Preeti Shenoy's The Magic Mindset | Published by HarperCollins

 

Title: The Magic Mindset
Author: Preeti Shenoy
Publisher: HarperCollins India
ISBN: ‎ 978-9354227721
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Pages: 258
Amazon Buy Link
 

‘It is perfectly okay to feel sad about one’s life or plans that didn’t work out. We are allowed to feel what we feel. One of the most important steps in making a change towards positivity is accepting what we feel instead of suppressing it.’

The Magic Mindset by Preeti Shenoy, is thought-provoking book. It focuses on wisdom and inner-guidance. Simple writing, Insightful quotes, and easily doable activities are the core point of this non-fiction book. If you are a beginner and naive to this genre then it can be your perfect pick.

Basically, this book is divided into four steps: Understanding, Practicing, Sustaining and Fun with the Magic Mindset (14-Day Activity Challenge). Preeti Shenoy accepts the fact that, ‘sometimes the very word ‘positivity’ is an irritant, for. It seems like a false sense of not seeing reality for what it is. How can we be positive about, say, our finances, when the credit card bills have piled and we are broke? How can we say that the world is beautiful when millions in it are dying? How can we be positive if a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness? What if the person who means the most to us is snatched away suddenly? That is exactly what happened to me when I lost my father.’

While including her own life experience for better understanding, Shenoy didn’t hesitate of sharing various references, either books or movies, for instance: she mentioned Byrne’s The Secret and the very idea of ‘Law and Attraction’. How our thoughts influence our life. It is sensible thing to put all the exercises in the end of each chapter, which may help the readers to recollect the gist.

Shenoy also mentions the award winning 1997 Italian movie Life Is Beautiful, in which the main protagonist, Guido uses his sense of humour and imagination to keep five-year-old Joshua safe from the horrors of the camp.

In the Magic Mindset, Shenoy calibrates the instant ‘problem-solving’ techniques of current generation. ‘We often seek an escape from our problems by ‘going on a vacation’. Popular culture leads us to believe that by ‘taking a break’ from our daily life, we will come back refreshed, better equipped to deal with our stressors. I might have been doing the same with my vacation in Bhutan. But vacations are just that—mini-breaks. They do not magically make our problems disappear. No matter where we go, our problems will accompany us unless we develop a mechanism to cope— the magic mindset.’

Frankl says, ‘When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.’

Aside from that, sense of communicating well, one of our daily rituals which left a great impact on our mind.  Shenoy explains  ̶  If we are equipped with ‘good communication patterns’, we tend to feel positive in our relationships. We know deep down that whatever the issue, we can talk it over and sort it out. But if the communication patterns are negative, then we go around in circles, discussing the same things over and over.

In her own words, ‘When we are stressed out, breathing is shallow, cutting off essential oxygen to our body cells. Be conscious of how you breathe. If you are getting too stressed while waiting for the interview or the exam to begin, walk away to a secluded spot. Deliberately take slow and deep breaths. Count your breaths as you inhale and exhale. Repeat positive affirmations to yourself: ‘Everything will unfold just the way it is meant to be. We don’t control anything. May the best manifest.’

Synopsis

Sometimes, it's not easy to find the silver lining. While positivity is about looking at the bright side of things, the magic mindset embraces and accepts that it is not always possible to do so. Sometimes things get so bleak that our mind refuses to accept that there can be a silver lining. In this book, Preeti Shenoy gives you a set of principles for every area of life, designed to help us shift our perspective from hopelessness to hope, from despondency to joy, from cynicism to belief - a belief that change is coming, and things are not as bad as they seem. Perfect reading for the difficult times that we are living in, The Magic Mindset is full of tips, suggestions, fun exercises and practical advice on career, family, health, relationships, finances, social media, and more. It also includes inspiring stories and anecdotes from Preeti's own life. A cornerstone for all those who want to change their outlook, The Magic Mindset helps us build a purposeful and joyful life.

 

About the Author

Preeti Shenoy, among the highest selling authors in India, is on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life is Calling, Life is What You Make it, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All In The Planets, Why We Love The Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, and has given talks in many premier educational institutions and corporate organizations like KPMG, ISRO, Infosys and Accenture and others. An avid fitness enthusiast, she is also an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journals.

