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The Old Man And His God
As she goes about her work with the villagers, slum dwellers and the common men and women of India, Sudha Murty—writer, social worker and teacher—listens to them and records what they have to say. Their accounts of the struggles and hardships which they have at times overcome, and at other times been overwhelmed by, are put together in this book.
There are stories about people’s generosity—and selfishness—in times of natural disasters like the tsunami; women struggling to speak out in a world that refuses to listen to them; and tales of young professionals trying to find their feet as they climb up the corporate ladder.
Told simply and directly from the heart, The Old Man and His God is a collection of snapshots of the varied facets of human nature and a mirror to the souls of the people of India.
There are stories about people’s generosity—and selfishness—in times of natural disasters like the tsunami; women struggling to speak out in a world that refuses to listen to them; and tales of young professionals trying to find their feet as they climb up the corporate ladder.
Told simply and directly from the heart, The Old Man and His God is a collection of snapshots of the varied facets of human nature and a mirror to the souls of the people of India.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
175 people are currently reading
2821 people want to read
About the author
Sudha Murty
186 books2,991 followersSudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
May 27, 2018
Reading Sudha Murthy's writing has always been an enjoyable experience for me.She is one of the many women who inspire me.Her writing is simple,honest and very straightforward .There are no frills or fancy words ,but the content of her unforgettable stories always make the reader sit up and reflect .
This book is a collection of 25 stories ,each showcasing the different facets of human nature as experienced by Sudha Murthy in her interactions with people as chairperson of the Infosys foundation and her family and friends .The most unforgettable one for me was the story on "Mothers Love ".
A must for all lovers of Sudha Murthy's stories.
This book is a collection of 25 stories ,each showcasing the different facets of human nature as experienced by Sudha Murthy in her interactions with people as chairperson of the Infosys foundation and her family and friends .The most unforgettable one for me was the story on "Mothers Love ".
A must for all lovers of Sudha Murthy's stories.
October 20, 2013
We all know that, sudha murthy is prolific writer with lucid writing skill. But i would like to add one more title for her, She is also a motivational writer who throw rays on rare visited area of life. She still focus on humanity and love for human and mankind. which is more important in days to day life.
After going through her novel The old man and his god. I come to learn the true meaning of life, There are lots to learn from this novel. not just charity nor just being kind. but being true to mankind and to your self and others, which is more important. The more important lessor are be content with the things which is with you. Don't feel sad for the things which you don't posses.
Seriously a good novel with collection of true experience of life. I never doubt about the pristine and truth of Mrs sudha murthy. She really touched the nerve of the society, about which we usually talks but never implement in life. but if one go through the same, definitely try to inculcate in life in order to give meaning to life.
I just want to write one thing about novel... Novel is too good.
After going through her novel The old man and his god. I come to learn the true meaning of life, There are lots to learn from this novel. not just charity nor just being kind. but being true to mankind and to your self and others, which is more important. The more important lessor are be content with the things which is with you. Don't feel sad for the things which you don't posses.
Seriously a good novel with collection of true experience of life. I never doubt about the pristine and truth of Mrs sudha murthy. She really touched the nerve of the society, about which we usually talks but never implement in life. but if one go through the same, definitely try to inculcate in life in order to give meaning to life.
I just want to write one thing about novel... Novel is too good.
September 10, 2021
This was my second book written by Sudha Murthy maam. I read the book 'Here, There and Everywhere' first.
Maybe my review is a bit harsh, but that might be because I had high expectations from the book after reading the first one.
The writing is quite crisp and clear, with simple language that is easy to read.
However, the content of this book is not up to the mark. There are many unnecessary stories that contain nothing special about them. Some of the stories are rather good, like 'The Old Man and His God' and 'A helping hand'. But the rest are just about the day to day life of Sudha Murthy Maam, which have nothing exceptional to learn, for example 'Food for thought'.
After reading this book, I have learnt an important lesson, though. I've learnt how it feels like to do social work. Also, I have learnt that those who do social work, are not necessarily saints without egos, sometimes it does lead to a false grand narrative of being the champion of the helpless, and the feeling of doing a great favor to the world. But, anyways, the amount of worldly experience that one may learn from such work may be quite huge. That is because in poverty, in destitution, the world comes out naked. There is no more correctness, being nice, no manipulative people who smile on your face and stab you behind the back, here, there's no need to even smile before stabbing. You see people as they are, and no longer are in delusion, expecting something nice from anybody. I doubt the author would have such a vast experience of life, if she hadn't worked in the foundation. And, I do not oppose social work, I find it to be quite uplifting to one's character, if done in the correct attitude. Also, no doubt, it is quite helpful to the one who one is getting helped. One learns a lot about the world also. But, I feel, that if not done in the right attitude, it may lead to a bloated ego and self-righteousness.
This is not a critique of Sudha Murthy Maam. For someone having reached her position, she is exceptionally humble and nice person overall. But, maybe I was expecting too much, a spiritual guide, a Swami Vivekananda or a Sadhguru in her writings. That's kind of silly of me, I know.
