Monday 19 August 2013

My Journey : Transforming Dreams into Actions - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

My Journey : Transforming Dreams into Actions - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Authored By: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

This book is filled with stories of “innumerable challenges and learning” in Kalam's years as the scientific adviser when India conducted its second nuclear test, his retirement and dedication to teaching thereafter and his years as President. Mr. Kalam has compiled life’s learnings, anecdotes and profiles of key moments and people who inspired him profoundly in the book.He recounts “staring into the pit of despair” when he failed to make it as an IAF pilot and how he pulled himself up and rose to become the man who headed India’s missile programme and occupy highest office in the country.


The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K.Rowling

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K.Rowling

Author: J.K.Rowling

J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter's billionaire biographer, was gracious enough to release an annotated, albeit abridged, version of the collection for Muggle public consumption in 2008, a year after the publication of the last installment in her series of books about the life and times of Harry Potter. The public edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard authorized by Rowling is notable for having two of the most important figures from the Second Wizarding War (1995-1998) involved in its development. Hermione Granger, a distinguished Muggle-born alumna of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and a confidante of Harry Potter's, translated the tales from their original runes, while Professor Albus Dumbledore, a former Hogwarts headmaster and Harry Potter's eccentric mentor, provided a delightful and insightful commentary on each of the tales included in this slim collection, with clarificatory, intertextual, and metacritical footnotes appended by Rowling.

Sunday 18 August 2013

Resurrection - Leo Tolstoy

Resurrection - Leo Tolstoy

Author: Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy

Tolstoy summons us to the barricades for love. As I hear him, he asks, ‘Is it not time for a revolution of the heart? Is it not time to recognize that mutual love and not economics or politics is the fundamental law of human life?’. Prince Nekhlyudov undergoes a spiritual crisis. While serving as a juror during the trial of a prostitute accused of murder, he realizes that the accused is Maslova, the peasant girl that he once seduced and abandoned after impregnating.


Friday 16 August 2013

Man and Superman - George Bernard Shaw

Man and Superman - George Bernard Shaw

Authored By: George Bernard Shaw

This work, published in 1903, contains three parts: a “Epistle Dedicatory”; the play itself; and “The Revolutionist’s Handbook”. The first is a letter to the author’s friend, Arthur Bingham Walkley, who had originally suggested that GBS write a play on the subject of Don Juan; in this letter GBS not only explains why he has turned the legend on its head but presents his conviction that woman is the true pursuer in the race toward matrimony. Woven into this presentation are threads of GBS’s opinions on any number of issues and topics, expressed in his typical entertaining and articulate style and filled with Shavian bons mots.


Arms and the Man - George Bernard Shaw

Arms and the Man - George Bernard Shaw

Author: George Bernard Shaw

Arms and the Man is a comedy written by George Bernard Shaw, and was first produced in 1894 and published in 1898, and has become one of the most popular plays of George Bernard Shaw. Like his other works, Arms and the Man questions conventional values and uses war and love as his satirical targets. This edition of Arms and the Man is in the form of a paperback book.


The Man of Destiny - George Bernard Shaw

The Man of Destiny - George Bernard Shaw

Author: George Bernard Shaw

This is Shaw's short play about Napoleon. He manages to bring his usual themes of class and money into it, but to tell you the truth, I read it a year and a half ago and barely remember it. I remember that I liked it OK at the time, but the plot, the other characters, all have faded. Thus I conclude, not one of Shaw's more memorable works.


Back to Methuselah - George Bernard Shaw

Back to Methuselah - Bernard Shaw

Author: Bernard Shaw

From 1921, Shaw is definitely reeling from the war in this imaginary retelling of a past and future Genesis. The surreality of the play however keeps me from wondering how serious - or comic - the play is supposed to be. Another last thought: I kept reflecting on how contemporary audiences, even Christian ones, would probably not be biblically literate enough to understand such an anti-Christian play.


SBI PO Exam - Probationary Officer Success Master - Arihant

SBI PO Exam - Probationary Officer Success Master - Arihant

Author: Arihant Experts

The book is good. Covers all chapters in details and with adequate exercises. I can say if anyone can thoroughly complete the whole book he will surely get a good rank in SBI and IBPS exams. It contains all the basic information's regarding not only the syllabus of SBI but also it is helpful for all competitive exams whether it may be state or central govt. contains previous years question papers with complete solutions and moreover self - evaluation tests are more feasible.


Thursday 15 August 2013

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

Author: Charles Dickens

A lot of Dickens' stories are now to some extent like folk or fairy tales; they have become embedded in our collective consciousness and even if one has never read the source material one could outline the plots and name the principle characters.


