Assegai by author Wilbur Smith

Book: Assegai

Author: Wilbur Smith (www.wilbursmithbooks.com )

Publisher: MacMillan (www.panmacmillan.com )

ISBN 978-0-230-52920-5

Wilbur Smith is the authoritative novelist if you want to read about the epic history of Africa, especially the 18^th and 19^th Century and the European players in the African theatre. Wilbur Smith novels are extensively researched and when he writes about Africa, it comes to life in front of the readers eyes. If it were not for Wilbur Smith the world would not know, so easily, the various regions and tribes of Africa, their warfare and the emergence of the African continent as a major political theatre in the world power games.

It is early 19^th century and East Africa is divided into British and German East Africa. Leon Courtney, of the long lineage of the Courtneys  of Africa (check Wilbur Smiths other novels) is an ex- soldier and now a professional game hunter who takes the rich and influential on custom made hunt safaris. World War 1 is about to break and Leon is exhorted to gather information on his next client Count Otto von Meerbach, who supplies aircraft and automobiles to the German Africa Kaiser’s Army. Seems a pretty straightforward assignment for Leon, but he never took into consideration his falling for Eva, the counts mistress.

Throw in with story line the fierce Masai warriors, who even the lions of Africa dread, with their Assegai, the long spear of hunt and war. Put in a few adrenaline pumping and gory hunts, the deadly buffalo, the stalking lions and the simmering pre war scenario.

You have an absolute ace of a novel. An absolute awesome read, like most of Wilbur Smith novels.

Vivekacudamani by Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Book: Vivekacudamani

Author: Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Publisher : Shri Gangadhareshwar Trust (Rishikesh : Phone: India 0135-430769) ( www.sastraprakasika.org )

Swami Dayanand Saraswati is a living enlightened human being. He is well versed in the Vedas and Upaniishads and also has a grasp of the modern world, sciences and society. His discourses are structured to suit the modern life and individual and yet adhere to the immutable fundamentals of atma and moksha.

Vivekacudamani is an ancient treatise. Vivekacudamani is a book addressed to the jignasu (one seeking knowledge) who desires to become a mumukshu (one seeking liberation) and desires to attain Moksha (liberation) which being an attribute of atma (soul) is therefore already attained and just to be understood.

Vivekacudamani is a collection of 108 verses selected from the Upanishads. The Lord was the creator of the 4 Vedas. The Upanishads are the treatises of various saints upon what they thought was relevant or important from these Vedas. Hence each Upanishad usually carries the name of its creator saint. This is the basis of Sanatana Dharma ( a philosophy) which is loosely (and falsely) called as Hinduism.

Any Indian sage or spiritual Guru worth his salt has written a treatise upon the Vivekacudamani.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati is very lucid and precise with his words and thoughts and is able to convey the intricacies of our Upanishads in a very clear fashion and language.

A must read for any person wishing to understand the basis of Sanatana Dharma ……. Or Hinduism.

In fact I recommend each and every book of Shri Dayanand Saraswati for his clarity of thought and his precise knowledge about your quest towards finding Moksha or Atma.

With much humility and taking the excuse of my ignorance, I find some of his books and thoughts very repetitive. But the Truth is just one and hence is bound to be repetitive.   Please persevere in your quest for the ultimate truth. 

The discourses of Swami Dayananda Saraswati are in English. Available on audio CDs.

The World according to Clarkson by author Jeremy Clarkson

Book: The World according to Clarkson, Volume 1

Author: Jeremy Clarkson

Publisher: Penguin Books (www.penguin.com )

ISBN 978-0-141-01789-1

Jeremy Clarkson, the author, has written for many newspapers in his career and has had the time to pen down around 10 books. He is also host of the popular automobile show Top Gear on BBC TV.  Jeremy Clarkson has a very unique style of sardonic humor, where he is quick on the uptake to pick out nuances of humor in everyday life situation and politics.  Personally I, thebooksurgeon.blogspot.in , am an avid fan of humor in any form of media. For me I rate Jeremy Clarkson amongst the best humorists. I have bought each and every book written by Jeremy and for me they are ROFLMAO.

For The World according to CLarkson, is the 1^st Volume in the series: The World according to Clarkson, is written around the time 2004. Clarkson lampoons everything from the various world policies, British Government, British Rail, Roads, Town Councils, Health policies, America, Brussels, Mandela, Beckham, Iraq war and Politicians. And his views are not just ranting and sarcasm, they are well researched and yet his point is put forward very humorously.

Plus keep in mind that Jeremy is host of show “Top Gear”, his writings are interspersed with comments on Cars, their strong points, their weaknesses and their effect on transport as a whole.