Also, another good thing I learnt after having used goodreads for a while (that got reinforced after reading this book) is that while people from the rest of India generally start hating their culture, their civilization after getting a little bit of money, due to false media narrative and cultural distortion by Marxists (literature, films, poetry, etc. etc.), in Karnataka, Hindu India still lives. The Kannada literature is starkly Hindu and Indian, say compared to Hindi Literature after its Premchandisation, Gandhicization and secularization. Maybe that explains why gems like SL Bhyrappa, Mohandas Pai and Tejasvi Surya still come from there. Earlier it used to be alive in places like Maharashtra as well, but the communists have relentlessly attacked anything Hindu or any literature/film/poetry which takes pride in its Hindu past, and flooded the markets with their own non-sense. To end, I would like to mention something I read from Swami Vivekananda:
The world will always remain a Tantalus's Hell. The world is a composite of contradictions, there can be no good without a bad, no richness without poverty, no selflessness without selfishness, no pleasure without misery. The world is maya. We should remember while doing good that we are not helping anybody in the world. The world was doing just fine hundreds of millions of years before we were born, it will do just as great millions of years hence. By doing good towards the world, We do not help the world, we only help ourselves. We move towards the infinite freedom, infinite good and godhood through our good actions.
Maybe my review is a bit harsh, but that might be because I had high expectations from the book after reading the first one.
The writing is quite crisp and clear, with simple language that is easy to read.
However, the content of this book is not up to the mark. There are many unnecessary stories that contain nothing special about them. Some of the stories are rather good, like 'The Old Man and His God' and 'A helping hand'. But the rest are just about the day to day life of Sudha Murthy Maam, which have nothing exceptional to learn, for example 'Food for thought'.
After reading this book, I have learnt an important lesson, though. I've learnt how it feels like to do social work. Also, I have learnt that those who do social work, are not necessarily saints without egos, sometimes it does lead to a false grand narrative of being the champion of the helpless, and the feeling of doing a great favor to the world. But, anyways, the amount of worldly experience that one may learn from such work may be quite huge. That is because in poverty, in destitution, the world comes out naked. There is no more correctness, being nice, no manipulative people who smile on your face and stab you behind the back, here, there's no need to even smile before stabbing. You see people as they are, and no longer are in delusion, expecting something nice from anybody. I doubt the author would have such a vast experience of life, if she hadn't worked in the foundation. And, I do not oppose social work, I find it to be quite uplifting to one's character, if done in the correct attitude. Also, no doubt, it is quite helpful to the one who one is getting helped. One learns a lot about the world also. But, I feel, that if not done in the right attitude, it may lead to a bloated ego and self-righteousness.
This is not a critique of Sudha Murthy Maam. For someone having reached her position, she is exceptionally humble and nice person overall. But, maybe I was expecting too much, a spiritual guide, a Swami Vivekananda or a Sadhguru in her writings. That's kind of silly of me, I know.
Also, another good thing I learnt after having used goodreads for a while (that got reinforced after reading this book) is that while people from the rest of India generally start hating their culture, their civilization after getting a little bit of money, due to false media narrative and cultural distortion by Marxists (literature, films, poetry, etc. etc.), in Karnataka, Hindu India still lives. The Kannada literature is starkly Hindu and Indian, say compared to Hindi Literature after its Premchandisation, Gandhicization and secularization. Maybe that explains why gems like SL Bhyrappa, Mohandas Pai and Tejasvi Surya still come from there. Earlier it used to be alive in places like Maharashtra as well, but the communists have relentlessly attacked anything Hindu or any literature/film/poetry which takes pride in its Hindu past, and flooded the markets with their own non-sense. To end, I would like to mention something I read from Swami Vivekananda:
The world will always remain a Tantalus's Hell. The world is a composite of contradictions, there can be no good without a bad, no richness without poverty, no selflessness without selfishness, no pleasure without misery. The world is maya. We should remember while doing good that we are not helping anybody in the world. The world was doing just fine hundreds of millions of years before we were born, it will do just as great millions of years hence. By doing good towards the world, We do not help the world, we only help ourselves. We move towards the infinite freedom, infinite good and godhood through our good actions.
July 3, 2020
Remarkable short stories ! !
Highly recommended for short stories lovers ! !
This is my second book from the Author but the glimpses of those non- fiction stories is hilarious.
This is the specialty of these stories, a reader would found the acknowledgment towards ethics and morals of life.
The Old Man and His God: Discovering the Spirit of India by Sudha Murthy is the real spirit for the beloveds who love the stories and tales’ reading. This is not only the spirit for Indian but for the world audience who love the Indian literature. The non-fictional ideological values, morality, ethics, honesty and ethos are completely expressed through this genre. Being an author, social worker, teacher and a good lady, it is simply recorded by Sudha Murthy’s sensitive mind that the small experiences with small-small journeys are very hearts touching. These all experiences are with the villagers, slum dwellers, men, women, students and educationists, etc. It was clearly said by Mrs. Murthy that our mind is a storehouse of lot of stories and tales. She painted many lovely stories with the help of strangers who came in life.
The struggle, hardship and suffer of a common man is painted very beautifully with self-experiences after self-realization through her life journey. The blind man in a little Shiva Temple offers the author shelter and piece in the midst of a storm and emerges as the most generous, unselfish soul; that she has ever met. A little stone (Katta) under a banyan tree in a small village in Karnataka is the world’s best place to take rest and forget each and every type of burden of life for some time. The little stone is the best urban councilor’s office where everybody would be counseled to any villager because there everyone listens, sharers, discuss, chats and enjoys a talk.
This is completely missed in modern world and metro cities. Simply and directly it is observed that The Old Man And His God: Discovering the Spirit of India by Sudha Murthy is an awakening collection of twenty five stories and snapshots of varied facts of human nature and a mirror to the souls of the people of India. The ideological values, moral values of family, brotherhood, relationship of friends, family members and relatives, honesty and simplicity of a blind poor person, the rural philosophy under the banyan tree, and the freedom of speech of a literate lady are beautifully painted in the form of many stories.
The each and every part of the society and the ideology of humanity, are shown through this book under the title The Old Man And His God: Discovering the spirit of India. The small experiences from the family to the unique institution like the INFOSYS, and from the small village like Shiggaoan to the India’s best metro city like Bangalore have been ideally painted.
