Category Archives: Books

Books

In My Hands Today…

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Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands – Ben Coates

The first book to offer an in depth look at hidden Holland and the fascinating people that live there, Why the Dutch are Different is an entertaining book about a country unlike any other.

The Netherlands are a tiny nation that punch above their weight on the world stage, where prostitutes are entitled to sick pay and prisons are closing due to lack of demand.

After a chance encounter, Ben Coates left behind life in London to move to the Netherlands, where he learned the language, worked for Dutch company and married a Dutch wife. He takes readers into the heart of his adopted country, going beyond the usual tourist attractions and cliches to explore what it is that makes the Dutch the Dutch, Holland not the Netherlands and the colour orange so important. A travelogue, a history and a personal account of a changing country – Ben Coates tells the tale of an Englishman who went Dutch and liked it.

In My Hands Today…

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Mumbai Matinee – Ajay Kaul

Ajay – the protagonist, a new arrival to the city of Mumbai, is immediately captivated by its energy and business mindset. Coming from a politically centric North India, the dynamic Mumbai culture strikes a chord with him.

But just when he’s decided to make Mumbai his home, he has a close brush with death as the 1993 serial bomb blasts rock Mumbai. He is fazed and shaken, but the way the city bounces back, leaves an indelible mark on his psyche. He vows to come back to the city after graduation.

When he comes back, he becomes a part of Mumbai city’s vibrant and colorful circle of life. Strangers become friends like an inter faith couple who try to win over their estranged parents by laying a very creative ploy.

Shinde, an illiterate plant helper turns leader and seeks Ajay’s help to realize his lifelong dream for his village. Another time, his career growth plans receive a severe jolt after he gets robbed on his way home. In an unprecedented turn of events, he gets a fresh perspective into the thought process of the thieves and con artists of Mumbai.

As the Indian economy opens up, the cricket scene in Mumbai gets commercialized and brings new hope and opportunities for Milind, a simple boy from the suburbs.

Mumbai Matinee unravels the soul of the city of Mumbai – the vibrancy which keeps it on the move irrespective of the drama, the comedy or the tragedy that it witnesses through the course of its journey.

In My Hands Today…

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Eastern Horizons – Levison Wood

Levison Wood was only 22 when he decided to hitch-hike from England to India through Russia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but he wasn’t the conventional follower of the hippy trail. A fascination with the deeds of the early explorers, a history degree in the bag, an army career already planned and a shoestring budget of £750 – including for the flight home – he was determined to find out more about the countries of the Caucasus and beyond – and meet the people who lived and worked there.

Eastern Horizons is a true traveller’s tale in the tradition of the best of the genre, populated by a cast of eccentric characters; from mujahideen fighters to the Russian mafia. Along the way he meets some people who showed great hospitality, while others would rather have murdered him…

In My Hands Today…

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The Dark Side of the Mind: True Stories from My Life as a Forensic Psychologist – Kerry Daynes

Welcome to the world of the forensic psychologist, where the people you meet are wildly unpredictable and often frightening.

The job: to delve into the psyche of convicted men and women to try to understand what lies behind their often brutal actions.

Follow in the footsteps of Kerry Daynes, one of the most sought-after forensic psychologists in the business and consultant on major police investigations.

Kerry’s job has taken her to the cells of maximum-security prisons, police interview rooms, the wards of secure hospitals and the witness box of the court room.

Her work has helped solve a cold case, convict the guilty and prevent a vicious attack.

Spending every moment of your life staring into the darker side of life comes with a price. Kerry’s frank memoir gives an unforgettable insight into the personal and professional dangers in store for a female psychologist working with some of the most disturbing men and women.

In My Hands Today…

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Truck de India!: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Hindustan – Rajat Ubhaykar

“The share auto I squeeze into next seems unusually vulnerable after a night in the truck – too compact, too low down. Perhaps, these are the usual side effects of prolonged riding with the king of the road, I think to myself. But it is only when I fill in ‘truck’ as my mode of transportation in the hotel ledger at Udaipur does the utter ludicrousness of my endeavour truly hit home”

Think truck drivers, and movie scenes of them drunkenly crushing inconvenient people to their gravelly deaths come to mind. But what are their lives on the road actually like?

In Truck De India!, journalist Rajat Ubhaykar embarks on a 10,000 km-long, 100% unplanned trip, hitchhiking with truckers all across India. On the way, he makes unexpected friendships; listens to highway ghost stories; discovers the near-fatal consequences of overloading trucks; documents the fascinating tradition of truck art in Punjab; travels alongside nomadic shepherds in Kashmir; encounters endemic corruption repeatedly; survives NH39, the insurgent-ridden highway through Nagaland and Manipur; and is unfailingly greeted by the unconditional kindness of perfect strangers.

Imbued with humour, empathy, and a keen sense of history, Truck De India! is a travelogue like no other you’ve read. It is the story of India, and Indians, on the road.