Myth=Mithya - A Handbook of Indian Mythology - Devdutt Pattnaik (2006)

When one talks about Hindu symbolism in 200 pages you tend to wonder, will the author be able to make justice to the topic. Devdutt Pattanaik's attempt is remarkable. Another well researched book. He defines the hierarchy of Gods. Defines the various residents of swarga, Martya and Patala. The definitions of pitruloka are stated very clearly. The book is divided into 3 parts. The creative forces of Brahma, the nurturing and development phase of Vishnu and the destructive forces of Shiva. Rather than making a chronological statement of events the events are classified keeping the larger theme of the 3 ultimate Gods of the Hindu philosophy. The concise nature of the book will make you finish the book in a day.

The book is an eye opener and is recommended.

Timing the Market - Curtis M. Arnold (1993)

... The Ultimate arbitrator of success, becomes the skills of the individual technician.

The book needs no real review or introduction. This has become a standard text on technical analysis. A very concise treatment of a vast topic just touching the surface of various technics. However, mastering each concept will take a lot of time for anyone and needs practical exposure to the concepts. The book is though short needs careful reading to appreciate and follow the concepts.

Definitely recommended !!!

Living with the Himalayan Masters - Swami Rama (1978)

Swami Rama spent 45 years of his spiritual journey in the Himalayas meeting various spiritual leaders as part of his life. This book is a collection of such experiences. More than his own progress in the spiritual path it's about how he was able to meet other great souls and got influenced through them.

One cannot really comment on the content as the ability to review only comes when one is as capable or attains some authority in the topic to discuss. Reading this book will make one tame ones ego and bring oneself to the realities of the frail undeserving battles we fight on a daily basis rather than exploring the ultimate reality.

A must read!!!

Arranged Love - Parul Mittal (2012)

The summary for the story can he seen here. 

Somehow, I could not quite connect to the story and had to leave the book half way. The story did not seem to connect to IIT or IITians as such unlike Heartbreaks. The writing style seemed much better than Heartbreaks. The character Tanu looked much more acceptable but staying unmarried just to look for her lost love in college days seemed very filmy. Unmarried people in mid-thirties is not unusual in successful or ambitious people but getting stuck on to their past relationships cannot be stated as the only reason. Suhani the protagonist of the novel seemed to have a persistent aversion for IIT men looked pretty unusual. There is definitely some aspect of stereotyping involved with people of a group but you still have people who belong to the group but are different. That moderation didn't seem to come out in the novel. It was just all extremes put together. Overall seemed like a medley of well known stories with substantial dosage of double meaning words seemed to be the central theme of the novel. 

Will it attract the audience or keep them glued to it? I am not sure. It could not keep my interest for too long. But definitely a light hearted reading material if you have got a copy. The author could have avoided reference to Chetan Bhagat and his credit issues. That was not relevant to the story at all. 

Jaya - an illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata (2010) : Devdutt Pattanaik

Indian mythology is always linked to religious sentiments in general. Here the author takes out the emotional aspects and presents an analytical explanation of the text. More over he presents a comparative reasoning of the text with other well known mythological texts around. Mahabharata was not just a war or a story of Pandava's win over the Kauravas. It's story of a generation or yuga. A time where the same mistakes have been committed again and again by various members of the clan. Every person in the clan supported a different reality of life. It's a story of the dwapara yuga to beginning of the Kali Yuga to be aware and not make similar mistakes. The manner the author has expressed this definitely presents his mastery on this topic.

A book that can change your understanding of the great Indian epic.