I shall not go on trying to “explain” and review the humor of Jeremy Clarkson for that would kill the joke. All I am going to say is: Buy the Book: The World according to Clarkson by author Jeremy Clarkson and chuckle every time that you read and re-read this book.

The Visitor by author Lee Child (A Jack Reacher Novel)

Book: The Visitor  (Jack Reacher Novel)

Author: Lee Child  (www.jackreacher.co.uk )

Publisher:  Bantam Books and Random House (www.booksattransworld.co.uk and www.rbooks.co.uk and www.randomhouse.co.uk )

ISBN: 978-0-553-81889-9

The hero of this series is Jack Reacher. Lets get it straight at the start of the review. He is a man’s hero and a woman’s dream man. No nonsense, less emotions, less of mushy wooshy stuff.  Tough exterior, good looking in a rugged way. Drifter, who doesn’t have any strings, nor any loose ends. Retired trained Military police, or in his own words: the man who keeps trained killing machines in check and order. Absolute expert in weapons and martial arts. Doesn’t fight often, but when he fights you have to call in the insurance people…. for the place and the people. Do I have your attention?

But will his drifting itself land him in trouble? Two women are found murdered, naked, in their own homes, in a bath tub full of paint. Both of them are army personnel. Both were murdered apparently by a man they knew well. Both knew Jack Reacher well. Both were murdered by someone with a score to settle, a trained and ruthless killer…. like Jack Reacher.

Will Jack be able to solve this mystery. Or will he get pulled into the mire of controversy and speculation. Will he be able to stop the killer before he strikes again? Will Jack avenge these slain ladies? What will happen when Jack confronts a ruthless, trained killer…. just like him?

An absolute must read, a buy to be treasured, action packed thriller.

The book : One Shot is now a major motion picture starring Tom Cruise.

The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross Novel), author James Patterson

Book: The Big Bad Wolf  (Alex Cross Novel)

Author: James Patterson  (www.jamespatterson.com )

Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA   (www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com)

ISBN : 0-446-61022-4

Alex Cross is now FBI. He was with the Washington DC Police force. Single father. Melancholic, mulling and contemplative personality. Not a grab, wham, kow pow kind of action action hero. But a regular cop. What is his forte is his tenaciousness with a case and his incisively deductive abilities, coupled with a team that adores him, and a family that is his strength.

This is his first case after  joining FBI. There is a human trafficking racket going on in the  high places, the big cities of USA. Women are being targeted for their particular traits and features. They are being kidnapped and sold into the houses of USA as slaves. Slaves to crimes of lust and passion or just obsession.

At the centre of this human slave trafficking is whispers of a name : The Wolf, rumored to be Ex KGB or Ex Russian Mafioso. The Wolf, name whispered in the crime streets with dread and loathing because of his high handed and brutal style of dealing with dissent.

Alex Cross has to track down the Wolf in the mean labyrinthine jungles of USA and to do so he has to become a wolf himself. Shall Alex solve this human trafficking case in time?….. In time to save his ex fiancée who just suddenly jumps into the picture.?

Read this book to enjoy one more adventure of Alex Cross.

Ruler of the World by author Alex Rutherford

Book: Ruler of the world ( Book 3 of series www.empireofthemoghul.co.uk )

Author: Alex Rutherford

Publisher: Hachette India ( www.hachetteindia.com ) (www.headline.co.uk)

ISBN 978-0-7553-4757-5

In his series, “Empire of the Moghul”, the author: Alex Rutherford, as always, relies on historical facts and deftly weaves them into a fictional biographical story that encompasses the mightiest and longest dynastical rulers of India, the Moghuls. Book 1 was the story of Babur the emperor and conqueror. Book 2 was the tale of his son and 2^nd Mughal emperor, Humayun.

Book 3 : Ruler of the world, is the story of India’s most remembered, oft quoted and oft written Mughal emperor, Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar . Or better remembered as just Akbar the great, the 3^rd Mughal emperor.

This book explores in detail how Akbar from birth itself was raised and nurtured on the battle field and in the bastions of an army perpetually on move. He was under the care of a faithful alamgir and a wet nurse, whom he called his second mother.

This book also explores Akbars rise into an individual from the cloistered confines of a protected childhood into a man who will be India’s most loved and remembered Mughal king.

But as is the curse of the Mughal dynasty, Akbar while building the modern Hindustan of his dreams has to face the salaciousness, duplicity and plotting of his own son Salim. This book explores the love of a father deftly counterposed against the duties and rigidity of an emperor.

A must read for adventure lovers and history buffs. 

