The Journey Within by Radhanath Swami

Well, I had this very good friend of mine who pinged me on FB messenger one day asking me to buy this book because she is a great fan of Radhanath Swami, and also because the prequel The Journey Home was exceptional. I mentioned that I will only read it after reading the prequel but the prequel seemed very elusive: I couldnt find it anywhere - not even in libraries. So, this friend ended up gifting this book to me. At about the same time, I heard about this Swami from my colleague's wife. Added to this, my wife was watching some videos of Gaur Gopal Das who is a direct disciple of Radhanath Swami. So, all of a sudden, the stars were aligned for me to get acquainted by this Swami who happens to be a native of Chicago! 

Coming to the book - it is a very interesting read. Some of the passages are mind-blowing while some of them are not so much. I liked the part about how the 'I' is the owner-passenger, the 'charioteer' is the mind and the 'chariot' is the body - and how the chariot goes where the charioteer takes but not where the owner wants to, unless instructed/practiced. Well, read the book to understand it - and many more such concepts - better!

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Well, a real dark book about mental patients in mental hospital. Sometimes the prose is really interesting - giving views about the sane mind talking to and about the insane mind. Other times, it is real gross, like how she wants to know if she really has bones or not! Glad it is a short book. Not a great read but it is very different. Something like Lolita.

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell (with Patrick Robinson)

When I started reading the book, somehow I didn't like the tone of it. It seemed like it was extremely amateurish. So much so that I almost felt like stopping reading the whole book because I just couldn't handle the way it was written. So I moved forward a few pages and the BUDS training notes began. I am very familiar with it having read so many other books of similar genre. Here are the narration was better. Then story became very interested when the battle ensued. It became a thriller suddenly when Marcus became the lone survivor but yet hunted by hundred or so Taliban fighters in the middle of Afghanistan. I remember reading Sidney Sheldon's The Doomsday Conspiracy when the Hunter becomes the Hunted and this was a true story of the hunter becoming the hunted. I liked the fiction itself so much - and this being a true story piqued my interest even more. The battle scenes are extremely well portrayed, the escape is good too. Thank god for the Lokhay and the little Afghan village and villagers who saved Marcus and who let the world know what happened out there - otherwise it would have been buried along with him in the Hindu Kush mountain range. It truly is a remarkable story of survival against all odds - and is even miraculous what all he went through. It was as of God had made him a messiah of sorts to live through death and narrate his story. I pity those who died during that Operation Redwing as well as those who came to rescue the SOS callers. The narration of the book ended in the same note as how it began - amateurish, but the story more than makes up for it. Definitely worth the read. Now, waiting to watch the movie!

Very Good, Jeeves by P G Wodehouse

My 70th Wodehouse book! A classic Jeeves and Wooster short stories collection - complete with Aunt Dahlia and cook Anatole and friend Tuppy and the Wickhams, etc. set in serene London country houses. Some of the tales are now almost predictable, and the language - although as good as it can be - doesn't cause mirth, maybe because I have read so many of them now. Still, it is fun to read. Some of the scenes were real Laugh Out Louds! Reading this book, just like any other Wodehouse book, is time well spent!

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

A powerful yet witty novel about author's dismantled life due to divorce and how she re-constructed herself from suicidal depths to extreme happiness by indulging herself in eating in Italy, praying at an Ashram in India and finding loving in Indonesia. This book is all about these three - divided very cleverly in equal parts using 108 as a base number Italy was really boring for me since Italian and food (Italian or otherwise) are not my greatest topics but India and Indonesia were very interesting since she narrates a lot about Yoga, meditation, finding balance, spirituality, etc. A fairy-tale except more so since it is a true story - and thankfully for us readers, the story of a gifted writer who has jotted it all superbly. Considering the spiritual quotient in this book, it looks like she was destined for all of this - her divorce, her experiences, her being an author, her writing this book, etc. - so that the message can be spread across the World about Spirituality and how to find peace. The humor is good, the writing style is excellent and the connections and interconnections within the book are all very well written. Movie is so-so but book is a definitely a must-read...nah, a must-own book. 

Midnights with the Mystic: A Little Guide to Freedom and Bliss by Cheryl Simone

Very fluid, well-written book that quickly moves through the author's life story in very few chapters which is more like a prologue. And then the crux of the book starts - which is essentially same as what the title indicates. Sadhguru's insights to life, human, being, love, yoga, chakras, reincarnation is just mind-blowing and at times, even jaw-dropping. Stories of his life, his family, his guru, his previous lives are all astounding. A small and short book but extremely powerful. Only sad thing about is that it leaves the reader asking for more. In any case, it is definitely a must-read.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

An excellent novel - just as it is. But the fact that this novel was written in mid-1800s with such amazing details on almost every latitude and longitude of earth, on various things that are in the ocean - both animals and plants, on technical details of submarine and ships, of south pole and of so many things - now, that is absolutely mind-blowing. The narrative is so strong that one almost feels that author really did see (maybe he did) and did all the things that is penned in the book - and it contains adventures in all parts of the world, all continents! Extremely powerful book, and at times, too technical in nature - especially the plants and animal species. Definitely worth a read.

Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet by Buzz Aldrin and Marianne J. Dyson

I had just heard about rockets being sent to Mars and exploring life beyond Earth but chanced upon this book (at kids section) and it had a wealth of information on the what, why, how, where and even when regarding converting Mars to Earth-like planet. To put it simply, it was mind-blowing. In the process, came to know so many things - including simple things like why gas cylinders are round! This Buzz is awesome - especially when trying to make kids understand in simplistic way - like how Earth is like the long hand of the clock and Mars is like the short hand, and using that logic to chart out the path for blast-off. And learnt about Aldrin Mars Cycler - which is like a taxi ride to Mars! This 80-odd page book made me learn more about outer space than an entire course I had taken on satellite communications during Engineering days!!

