Gagan Kaul Blog

I have picked up a few books for this month. The choice of titles and topics is an interesting mix:

DragonStrike by Humphrey Hawksley and Simon Holberton is a fictitious thriller, in which United States, Europe and Asia become entangled in what can be called the World War III. The book was written in late ’90s and the imaginary war takes place in 2001. Even though this is a work of fiction, the authors have adapted ‘facts’ from a lot of sources. This book was released much before the other immensely popular book on IndoPak nuclear holocaust called DragonFire.

A Call to Honour by Jaswant Singh - This is the seventh book by Jaswant Singh, a prominent face in the BJP party. The book has recently created a furore in the Indian media with the disclosure of the existence of a mole in the Prime Minister’s office some years back. I picked up this book after browsing through it for sometime. It gives a very vivid picture of the thought process of a man who steered India clear of the diplomatic diktats after the nuclear tests at Pokhran. Would be writing a review on this book soon.

iCon:Steve Jobs - The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business by Jeffrey S. Young and William L. Simon. I have always admired Steve Jobs for the sole reason that he had the guts to start another company of his own and make it big; and that too after getting fired from the company he founded. The book chronicles the second coming of the most influential person in technology and the legacy he has created.

What Goes Up by Eric J. Weiner - This was picked up on a whim. The title of the book says it all - “The Uncensored History of Modern Wall Street - As told by Bankers, Brokers, CEOs and Scoundrels Who Made it Happen”.