 P.S. This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program.

S. Hussain Zaidi’s Zero Day, Crime-thriller, Published by HarperCollins India

 

Title: Zero Day
Author: S. Hussain Zaidi
Publisher: HarperCollins India (2022)
Genre: Crime Thriller
Pages: 224
Buy Link: Amazon 

 

S. Hussain Zaidi’s Zero Day, is a crime thriller  ̶  a captivating story that revolves around cybercrimes. Phishing, hacking, and online harassment are so common these days. This is a digital era. In a way, the universe is at our fingertips. We are breathing in the world of internet. And each coin has two sides. Isn’t it too scary that these devices in our hands and homes, listening, watching and sharing our personal data.  

Zero Day begins with the sequence of DDoS attacks in Mumbai. Team of Anti Terrorism Squad receives an email about the hacking of traffic signals and more potential cyber threats. How team handled this situation tactfully. What is the connection between this hacking and child pornography? What is online solicitation?

Basically, through this roller-coaster ride, author tried to depict the current situation of cyber terror in our country, how innocent lives are crushed by terrorists, that too without arms and ammunitions. There are sub-plots unfolded eventually and those interlaced characters wrapped this tale in the end. With many twists and minor detailing, Zaidi has presented a refreshing story. As far as, prose style is concerned, it is simple yet gripping. The only thing I would like to ask for is deep layered characters.

Zero Day, is an engaging rush-ride thriller for beginners. This book takes you deep inside the criminal world of dark cyber space. Read!

‘In the midst of all the chaos around him, as his vehicle slowly inched towards Nagpada, Vikrant reread the email that Mirza had forwarded him on the messaging app. He had read it twice already but was still trying to believe what it said.

What you are experiencing right now is called a Distributed Denial of Service or DDoS attack. I’m sure you have experts who will break it down for you in simple terms, but what I have basically done is caused the server that controls your traffic signals to crash.

As your experts will tell you, such an attack requires a massive number of hacked devices. I should warn you that the number of devices I used for this DDoS attack is only a fraction of what I have at my disposal. If my demands, which will be conveyed shortly, are not met, my next target will be an even bigger public utility. Consider this a warning.’

Synopsis

Mumbai is in a state of chaos. All traffic signals across the entire city have stopped working.

Shahwaz Ali Mirza, head of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, receives an anonymous email claiming it to be a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. He quickly puts together a crack team that includes his protege, IG Cybercrime Vikrant Singh, and gets to work trawling the dark web for more information on this mystery attack. However, a move to bring forward the hacker backfires, leading to a second, deadlier attack on Mumbai's lifeline, the railway system.

It is their first brush with cyberterrorism: a zero-day vulnerability in the Indian government's system that could bring the country to its knees. Racing against time and investigating a case unlike any other, in Zero Day, Mirza and Vikrant face the most dangerous mission of their lives.

About the Author

S. Hussain Zaidi is a veteran of investigative, crime and terror reporting. His previous books include Black Friday, Mafia Queens of Mumbai, Dongri to Dubai, Byculla to Bangkok, Mumbai Avengers and Eleventh Hour, some of which have been adapted into Bollywood films. Hussain Zaidi lives with his family in Mumbai.

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Tuhin A. Sinha’s The Legend of Birsa Munda - Historical Fiction, Published by Manjul Pub

 

Title: The Legend of Birsa Munda
Author: Tuhin A. Sinha
Publisher: Manjul Pub (2021)
ISBN: 978-9390924509
Genre: Indian Writing
Pages: 400
Buy link: Amazon

 

‘As the flames from Soma’s funeral pyre rose up into the sky a little later, Birsa stood next to a weeping Moina and realized that in Soma’s death lay a small and tentative victory for all of them as a people. There would be repercussions awaiting them, yes, but there, by the side of the river, they had managed to stake claim to their identity and heritage. As for Birsa himself, he knew that his time in Chaibasa had come to an end. His life was back to how it used to be – past imperfect, future tense.’ 

