Books I Read In 2020.
We are done with 2020 and indeed this year has been different for all of us. But no one can deny the fact that this year was a reality check for each one of us in almost every aspect of lives. I am sure many people must have missed the goals that they set up back in 2019 but surviving 2020 was an achievement in itself.
Being privileged; all thanks to the hard work of my parents I just had to stay home and wait for the coronavirus pandemic to lighten if not end and had ample amount of time. Learnt things and subjects I knew nothing about. But successfully managed to achieve one goal I had set for myself i.e reading 12 books in the 12 months of 2020.
As a matter of fact — I read 13 books this year and it’s a great feeling.
As I sit home on this new year eve doing nothing but introspection I thought to quickly jot down the books I read in 2020! This will give me some motivation to double the number in the coming year 2021.
So — here I go.
“Why I am A Hindu” By Shashi Tharoor
I was dazzled by the book and finished it in just three sittings. In the book, Tharoor writes about the history of Hinduism and its core tenets, as well as socio-cultural developments in India that relate to the religion, while elucidating his own religious convictions. Considering the sad state of our country and saffron nationalism — This book should be read by all.
“Identity” by Francis Fukuyama
“In 2014, Francis Fukuyama wrote that American and global institutions were in a state of decay, as the state was captured by powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatens to destabilise the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to ‘the people’, who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the population as a whole. The demands of identity direct much of what is going on in world politics today. The universal recognition on which liberal democracy is based has been increasingly challenged by restrictive forms of recognition based on nation, religion, sect, race, ethnicity, or gender, which have resulted in anti-immigrant populism, the upsurge of politicised Islam, the fractious environment of many college campuses, and the hideous emergence of white nationalism. Identity is an urgent and necessary book-a sharp warning that unless we forge a universal understanding of human dignity, we will doom ourselves to continual conflict.”
“Waiting For a Visa” — Autobiography Of Dr. BR Ambedkar
Waiting for a Visa is a 20-page autobiographical life story of B. R. Ambedkar written in the period of 1935–36. It consists of reminiscences drawn by Ambedkar, related to his experiences with untouchability, in his own handwriting. The book is used as a textbook at Columbia University. The book consists of a very brief introductory passage followed by six sections; relating Ambedkar’s experiences with untouchability, starting from his childhood. Sections 1,2,3 and 4 consists of Ambedkar’s own experiences, while Sections 5 and 6 consist of other people’s experiences with untouchability.
“Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts
Shantaram is a 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts, in which a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict escapes from Pentridge Prison and flees to India. The novel is commended by many for its vivid portrayal of tumultuous life in Bombay. The novel is reportedly influenced by real events in the life of the author, though some claims made by Roberts are contested by others involved in the story.
You can literally see through and feel Bombay while you read it.
“Stunt” | “Outrage” | “The Beginning” — New Age Comic Books By Arunabh Kumar, Alok Sharma and Team Indusverse.
Arunabh Kumar is my ex-boss. didn’t report to him directly but he is the founder of the leading Indian OTT platform TVF. His attempt to bring back Comic books in India is commendable. I wish him all the best.
IIM Ahmedabad Business Book Series “Day To Day Economics” By Satish T Deodhar
The economy isn’t just for the economists to debate on. All of us are affected by its ups and downs — global recession, rise in interest rates, or hike in food prices. But do we understand the principles at work and how and why they really affect us? Day to Day Economics is an enjoyable, accessible, and extremely user-friendly book that explains the modern-day Indian economy to the layperson. In this relevant book, Professor Deodhar explains the role of the government and its involvement in different aspects of the economy; the need for the RBI and its functions; and how taxes, stock markets, and recessions work. Day to Day Economics will help you go beyond the facts and figures in the budget and connect the trends to your daily life. As with all IIMA Business Books, it comes illustrated with numerous Indian examples and case studies making this the ultimate rookie’s guide to the Indian economy.
“Man’s Search For Meaning” By Viktor E. Frankl
Read this book for the first time in 2015 and revisited when I went home amidst lockdown and pandemic.
