What to read now: 5 must-read books that dance, roar, question and inspire

From innovation and classical dance to political exile and modern fables, these five new books span ideas, identity, and imagination. Whether it’s ‘More from Less’, Bharatanatyam’s journey, or a chilling novel of state control, there’s something for every reader this week.

More from Less for More, Dance of Freedom, Beastly Tales from here and there, A Return to Self
On the Shelf.

More from Less for More

Sushil Borde, Raghunath Mashelkar

Penguin Random House

Pp 280, Rs 799

This book introduces the idea of ‘MLM’ under the umbrella of Inclusive Innovation as a solution to solving grand challenges of India at scale and at speed. By bringing focus to some breakthrough real-life examples from India where ‘more from less for more and more’ has already been achieved, breaking down the science of affordable excellence, the book aims to serve as a guide for stakeholders across segments. 

Dance of Freedom

Leela Samson

Aleph Book Company

Pp 104, Rs 399

In Dance of Freedom, dancer and choreographer Leela Samson explores one of India’s oldest, most revered classical dance forms, Bharatanatyam. Tracing its origins to the earliest devadasis performing in the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, she follows its flourishing passage through the imperial court of Thanjavur, its marginalisation and eventual resurgence under British rule, and its glorious arrival on the public stage in the 20th century.

Beastly Tales from here and there

Vikram Seth

Translated by Mohini Gupta

Speaking Tiger

Pp 232, Rs 499

Since they were first published in 1992, Vikram Seth’s glorious animal fables in verse have delighted young and old alike. Familiar characters in a magical new form—like the tortoise who outran the hare and the monkey who outwitted the greedy crocodile—take their place beside a freshly minted gallery of brilliantly quirky, comical creatures. Witty, enchanting and timeless, Beastly Tales from Here and There is a modern Aesop’s Fables.

The Book of Guilt

Catherine Chidgey

Hachette

Pp 400, Rs 899

Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last remaining residents of a secluded New Forest home, part of the government’s Sycamore Scheme. But, as the government looks to shut down the Sycamore Homes, the triplets begin to question everything they have been told. Gradually surrendering its dark secrets, The Book of Guilt is a profoundly unnerving exploration of belonging in a world where some lives are valued less than others.

A Return to Self

Aatish Taseer

HarperCollins

Pp 216, Rs 499

In 2019, the Government of India revoked Aatish Taseer’s citizenship, thereby exiling him from the country where he grew up and lived for 30 years. This loss, both practical and spiritual, sent him on a journey of revisiting the places that formed his identity and, in the process, compelled him to ask broader questions about the complex forces that make a culture and nationality. In this blend of travelogue and memoir, Taseer delves deep into the heart of the migrations that define our multicultural world.

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This article was first uploaded on August two, twenty twenty-five, at seven minutes past eleven in the night.
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