David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

Authored By: Charles Dickens

While taking books you want to reread and write reviews for and putting them in the bathroom to be read over a month or so is a good idea, before you embark on this in the future, take a good look at the book. Is it monstrously long? Then it may not be ideal bathroom reading. Not only is it heavy, that means I took around 6 months to read this, which on first read, took me maybe two weeks. Maybe.


The Origin of Species - Charles Darwin

The Origin of Species - Charles Darwin

Authored By: Charles Darwin

This book has had a profound effect not just on science, but the culture at large. What I wouldn't read this book for is the science, or in an effort to either defend or refute the argument for evolution. The core of Darwin's argument certainly is still what was taught in my Catholic high school biology class (taught by a nun). In a nutshell, the theory is that given there are wide-ranging subtle Variations among organisms, the Malthusian Struggle for Existence causes by means of Natural Selection of the inheritable traits that are the best Adaptations to the environment the Origin of Species or as Darwin calls it, the "theory of descent with modification."


Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

Authored By: Charles Dickens

Fleeing the workhouse, Oliver finds himself taken under the wing of the Artful Dodger and caught up with a group of pickpockets in London. As he tries to free himself from their clutches he becomes immersed in the seedy underbelly of the Capital, amongst criminals, prostitutes and the homeless. Dickens scathing attack on the cruelness of Victorian Society features some of his most memorable and enduring characters, including innocent Oliver himself, the Artful Dodger, Fagin, Bill Sikes and Nancy.


A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Authored By: Charles Dickens

Set before and during the French Revolution in the cities of Paris and London, A TALE OF TWO CITIES tells the story of Dr Manette′s release from imprisonment in the Bastille and his reunion with daughter, Lucie. A French aristocrat Darnay and English lawyer Carton compete in their love for Lucie and the ensuing tale plays out against the menacing backdrop of the French Revolution and the shadow of the guillotine.


Wednesday 14 August 2013

Othello - William Shakespeare

Othello - William Shakespeare

Authored By: William Shakespeare

Dramatic and powerful in its scope, Othello explores the perils of suspicion and jealousy and the ensuing breakdown of relationships and disaster that can arise from such emotions. Othello, a revered soldier, secretly marries Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian senator, but is led to believe that she has been unfaithful to him by his ensign, Iago, leading to tragic events.‘Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.’


Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Two tribunes, Flavius and Murellus, find scores of Roman citizens wandering the streets, neglecting their work in order to watch Julius Caesar’s triumphal parade: Caesar has defeated the sons of the deceased Roman general Pompey, his archrival, in battle. The tribunes scold the citizens for abandoning their duties and remove decorations from Caesar’s statues. Caesar enters with his entourage, including the military and political figures Brutus, Cassius, and Antony. A Soothsayer calls out to Caesar to “beware the Ides of March,” but Caesar ignores him and proceeds with his victory celebration.


Macbeth - William Shakespeare

Macbeth - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

On their way home from a successful victory against the King of Norway and Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and his friend, Banquo, encounter three witches on the wild moors of Scotland. They hail Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor, and when this prophecy comes true, Macbeth recollects another title they addressed him by: King of Scotland. The seeds of ambition have been planted in his heart, and Macbeth, at the urging of his wife, embarks on a path of deceit, lies and murder from which there is no return.


The Tempest - William Shakespeare

The Tempest - William Shakespeare

Authored By: William Shakespeare

A play that contrasts lyrical fantasy surrounding the spirit Ariel and the savage Calaban, with a tale of political intrigue focused around Prospero, the banished Duke of Milan, a wizard living on a remote island.

Anthony and Cleopatra - William Shakespeare

Anthony and Cleopatra - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire, spends his time in Egypt, living a life of decadence and conducting an affair with the country’s beautiful queen, Cleopatra. When a message arrives informing him that his wife, Fulvia, is dead and that Pompey is raising an army to rebel against the triumvirate, Antony decides to return to Rome. In Antony’s absence, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, his fellow triumvirs, worry about Pompey’s increasing strength. Caesar condemns Antony for neglecting his duties as a statesman and military officer in order to live a decadent life by Cleopatra’s side.

Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Romeo belongs to the house of Montague, and Juliet, to the house of Capulet. The two families are sworn enemies, and Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love leads them to a path that can only end in tragedy and despair. Perhaps Shakespeare’s best-known play, Romeo and Juliet, even today, is synonymous with doomed love.