Highly recommended for short stories lovers ! !
This is my second book from the Author but the glimpses of those non- fiction stories is hilarious.
This is the specialty of these stories, a reader would found the acknowledgment towards ethics and morals of life.
The Old Man and His God: Discovering the Spirit of India by Sudha Murthy is the real spirit for the beloveds who love the stories and tales’ reading. This is not only the spirit for Indian but for the world audience who love the Indian literature. The non-fictional ideological values, morality, ethics, honesty and ethos are completely expressed through this genre. Being an author, social worker, teacher and a good lady, it is simply recorded by Sudha Murthy’s sensitive mind that the small experiences with small-small journeys are very hearts touching. These all experiences are with the villagers, slum dwellers, men, women, students and educationists, etc. It was clearly said by Mrs. Murthy that our mind is a storehouse of lot of stories and tales. She painted many lovely stories with the help of strangers who came in life.
The struggle, hardship and suffer of a common man is painted very beautifully with self-experiences after self-realization through her life journey. The blind man in a little Shiva Temple offers the author shelter and piece in the midst of a storm and emerges as the most generous, unselfish soul; that she has ever met. A little stone (Katta) under a banyan tree in a small village in Karnataka is the world’s best place to take rest and forget each and every type of burden of life for some time. The little stone is the best urban councilor’s office where everybody would be counseled to any villager because there everyone listens, sharers, discuss, chats and enjoys a talk.
This is completely missed in modern world and metro cities. Simply and directly it is observed that The Old Man And His God: Discovering the Spirit of India by Sudha Murthy is an awakening collection of twenty five stories and snapshots of varied facts of human nature and a mirror to the souls of the people of India. The ideological values, moral values of family, brotherhood, relationship of friends, family members and relatives, honesty and simplicity of a blind poor person, the rural philosophy under the banyan tree, and the freedom of speech of a literate lady are beautifully painted in the form of many stories.
The each and every part of the society and the ideology of humanity, are shown through this book under the title The Old Man And His God: Discovering the spirit of India. The small experiences from the family to the unique institution like the INFOSYS, and from the small village like Shiggaoan to the India’s best metro city like Bangalore have been ideally painted.
September 10, 2015
I admire Sudha Murty's work as an entrepreneur, a social worker,a teacher, in technology etc. Bravo I say when I read about her work in helping tsunami survivors, or for the infosys foundation, for underprivileged children and more. When it comes to her writing, however, I am a bit confused. She comes with great credentials. Many books sold (I presume, since I keep seeing it on best seller lists), a national award (the "R.K.Narayan award for literature" no less)and writings in both fiction and non-fiction.I therefore cannot explain why this particular book is so mediocre. Is it that I do not belong to the target audience ? Perhaps it is meant for children ? Or perhaps this is meant for the Chetan Bhagat lovers who want to expand and broaden their reading habits ? Each chapter ends with some sort of a moral or specious observation about habits, people, India, culture etc. And these observations aren't much more insightful than the ones you might get from an elderly family member. For instance, money doesn't bring one happiness. Or that people can be ungrateful. Or that a good manager/leader can inspire employees and foster a good work environment.
And there are sections where one wonders what the point of a chapter or of sections of a chapter is. For instance, the chapter on Narayan Murthy. Or for instance the girl from "the deserving candidate". So someone pretended to be what they weren't in order to negotiate a better offer. (Or at least that's how I saw it)This is awkwardly contrasted with another (possibly fictional) person who also wanted a higher salary because he wanted to donate to a trust. Or the one where her friend Saroja keeps complaining about her many problems in life.
In conclusion, do buy the book, since the proceeds go to charity.
And there are sections where one wonders what the point of a chapter or of sections of a chapter is. For instance, the chapter on Narayan Murthy. Or for instance the girl from "the deserving candidate". So someone pretended to be what they weren't in order to negotiate a better offer. (Or at least that's how I saw it)This is awkwardly contrasted with another (possibly fictional) person who also wanted a higher salary because he wanted to donate to a trust. Or the one where her friend Saroja keeps complaining about her many problems in life.
In conclusion, do buy the book, since the proceeds go to charity.
April 16, 2021
A wonderful collection of short stories as usual.. some are sad and emotional (might make you cry).. some will make you realise the other side of poverty and motherhood ..
And some will make you happy too..
Some will make you proud to be Indian..
Overall you will enjoy reading the collection, going through various feelings.
.
And all stories are real and simple writing style.
You will year for more of her works..
.
.
"Money is one thing which rarely unites and mostly divides people."
.
- Sudha Murthy, Old man and his God
.
Old man and his God is collection of relevant and heart touching short stories by our very own Sudha Murthy Ma'am.
.
Her stories are really good read when you are feeling down. It's not like every story is a happy story has a happy ending or every story is happy story. No it's not like that but the stories and the hidden message in the story will really boast your mood.
.
I once had argument with someone, the person said that 'her stories are not all feel good, many are sad and I cried in many of them' ...
I don't remember what I said then but what I would like to say is
That her stories make us feel how we have taken things for granted. By seeing the lives of poor people from tribal villages of Odisha we realise that we are unhappy with what all we have but they are happy content with what is available to them.
And that can sometimes make us sad or emotional.
And yes there are many sad stories too (like you will feel pity for someone or sadness) but then again I will say the message behind them is worth all the sadness in the story.
You won't feel like you feel in stories with unhappy endings. Like heartbreaking and all ..
That's why I say light read ..
.
Well again that's how I view it. I don't have to explain but I can give you a heads up that all..
.
