Books I read in 2010

At the start of the 2010, I read @jax ‘s tweet which said he wanted to read 100 books in 2010. Got me kicked. I said if not 100 I should at least do a ten to my record. And here it is, a snapshot of the books I read this year.

You Can Negotiate Anything – Herb Cohen

A book recommended by my father-in-law and I am so glad I took time to read it (actually a lot of time to finish it). Picked up some rather important skills and talking points which I am sure are helping me deal with clients and vendors with a lot more confidence.

Call of the Mall – Paco Underhill

This book is like a digest for the mall economy. Although very old now I think some of the key learnings of the mall culture are very important for who has anything to do with retail trade. How consumers behave, what irritates them and what are the essentials for a retailer in the mall. Also how malls just like hospitals need to be designed by retail experts and not just architects with great designs. Next on my reading list is the updated version of Paco’s Why We Buy.

Bollywood: A History – Mihir Bose

Loved this one. Start is a bit boring since you cant connect much, but then as you move into the 50s and 60s cinema you get to know the life of stars, how filmworld behaved back then. How the stars were Gods and producers mere worshippers so that they would be present on their film sets. There is a good chapter on the making of Sholay. Very interesting info from behind the scenes. Highly recommended if film making is your interest area.

Go Kiss The World – Subroto Bagchi

I was expecting a lot more advanced career advice. But I think the book is recommended for those who may have just started their career. And especially entrepreneurs would get some good lessons from how Bagchi quit his job and started Mindtree Consulting.

The Leader Who Had No Title – Robin Sharma

After reading Robin’s Discover your Destiny I truly became addicted to his words and beliefs. The book had tremendously helped me overcome a rather difficult patch of misery and sorrow. So I was very excited to read this next which was based on achieving more success at workplace. However I don’t think it could say something very different from what he’s always been telling in life. But nevertheless his books are always an inspiration and great to read on those nights when you wish you could have done a lot more better in life.

Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain

I admit. I am not a regular watcher of his TV show ‘No Reservations’ but I think the man got me curious to read more about this foodie experiences. And Kitchen Confidential was a good pick. Great inside story of what happens in restaurant kitchens and the life of chefs and cooks. I think an important lesson I took from this reading was that if I do ever start a restaurant I am going to need a very strong partner in the kitchen – an area where I won’t have no experience at all. So if you’re thinking of getting into restaurant business – read this one for sure.

The Flipside – Adam J. Jackson

Not that I don’t like them but I realised that I end up reading quite a few self-help books. At times they get repetitive but there is nothing more supporting than reading one of these books when going through a tough phase. The Flipside shares the stories of quite a few people who started a new chapter of life when things went wrong. It’s super inspiration and a must view for the pessimistic out there. The author also tries to write a little guide on how to look the positive things in times of crisis.

Linchpin – Seth Godin

Linchpin is my first Seth Godin book. I think I was saturated at my job and this book came in as a great inspiration just at the right time pushing me off the edge and helping me make a switch. Although Seth says at the end of the book that he does not intend to make you quit your job – for me, I think he just did. The book highlights the changing work scenario where being a cog worker won’t make you big anymore. At the same time the changing scenario demands and makes it easy for you to be linchpin at work. It’s notable to read – You can’t always do what you love, so to be the best start loving what you do. In another few months, I am surely doing a re-read of this book, because it can only add more value and demand you to do the best at work and your life.

So this is how the 2010 reading list looked like. Before the year ended, my wife gifted me the Kindle which I am hoping is going to help me read some more. If not books, more white papers, articles etc.. Currently I am reading Santosh Desai’s Mother Pious Lady – Making Sense of Everyday India and The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion.