Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Industry / Book Shelf: New Books in the Market
BackBack

Book Shelf: New Books in the Market

Book Shelf: New Books in the Market

Premium


Discordant democrats: Five steps of consensus

By Arun Maira

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 200

Price: 395 (Hard bound)

Without any jargon and/or intellectual rambling, a pointer is raised on building a healthy democracy and on the importance of not leaving the task to politicians alone for unless people, across levels involve themselves, the agenda of reshaping the world they inhabit will remain incomplete.

The book provides a roadmap to collaborative governance, provides insights through extensive research from India and abroad, throwing light on consensus building and collaborative action.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part describes the structures and systems of democracy and explains the vital role that consensus-building processes must play in democracies. The second part presents principles and tools for consensus building.

A hugely engaging and contemporary writing style, he combines theories and concepts with real incidents, analyzing their impact. He titles his chapters with interesting phrases like “the boundaries around people like us"; “ways of mass dialogue", “Argumentative Indians and Americans" and ends it with “finding solutions, taking decisions, the toughest of the lot."

Arun Maira is Chairman of the Boston Consulting Group in India and his work combines hands-on leadership and consulting experience of over 40 years.

Pakistan in a changing strategic context

Editors: Ajay Darshan Behera and Mathew Joseph C

Publisher: Knowledge World

Pages384

Price 620 (Paperback)

The book attempts to establish an understanding of the evolving strategic environment and how Pakistan is placed within that context. Divided into four sections, it explores multiple views with one section exclusively devoted to an analysis of changes taking place within the strategic environment for Kashmir and Pakistan’s strategy to deal with Kashmir in the changing context.

Historical policies as also Indo-Pak relations forms a central concurrent theme, though the latter poses more questions than answers. But that is the entire premise of the book, for it is directed at policy makers, academics, senior corporate leaders and journalists who can help create consensus and a clear path ahead.

AD Behera is the officiating director of the Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Jammu. He has been visting fellow to various US institutes of higher learning. M Joseph is also a Fellow at the same institute in Jammu, holding a specialization in International Politics and South Asian Studies.

The Heart of Hindusthan: Collection of seven essays

By Dr S Radhakrishnan

Publisher: Rupa & Co.

Pages: 111

Price: 150 (Paperback)

Not just targeted at those who are students of religion or dharma and believers of Hinduism, they are directed at anyone who wants to experience the Indianness, which though corrupted and altered in the name of modernism, commercialization or even secularism, still eludes the common man and student.

While it puts in perspective what Indian philosophy is and what lies at the heart of Hinduism and Hindu dharma, it goes beyond that by telling you about Islam, Christian doctrine and Buddhism and places the relationship that Hinduism has with other relations in a geo-political context.

The fashion guide to shopping in Delhi

By Mallika Singhania and Shruti Rathi

Publisher: Rupa & Co.

Pages: 330

Price: 295 (Paperback)

Of particular use is basic information on which markets are open on which days for that is often a googly even for locals who forget that Greater Kailash is closed on Tuesdays while neighouring South Extension is shut on Mondays. With a glossary of common words used in apni Dilli’s fashion parlance, like ‘aari work’, ‘chand tare ka kaam’, ‘badla work’ and traditional heavyweights like ‘Pashmina’, ‘Kanjeevaram’ and ‘Kalamkari’ it offers a cultural round-up, taking the uninitiated on an India trip.

The approximate price band of products is an added advantage for it prepares the shopper before a shopping excursion. The language is a bit over enthusiastic, but for a first time attempt, acceptable. Also the range of products can be expanded in the second edition: jewellery and anecdotes, mythological tales, even details like Richard Gere brought a stole from here or Liz Taylor picked up a Parsi border from there kind of stuff, which can be a fascinating pull for the inveterate shopper who thrives on what others (read prominent/celebrity) have done.

It Happened in India

By Kishore Biyani with Dipayan Baishya

Publisher: Rupa & Co.

Pages: 268

Price: 99.00

Tracking the story of Biyani who has in a way written his own success story, one which has had its share of ups and downs, criticism and a writing off by those who were aghast at his antics and recklessness, even being ridiculed for being a ‘baniya company’ has survived to tell his story.

The man has created and built Pantaloons and Big Bazaar and is now bullish about capturing the entire Indian consumption space from building shopping malls to selling insurance, he has gotten under the skin of the Indian consumer and is confident of delivering what it takes to satiate that growing consumer appetite/need.

Company strategies, reports and stories of how they got their well known campaigns right are detailed. The text is interspersed with motivational lines which echo the ‘maverick entrepreneur’ nee ‘Rajah of Retail’ sentiments along with a few photographs.

Like most of its products, the book too is priced to target a large reading audience. Interesting to know what made the man tick and what helped him make his first million. Dipayan Baishya who has co-authored the book is a business writer and a Wharton School product.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Industry News, Banking News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 01 Jun 2007, 12:09 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App