Her stories we should read from time to time. They make us aware of the reality. The people she meets while working for Infosys Foundation are all different and her experiences make us understand something about human life and human emotions.
Overall her books gets us close to Humanity.
.
Do read her books guys ..
.
This collection of stories has some 25 stories and all are unique in their own way ..
I read this in January and had also taken this pic but I forgot to post..
Today I saw that post about Narayan Murthy about when he was arrested and I remembered that I had read that one in this book.
Yes all stories are based in real life incidents.
You should try these, I will again say for light read.
Yes, This is light read for me.
Something to read in a couple of hours and more hrs if you want to think and ponder upon it.
And some will make you happy too..
Some will make you proud to be Indian..
Overall you will enjoy reading the collection, going through various feelings.
.
And all stories are real and simple writing style.
You will year for more of her works..
.
.
"Money is one thing which rarely unites and mostly divides people."
.
- Sudha Murthy, Old man and his God
.
Old man and his God is collection of relevant and heart touching short stories by our very own Sudha Murthy Ma'am.
.
Her stories are really good read when you are feeling down. It's not like every story is a happy story has a happy ending or every story is happy story. No it's not like that but the stories and the hidden message in the story will really boast your mood.
.
I once had argument with someone, the person said that 'her stories are not all feel good, many are sad and I cried in many of them' ...
I don't remember what I said then but what I would like to say is
That her stories make us feel how we have taken things for granted. By seeing the lives of poor people from tribal villages of Odisha we realise that we are unhappy with what all we have but they are happy content with what is available to them.
And that can sometimes make us sad or emotional.
And yes there are many sad stories too (like you will feel pity for someone or sadness) but then again I will say the message behind them is worth all the sadness in the story.
You won't feel like you feel in stories with unhappy endings. Like heartbreaking and all ..
That's why I say light read ..
.
Well again that's how I view it. I don't have to explain but I can give you a heads up that all..
.
Her stories we should read from time to time. They make us aware of the reality. The people she meets while working for Infosys Foundation are all different and her experiences make us understand something about human life and human emotions.
Overall her books gets us close to Humanity.
.
Do read her books guys ..
.
This collection of stories has some 25 stories and all are unique in their own way ..
I read this in January and had also taken this pic but I forgot to post..
Today I saw that post about Narayan Murthy about when he was arrested and I remembered that I had read that one in this book.
Yes all stories are based in real life incidents.
You should try these, I will again say for light read.
Yes, This is light read for me.
Something to read in a couple of hours and more hrs if you want to think and ponder upon it.
July 28, 2019
I am always enamoured by this lovely lady, Sudha Murty. If you're following me from a long time, you know I adore her and love reading her non fiction books which are about her experiences working for the Infosys foundation.
~
The stories in this book were an eclectic bunch and each had a moral and showed a different side of India.
As always, there are no fancy words and florid language used, it's simple and to the point. Experience teaches us much more in life and this is what exactly the book emphasizes about. I am constantly amazed at how different people are in this world, how different their thought processes and attitudes are in some crucial situations.
~
My favourite story has to be The business of philanthropy.
Read it once to read the slice of life stories.
4.5⭐
~
The stories in this book were an eclectic bunch and each had a moral and showed a different side of India.
As always, there are no fancy words and florid language used, it's simple and to the point. Experience teaches us much more in life and this is what exactly the book emphasizes about. I am constantly amazed at how different people are in this world, how different their thought processes and attitudes are in some crucial situations.
~
My favourite story has to be The business of philanthropy.
Read it once to read the slice of life stories.
4.5⭐
January 5, 2020
| Book Review | The Old Man And His God.
•
"When a doctor makes a mistake, a person goes six feet below the ground. When a judge makes a mistake, a person is hung six feet above the ground. But when a teacher makes a mistake, the entire batch of students is destroyed. Don’t ever look down on teachers." - Sudha Murty.
•
Sudha Murty has always been my absolute favourite and I have my reasons. Her stories are transparent and humble, just like her. Apart from being a stellar role model for lakhs of people all over the world, she is also a renowned author. It's a wonder how a book of simple words can create such a significant impact on the readers. I'd like to think that her very essence reflects off of these pages and it's comforting to know that in spite of being affluent, she never forgets her roots. This book of short stories is proof that through philanthropy and kindness, one can change the way we perceive the world.
•
The Old Man And His God comprises of twenty-five short stories, few of which I had already read. Considering how this is a book of non-fiction, it's amazing to realise how patient Sudha Murty is while dealing the problems of those around her. I always believed that her books can be used as moral boosters for people irrespective of their age. Her words are gentle as always but also authoritative. She narrates the problems that the modern world has been facing where compassion is no longer a part of people. She lists down examples of how people take advantage of kindness, how families get divided over petty issues and the burdens of being in a city. Her stories come associated with different people including her grandparents who were always kind and helpful.
•
Almost every story carries an important message and this is why I devour her books. She stresses on being grounded even after one becomes rich, to respect good deeds being carried out by others and always help others when there's potential. I finished this in two sittings just like any other book written by her and I highly recommend it to those who are looking for a powerful read. I couldn't be happier for choosing this as my second read of the year.
•
4.3/5.
•
"When a doctor makes a mistake, a person goes six feet below the ground. When a judge makes a mistake, a person is hung six feet above the ground. But when a teacher makes a mistake, the entire batch of students is destroyed. Don’t ever look down on teachers." - Sudha Murty.
