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Year 2025 | Book 27/52 Book Review - ANATOMY OF A BREAKTHROUGH - ADAM ALTER If you’ve ever felt stalled, this book offers more than encouragement—it offers a blueprint. In  Anatomy of a Breakthrough , Adam Alter argues that feeling stuck is  inevitable , yes—but it’s also  fixable .   “The path forward begins with clarity: separate what you can control from what you can’t, and focus your energy where it truly matters.” This one sentence captures the first shift the book asks of us. Rather than battling every wind and wave, decide: what’s mine to manage? What isn’t? And where should I invest now? Here are the  key themes and insights ,  1. Recognising “Stuckness” as Normal The first service Alter does is normalise the experience: being stuck isn’t a personal failure; it’s a universal stage.    He describes how people slow in the middle of long endeavours—what he calls the “quick-slow-quick” pattern.    By acknowledging this, the book redu...

Year 2025 | Book 24/52 Book Review : Happiness is a State of Mind - Gyalwang Drukpa Happiness is not something outside of us; it begins with how we define it for ourselves. Gyalwang Drukpa, in  Happiness is a State of Mind , reminds us that true happiness comes when we peel away the layers of pride, self-criticism, expectations, hopes, and fears. Here are some reflections from the book that stayed with me: Define your happiness.  Don’t wait for special occasions—see joy in everyday life. Stay positive.  Optimism reduces the fear of uncertainty. Live your values.  Intentions and values guide us better than fleeting desires. Handle negativity.  Patience, appreciation, and acceptance are powerful antidotes. Be kind and honest.  When we are kind to ourselves, we can extend the same to others. Unite thoughts, words, and actions.  The quality of our thoughts shapes everything else. Remember choice.  Happiness is a choice, though it requires effort. Grat...

Year 2025 | Book 14/52 Book Review : Premchand Ki Anmol Kahaniya प्रेमचंद की अनमोल कहानियाँ  साधारण भाषा में असाधारण अनुभव देती हैं।  हर कहानी हमारे आसपास की लगती है, पर फिर भी नई लगती है।  हर किरदार अपनी छाप छोड़ता है। लेखन इतना गहरा है कि लगता है जैसे हम खुद उस कहानी का हिस्सा हों। पढ़ना ज़रूरी है। #Premchand #HindiLiterature #IndianClassics #AnmolKahaniyan #BookReview #SimpleYetProfound #MustReadBooks #TimelessStories #IndianAuthors #PremchandStories #LiteraryGems #ShortStoriesIndia #BooksInHindi #ClassicIndianLiterature #KahaniyonKaSafar

  Year 2025 | Book 10/52 Book Review : कुरुक्षेत्र by  Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'   “कुरुक्षेत्र”  by राष्ट्रकवि रामधारी सिंह ‘दिनकर’ is a profound poetic exploration of the  justification, consequences, and morality of war . Set in the post- महाभारत  era, it presents a compelling  संवाद  between  युधिष्ठिर  and  भीष्म , where the victorious king grapples with the guilt of war’s destruction. While  रश्मिरथी  captured the pre-war struggles,  कुरुक्षेत्र  delves into the philosophy of  धर्म, कर्म , and the necessity of war for justice. Dinkar’s evocative verses make this an essential read on the ethics of war and duty. #कुरुक्षेत्र #RamdhariSinghDinkar #महाभारत #काव्य #संवाद #युद्धऔरधर्म #Rashtrakavi #DharmaAndKarma

Gregory David Roberts’  Shantaram  is an unforgettable literary masterpiece that vividly captures Bombay’s life in the 1980s. Blending action, emotion, and philosophy, this sprawling novel follows a fugitive’s journey through love, crime, and redemption. The writing is powerful yet fluid, immersing readers in every scene as if they can taste and smell India. Roberts crafts a complex yet approachable narrative with characters you’ll adore and a city that feels alive. Despite its daunting length, every page is enthralling, making it impossible to put down.  Shantaram  is a rich, cinematic experience and a must-read for lovers of profound storytelling. #Shantaram #GregoryDavidRoberts #BombayTales #LiteraryMasterpiece #EpicJourney #PhilosophicalFiction #MustRead #IndiaInBooks #PageTurner #BookReview  Review of the Web-Series -  https://thefilmiangle.blogspot.com/2024/12/shantaram.html

  R.D. Burman: The Man, The Music Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal’s  R.D. Burman: The Man, The Music  is a melodious tribute to the genius of Pancham Da. Rich in anecdotes, interviews, and intricate musical observations, it captures his innovations—from Bossa Nova influences to emotional depth in Hindi film music. A treasure trove for RD fans and music lovers alike, this HarperCollins India book blends technical insights with heartwarming stories, making it a must-read for anyone enchanted by Bollywood’s golden melodies. #RDBurman #TheManTheMusic #bollywoodmusic #musiclovers #PanchamDa #HarperCollinsIndia #BookReview #mustreadbooks #anirudhabhattacharjee #balajivittal

Open by Andre Agassi is a must-read autobiography, whether you’re a sports fan or not. Written with the pacing of a movie, it’s filled with raw honesty, making it deeply relatable and engaging. Agassi takes readers through the highs and lows of his tennis career, sharing personal struggles, self-doubt, and his complex relationship with the sport he both loves and hates. The book provides valuable life lessons on resilience, perseverance, and identity, showing how difficult it is to be Andre Agassi. His vulnerability, combined with his achievements, offers a compelling portrait of one of the greatest tennis players. The book’s cinematic narrative, emotional depth, and motivational takeaways make it an unforgettable read for anyone. #AndreAgassi #OpenAutobiography #TennisLegend #MustRead #SportsMemoir #Resilience #LifeLessons #BookReview

After watching *Angry Young Men*  (review on   https://thefilmiangle.blogspot.com/2024/08/angry-young-men.html ), I craved more about Salim-Javed’s genius. Enter Diptakirti Chaudhuri's *Written by Salim-Javed*, which not only quenched my thirst but transported me into their world of cinema. Through few pages only, “yeh kitaab mujhe de de Thakur” kept echoing in my mind. As the book unveiled the grit behind the iconic dialogues, the nuances of their process, and their chemistry that birthed unforgettable scripts, I realised that “unki imagination ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, namumkin hai”. This book captures the essence of their writing, leaving you awestruck.  Truly, “kitne aadmi the” who can match their brilliance? And really “Sardaar do aadmi The”. A must-read for Bollywood lovers seeking more than just surface-level stories and say “Mere pass yeh kitaab hai”.