InklingsInsight

Book Name: The Girls Are Not Fine Author: Harnidh Kaur Publication: Penguin Genre: Non-Fiction “When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around here.” - Adrienne Rich The Girls Are Not Fine: The Cost of Ambition, Careers and Becoming by Harnidh Kaur is a non-fiction book that gives voice to opinions many women have kept on mute for years, and are still struggling to raise in many spaces. Review This book has four parts, each portraying different aspects of women’s conditioning. These include On Unravelling, On Work, On Relationships, and On Money. Every phase and aspect of a woman’s life deserves to be talked about. From the phase where a woman says “I am fine,” which actually means “I am not fine,” to the phase where she speaks up for her rights in her family or workplace because she knows her limits and what lies beyond them, this book covers it all. These are conversations not only women need, but society needs to hear too. One aspect that p...

Book Name: Laugh With Me Author: Ruskin Bond Publication: HarperCollins Children’s Books Genre: Humour Laugh with Me by Ruskin Bond is a nostalgic collection of anecdotes from his life. He begins the book with: “When we are young, we laugh at everyone except ourselves. When we are a little older, we discover that others are laughing at us. Not so funny. But if you learn to laugh with them you will be happier than most. And when you grow old, like me, you will learn to laugh at yourself. Then you won’t feel angry or defeated.” He literally shares the funny moments from his life that made him laugh. Review The writing style of Laugh with Me is unique and leans heavily on illustrations that meticulously support each incident and anecdote. Even the quotes feel like the kind of posters we buy to decorate our rooms. From sharing his school days, when cane punishments were common, to narrating a train journey to Mumbai via Vadodara where his spectacles met with an unfortunate mishap dur...

Book Name: The Chanakya Playbook: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Entrepreneur  Author: Abhiraj Gupta Publication: Rupa Genre: Non-Fiction (Business) The Chanakya Playbook by Abhiraj Gupta bridges the gap between the timeless wisdom of the Arthashastra and modern corporate realities. It portrays how principles relevant in ancient India can still be implemented in today’s corporate culture, where everyone is constantly chasing something new that captures the market, often without much thought. The book talks about three transformative pillars needed for companies and brands to sustain in a competitive and trend-driven market: Internal Mastery: It covers the importance of self-discipline, foresight, and ethical grounding. Structural Resilience: It unfolds the Saptanga framework for organizational strength. Strategic Agility: It focuses on the art of intellectual inquiry. Review When I first saw this book, I thought it might be like other self-help books written long ago and not...

Book Name: Buildit - Building Blinkit In An Evolving India Author: Albinder Singh Dhindsa Publication: HarperCollins (Harper Business) Genre: Non-Fiction (Business) Build It: Building Blinkit in an Evolving India by Albinder Singh Dhindsa, the one behind this e-commerce giant, the one who made our lives easy and brought groceries to our phones delivered within minutes, is not a guide or a step-by-step structure to build a brand or become an entrepreneur. Rather, it is the making of the brand itself, Blinkit. How it transitioned from Grofers to Blinkit is what readers will explore in this book through the lens of the founder, who has not only been on the business side but also experienced the consumer front when he noticed one day how his mother had been using his own brand for her daily needs at her fingertips. Review “They left not because we were failing, but because they didn’t believe we could succeed.” This statement by Albinder shows how he tried to dig into the delivery par...

Book Name: Aali & The Avathars of Primordials Author: Manick Publication: Self-Published Genre: Mythological-Fantasy-Thriller Aali and the Avathars of Primordials by Manick is a mythological fantasy thriller that explores multiple themes across different worlds, where the primordials travel on a journey to master the five elements: air, water, fire, astral, and earth. Review Aali and the Avathars of Primordials follows the journey of six primordials as they move from the human world to the golden metropolis of Kumeru, where Bhagwan Parshuram and other teachers await them. They are trained in elemental bending and the four Vedhams. What begins as a transition, when teachers from Aali set out to find the incarnated primordials on Earth, soon turns into a gripping adventure. The incarnations not only learn different forms of bending but also prepare themselves to become protectors when evil rises. Much like a university, the Mystical Academy at Kumeru is structured into semesters,...

Book Name: A Tale of Two Kitchens Author: Lata Gwalani Publication: Amaryllis Publishing Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir “In two households where the aroma of curry leaves mingled with the gleaming hue of pureed tomatoes, a Tamilian mother and a Sindhi mother embarked on a journey that transcended the boundaries of language, culture, and geography. It began with an exchange of recipes, a casual sharing of spices and techniques, but eventually blossomed into a profound friendship forged over simmering pots and sizzling pans.” A Tale of Two Kitchens by Lata Gwalani is a heartwarming memoir of two mothers and their legacies, passed on and shared through food and traditional dishes from Sindhi and Tamil kitchens. Review This book is a blend of anecdotes, illustrations, pictures, and recipes, brought together through the author’s storytelling about her mother and mother-in-law, and how the two came together through food. From trying to put their dishes above the other to eventually looking f...