•
Sudha Murty has always been my absolute favourite and I have my reasons. Her stories are transparent and humble, just like her. Apart from being a stellar role model for lakhs of people all over the world, she is also a renowned author. It's a wonder how a book of simple words can create such a significant impact on the readers. I'd like to think that her very essence reflects off of these pages and it's comforting to know that in spite of being affluent, she never forgets her roots. This book of short stories is proof that through philanthropy and kindness, one can change the way we perceive the world.
•
The Old Man And His God comprises of twenty-five short stories, few of which I had already read. Considering how this is a book of non-fiction, it's amazing to realise how patient Sudha Murty is while dealing the problems of those around her. I always believed that her books can be used as moral boosters for people irrespective of their age. Her words are gentle as always but also authoritative. She narrates the problems that the modern world has been facing where compassion is no longer a part of people. She lists down examples of how people take advantage of kindness, how families get divided over petty issues and the burdens of being in a city. Her stories come associated with different people including her grandparents who were always kind and helpful.
•
Almost every story carries an important message and this is why I devour her books. She stresses on being grounded even after one becomes rich, to respect good deeds being carried out by others and always help others when there's potential. I finished this in two sittings just like any other book written by her and I highly recommend it to those who are looking for a powerful read. I couldn't be happier for choosing this as my second read of the year.
•
4.3/5.
June 29, 2013
A straight away torture on my lacrimal glands. Manipulated text aimed to fondle my heartstrings. Too good a portrait of India and even better of herself and her Infosys foundation. Too much awwww moments in today's words. Sri Sri Sudha Murty deserves a statue for what she is doing.....mostly by her advertisement manuals also known as her short stories.
October 30, 2013
This book was a collection of many short stories related to Sudha Murty's life experience. Stories related to Friendship, sacrifices, love , marriage and lot more social aspects . I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
March 25, 2018
Read my first book penned by Sudha Murthy. She shares her perspective of incident, people she came across. In one story she play a role and in other she is observer of the incidents. Simple vocabulary. A feel good book.
April 15, 2015
There are stories that are nice. But on total, it is not a great book. One can live without reading it.
June 23, 2016
Genre: non-ficition.
◆ a collection of short stories and by short, it really means short. Like very.
◆ the writing is very simple and nothing too elaborate. Sudha Murty keeps it minimal.
◆ the stories are beautiful indeed and makes you smile after reading them. (At least of them)
◆ my favorites were: A tale of two brothers, made in heaven, the line of separation, mother's love and sweet hospitality.
◆ I enjoyed reading the book because the stories were so heartwarming and eye-opening at some places.
◆ Sudha Murty makes you appreciate the goodness in people and at the same time, she also tells you of the evil in them.
◆ all in all, it does make for a good read. One that you might read when you don't want to read anything.
◆ for anyone who wants to know about the people in India, I'd suggest to start with this one. It isn't "informative" per se but it might make you like us.
◆ would I read this again? - it's already the second that I'm reading it.
◆ a collection of short stories and by short, it really means short. Like very.
◆ the writing is very simple and nothing too elaborate. Sudha Murty keeps it minimal.
◆ the stories are beautiful indeed and makes you smile after reading them. (At least of them)
◆ my favorites were: A tale of two brothers, made in heaven, the line of separation, mother's love and sweet hospitality.
◆ I enjoyed reading the book because the stories were so heartwarming and eye-opening at some places.
◆ Sudha Murty makes you appreciate the goodness in people and at the same time, she also tells you of the evil in them.
◆ all in all, it does make for a good read. One that you might read when you don't want to read anything.
◆ for anyone who wants to know about the people in India, I'd suggest to start with this one. It isn't "informative" per se but it might make you like us.
◆ would I read this again? - it's already the second that I'm reading it.
September 14, 2015
Review @ A Lot of Pages: http://tiny.cc/pxuo1x
Simple stories from life told in a simple, direct and interesting manner. My favorite three from the book were, “The Old Man and his God”, “The Way You Look at It”, “A Tale of Two Brothers” and “The Deserving Candidate”. I’m not always in agreement with the views of Sudha Murty about her interpretations and such, but I feel that they are definitely worth reading.
Simple stories from life told in a simple, direct and interesting manner. My favorite three from the book were, “The Old Man and his God”, “The Way You Look at It”, “A Tale of Two Brothers” and “The Deserving Candidate”. I’m not always in agreement with the views of Sudha Murty about her interpretations and such, but I feel that they are definitely worth reading.
February 13, 2015
I remember I'd got this book as an award for being an avid reader (I was the nerd who read the maximum number of books in my school library that year. Proud moments ^_^)
So yeah this book is great because for me it's a reminder of good old times. Some books have memories attached to them so even though the stories in this one might not be that great, I loved every second of reading this.
So yeah this book is great because for me it's a reminder of good old times. Some books have memories attached to them so even though the stories in this one might not be that great, I loved every second of reading this.
August 27, 2021
Sometime it's hard to be a critique of literature when you admire the writer outside of the literary world. I have a great admiration for " Sudha Murthy in person, But I am half hearted to enjoy and pour infinite compliments on this work.
I refused to buy " Sudha Murthy" book in the bookstore because intuitively I felt it's not my cup of tea. Moreover, I had no heart to criticize a woman I admire.
After reading this work, I can say she is a far better writer than i expected her to be. However stories are simple and unimaginative to dwell on deeper thoughts. Writing style and compilation of story is for targeted audience, not for everyone. If you have read Bhyrappa, Kuvempu and karantha works, Enjoying this book would be extremely difficult. I am not saying the stories are poor, But they are not written for avid readers who want to expand their literature exploration.
I would give 3 stars to this book's content, Because it made me feel like I was sitting next to Sudha Murthy and listening to her life story like a small little child. And I added two more stars for the personality of Sudha Murthy.
She is a great human being not just a great woman.