Synopsis

In 19th century India, deep in the heart of what is now the state of Jharkhand, the Adivasis have been leading a life of absolute misery and darkness. The colonial state, with the help of its scheming local collaborators, has cast a net of abuse and exploitation that is tightening around these Adivasis, much like a hangman’s noose does. Everything they hold dear – their land, homes, history, traditions, religion, families – has fallen victim to the grand colonial plan of building a magnificent but merciless empire for the Queen. However, when a people are all but crushed into dust and their identities threatened with a complete erasure, they erupt like a hot, angry whiplash of fire with a roaring so loud that it reverberates in the very heart of the empire and sends a frisson of fear up the spines of those in power. A fire that stokes a rebellion. And at the heart of this rebellion is the twenty-five-year-old Birsa Munda. He decides what must be done to save his community and leads the Adivasis in fighting back to reclaim their lives. A lion-hearted warrior. Healer. Spiritual guide. A forgotten hero. Based on true events, this epic tale of courage is a tribute to the life of Birsa Munda, who in his very short life, mobilized the tribal community, rebelled against forced conversions, envisioned a fairer, more just society and died fighting for it. A thrilling account that chronicles what most history books don’t mention, The Legend of Birsa Munda is the story of a subaltern tribal hero, whose contribution to India’s struggle for independence must never be forgotten.

 

My Reading

The first time I heard about Birsa Munda in an interview of Mahasweta Devi. She has written ‘Jungle Ke Davedar’ based on Munda’s life only. I am quite excited getting my hands on this Historical Fiction: Tuhin A. Sinha’s The Legend of Birsa Munda. I am just 100 pages in and already in awe of its gripping prose. With clear and crisp writing, author created an atmosphere where each character and events breathe. Is this Maoist novel? Of course not, it is more than that ̶ a story of struggle, injustice and courage. How an ordinary tribal leader stood against the powerful British rule. I found it engaging; definitely not an easy read though as one has to take pauses while diving into the world of Adivasis and brutality of power. I have been savoring it bit by bit. I will update this post once I finish the book.

 

Source: Publisher

About The Author

Tuhin A. Sinha is a best-selling author​, columnist, content strategist and politician.

Tuhin has studied in Loyola School, Jamshedpur and Hindu College, Delhi before doing his Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Communications Management (PGDACM) from the National Institute of Advertising, (NIA), New Delhi.

Tuhin is acknowledged among the most prolific Indian writers with a maverick knack to experiment with new genres. While his first book, That Thing Called Love (2006) was an offbeat romance, The Captain(2008) was a cricket thriller that explored the underbelly of modern cricket. Of Love And Politics(2010) was a political thriller. His fourth and fifth books The Edge Of Desire (2012) and its sequel, The Edge of Power (2013) can be called socio-political thrillers. Daddy (2014) ​ was Tuhin’s sixth book and his first non-fiction narrative. Daddy is India's first parenting book from a Dad's perspective and celebrates new age fatherhood. Tuhin’s latest book, Let The Reason Be Love (2015) was again an offbeat romance. ​

Other than his novels, Tuhin has co-authored the book India Aspires with Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping​, Nitin Gadkari. The book brings forth some very innovative development ideas and espouses increased production of bio-fuel and solar energy as means to improve the country's rural economy. At present Tuhin, as a special initiatives advisor to Shri Gadkari’s ministries, is aiding the Hon Minister on some key initiatives concerning his ministries with the objective of enhancing public perception of the same.

Tuhin was a Grand Jury member for the prestigious Mahindra Transport Excellence Awards, 2016.

Tuhin has also been a screenwriter of several popular TV shows, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, being one of them, which is co-wrote in 2011-12.

Apart from his fiction novels and scripts, Tuhin is a keen political observer and activist.

Tuhin’s columns on Indian politics appear regularly in India’s leading dailies. Tuhin has a regular blog on ibnlive.com and dailyo.in He also appears frequently on news channels on political discussions.

​Tuhin has also been a creative consultant and content strategist, with one of India's premier media companies, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. He wrote and narrated a popular social empowerment radio series, called "Misaal" which was broadcast on the BigFM stations of Jharkhand and Bihar.

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