class apart and you have to read it, understand it and accept it to understand its beauty. But yes, it’s not an easy read. You need patience and my idea is that if you love the book in the first 100 pages you will read it till the end or else keep it down immediately.

This one is going to be on my favourite list!

Some excellent quotes from the book:

"The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling."

"When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion."

"For every fact there is an infinity of hypotheses. "

Q:"Is it hard?

A: 'Not if you have the right attitudes. Its having the right attitudes thats hard."

..................and my personal favourite

"The law of gravity and gravity itself did not exist before Isaac Newton."

...and what that means is that that law of gravity exists nowhere except in people's heads! It 's a ghost!"

Mind has no matter or energy but they cant escape its predominance over everything they do. Logic exists in the mind. Numbers exist only in the mind. I don't get upset when scientists say that ghosts exist in the mind. Science is in your mind too, it s just that that doesn’t make it bad. Or ghosts either."

Laws of nature are human inventions, like ghosts. Law of logic, of mathematics are also human inventions, like ghosts."

Conversations with myself

Writer: Nelson Mandela

Genre: Collection of Letters, etc.

Picked up this book by mistake and was too stupid as to not verify its contents. I was actually scouting for his autobiography and bought this instead.  It’s a collection of letters, conversations, and written notes from the man himself - Nelson Mandela. Much of the data is from the days when he was imprisoned at Robin Island.

Decent read but not exciting enough and yeah the price is a little too steep for its contents! My take, skip it.

Money for Nothing

Writer: P G Wodehouse
Genre: Classic/ Humour/Fiction

Another perfect one from the master himself!  I am thoroughly enjoying my second stint with Wodehouse and I intend to read his entire collection again. During times when the going is not good, Wodehouse is the man for you.  Someone who can seriously make you smile with those smart one liners and comic but simple situations.

Lester Carmody and his old pal, Col. Wyvern are no longer on talking terms because of a silly feud and this has given poor Johnnie sleepless nights. Why? Because he, Lester's nephew, is in love with  Pat, Wyvern's daughter. He proposes her but Pat can never accept Johnnie as a lover because he is not the dashing kinds. When the American millionaire, Molloy and his daughter pay a visit to Mr. Carmody there is more to them than what meets the eye. 
Mr. Molloy's daughter seems to be interested in Johnnie and this makes Pat jealous.

All hell breaks loose when the Molloy's along with Lester Carmody and the local fitness man, Dr. Twist fake a burglary of the Carmody's ancestral heirloom. Johnnie decides to investigate and ends up as a prisoner at Twist's health resort.

How he manages the situation and finally wins Pat's heart makes for some real good reading.

The story is uncomplicated and carries a Wodehouse stamp all along. A must read for British English lovers and pick it up if you need some smiles as you turn the pages.

Much Obliged Jeeves

Writer: P G Wodehouse
Genre: Fiction/ Humour

Bertie Wooster, on insistence of his aunt Dahlia decides to help an old chum, Ginger Winship, in winning the House of Commons by-election. However, when he reaches Brinkley he is in for surprises. Florence Craye, his ex-fiancé is now engaged to Ginger. Spode and Madeline are in Brinkley too to help Ginger.

Bertie's butler, Jeeves who is a member of Junior Ganymede club tells him about a book that exists in his club where every employee writes about his employer. He also explains that book consists of some explosive material for Ginger. Unfortunately the book has been stolen by Bingley and he threatens to expose Ginger's past.

A simple situation and a fabulous British English narration. It’s a classic Wodehouse, something that’s short, sweet and extremely humorous. Go for it!

The Burning Shore

Writer: Wilbur Smith
Genre: Fiction
 
 
The first book in the Courtney 2 series, it concentrates on Centaine de Thiry.
 
The first part is a boring love story between Centaine and Michael Courtney. Micheal dies in air crash on the day of the wedding and Sean Courtney sends off Centaine and her nurse, Anna to Africa. They are to be welcomed by Garry, Michael’s father. However the ship they are travelling is torpedoed and Centaine is shipwrecked.

