Books I read this July!

The last I read was in October 2020 and after a long while, I started reading again this month - thanks to reinvigoration by a work colleague who heard me say that I meant to read at least one book a month. I ended up reading 6 in July with 4 days to go.?

The new silk roads by Peter Frankopan

In our childhood education, we’ve all read about the silk roads and its importance in world trade. Peter argues that this is true even in the modern world with the silk roads extending to Europe while passing Russia and the Middle East. The US now has fierce competition to its “superpower” status by China, Middle East and Russia. The book is loaded with facts, findings and insights synthesised from numerous publicly available information - and the emerging themes tell a compelling story.

Bulletproof problem solving by Charles Conn and Robert McLean

My current job has made me get a flavour of the consulting world and as I started to research about the best books in this space - this one popped up. Most of the consulting world today has some deep-rooted connection to McKinsey. So does the way we think about problem solving. The book lists out a 7-step approach to problem solving in a very easy to understand framework and supported by examples from both business and our day-to-day decisions. The steps include Define the problem > Disaggregate the issues > Prioritise > Build a workplan > Conduct critical analyses > Synthesise findings > Communicate powerfully?

Digital body language by Erica Dhawan

Have you ever tried to re-read an email you sent from a reader’s perspective? I have. In numerous occasions I have gone back to the receiver and either clarified the messaging or apologised for the tone. This book impressed me a lot - our world is built on traditional body language but in the age of the so called “digital transformation”, Erica decodes the new signals and cues that have cut through gender, culture and many ideologies. These cues are a means to communicate our mood or engagement and change the meaning of the words we communicate – be it in text, email, on the phone or in a video call.?This is a must read for the times we’re in - especially when most of the world is working remotely. A different perspective to your original intention of communication can be very dangerous in a digital work environment.

Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This book was gifted by a dear ‘not-so-new’ friend. Thank you so much! In the middle of all non-fiction books, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I read in a lot of articles that book exposes harsh historical reality by embedding it in a compelling story. Set in 1960s, the story is about a group of individuals whose own stories intertwine amidst the struggle to make Nigeria an independent republic. There is violence in multiple planes - the actual war that goes on between troops and in the collision of the ideals and paths of the characters. There is a lot of depth in the description of each of the characters. Loved reading this book.

The art of gathering by Priya Parker

This book has been in my “to-read” list for more than 2 years. Being an introvert, the title and description of the book appealed to me. “A transformative exploration of the power, purpose, and benefits of gatherings in our lives: at work, at school, at home and beyond.” Humans are meant to connect with one another and it truly is a gift. A gathering is when 3 or more people come together for a specific purpose and is purpose that Erica asks us so start with first. She also asks us to think about the space in which we gather - it could be physical or virtual. The gatherings are not just limited to business/work ones, Erica also gives us enough nudge to think about social and informal gatherings. The onus is on the host or the person who called the gathering. The book will make you re-think our meetings, workshops and social gatherings.?

Think again by Adam Grant

Talking about re-thinking, that was the last book that I read. The book is powerful and is packed with insights. It allowed me to think through everything we do from a different perspective. The book is structured very well - Individual rethinking, Interpersonal rethinking and Collective rethinking. Adam Grant talks about having a challenge network in a world which feeds you information that adds fuel to what you already know and tries to make you the centre of your filter bubble. He talks about a variety of topics that help us get better in dealing with uncertainty and embracing the unknown. He persuades you to think more like a scientist, be an active listener, find people who challenge you rather than ones who blindly follow you and to lead by transparency. If you doubt yourself or lack confidence, reframe the situation to think of it as an opportunity for learning and growth. He asks to embrace the joy of being wrong and pleads us to allow our ideologies to stand corrected with new information that corroborates otherwise. He asks to allow others to question your thinking and to participate in constructive conflict, approach disagreements as dances and not battles. He makes a strong point to start teaching kids to think again right from school - bust myths, invite kids to do multiple drafts and ask their peer group to challenge the drafts. He also makes a case for learning organisations by abandoning “best practices” and practising psychological safety. Highly recommend reading this book.

Happy Reading!