Looking for your next great read? Here are five captivating books that explore a range of themes, from technology and terrorism to mythology and human connection. Whether you’re interested in the impact of AI on our future, the intricate dynamics of relationships, or the resilience of the human spirit, these titles promise to engage and inspire.
Our Next Reality
Alvin Graylin & Louis Rosenberg
Hachette
Pp 288, Rs 454
Over the past 100 years, technology has changed our world. Over the next decade it will transform our reality. Artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive media will permeate society, mediating our lives by altering what we see, hear, and experience. Our Next Reality debates whether the new world we’re creating will be a technological utopia or an
AI-powered dystopia and gives guidance on how to aim for the best future we can.
Inside the Terrifying World of Jaish-e-Mohammed
Abhinav Pandya
HarperCollins
Pp 520, Rs 699
Since its inception in 2000, Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Pakistan-supported terrorist group, has been responsible for countless terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, and bringing India and Pakistan on the verge of full-fledged war twice. This book, the first detailed study of JeM, examines its origins, ideology, organisational structure, financing, strategies and tactics, fidayeen attacks and information networks.
Ahimsa
Devdutt Pattanaik
HarperCollins
Pp 272, Rs 499
In September 1924, John Marshall, director general of ASI, informed the world about the existence of the Indus civilisation—some 4,500 years old, as ancient as Mesopotamia, as grand as ancient Egypt, and a part of the Bronze Age trading network. An eventful century later, Devdutt Pattanaik uses the lens of mythology to reflect on this most mysterious of ‘peaceful’ civilisations, now spread across geographies in India and Pakistan.
Tell Me Everything
Elizabeth Strout
Penguin Random House
Pp 256, Rs 899
Tell Me Everything brings together beloved characters from Elizabeth Strout’s previous works, including Bob Burgess and Lucy Barton, in a story that masterfully explores the complexities of human relationships, love and the hidden depths of the human soul. The novel is a testament to Strout’s unparalleled narrative craft, offering readers a profound meditation on how our connections keep us afloat in an ever-changing world.
Kanchhi
Weena Pun
Hachette
Pp 352, Rs 699
In the foothills of Torikhola, Kanchhi, the only child of her mother, Maiju, refuses to play by the stifling rules of her hamlet. There is a life beyond the forlorn valleys and gorges, and Kanchhi is intrigued by the possibilities. One cold November morning she leaves home—with two bags and some millet bread Maiju prepares for her. That, however, is the last anybody sees of her. A delicate and finely wrought saga, Kanchhi is an intimate exploration of vulnerable girlhood in turbulent territories.