The next section is how Centaine survives against all odds in hostile environments and is the best part of the book. After almost giving up hope, Centaine meets and is adopted by an old Bushmen couple who teach her all the tricks to survive in the dangerous terrain. Her child, Michael Shasa Courtney is born in this wilderness and just when she has given up hope of meeting people of her own kinds she encounters them.

Lothar De La Ray, an outlaw has traded Centaine's safe delivery in return for a free pardon with Garry. He manages to save Centaine when she is being mauled by a lion and saves Cenatine and her son. He finally delivers Centaine and Shasa to the Courtneys but not before having a tumultuous affair with Centaine. Centaine breaks away when she realizes that Lothar had killed her Bushman grandparents. Centaine is happily welcomed into the Courtney family.

The book ends in Centaine delivering Manfred De La Ray and handing him over to Lothar. She has also uncovered a diamond mine owing to her wild travels and it would make her the richest woman in the world.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest

Writer: Stieg Larsson

Genre: Fiction

The last book in the Millennium Trilogy and probably slower than the other two but its climax worth reading.

Salander is admitted to Sahlgrenska Hospital with bullets in her brain, hip, and shoulder and the man who discovered her is none other than Millenium's reporter - Mikael Blomkvist. Alexander Zalachenko is also admitted with an axe wound in his head, a wound caused by his daughter - Lisbeth Salander, when she tried to kill him.

The real story is what  Blomkvist knows but the Swedish media are delighted when Salander is captured. After all, she was wanted for 3 murders! But suddenly Zalachenko is murdered and Salander's allies realize that the war is still on. There are people who would go to any length to protect the real secret. And they are the people who are in control.

Annika Giannini, Blomkvist lawyer sister decides to fight the case for Salander. It will be long fight but armed with Salander's hand written biography she finally puts the whole truth in the courtroom to the amazement of everyone and manages to acquit Salander of every single charge.

The book ends with Salander having the final showdown with her half brother Ronald Niedermann but this time she uses a clever ploy to eliminate him without involving herself showing that she has finally managed to re-enter the society she was so carefully thrown out of.

The 3 books are a fiction reader's delight and if you buy, buy the whole set at once.

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Writer: Stieg Larsson
Genre: Fiction

The second book in the Millennium Trilogy, this book focuses more on Lisbeth Salander unlike the first one.
Salander has walked out of Blomkvist's life for reasons unknown to him and he tries to get in touch with her but in vain.

Dag Svensson has done a lot of research on the topic of sex trafficking and he wants Millennium magazine to publish the story. His girlfriend, Mia Johansson is writing her thesis on the same topic and together they are a threat to many. However, with the enlisted support of Blomkvist and Erika Berger they carry on their work which is currently focusing and has reached a dead end on a man who is simply called Zalachenko or Zala.

Suddenly Dag and Mia are murdered as also is Nils Bjurman, Lisbeth's guradian. To complicate matters it is Lisbeth Salander whom the police believe is guilty and are having a difficulty tracking down.

Blomkvist does not believe and is determined to get the truth; however there is onw problem - Salander has vanished. With help from Armansky - Slander's previous boss, Palmgren- Salander's previous guardian and a few police officers he uncovers a shocking story. He also realizes he has to stop Salander from carrying out the final attack all alone.

Fabulous narration and a climax that will make you lap up the sequel immediately.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Writer: Stieg Larsson
Genre: Fiction

Mikael Blomkvist has lost a libel suit against billionaire  Wennerström and is facing a jail term. He is professionally beaten and decides to step down from his magazine - Millennium, as a board of director. At around the same time he gets a freelance assignment from the ex-CEO of Vanger Enterprises, Henrik Vanger. The case involves tracing disappearance and possibly murder of Henrik's great-niece Harriet some 40 years earlier. Blomkvist agrees because Henrik has lured him with the offer of Wennerström's head on a plate after the stipulated time.

Blomkvist moves to Hedeby and starts the work on his book of Vanger Family history wherein he is actually tying to solve Harriet's disappearance. What seems to be a cold case at one point of time soon turns into mad hunt for probably a serial killer who has been working without remorse for decades. And in this work he gets the help from Lisbeth Salander, a freaky introverted but talented computer hacker.

