Coffee King
Rukmini Rao & Prosenjit Datta
Pan Macmillan
Pp 224, Rs 699
VG Siddhartha was more than the visionary founder of Café Coffee Day chain—he was a titan of Indian entrepreneurship. From his humble roots in a Karnataka coffee plantation, Siddhartha built an empire that transcended coffee, venturing into finance, logistics and hospitality. But the news of his tragic death in July 2019 sent shockwaves across India and raised some unsettling questions: Was his death truly an accident? What immense pressures drove a successful and influential entrepreneur to such desperation?
Food Intelligence
Julia Belluz & Kevin Hall
Hachette
Pp 352, Rs 799
Nutrition isn’t rocket science; it’s harder. There are new diet fads, bold claims about superfoods and articles promising the secrets to lasting weight-loss and longevity. The more ‘expert’ advice we hear about diet, the less clarity we have about what to eat. In Food Intelligence, health journalist Julia Belluz and nutrition and metabolism scientist Kevin Hall cut through the myths to deliver the definitive book on food, diet, metabolism and healthy eating.
The Great Sanctions Hack
Urjit Patel
Rupa Publications
Pp 160, Rs 495
In the 21st century, economic sanctions have become a widely used tool to control geopolitics, with the United States being the largest user of sanctions globally, followed by the European Union. Yet, mounting evidence shows that these measures often fall short of achieving their intended diplomatic outcomes. In The Great Sanctions Hack, Urjit Patel, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, evaluates why the concept of sanctions needs a major overhaul.
Dark Squares
Danny Rensch
Hachette
Pp 368, Rs 799
Born into the Church of Immortal Consciousness, Danny Rensch spent his childhood navigating the isolated confines of a cult. Despite psychological manipulation, physical abuse, and neglect, he persevered. An international chess master and world-class commentator, Rensch’s remarkable journey led him to being the face of Chess.com, one of the largest online gaming platforms in the world.
Called by the Hills
Anuradha Roy
Hachette
Pp 184, Rs 999
When novelist Anuradha Roy and her husband stumble upon a derelict cottage in the hill station of Ranikhet, they decide it is where they will now live. Leaving behind the freneticism of Delhi, Roy is initially bemused by the gentle pace of life in the mountains. Before long, however, she is won over: spellbound by the landscape, taken to the heart of her sometimes recalcitrant neighbours and adopted by several mountain dogs.
