Rework
David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried
★★★★★
Simple, practical and actionable tips from the co-founders of Basecamp to change the way you work. Great digestible bite-sized chapters that are clear to the point.
Non-FictionEntrepreneurship
The Girl in Room 105
Chetan Bhagat
★★★
In contrast to previous novels, Chetan Bhagat impresses with a thriller this time. Though I found it to be somewhat predictable, the simple storytelling with a firm grasp of the characters makes up for a good time-pass read!
Fiction
Wings of Fire
A P J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari
★★★★★
The autobiography of the late A P J Abdul Kalam Sir. The difficulties, hardships and troubles he overcame to achieve the seemingly impossible(s) would surely motivate anyone. Hailing from a small town in Tamil Nadu, India, it is inspiring to see how he rose to become the President of India. A must-read!
Non-FictionAutobiography
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
★★★★★
Ever wondered how humankind came into existence? How we triumped millions of other competing species to be a dominating species today? How religions came about? Read this wonderful book to know how and why you are where you are today.
Non-Fiction
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Mark Manson
★★★★★
We tend to care about a lot of things only to understand that those didn't matter at all. In this book, Mark leverages his personal experiences and struggles, to point out what to give a f*ck about and what not to. One of the best self-help books I have read! If you want a preview, read Mark's blog post on this: https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck.
Non-FictionSelf-help
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World -- and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling, Ola Rosling
★★★★★
Many times we hold a certain perception of the world, and so much of them have been influenced by outdated statistics and opinions about based on a world that existed decades back. Factfulness re-shapes our perception, to show what the world truly is today, to show how far the world has come and progressed. It highlights the most pressing issues that demands the attention of humanity instead of issues that we think are important. Not a surprise that Bill Gates gave away free copies of this book to all new graduates. <a href='https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Factfulness'>Download the gift here.</a>
Non-FictionFactfulness
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
John Carreyrou
★★★★
A true account of one of the most interesting cases of lie and deception. Theranos, a healthcare company that claimed to perform countless tests with just a simple prick of the finger was eventually found to have been nothing but a hoax. A non-fiction book that read like a thriller to me.
Non-FictionSilicon ValleyTheranos
The Social Animal
David Brooks
★★★★★
The Social Animal tells the story of Harold and Erica, right from their brith to their retirement. At each stage of their lives, Brooks describes how their experiences shape and influence their inner mind - the unconscious.
Non-FictionSelf-Improvement
The Art of Non-Conformity
Chris Guillebeau
★★★★★
All along we have been told how we should live our lives. This book breaks those impositions, teaching us to spread our wings and fly.
Non-FictionSelf-ImprovementProductivity
59 Seconds
Richard Wiseman
★★★★★
Quick tips to rapidly change your life for the better, based on solid research done. Little effort, but big impact on your life.
Non-FictionSelf-ImprovementProductivity
Never Eat Alone
Keith Ferrazzi
★★★★
Quick tips to rapidly change your life for the better, based on solid research done. Little effort, but big impact on your life.
Non-FictionSelf-ImprovementProductivity
The Three-Body Problem
Cixin Liu, Ken Liu
★★★★
One of the best sci-fi novels I have read in a while. A treat for any science and tech lovers.
FictionExtraterrestrialSci-Fi
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini
★★★★★
If the title captivates you, then you'll be capitvated even more by the intricately-woven plot. Hosseini brings us on a roller-coaster ride with the main characters. A ride that's not to be missed.
FictionNovelHistorical
Who Moved My Cheese?
Spencer Johnson
★★★
A motivational book that tells a tale based on change and how people can choose to tackle it.
Non-FictionBusiness
Crazy Rich Asians
Kevin Kwan
★★★★
A remarkably funny tale of mega-rich Chinese families, gossip culture, relationships etc. This book kind of redefined the word 'rich' for me.
Fiction
All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr
★★★★
Quite a beautiful title. Set in the World Ware II period, the novel follows the life of a blind French girl, Marie, and a German boy, Werner. The experiences they go through and how their lives connect with one another forms the major crux of the story.
Fiction
Zero to One
Peter Thiel
★★★★
A must read for anyone looking to be an entrepreneur. Thiel tells us what it takes to build a successful business. Short and good read.
Non-FictionEntrepreneurship
If God Was a Banker
Ravi Subramanian
★★★
I read this when I was younger, when I thought I wanted to be a banker. The novel focuses on two graduates, Sundeep and Swami, both with contrasting characters. Set in the corporate environment, the book essentially focuses on Good vs Evil.
Fiction
Freakonomics
Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
★★★
An interesting books that highlights the intersection between real-world situations and economics.
Non-FictionEconomics