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

A very girly book. Reading this kind after a really long time. Still, it is pretty neat and quite well-written. The story weaves through the past and the present in a seamless manner. Even though the book seems to be just a hike on the trail, it doesn't get boring. There is quite a many adventure to keep the reader occupied, and wanting to know what happens next. 

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

An excellent narrative from Aron about his climbs, his life, his incident at Blue John Canyon and the life after. Although the main theme is just about how his hand got stuck under the boulder, the story weaves between his past and the current happenings in a smooth enough manner to not bore the audience. Plus, there are some transcendental experiences, punch-liners which almost makes this book a must-own. Some parts of the narration are too technical (the movie helps in such cases) but still thoroughly enjoyed. 

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

A very different, open-hearted narrative by Chris Kyle on his life in general and as a SEAL in specific. Its different because I have not read this kind of a narrative for a very long time. The literary style & editing is beautiful; it comes very close to making you feel he is really talking to you. The italics, the choice of words are just right at the right places. And also the wit. Humor sparkles throughout the book. Although it does not cause laughter, it surely gives a smile. It also has some dark truth about couple of lives who lost their lives and reader really feels for them. The whole book is full of short paragraphs depicting numerous incidents of his life. Sometimes there is no connection between the incidents but yet it doesn't bore. His wife's narration throughout the book adds depth to the story, and a wife's perspective of having a SEAL as a husband. Greatly enjoyed the read.

Playing It My Way by Sachin Tendulkar

A nice fluid record of Sachin Tendulkar's life as a cricketer. It is remarkable how clearly he remembers each and every innings of all the matches he played. Including some ball-by-ball analysis of specific overs. Truly, what a man & what a cricketer! It gives some nice funny insight to his life other than cricket too, at times, during his tours across the globe. The book itself is very simple and easy-going. A good read. Enjoyed reading it thoroughly.

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie Harris

A truly remarkable book - everything about what is given in the title itself. Surprisingly, even at my age of 35, there were things in the book that I didn't know and hence was a learning experience! It is a must-read must-own book for early teenagers. Very witty, very frank and very simple.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

An unbelievable (true) story of Louie Zamperini - who almost became the fastest one mile runner, shook hands with Adolf Hitler, air-fought successfully against Japan, got stranded on a raft (with Phil) in the middle of Pacific Ocean for almost 2 months (during which time he was declared dead), saw the doldrums, became POW in Japan, got beaten up almost unto death for almost 2 years with next-to-nothing food, got released and then outlived every other person who thought he was initially dead, and even went on to run in Japan when he was almost a nonagenarian. 

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz

An unbelievable story of men who escaped Communist Russian prison camp in SIberia and walked over 4000 miles across the Gobi desert and Himalayas to reach British India. Circa 1939-1942, the story itself has enough power and drive to keep it moving without any literary assistance needed as such, and yet it is a very clean and easy narrative. These are the kind of stories that I used to read as Alistair MacLean's fictional novels - and here I am reading equally nail-biting true-stories! 

12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

Circa 1841. A grim and poignant narrative of the author on how he got kidnapped, suffered as a slave for 12 years, faced all the inhumanities as a slave and thankfully escaped the clutches of fiefdom. It is heartening to read about all the whip-lashes, the hard-labor and other sad things that black folks had to undergo at that time of the century.

The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson

Got this novel by chance when office was being relocated from one location to other. And it turned out to be a good book which created a story out of history. Circa 1890s when Chicago hosted The World's Fair. What went behind the scenes is excellently researched and put forth by the author in the most professional way possible, and added the story of psychopathic Mr Holmes' deeds as well. Its a fascinating read, especially to know how the Fair changed America and even the world, in a way, considering how Ferris Wheel got its birth in the Fair and that a Disney worked in the Fair, thus giving way to Mr Walt Disney opening up Disney amusement parks across the world. Also liked what Holmes had to say about his ability which went something on the lines of "I cannot stop myself from killing people just as how a poet cannot control himself from writing poems." And, this narrative starts from the moment of Titanic sinking. So, for me who had just completed A Night to Remember, this seemed a logical continuation!

Philomena by Martin Sixsmith

A beautiful book, written in pure and simple English language. Although named after the mother who lost her child, this book is all about the child. It covers pretty much his entire life from birth to death. It is unbelievable investigative work done by Martin and beautifully brought into life in the 400 odd pages as a page-turning novel, full with conversations, confessions and tragedy. Such a sad state of affairs. One wonders how folks who were supposedly so close to God themselves became villains and performed acts so inhuman and ungodly back in those days. 

A Night To Remember by Walter Lord

A very short 170-odd page non-fiction true-story novel about the sinking of RMS Titanic. It starts right when the ship hits the ice-berg and takes the reader through the next 10 harrowing hours that follow. At the end, it gives more facts about the ship in it's entirety and the many 'If-only...'s that could have saved the 1500+ lives. A very, simple write-up yet very thorough in it's research and observations. 

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally

As mentioned in The Pianist, the facts depicted in the novel itself is as powerful as it can get and the literature need not be really looked into. However, the book could have been written much more fluidly. At times, it gets hard to read through quickly. But, for the author's sake, one cannot imagine how else it can be written when so many folks' tales need to be intertwined at the same point in time. Excellently crafted, putting all true events together. Maybe it is the facts itself are so hard to digest that it makes reading difficult - with so many strange sounding cities, places, names, etc. Definitely, worth a read.