The Secret of the Nagas by author Amish Tripathi

Book: The Secret of the Nagas (Shiva trilogy 2)

Author: Amish Tripathi  (www.shivatrilogy.com)

Publisher:  Westland Ltd

ISBN: 978-93-80658-79-7

The Shiva is a series written by author Amish Tripathi.
The Secret of the Nagas is a continuation of the story Immortals of Meluha. It is an allegorical novel about Lord Shiva. The novel is set in prehistoric India and subtle hints to the hero being Shiva.

In a very nice allegorical story, Amish Tripathi, explains the origins, 'pre-fame' activities and the reasoning behind personality of Shiva. Very beautifully interwoven into a fictional action story.

Story depicts that start of the legend Shiva and his Naga tribe, the reason behind his blue throat, his odyssey from the Himalayas , his meeting Parvati interwoven with nice prehistorical India.

A very very interesting concept. Very nicely depicted by Tripathi. Absolute gem of a basis and a story.

My only grouse with Amish is that in some scenarios (with scientists or warfare) he goes into too much of explanatory mode, almost as if the author is not crediting his readers with any imaginative intelligence.

And also, the absolute fantastic and strong story line sometimes goes very weak and silly. 

But maybe i am being too harsh, because the story basis is so strong that it has been selected to be converted into a major Bollywood film. 

The cover of the paperback is so awesome that i would buy the book just for the cover.

I am glad that i did buy both the books of the series.  I eagerly await the third book.
I also await the film or hopefully films.

Keep on writing Amish Tripathi.

Talks with Shri Ramana Maharshi

Book: Talks with Shri Ramana Maharshi

Author: Shri Ramana Maharshi

Publisher:Shri Ramana Ashrama (www.shriramanamaharshii.org)

ISBN 81-88018-07-4

For me to talk about Shri Ramana Maharshi is like holding a candle to the sun. Ramana Maharshi is my Guru and guide.

Shri Ramana Maharshi is one of India’s greatest sages and seers, who lived in the early 19^th century near his beloved Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai, India.

Though I call him India’s greatest sage, Shri Ramana Maharshi had no great thesis or discourses to his name. This is because the basis of Maharshi’s teaching was silence and contemplation. It is folk lore of Indian mythology and history that the great sage Sri Sri Adi Sankaracharya taught his 4 disciples through silence.

This book “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi” is a record of the conversation and discussions that Maharshi had with his disciples and visitors between 1935 and 1939.

The basis of Shri Ramana Maharshhis teaching was : Why are you so confused? Whenever any doubt or question arises, find out who is asking the question. And is he different from who he is asking the question about. Discard all that is not you and find out, who or what defines the you. Anything that is common to mankind, easily accessible, an adjective or a vice, discard that. Find out what remains….. And yet, why are you so impatient about finding out? You are HE. You just have to find yourself out……. Self Inquiry.

The Last War by author Sandipan Deb

Book: The Last War

Author: Sandipan Deb (sandipanonline.com )

Publisher: PanMacmillan India ( www.panmacmillan.co.in) ( twitter handle: @PanMacIndia)

ISBN : 978-9-3826-1601-6

Firstly, I find the cover of the book, The Last War, one of the most interesting and visually appealing covers in the current Indian books.

This book, The Last war, by author Sandipan Deb, is based on the Classic Indian War epic  : The Mahabharata. The classical tales of grooming of the blood brothers, the deceit, the bad blood, the war mongering and the bloody battle is all recreated. This is the modern day version set amidst the hustle-bustle, the grime, the glamour, the scum, the glitterati, the fast pace and the rigid Mafioso of India’s financial capital and largest Metropolis, Mumbai, with a population of 20 million.

The story revolves around the classic concept of Mahabharata, family feuds with brothers baying for the blood of brothers.

Juxtaposed against Mahabharata storyline, 2 families of Pandanvas and Kauravas are represented by Vikram, Rishab and Jeet pitted against Rahul and Ranjit. Bothers of blood now out to annihilate the others existence. And the wiliness of Kishenbhai orchestrating the blood dance. All of this in the backdrop of the city of dreams and fame and deceit, Mumbai.

An interesting action and fast paced thriller by Sandipan Deb. Looking forward to more books.

Brothers at war by author Alex Rutherford

Book: Brothers at War       ( Book 2 of series www.empireofthemoghul.co.uk )

Author: Alex Rutherford

Publisher: Hachette India ( www.hachetteindia.com ) (www.headline.co.uk)

ISBN 978-0-7553-4754-4

In his series “Empire of the Moghul”, the author: Alex Rutherford, as always relies on historical facts and deftly weaves them into a fictional biographical story that encompasses the mightiest and longest dynastical rulers of India, the Moghuls. Book 1 exulted the story of Babur the King and conqueror.

Book 2 : Brothers at War, is the story of Babur’s son and India’s second Mughal emperor, Humayun. His father leaves him with a vast empire stretching from the swamps of Bengal to Persia and the plains of Mongolia to the dusty plains of central India.

