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Bookshelf
Welcome to the latest section of Alma Matters “Bookshelf” - a platform where people can share their comments, feelings and thoughts about various books they read. From business and economics to SCI-FI, thriller and comedy…please feel free to contribute to this section by writing to us at alumni_relations@isb.edu
Recommended Readings by Kamlesh Pant, Class of 2007
Kamlesh is a Senior Vice President at a digital education company called Piron Corporation Inc., where he wears multiple hats. In the past, Kamlesh has been an entrepreneur with a healthy mix of success and failure. He is now planning his next venture in education.
“The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses”, by Eric Ries
This is a must read for every entrepreneur (or pre-entrepreneur). In a few words, it increases your chances of success and minimizes your loss in case you fail. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs - in companies of all sizes - a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in an age when companies need to innovate more than ever.
“Imagining India”, by Nandan Nilekani
The idea of India is not easy to grasp. Nandan helps you grasp it from a socio-economic perspective. The book first sets the context by discussing the immediate history of India and then in a well-structured fashion, goes on to discuss the current challenges and latent opportunities facing India - all sprinkled with a delicious dose of anecdotes and statistics. If you ever wondered about Nandan's "sudden" shift from Infosys to UIDAI, this book will tell you why the visionary is well-suited for the job. Apart from a discussion of the emergent change in perception about population growth and role of the English language in India's success, Nandan also raises important questions related to education, ICT, energy, and the environment.
“Stay Hungry Stay Foolish”, by Rashmi Bansal
This book is a collection of inspiring stories of 25 IIM Ahmadabad graduates who took the road less travelled. Entrepreneurship has never been easy in India, but these mavericks have succeeded against all odds. Rashmi interviews each one of them and summarizes their stories in an interesting manner. Each story is followed by an advice to young entrepreneurs. As you read through, you want to relate with many of the stories, each one of which can easily be covered in a short sprint of reading. Written in a lucid style, it makes for an easy and inspiring read.
Recommended Readings by Prashant Vijay, Class of 2012
Prashant Vijay is a Director with Markit in Global Product Services. At Markit, Prashant is responsible for Operations Management and Business Development for India. Prior to Markit, Prashant has worked with Goldman Sachs for ten years, in Commodities Trading, as a trader, a consultant and a technologist.
“Thinking Fast and Slow”, by Daniel Kahneman
This book is about everything you suspected, but couldn't put your finger on, and more. It takes you past classroom definitions, and into real-life applications of biases and different types of thinking. You can learn to be more effective, smarter and apply it to any discipline.
“Johannes Cabal the Necromancer”, by Jonathan L. Howard
Devilish, literally, this is a fantastic and fun read. It’s about a Faustian bargain, dealings with the devil, and the finer points of negotiation. The character is developed excellently, and while he's certainly a "gray" character, you can't but help root for him here and there, and stay involved till the end.
“Embroideries” by Marjane Satrapi
Marjane Satrapi is the author of Persepolis. Embroideries is also a graphic novel, and based on the lives of Iranian women. It’s a fun read, and transports you to a different time and place the minute you flip it open.