Together they uncover one of the deadliest secrets of their time and solve the Vanger case. Also Blomkvist, with Salander's help manages to finally blow the lid off Wennerström affairs, thereby having his vengeance towrads the end of the book.

I feel the title of the book is misleading because its more about Blomkvist than about Salander but the first book in the Millennium Trilogy is riveting enough to make you reach for the next one.  

The Blind Watchmaker

Writer: Richard Dawkins
Genre: Non Fiction/Evolutionary Biology(to be precise)


Is the complexity of a human body reason enough to believe in the existence of the supreme? Richard Dawkins thinks otherwise and he has used arguments in favour of Darwin's theory of evolution to explain his point of view. He reiterates on the Theory of Natural selection as the reason why we are what we are!


My favourite argument in the book is something that goes like this - To explain the origin of the DNA machine by invoking a supernatural designer is to explain precisely nothing, for it leaves unexplained the origin of the designer. You have to say something like 'God was always there', and if you allow yourself that kind of lazy way out, you might as well just say 'DNA was always there' or 'Life was always there' and be done with it.


How do you refute this? My answer to that is, probably it is easier for normal humans to digest the fact that there exists a supernatural being (who always exists and is not be questioned) and then lead lives than understand evolution and theory of natural selection as the reason to existence. Right now my mind is caught in two worlds because I am a believer who can never convince anyone apart from me why I believe in god.


It’s a heavy book and you need lots of patience to sit through his grinding examples and explanations. A strict no for casual readers and highly recommended for people who want to tread the path of some unusual reading.


I personally like God Delusion more though.

Indira Gandhi

Writer: Pupul Jayakar
Genre: Biography

Finally I managed to get hold of a great biography for one of the India's most astute woman politician. Thanks to mom, a great reader herself, who lent me the book that she had borrowed from her friend. Reading thru' the book I realized I need to own it. Indira Gandhi, after all, has been one of the most enigmatic personalities I have always checked out. Alright back to the book!

The first part of the book - Indu's growing up years are an absolute treat. Such a normal childhood. A girl with innumerable problems - inferiority complex, shy, reserved and complete lack of confidence. But her father had told her that she has a bigger tryst with destiny than just being his daughter. Motilal Nehru's initial pomp, his later acceptance of the Mahatma's austerity are described very well. You also get a dekko into the conflicts between her mother and the Nehrus. Kamala Nehru was probably a misfit in the Nehru clan. The author has also mentioned Indu's frequent stand - offs with her aunt, Vijayalaksmi Pandit

The 1966 devaluation of rupee, nationalization of banks are the highlights of the next section. But the most important event which probably gave her the much deserved respect in the political arena was the 1971 war where 'Bangladesh' was born. Indira's visit to US just before the war is such a fantastic narration. The meeting with Nixon and Kissigner is one of the best reads here;)

The next section is probably what she is maximum criticized for - Emergency rule. 1975 - 1977 when the country was under Emergency rule Indira outlines her 20 point program which was hailed by many. Its important to note that many prominent personalities like Vinoba Bhave, Mother Teresa, Khushwant Singh and Ratan Tata were in favour of emergency and called it the period when the indian exchequer recovered. Ratan Tata had however regretted the support later. This section also shows how Sanjay Gandhi heavily maneuvered Indira. This section deserves a special mention because its captures the state of turmoil in a very lengthy and non preachy manner.

The last section(s) deal with Sanajay Gandhi's death and her face off with his wife - Maneka Gandhi. There is a big disappointment in the way 'Operation Blue Star' is covered. There aren't really any details. After all this was the event that cost Indira her life.

Overall, the book is very well written and a great read for biography enthusiasts! Yeah not to mention that just reading Indira Gandhi's life story saps up your energy, imagine she lived all of that!

A lovely Beethoven line used in the book -
I will take fate by the throat,it will not bend me completely to its will


Indira Gandhi: A Biography