I refused to buy " Sudha Murthy" book in the bookstore because intuitively I felt it's not my cup of tea. Moreover, I had no heart to criticize a woman I admire.
After reading this work, I can say she is a far better writer than i expected her to be. However stories are simple and unimaginative to dwell on deeper thoughts. Writing style and compilation of story is for targeted audience, not for everyone. If you have read Bhyrappa, Kuvempu and karantha works, Enjoying this book would be extremely difficult. I am not saying the stories are poor, But they are not written for avid readers who want to expand their literature exploration.
I would give 3 stars to this book's content, Because it made me feel like I was sitting next to Sudha Murthy and listening to her life story like a small little child. And I added two more stars for the personality of Sudha Murthy.
She is a great human being not just a great woman.
July 12, 2015
I love the short stories by Sudha Murthy - they're full of wisdom that's acquired only through experience and observations. This falls in the same category.
I admire the moral in each story - all of them are relatable and written in a lucid language.
I admire the moral in each story - all of them are relatable and written in a lucid language.
March 12, 2024
I've been procrastinating writing a review for this book for the past 20 days, but it's my first book of the 2024 season, so I knew I'd come around to it eventually. Sigh. Today becomes the fated day.
I'm at a loss for the right words to describe what I felt while jumping from one short story to another. Murthy's words scratched a part of my brain in the wrong way, and I haven't been able to shake off this impression since.
A couple of things before I move forward:
A. I'm not a fan of short stories glued together without a cohesive thread that keeps them flowing, one that possibly serves an ulterior purpose.
B. I like reading stories because they either make me learn something or feel something. I don't like forced takeaways.
I do love a neat parable. I'll give you that. The Old Man and His God is full of stories that open your eyes to a section of the world and their lives that you are otherwise blinded to. It's a good reminder of humility and gratitude. The book also ignited in me the desire to make it big and help others do so too.
I love the work that the Foundation does, and this book is a remarkable example of the same.
Where I felt the book fell a bit short was when two incidents seemed forcibly juxtaposed to churn out a moral that wasn't necessarily there, at some points the chronology of real-life events felt too aligned to be true, and when a tale of charity and care appeared to prioritize highlighting good deeds over conveying a sincere heartfelt experience.
This is the first time I'm critiquing an acclaimed novel, so I do have some hesitation about it. I would like to read other books by the author before making a generalized impression. However, I am not sure if I'd be doing that anytime soon. Alternatively, maybe I just wasn't the target audience.
Overall, a decent book with its share of ups and downs. 3.5/5
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Edit: It turns out this is my second read of the author. The first was The Magic of the Lost Temple. I've faint recollection of reading the book, start to finish, in an overnight train journey when I was a kid. I had given it three stars on Goodreads.
I'm at a loss for the right words to describe what I felt while jumping from one short story to another. Murthy's words scratched a part of my brain in the wrong way, and I haven't been able to shake off this impression since.
A couple of things before I move forward:
A. I'm not a fan of short stories glued together without a cohesive thread that keeps them flowing, one that possibly serves an ulterior purpose.
B. I like reading stories because they either make me learn something or feel something. I don't like forced takeaways.
I do love a neat parable. I'll give you that. The Old Man and His God is full of stories that open your eyes to a section of the world and their lives that you are otherwise blinded to. It's a good reminder of humility and gratitude. The book also ignited in me the desire to make it big and help others do so too.
I love the work that the Foundation does, and this book is a remarkable example of the same.
Where I felt the book fell a bit short was when two incidents seemed forcibly juxtaposed to churn out a moral that wasn't necessarily there, at some points the chronology of real-life events felt too aligned to be true, and when a tale of charity and care appeared to prioritize highlighting good deeds over conveying a sincere heartfelt experience.
This is the first time I'm critiquing an acclaimed novel, so I do have some hesitation about it. I would like to read other books by the author before making a generalized impression. However, I am not sure if I'd be doing that anytime soon. Alternatively, maybe I just wasn't the target audience.
Overall, a decent book with its share of ups and downs. 3.5/5
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Edit: It turns out this is my second read of the author. The first was The Magic of the Lost Temple. I've faint recollection of reading the book, start to finish, in an overnight train journey when I was a kid. I had given it three stars on Goodreads.
October 7, 2018
Somewhere between 2.5 to 3 stars
This was my second book by Sudha Murty.I have read Wise and Otherwise before this one and I pretty much enjoyed it; so when I was recommended this one, I was actually looking forward to read it.
Talking about the book, this one was also a collection of short stories which are nothing but the real life encounters, incidents and experiences of the author.The book had a total of 25 such small stories through which the author tries to give a moral in the end or shows the contrasting human behaviors. The first story itself is titled " The old man and his God" and I don't know why the same ends up being the name of the book exactly but anyway coming to the content, I didn't find it very engaging or interesting.Sometimes the stories seemed sort of repetitive with just a slight change in characters and set up. Also, most of them didn't add up anything and seemed nothing more than someone's personal experience they casually narrate.
The writing was also a bit mediocre in my opinion. I mean I totally understand these are real incidents but I also believe that if one decides to make a book out of it, it should be done in a more creative and literally sophisticated way with due attention to vocabulary and diction otherwise what's the point.
I would say I definitely enjoyed some stories like, Freedom of Speech, Friends Forever, Sweet Hospitality, Two faces of poverty as they were more relatable, showed the context well, and also had a good message attached to it unlike many others. Honestly, sometimes I felt that I have heard better life experiences, incidents from my parents, grandparents other people or sometimes had a personal experience which seemed more profound than what this book offered.
