New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS): Get a partner in your journey towards spectacular success, learn valuable lessons if starting a new business or managing an existing one, wade through some excellent case studies from historic elections and flick through the story of a woman who finds her own worth after marriage -- and works towards self-emancipation.
The IANS bookshelf has varied fare for you this week. Read on!
1. Book: The 30 Something CEO; Author: Vineet Bajpai; Publisher: Jaico; Pages: 158; Price: Rs 250
The career landscape has changed. It is no more the wear-a-tie, carry-your-lunchbox, meet-your-deadline world. It is now an all-enticing gold-rush. The winners become modern-day emperors, and the mediocre walk like lifeless robots in the millions. It is a veritable war-zone. And like every fortune-hunt in history -- it is the survival of the fittest.
Or perhaps it is simply natural selection catching up. It is the emergence of the indomitable 30-something champions, who are changing the game in every field! These unbeatable super-achievers are still in their thirties or early forties -- and they stop at nothing. These are punishing trailblazers who change the rules of the sport.
Are you one of them? Will you make it to the league of these magnificent young winners? "The 30 Something CEO" will crack the code for you, and partner you in your accelerated journey towards spectacular success. But be cautioned -- it is going to be one helluva ride!
2. Book: Taking Wings and Winnings; Author: K.V. Subramaniam; Publisher: Rupa; Pages: 230; Price: Rs 500
One day in November 2001, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Group, the largest private sector enterprise in India, mandated K.V. Subramaniam to build a life sciences business from scratch. With no formal education in biology, he was initially at sea. But, endowed with a corporate business development background, and a do-or-die spirit, he set out to systematically understand and create a research-driven, biotechnology-leveraged company with a differentiated footprint and a distinct culture.
In the process, in an environment that is focused on performance, which Reliance Group is known for, he defied detractors, fixed snags and surmounted both personal and business setbacks to ring in a successful technology business with sustained high growth, profitability and stature.
Apart from giving insights into the Reliance way of building and managing businesses, K.V. Subramaniam goes beyond the narrative of nurturing a life sciences company to step back and derive messages and morals that are applicable to any technology-driven venture.
This candid, conversational account of his encounters and excitements holds valuable lessons for those who are either starting a new business or managing an existing one.
3. Book: Swinging the Mandate; Author: Dheeraj Sharma; Publisher: Penguin; Pages: 255; Price: Rs 399
"Swinging the Mandate" is a first-of-its-kind book on political campaign management in India. Professor Dheeraj Sharma, chair of marketing at IIM Ahmedabad, and Narayan Singh Rao discuss how sophisticated campaign management strategies have been utilised in recent elections in India.
The book offers excellent case studies from the historic general elections of 2014 and the landslide victory of AAP in the 2015 Delhi elections. It also gives examples of some hard-fought elections in Europe and North America to demonstrate increasing use of principles of marketing and management in campaigns.
Armed with comprehensive research and interesting case studies, this accessible book reveals how star campaigners are built, what the marketing mix for a political party looks like and how elections are won in India.
4. Book: 31 Miles; Author: Vinita Bakshi; Publisher: Rupa; Pages: 220; Price: Rs 295
Mansa has the perfect family life -- a husband, two daughters and a big house. But she feels that something is missing. Her frustration with being a homemaker intensifies. After shifting to a big city, she decides to take the reins of her life in her own hands by stepping out to seek a career.
While enjoying the new-found freedom and confidence, she completely immerses herself in her work and her new life. Till one fateful day when she finds herself embroiled in a passionate affair -- with an online lover. And then everything falls apart! "31 Miles" is the story of a woman who finds her own worth after marriage, and works towards self-emancipation. Will she give it all up for the elusive mirage created by the stranger? What turn will her life take next?