Blitz of Book Reviews

A few books that have impacted me...

Hey friends,

Greetings from Wayanad, Kerala!

Over the last week, I’ve caught up on something that I’ve been putting off for a long time—writing book reviews.

There are many books for which I needed to write my review, but they some how got relegated to the back seat. At last, after a few months, I could get down to writing some of my reviews. Here’s a look at them (you can click the titles to learn more):

I reviewed Obama’s book in the post last week. “A Promised Land” is definitely the best book I’ve read this year. I think you should read it, regardless of your politics because, at its core, it’s the story of a man who wanted to change the world and what that journey really entailed.

Leapfrog by Mukesh Sud and Priyank Narayan

Ok, I’m a little biased here, as it is written by my professors. But I genuinely think there is a lot to gain from this book. That’s the nature of most self-help books. This is a very polarising genre (high-brow literary enthusiasts constantly tell me how much they hate self-help books), but I feel there is always something to learn from it. Give it a shot.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This is one of the best pieces of fiction I’ve read. It shouldn’t take you more than a week to read this, but its impact will stay with you for years to come. I read this a while back, yet the lessons from this book still ring in my ears.

In short, it talks about the will to live. Need I say more?

India’s Wildlife History by Mahesh Rangarajan

This is one for the geeks, but I feel it should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in saving the planet. This is a very short book; it won’t take you more than a few hours. But in little over a 100 pages, this book covers more than a 100 years of India’s history with its wild denizens. How this sliver of a book packs so much information baffles me. Prof. Rangarajan is my professor, and I can safely say that this book is as engaging as his classes…

In The Shadow Of The Mountain

Okay, I will put a trigger warning here. This book could scar you. I finished this book feeling very uncomfortable. I can see its appeal to a certain kind of person, but I would tread carefully here. Check out the review if you want to learn more…

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Let me just quote the first few lines of my book review here:

You know when a book sparkles with personality? When you feel like you’re talking to an old friend right after the first chapter? That is the hallmark of great writing, and that’s both what you see and learn about in this banger book by Anne Lamott…

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

Gosh, writing this review was long overdue. I read this book so many years ago. I am in awe of Trevor Noah. The man has been through so much, accomplished so much, and yet he is still so humble. This is one extraordinary story.

Postcard

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking at the Indian Habitat Center in Delhi. I talked about one of my books, the field guide I made for Ashoka University (where I study) based on the wildlife found in and around the campus. This was a monumental project, and I am glad it is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Behind me are some of the most prominent people associated with my University - Somak Raychaudhury (Vice-Chancellor), Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Founder), and Aditya Gosh (Co-founder of the Airline Akasa Air)

Favourite Quote

​​If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few. - Zen Mind

Have a creative, wild and inspiring week!

If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and I am an Artist, Photographer, Writer and Student of the Natural World.

Here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.

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