Summing it all up, the book definitely didn't impress me. I would have still ignored the writing to an extent if the stories were satisfactory enough. This is more for budding readers who are still trying to develop their reading habits ( just a personal opinion).But even to them and others or to people who wish to try their hands on any book by the author,I would recommend 'Wise and Otherwise' than this as it was far better and more insightful. Otherwise just interact with people around you and listen to their stories :)
This was my second book by Sudha Murty.I have read Wise and Otherwise before this one and I pretty much enjoyed it; so when I was recommended this one, I was actually looking forward to read it.
Talking about the book, this one was also a collection of short stories which are nothing but the real life encounters, incidents and experiences of the author.The book had a total of 25 such small stories through which the author tries to give a moral in the end or shows the contrasting human behaviors. The first story itself is titled " The old man and his God" and I don't know why the same ends up being the name of the book exactly but anyway coming to the content, I didn't find it very engaging or interesting.Sometimes the stories seemed sort of repetitive with just a slight change in characters and set up. Also, most of them didn't add up anything and seemed nothing more than someone's personal experience they casually narrate.
The writing was also a bit mediocre in my opinion. I mean I totally understand these are real incidents but I also believe that if one decides to make a book out of it, it should be done in a more creative and literally sophisticated way with due attention to vocabulary and diction otherwise what's the point.
I would say I definitely enjoyed some stories like, Freedom of Speech, Friends Forever, Sweet Hospitality, Two faces of poverty as they were more relatable, showed the context well, and also had a good message attached to it unlike many others. Honestly, sometimes I felt that I have heard better life experiences, incidents from my parents, grandparents other people or sometimes had a personal experience which seemed more profound than what this book offered.
Summing it all up, the book definitely didn't impress me. I would have still ignored the writing to an extent if the stories were satisfactory enough. This is more for budding readers who are still trying to develop their reading habits ( just a personal opinion).But even to them and others or to people who wish to try their hands on any book by the author,I would recommend 'Wise and Otherwise' than this as it was far better and more insightful. Otherwise just interact with people around you and listen to their stories :)
February 21, 2021
Of late, I have been feeling guilty whenever I read. I should be working instead, I think. But today, the library in my apartment complex had opened up finally, and I was excited. There is an old world charm to libraries that I will never outgrow, and having one right where you live is such a privilege. I couldn't resist borrowing a book. Yet, the voice of guilt in my head was loud, and finally I settled upon this book, primarily because it was a hundred odd pages, and would take me a little more than an hour to read.
This was my evening read, and there was a simplicity in these pages that I greatly appreciated. In today's era where luxury is sought after, simplicity appears rather quaint and austere. But Sudha is undoubtedly a believer and a follower, and there is a sense of truth and honesty that comes into the narration as a result. Stories from a humane human being. Worth a read.
This was my evening read, and there was a simplicity in these pages that I greatly appreciated. In today's era where luxury is sought after, simplicity appears rather quaint and austere. But Sudha is undoubtedly a believer and a follower, and there is a sense of truth and honesty that comes into the narration as a result. Stories from a humane human being. Worth a read.
March 1, 2021
Completed another Gem of a book by Sudha Amma “The Old man and His God”, a book of collection of Interaction Sudha amma had with many people in the course of life. Sudha amma is like huge ocean who has touched interacted and blessed so many downtrodden people and in this book, Sudha amma and penguin have chosen few of the interactions and presented to the world to read, are all the interaction good and fair, no it's not, there are all kind incidents in this book which teaches us lessons of life to be followed, there are people like Ajji, seeethakka, and leelamma who selfless efforts make us humble and there are people like the selfish father of cancer child who tried make a profit of his child’s health condition or that ungrateful towel selling boy who demands more, and the ideological reality faced by Narayan Murthy where ideology became supreme than common sense that was really a good incident explained in the book.
Like this, there are many more incidents in this book to read by all generations to boost our morality and make us more empathetic towards poor and downtrodden people.
Highly recommend this book.
Like this, there are many more incidents in this book to read by all generations to boost our morality and make us more empathetic towards poor and downtrodden people.
Highly recommend this book.
December 21, 2020
I get goosebumps when I finish a Murty short story. I don’t understand how Murty manages to interlace so much impact and emotion in a story that is hardly 3-4 pages long. I feel unhappy when I approach the end of a Murty book because it is so hopeful and inspirational that to instantly detach from it and continue with the mundanities of life is a difficult task.
“The Old Man and his God” is an anthology of some thought-provoking real-life incidents and anecdotes from Murty’s own travel and life adventures that capsulize the spirit of being an Indian. Being associated with the field of philanthropy brings Murty face to face with a myriad of people from different walks of life, all of whom have a story to tell and an experience to share. Murty embosoms stories from all parts of the nation and includes stories that touch upon important incidents such as Partition and the 2004 tsunami.
These incidents introduced her to a variety of human emotions, ranging from compassion, nostalgia, selfishness, kindness, compromise, greed, rebellion, contentment, companionship and friendship. All the stories are nothing short of awe-inspiring and heart-touching. I can guarantee that every story will either cause your eyes to well up or leave a broad smile on your face.
Her books are addictive, you cannot stop reading her work once you start loving it. Her stories will grow upon you and you will keep clinging onto them for some bouts of happiness and hope. They truly are therapeutic and vitalizing. You cannot miss this one and all of her books!
“The Old Man and his God” is an anthology of some thought-provoking real-life incidents and anecdotes from Murty’s own travel and life adventures that capsulize the spirit of being an Indian. Being associated with the field of philanthropy brings Murty face to face with a myriad of people from different walks of life, all of whom have a story to tell and an experience to share. Murty embosoms stories from all parts of the nation and includes stories that touch upon important incidents such as Partition and the 2004 tsunami.