Comedy of Errors - William Shakespeare

Comedy of Errors - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Two sets of identical twins, separated at sea as children, find themselves in the same city for the first time as adults. Soon, their friends mistake the twins for one another and bewilderment abounds, as the wife of one man declares the other to be her husband, pronouncing him mad when he denies the claim.


Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

The combination of careful scholarship emphasising the inspiration and excitement of the theatrical experience, with the freshly edited text, should make this one of the most useful new texts of Twelfth Night.

All's Well That Ends Well - William Shakespeare

All's Well That Ends Well - William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan (2011)  

A fresh new edition of Shakespeare's ambiguous, bittersweet fairy tale, developed by and for the RSC, includes new interviews with acclaimed directors Gregory Doran and Stephen Fried, and actor Guy Henry, looks at specific productions in the play's history, and an illuminating introduction by acclaimed scholar Jonathan Bate.


King Lear - William Shakespeare

King Lear - William Shakespeare

Authored By: William Shakespeare
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher (2012)  

Epic and tragic in its scope, King Lear explores a king’s demise into madness and insanity when he is betrayed by two of his manipulative and scheming daughters. It is Cordelia, the third and only daughter who refuses to flatter her father to deceive, who is banished from the kingdom, leading to dramatic and tumultuous events.


Tuesday 13 August 2013

Quantum CAT - Quantitative Aptitude - Sarvesh K Verma

Quantum CAT - Quantitative Aptitude - Sarvesh K Verma

Author: Sarvesh K Verma
Publisher: Arihant (2013) 

Quantum CAT: Quantitative Aptitude Common Admission Test For Admission Into IIMs is a comprehensive resource manual for students preparing for the mathematics section of the CAT.

Monday 12 August 2013

How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT 1e - Arun Sharma

How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT 1e - Arun Sharma

Author: Arun Sharma
Publisher: Tata McGraw-Hill (2012)

Data Interpretation (DI) has been a vital section of the CAT Paper. In the changed scenario of the CAT exam pattern (where there are only two sections), DI forms a critical part of the Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation Section. Therefore, it is essential to develop your skills in DI to the level where you can comfortably attempt the DI questions. DI also forms an important component of other MBA Entrance Exams and Competitive Exams of this nature. This new comprehensive book on DATA Interpretation by Arun Sharma is therefore aimed to effectively equip aspirants to tackle all possible types of questions that can be asked on this topic.


How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT 1e - Arun Sharma

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT 1e - Arun Sharma

Author: Arun Sharma
Publisher: Tata McGraw-Hill (2012)


How To Prepare For Logical Reasoning For The CAT is a guide that is solely devoted to the logical reasoning section of competitive exams like CAT, and covers various topics and problems in detail.


How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT 4e - Arun Sharma, Meenakshi Upadhyay

How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT 4e - Arun Sharma, Meenakshi Upadhyay

Authored By: Arun Sharma, Meenakshi Upadhyay
Publisher: Tata McGraw - Hill Education (2011)  


Published in the year 2011, How To Prepare For Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension For The CAT Common Admission Test is a book that provides the readers with detailed, yet practical information of all they need to know to clear the CAT, and other entrance tests.


How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT 5e - Arun Sharma

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT Common Admission Test 5th Edition - Arun Sharma

Author: Arun Sharma
Publisher: Tata McGraw-Hill (2012)

How To Prepare For Quantitative Aptitude For The CAT is aimed at aspirants of competitive management exams. This book comprehensively covers the subject matter, and contains questions, solutions, and shortcuts.

Saturday 10 August 2013

Success Master IBPS CWE Bank PO Probationary Officers / Management Trainees Exam - Arihant Experts

Success Master IBPS CWE Bank PO Probationary Officers / Management Trainees Exam - Arihant Experts

Author: Arihant Experts
Publisher: Arihant (2013)

Success Master IBPS Institute of Banking Personnel Selections CWE Common Written Examination Bank PO Probationary Officers By Arihant Experts is meant to be a study guide for the IBPS and bank PO/MT exam.

Hold My Hand - Durjoy Datta

Hold My Hand - Durjoy Datta

Author: Hold My Hand
Publisher: Penguin (2013)

An awkward young man, Deep, obsessed with libraries and books, has his dream come true when he is sent to Hong Kong by ATS Technologies to study and test the library cataloguing software at its head office. There he sees - the most beautiful girl he has ever laid his eyes on, But there is a twist to this love story - Ahana is not just stunningly beautiful, she also has a rare congenital disease leaving her blind. Together they explore Hong Kong Aahana guiding with the smells and sounds of the wondrous city and Deep bringing to life the sights he sees.

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith

Author: Robert Galbraith
Publisher: Little Brown (2013)

When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.