This is a must-read for any person who lacks meaning in his life, who thinks this is the end and loses all his Hope. this book is a Classic Tribute to Hope. The writer Viktor E. Frankl was a prisoner in the concentration camp of Auschwitz during The second world war. He outlined the darkest events in human history. Dr. Frankl was an author-psychiatrist, he explains the experience which led to his discovery of Logotherapy, it is a kind of therapy he uses to treat his patients.
As each situation in life represents a challenge to man and presents a problem for him to solve, to the life he can only respond by being responsible.
“The Intelligent Investor” By Benjamin Graham
The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham, first published in 1949, is a widely acclaimed book on value investing. The book teaches readers strategies on how to successfully use value investing in the stock market. Historically, the book has been one of the most popular books on investing and Graham’s legacy remains. The Intelligent Investor is notable today, with many famous investors praising it for helping them learn how to determine value in the stock market and successfully pick stocks for their portfolios. The main analysis of the book is focused on value investing, the allegory of Mr Market, and determining value.
“I am a Troll” — Inside the Secret World Of BJP’s Digital Army By Swati Chaturvedi
Indian social media is awash with right-wing trolls who incite online communal tension and abuse anyone who questions them. But who are they? How are they organized? In this explosive investigation, conducted over two years, Swati Chaturvedi finally lifts the veil over this murky subject.
This is a fantastic book on how political parties like BJP deploys troll to run the narrative in their favour and fight who question the decisions of the party and also highlights how BJP rose to such prominence by strategically using the power of social media. A Must Read.
“Annihilation of Caste” By B.R Ambedkar
Annihilation of Caste is an undelivered speech written in 1936 by B. R. Ambedkar (also known as Babasaheb ). B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956) was the first highly educated (PhD, Columbia University), politically prominent Dalit. He wrote The Annihilation of Caste for the 1936 meeting of a group of liberal Hindu caste-reformers in Lahore. After reviewing the speech, conference organizers revoked Ambedkar’s invitation. He then self-published the work, which became an immediate classic.
Read this to know how casteism has destroyed our country since inception and how each and every human being in a casteist in his or her own sweet way.
“Metamorphosis” By Franz Kafka
The Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung) is a novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915. One of Kafka’s best-known works, The Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect (German Une Heures Ungeziefer, literally “monstrous vermin”), subsequently struggling to adjust to this new condition.
I kinda lost interest in reading this one but still finished it because It’s disrespectful to the author.
“Die Empty” Unleash Your Best Work Every Day By Todd Henry
Most of us live with the stubborn idea that we’ll always have tomorrow. But sooner or later all of our tomorrows will run out. Each day that you postpone the hard work and succumb to the clutter that chokes creativity, discipline, and innovation will result in a net deficit to the world, to your company, and to yourself. Die Empty is a tool for individuals and companies that aren’t willing to put off their best work. Todd Henry explains the forces that keep people in stagnation and introduces a three-part process for tapping into your passion: Excavate: Find the bedrock of your work to discover what drives you. Cultivate: Learn how to develop the curiosity, humility, and persistence that save you from getting stuck in ruts. Resonate: Learn how your unique brilliance can inspire others. Henry shows how to find and sustain your passion and curiosity, even in tough times.
“The Psychology Of Money” By Morgen Housel
This happens to be the book of the year for me that tells short stories and timeless lessons of wealth greed and happiness. It preaches to live below your means and save as much as you can because money gives you the freedom to live your life and spend your time the way you want.
Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behaviour is hard to teach, even to really smart people. Money — investing, personal finance, and business decisions — is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world, people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together. In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.
Discovered the book from Ankur Warrikoo’s Twitter thread. Really look up to him as a person.
So, That’s about the books I’ve read in 2020. Definitely want to double the numbers in 2021 and I sure will.
Parting words would be nothing but wishing everyone a very happy and positive new year 2021. :)
P.S — The details about the book have been copied from the Internet.