But with inheritance of the empire Humayun also inherits the scorn and hate of his three half brothers who start to plot to usurp his throne and take his life.

This book is an amazing intricate web of court politics and war planning. It also shows  the fragility of power and anxieties of emperors.

A must read for adventure lovers and history buffs. 

Raiders from the North by author Alex Rutherford

Book: Raiders from the North  ( Book 1 of series www.empireofthemoghul.co.uk )

Author: Alex Rutherford (pen name for a husband wife duo)

Publisher: Hachette India ( www.hachetteindia.com ) (www.headline.co.uk)

ISBN 978-0-7553-5654-6

In his series “Empire of the Moghul”, the author: Alex Rutherford, as always relies on historical facts and deftly weaves them into a fictional biographical story that encompasses the mightiest and longest dynastical rulers of India, the Moghuls.

The book: Raiders from the North encompasses the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, Babur.

It starts in the plains of Mongolia in the mountains of Ferghana, a small mountain town where Babur, a young lad is crowned the king.

This book is interesting in the fact that though all of India knows Babur as the mighty Moghul King and conqueror, this book covers in detail the multiple attempts and failures of Babur to capture and reign over the kingdoms of Afghanistan, the plains of Hindu khush and India itself.

It shows all the trials and tribulations of a mighty conqueror, and in fact highlights the stuff that kings are made of.

The story is very deftly a weave of history and fiction from the plains of Mongolia to Persia to Afghanistan and India.

A must read for adventure lovers and history buffs. 

Losing It, making weight loss simple by authors Dhruv Gupta and Prachi Gupta.

Book: Losing It, making weight loss simple.

Author: Dhruv Gupta & Prachi Gupta

Publisher : Pan MacMillan India ( www.panmacmillan.co.in ) (twitter :@PanMacIndia )

ISBN 978-93-82616-03-0

We have weight loss and diet books a dime a dozen. Then what sets apart this book: Losing It .

What sets it apart is that the book is the result of 2 authors: Dhruv Gupta and Prachi Gupta who are talking from practical experience and not just platitudes or research conclusions.

The entire book is systematically divided into an entire gamut starting from “Why lose weight?” to exploring the various facets that add to the entire scenario of weight gain to exercise.

The initial chapter defines what exactly is healthy weight and explores weight vis a vis fitness. It then talks about is there really a need to lose weight.

The next chapters explore in details the small aspects of our daily life and our food that add to our weight. They also talk about the various health food myths and diet fads.

A chapter is particularly devoted to debust the myths about some “weight gain foods” and one about “weight loss foods”, and in detail is explored the "supposedly healthy foods".

What is unique about this book is that after these chapters talking about ‘health food and diets and myths” it goes on in the next chapters to talk about various unavoidable aspects of our life and that is “healthy eating out”, “why weight loss fails” and “what other aspects can make you lose weight”.

And what really endears this book to me is that its concluding chapters talk about “exercise”, “exercise myths” and importance of “exercise for fitness”, plus the fact that like any scientific paper, the authors have listed the sources of research. This makes the book all the more scientifically credible.

Please visit www.losingit.fitho.in/

   

Book: No Sugar Please by author: Dr Nirav Panchmatia

Author: Dr Nirav Panchmatia
Book: No Sugar Please, I am Diabetic
Publisher: Times Group Books. ( www.tgb.indiatimes.com )
ISBN code: 978-93-82299-26-4

Diabetes. It is set to be an an edemic in India. One out of every 8th Indian will be a Diabetic. India is the world Diabetes Capital.

And yet most of us have a very vague understanding of Diabetes. All that we know is that it involves some blood sugar. We realise it is more than that when it starts affecting various organs, piles up hospital bills or severely curbs our lifestyle. And yet our understanding of this disease is very vague and patchy.

Now luckily we have a doctor, Author: Dr Nirav Panchmatia, who himself is a Diabetic and who faced a near death scenario due to Diabetes and who then dissected this disease enough to put it in plain and simple language for a layman.

The initial chapters deal with his personal horror story with Diabetes and its complications.
The next chapters deal with whhat exactly is Diabetes.
The remaining chapters are very wholly divided into the 4 facets of a Diabetics life: Insulin, Food, Exercise, Lifestyle.

This book is a blessing for Type 1 Diabetics (on Insulin) and Type 2 Diabetics (usually on oral medications) . This book also explores the false beliefs and myths that the people on Oral anti-diabetes medication like to fool their own selves.

The Book: No Sugar Please, I am Diabetic is a must read for every person who is a Diabetic, has a Diabetic in the family, has a family history of Diabetes.