Selected Short Stories - Anton Chekov

Anton Chekov is known as a storyteller and playwright for his satires. However, these stories are in all genres. Not all the stories are as interesting. Some can be quite insignificant in the modern context. Some are just short observations. Some are not as flawless and can be a drag to read. I didn't find all the stories interesting.  

Working with Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman (1998)

The book is fairly old and does not need any review as such. I read it recently; some of the things are definite value adds. Emotional intelligence can be applied to improve in the following five areas:

• Self-awareness
• Self-regulations
• Motivation
• Empathy
• Social Skills

While most of it may seem common sense, practicing may take time. As a practitioner, one can apply these in personal and professional areas to improve these skills. 

Galileo's Daughter - Dava Sobel (2000)

The book is about Sister Maria Celeste, the daughter of Galileo, born out of wedlock, based on around 100+ letters she has penned to her father over several years of her stay at the San Mateo convent. The book shows how deeply Maria Celeste was worried about her father's well-being and how well she managed his household needs while working for the betterment of the convent. The book talks about Galileo's work but like a story described by Maria. The language of the letters is old-style English and can seem arcane. Towards the end, people discover Maria's last remains, along with his father and his student, buried in the same coffin. 

Overall a good read to understand Galileo and his family, but it can test the patience at places. 

The Rainmaker - John Grisham (1995)

A young lawyer faces many challenges in life and overcomes them. The story tells a good bit about the legal processes in the USA, but it is generally a story designed for a movie. If you watch a series like Lincoln Lawyer, this story will look obvious. Again, you must understand there is a good two-decade gap between the two. 

John Grisham's story-telling is profound in the novel. 

Confluences: Journeys into the Heart and Soul of Odisha - Anil Dhir (2014)

Confluences is a book about the author's adventures in visiting the whole number latitudes and longitudes of Odisha. Although an Odia, I have hardly visited the state that extensively. Hence, this book was an eye-opener. Unfortunately, the book is out of print now. However, many chapters in the book are part of the degree confluence project. Luckily some chapters are documented here: https://confluence.org/region.php?id=809 

The author has also added his other travel experiences of Odisha, its culture, arts, and crafts in the book. Reading the book made me feel how much more I need to learn about my state. Almost unputdownable!

The Chamber - John Grisham (1994)

A good family story but not the best of John Grisham. 

I like John Grisham because of the depth in which he covers legal matters in his novel. This one is more drama than any significant legal activity. A white supremacist who has murdered African Americans and Jews is undertrial for over a decade. Now, his grandson comes forward to defend him. There are no twists and turns in the plot. Finally, his death penalty is upheld. He confesses and feels sorry for all the wrong he has done. His family is devastated - his son has committed suicide and his daughter is struggling with alcoholism. However, the next generation has accepted the violent times of their grandparents and made a connection with them. Technically, time heals everything. 

Good writing and page flipper but not the John Grisham you read for the logical legal arguments.

Diplomacy - Henry Kissinger (1994)

 The book is about the academician Henry Kissinger and not his role as a foreign policy maker. The book covers the whole history of modern diplomacy. A good thousand pages of solid academic work with proper references and examples. You would get a clear understanding of the diplomatic stance of Europe from the time of unification. Some significant milestones covered are:

• Napolean and Bismark
• First World War diplomacy. 
• Roles of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson
• World War II and related events
• Stalin's Role and Nazi Pacts
• Cold War
• Korean War
• Suez Crisis
• Hungary Crisis
• Cuban missile crisis
• Vietnam
• Reagan and Gorbachov - end of the soviet union

Reading through the book, one realizes the events that affected the worldly events are influenced by the stance taken by the leaders and their beliefs way more than the people in general. The leaders' perception and world understanding have been seen in many of these decisions. Another leader at another time could have taken a different stance. Woodrow Wilson's emphasis on democratic principles, Eisenhower's no war under any circumstance, Nixon's focus only on national interest, and Reagan's denuclearization and cordial exchange with Gorbachov and the Soviet people have affected how the world experienced conflicts and came over them. Lastly, the book discusses an ideal new world order, which to me is not relevant as it's almost thirty years from the time the book was written. The book is for a scholar of foreign policy or international relations. Not a casual coffee table read.