Book Review: 20/20 - 10/10

The wry among us, know that hindsight is 20/20 vision. In fact, my macro-economics professor would say, that we were to work out the answers to the problems he posed first, before turning the page over and looked at his solutions. This was because his answers were extremely simple, and the learning was not in the answer, but in the process of getting to it.

Nevertheless, I did want to apply 20/20 vision over the last 10 years and come up with a Top 10 list. I started out by sifting through the list of books I had read and researching the comments and ‘grades’ I had posted for each of them, and sorted out the select list of 10 books that have stood the test of time for me. That was a fun process. My only lament is so many great titles had to be left out…. such is life.

1. Never Let me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro’

His new book. The book grips you on the first page and does not let go till the end. The writing is spare and matter-of-fact. However, I was filled with dread, a sinking feeling the entire time about what is left unsaid, outside the bounds of the story, about the nature of human beings. It is one of those ‘Planet of the Apes’ type of experience, where you know you are in for a shock and were expecting it all along in the back of your mind. The last two passages are so unbearably beautiful that I walked around for week unable to shake the vision he painted.

Goes well with Remains of the Day, Blade Runner, Metropolis (all movies).


2. Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts

Scrupulously written peaen to Bombay by ex-Australian convict hiding in the slums of Bombay. Teeming with characters, rich stories and obvious love for the city and the country. Does not let up for all of its 900+ pages.

Goes well with books by William Dalrymple, such as his book on Delhi – City of Djinns, Hyderabad – The White Mughals and Age of Kali – Travels and Encounters in India






3. Corrections – Jonathan Franzen

Hilarious, moving, spot-on book about mid-western U.S. family that their mother tries to bring together for one last Christmas. Very satisfying read. Author caused a isualizin when he refused to come on Oprah.









4. Pol Pot

Fascinating geopolitics in Indo China. I learned all these equations between the Cambodians and Vietnamese. Laos was in the background, which would have also been good to read about. In this telling, the 1+ MM that died almost becomes a part of the historical flow. Abominable mass deaths in the name of revolution.

Goes well with Artur Koestler’s Darkness at Noon (although in later years he gained a reputation as a flip-flopper).

5. Seven Types of Ambiguity – Eliot Peterson

Richly woven literary novel in Roshomon like style. Nice dramatic arc, good language, rich characters and the theme was persistence of love (in dramatic ways). Book of the year for me

Goes well with the movie Roshomon.








6. A Visual Journey: The Essential Teachings Ramana Maharishi

AUM. Shalom. Ri Gi Muge. Amen. It is all the same, baby. Find your true self!

Goes well with any of the books by Alan Watts and also Robert Thurman.

7. Founding Brothers – Joseph Ellis.

What an inspiration! This is the book that catalyzed and propelled my interest in American History and fall in love with Jefferson. Ellis is a superb writer. However in an act of self-destruction, Steve Ellis lied about his Vietnam experience and got caught in the act. However in a few years after the controversy, he redeemed himself by writing a superb book on George Washington.

Goes well with American Sphinx, all of the books by Stephen Ambrose.



8. Lincoln – Gore Vidal.

This is simply the best book of historical fiction I have read – a brilliant work that is enthralling and utterly plausible. The book itself is characterized by several wonderful elements: Firstly, Gore Vidal is a splendid writer. The way he scripts his words, the way he sets up the scenes and the psychological probing of his characters are all scintillating. Secondly, the subject of this novel is so towering, that the reader can be forgiven for wondering if a novel can do him justice. Gore Vidal achieves that feat – he manages to present Lincoln foremost as a master politician, a leader for his times, compassionate, wily, honest, determined and utterly human. Finally, it is quite amazing how many of Lincoln’s senior officers (Chase, Seward, McClellan) were gunning for his office. How Lincoln manages all these competing political forces is a compelling read. There is enough mythology sorrounding Lincoln, without having to have fiction written around him and circumstances of the civil war. But Gore Vidal’s purpose is quite genuine and sincere – taking a fictional tack frees him up to probe Lincoln the man and all the characters and circumstances he had to deal with with much more freedom and creativity – the result is a plausible, yet utterly delightful account of America’s greatest President. This book will be one my prized possessions on my bookshelf.

Goes well with the 2 new books on Lincoln ‘Team of Rivals’ and ‘The Eloquent President’

9. Wittgensteins Poker

A very Roshomon like book about differing perspectives on a debate between two giants of Western Philosophy. Wiigenstein’s the world’s greatest linguistic philosopher and Karl Popper, on whose works the foundations of modern democarcies lie. However, the towering undisciplined genius wins over studious, prolific academic scholarship in this debate. The winner of the debate is obvious, given the title of this book!

Goes well with Schroedinger’s Cat and also Infinity and the Mind.





10. The Good German: Joseph Kannon.

Very well written. By the author of Los Alamos. Good characters, plot, writing and setting. A good example of character development and top notch writing skills.

Goes well with The Third Man, Spy Who Came in from the Cold, All Alan Furst Novels and Graham Greene’s The Quiet American (splendidly potrayed in the movie version by Michael Caine) and the most recent German movie, The Lives of Others.