These incidents introduced her to a variety of human emotions, ranging from compassion, nostalgia, selfishness, kindness, compromise, greed, rebellion, contentment, companionship and friendship. All the stories are nothing short of awe-inspiring and heart-touching. I can guarantee that every story will either cause your eyes to well up or leave a broad smile on your face.
Her books are addictive, you cannot stop reading her work once you start loving it. Her stories will grow upon you and you will keep clinging onto them for some bouts of happiness and hope. They truly are therapeutic and vitalizing. You cannot miss this one and all of her books!
June 21, 2014
For detailed book-review, see my blog : http://miles_to_go.quora.com/Book-Rev...
From love to hatred and business to philanthropy, from freedom to injustice and selflessness to jealousy, from friendship to tragedy and spirituality to poverty ; every story of this book manifests a facet of human-life.
The Old Man And His God is a collection of short 25 real-life stories. During her career life and as a social worker, Sudha Murthy, meets several people with different backgrounds. Several small incidents of day-to-day life teach Sudha Murthy lots of subtle things which she has whole-heartedly shared with her readers.
What I really loved about the book is the sheer honesty with which the author describes every incident in the book. There is no beating about the bush ; all the details as-is. This helps the reader to spontaneously connect with the stories, as if they took place in their presence.
The language of the book is extremely simple & free-flowing, yet fascinating. Kudos to Sudha Murthy for striking such a wonderful balance, which makes this book a readable one for anyone between the age 8-80.
It is indeed a take-away from this book, that how by being a little more observant, one can learn the gems of life even from trivial incidents.
From love to hatred and business to philanthropy, from freedom to injustice and selflessness to jealousy, from friendship to tragedy and spirituality to poverty ; every story of this book manifests a facet of human-life.
The Old Man And His God is a collection of short 25 real-life stories. During her career life and as a social worker, Sudha Murthy, meets several people with different backgrounds. Several small incidents of day-to-day life teach Sudha Murthy lots of subtle things which she has whole-heartedly shared with her readers.
What I really loved about the book is the sheer honesty with which the author describes every incident in the book. There is no beating about the bush ; all the details as-is. This helps the reader to spontaneously connect with the stories, as if they took place in their presence.
The language of the book is extremely simple & free-flowing, yet fascinating. Kudos to Sudha Murthy for striking such a wonderful balance, which makes this book a readable one for anyone between the age 8-80.
It is indeed a take-away from this book, that how by being a little more observant, one can learn the gems of life even from trivial incidents.
May 20, 2014
The Old Man and His God - A book by Sudha Murthy is a coalesce of her life instances depicting various human natures and her philanthrophic experiences.The author is an active memeber of Infosys foundation.This workpiece is emotional as well as motivational.From the many experiences of author there is at least one experience which the reader can relate to his life.
The book begins with the story of a poor couple residing in s village temple and the author visits them accidently. There conversation made the author realize that they were contended with what they had and hence they denied the help offered by at.Some of the other stories in the book includes a lady unhappy with her work,a maid striving to earn money for her daughter's education,a cunning father exploiting his son,a NRI visiting India for happiness and ends up gaining more stress and many more.
The book includes human nature in natural calamities like tsunami and how the author dealt with it.
This book is nice read on a casual holiday.It helps in realization of peace in small things and will make you love your life.Light vocabulary makes it an easy read.Go for it.!
The book begins with the story of a poor couple residing in s village temple and the author visits them accidently. There conversation made the author realize that they were contended with what they had and hence they denied the help offered by at.Some of the other stories in the book includes a lady unhappy with her work,a maid striving to earn money for her daughter's education,a cunning father exploiting his son,a NRI visiting India for happiness and ends up gaining more stress and many more.
The book includes human nature in natural calamities like tsunami and how the author dealt with it.
This book is nice read on a casual holiday.It helps in realization of peace in small things and will make you love your life.Light vocabulary makes it an easy read.Go for it.!
June 5, 2012
It was a lovely and heartwarming read. I loved it much much more than Sudha Murty's fiction novels. These are tiny, thought provoking, real life stories of people she encounter in her personal as well as public life. Each story/incident taught me something - the selfishness vs. selflessness of people, good natured deeds done without any expectations, sorrow and plight of ordinary people etc. It is a must read for everyone who likes incidents from real life.
May 23, 2017
A simple yet powerful compilation of short stories.Each story is different in its own way yet conveys a universal message.This book portrays a true picture of India, both city and village life.It shows the true character of people whom Sudha Murty has encountered in the course of her life.The selflessness and selfishness, compassion and cruelty, knowledge and ignorance all are shown distinctly.
A must read for everyone.
A must read for everyone.
August 25, 2015
In “The Old Man and His God” she reflects upon various instances, chance meetings and experiences which she came across during the course of her life. And just as the blurb claims, the book is a mix bag of stories collected from a lifetime of experiences which delves upon the various..
Read the full review here - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/non-f...
Read the full review here - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/non-f...
January 29, 2011
A book that explains the truth of our very world.Sudha murty has written it in such a way that it can capture the minds of youths,especially indians.It explains a true human,a person with generosity,happiness,selfishness,disappointments,achievements and strugle.
April 22, 2012
My first read of Sudha Murty. Certainly a good read. Some of the short stories are heart touching such as The business of philanthropy, Mother's love, The line of separation and the title story The old man & his God.
March 26, 2013
Another slice-of-the-life read by Sudha Murty...just love her style of reading...all the stories are straight from the heart and can be easily related to...she definitely is one of my top-authors! 2 of her books are pending and can't stop to start reading them!
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