Sri Vijayeendrateertha - The Invincible - Raja S Gururajacharya (2014)

While visiting the Mantralaya Ashram in Andhra Pradesh, I sought to understand the origins of a tradition spanning over eighty gurus since the 16th century. My search led me to the only English text available: a biography of Sri Vijayeendrateertha.

A true polymath of the 16th century, Sri Vijayeendrateertha was a master of sixty-four distinct art forms and an unrivaled debater. The book chronicles his evolution from a dedicated disciple at Mantralaya to the head seer at Kumbhakonam. It details his intellectual travels across Southern India, where he defended the Dwaita philosophy of Madhavacharya against the most formidable scholars of the Shaiva, Adwaita, and Buddhist sects. His influence was so profound that it transcended religious boundaries, earning the respect of Muslim rulers like Adil Shah. This work offers a compelling window into the intellectual rigor and spiritual heritage of the Madhava lineage.

The Hidden Pool - Ruskin Bond (1966)

 Laurie, Kamal, and Anil are teens. They would soon be graduating from school into adulthood. The association is of classless young kids who have fun without any social divide. Laurie is the son of a British officer. Anil is relatively well off, but Kamal manages by selling one of thing to people and studying in a night school. The class divide does not affect them. They share and care for each other all through. They discover a natural stream in the hills and call it their hidden swimming pool. They have fun together in beetle races, chase ghosts, and their adventure culminates in a trek to a glacier. Laurie finally shifts to England. Anil graduates from school and moves to Lucknow for college. Anil, in his final letter, lets Laurie know that the river has changed course, ending their hidden pool. Kamal is left behind and finds new friends.

The perfect children’s story would still make you reminisce about your personal lives. Everyone would be able to connect with one or two things in the book with their personal lives. A great read!    

The Blue Umbrella - Ruskin Bond (1980)

 A simple Garwali girl exchanges her lucky charm pendant for a blue umbrella from a few visitors from the town. She was enchanted with it and would flaunt it around everywhere she went. Her brother was supportive. The rich village shopkeeper also wanted that umbrella and wooed the siblings to sell it to him. But, they would not budge. Frustrated, he sends his assistant to steal it from the siblings - a plan that failed due to the brother’s alertness. The village took notice, and the shopkeeper’s business was affected. Finally, the young girl went to the shopkeeper on a pretext of buying some chocolates and left the umbrella with him. The shopkeeper keeps the umbrella, but he is no longer enchanted with it as a novelty and lets everyone in the village use it. Slowly, the umbrella sort of becomes a property of the village. The shopkeeper finds a bear claw, makes a pendant out of it, and gifts it to the young girl.

We, adults, would believe a children’s story should have a strong moral. The story is sort of complete. There is no lingering thought - everyone had a winning situation. The shopkeeper has the umbrella, the villagers got to use it, and the girl got her pendant. So, a child reading the book won’t be pestered with what happened next. Is Rusking Bond trying to inculcate the idea of letting go and forgiveness in children? Even for adults, it is hard to achieve. I will not let such thoughts bother the reader.

A simple story that everyone can enjoy.

A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking (1988)

 A Brief History of Time remains a timeless classic of modern physics for the masses. Written almost four decades ago, the book begins by tracing the history of astronomy through its modern interpretation in Galilean and Newtonian mechanics. It then moves into Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity before diving into the complexities of quantum mechanics.

Hawking uses the unified representation of relativity and quantum mechanics to explain black holes, which in turn help us understand singularities and provide a portal to the origin of the universe. In the later chapters, he justifies the need for a 'Theory of Everything'—a common set of laws that explain the physics of the universe as a whole.

While the author genuinely tries to simplify these concepts, some principles may still feel overwhelming depending on your prior knowledge. For instance, while string theory was explained in simple terms, I still found it challenging to grasp. Ultimately, this is a great read for anyone seeking a unified view of the development of physics, even if some of the scientific frontiers have shifted since its original release.

Essays : Reflections on Success, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life - Thibaut Meurisse (2025)

The author explores timeless questions about life, sharing personal reflections on success, happiness, and meaning. While many insights are common sense and might seem familiar, some discussions captivate and compel continued reading. Out of twenty-seven thought-provoking topics, here are a few:

• Values
• Morality
• Happiness
• Self-worth
• Success
• Failure
• Ego and Status
• Marketing
• Writing
• Making an Impact
• Striving to be a good person

The book would have a different impact on you when you are in your twenties vs when you are in the fifties. The reflections have no complex jargon or philosophical generalizations to confuse you. I would recommend reading the book. Here are a few words from the author’s conclusion:

—-

I will conclude by reminding you that whatever you are now isn’t where you will be tomorrow. When in doubt, we should let the following forces assist us during our time on earth:

Gratitude, humility, and self-compassion.

These forces alone will go a long way to help you live a meaningful life.

In other words, as you wake up each day, remember how blessed you are to be granted another day (gratitude). Use that day to learn more about yourself and the world (humility). And, while doing so, make sure you are kind to yourself (self-compassion).

We are all doing the best we can, where we are, with what we have Let’s remember that truth as we move through life.  

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.