What the customer wants you to know - Ram Charan (2007)

Most books and articles by consultants start with MBA bashing. Certainly not this one. Here is a book that has picked up the basics of B2B marketing, modified the terminologies to common man's terminologies and presented the concept very nicely. In short it suggests to create a Value Creation Sales Process to show the customer a Total Value of Ownership. To achieve this, use the whole organisation to assist sales team to create a Value Account Plan. VCS, TVO and VAP are the only terms used to explain the whole sales process. The rest of the book is about a short case study and intra organisation collaboration and how customer is able to realise the TVO with the VCS process. Thus helping the organisation realise better revenues and profits.

Good refresher if you have gone through the B2B marketing courses. Otherwise a great introduction to the topic. Definitely recommended.

The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cellphone - Shashi Tharoor (2007)

A definite reflections on India in the twenty first century by a great critique of our time. The book is divided into six parts.

1. The transformation of India
2. Ideas of Indianness
3. India at work and at play
4. Indians who helped make my India
5. Experiences of India
6. The A to Z of being Indian

The book has a lot of highs and some lows. The first three sections are remarkable when you see the author identifies contradicting identities of Indianness and presents them. His treatment of religious fundamentalism is definite and thorough. The minutiae at which he has observed some activities and thoughts definitely mandates appreciation. The fourth chapter which is a chapter of biographies is a definite eye opener. There are so many great Indians whose contributions are marginalised is definitely something we should be sorry about.

Last two chapters looked too much of a personal opinion and could not hold my interest. But overall a great book and author is a not only a great observer or critique he also has understood India through the plurality she represents. A remarkable achievement in explaining India of modern times!!!