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Doing the Right Thing: Learnings from Ratan Tata | Leadership, Life Lessons and Vision | By the Bestselling Author of Tata Log and #Tatastories, Harish Bhat
Ratan Tata was an iconic leader who shaped the Indian industry. He inspired an entire generation. When he passed away in 2024, millions of Indians felt a sense of deep personal loss.
In this unique and engaging book, Harish Bhat, bestselling author and a Tata veteran, explores what lay at the heart of Ratan Tata’s extraordinary leadership. His steadfast desire to always ‘do the right thing’ appears to have shaped his thinking and actions. But what exactly does this mean?
In these pages, through inspiring real-life stories drawn from Ratan Tata’s long career, this strong belief comes to life vividly. Why did he decide to create the Tata Indica? Why did he ‘A promise is a promise’? What led him to walk away from a large business opportunity for Tata Chemicals? Why did he telephone the managing director of Tata Steel a second time? How did he ensure fairness to everyone during a process of divestment? Why and how did he lead the fight against cancer? How did he respond to the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai?
This book is full of such fascinating and many untold Ratan Tata stories. Through these compelling narratives and the lessons they hold, this powerful book will guide you towards ‘doing the right thing’ in your own life.
In this unique and engaging book, Harish Bhat, bestselling author and a Tata veteran, explores what lay at the heart of Ratan Tata’s extraordinary leadership. His steadfast desire to always ‘do the right thing’ appears to have shaped his thinking and actions. But what exactly does this mean?
In these pages, through inspiring real-life stories drawn from Ratan Tata’s long career, this strong belief comes to life vividly. Why did he decide to create the Tata Indica? Why did he ‘A promise is a promise’? What led him to walk away from a large business opportunity for Tata Chemicals? Why did he telephone the managing director of Tata Steel a second time? How did he ensure fairness to everyone during a process of divestment? Why and how did he lead the fight against cancer? How did he respond to the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai?
This book is full of such fascinating and many untold Ratan Tata stories. Through these compelling narratives and the lessons they hold, this powerful book will guide you towards ‘doing the right thing’ in your own life.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
9 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 10, 2026
Book Review – Doing the Right Thing by Harish Bhat
The book reads almost like a biography, but instead of being a continuous life story, it compiles different incidents and moments from the life of Ratan Tata.
What shines the most in this book is that it does not directly tell you what to do. Instead, it simply shows what was done by Ratan Tata in different situations and quietly asks the reader to follow those values in their own capacity. The height and status at which Ratan Tata lived were humongous, and we already knew that. But this book provides an internal view of him and his personality. It allows a common reader to understand his way of thinking and his approach to decision-making.
There are many things to learn from his life, and following even a few of them can take anyone a mile ahead in their own journey. Everyone cannot become the chairman of Tata, but what we can become is someone who is good at heart. That is what Ratan Tata seems to have lived by throughout his life, and the book presents that idea beautifully.
While reading the book, I could feel it slowly working on me in my day-to-day thinking. At times, I noticed my subconscious mind trying to think in ways a Tata might think — with humility, grace, dignity, and a sense of groundedness.
Towards the end, the book becomes slightly overwhelming as many incidents are narrated together. A few of them also start to feel a bit repetitive. The author could perhaps have structured those sections differently to make the reading flow smoother.
Overall, it was a good read and leaves a strong impression of Ratan Tata as a person. It is also the kind of book one can return to, revisiting some of these stories whenever life feels confusing or discouraging.
The book reads almost like a biography, but instead of being a continuous life story, it compiles different incidents and moments from the life of Ratan Tata.
What shines the most in this book is that it does not directly tell you what to do. Instead, it simply shows what was done by Ratan Tata in different situations and quietly asks the reader to follow those values in their own capacity. The height and status at which Ratan Tata lived were humongous, and we already knew that. But this book provides an internal view of him and his personality. It allows a common reader to understand his way of thinking and his approach to decision-making.
There are many things to learn from his life, and following even a few of them can take anyone a mile ahead in their own journey. Everyone cannot become the chairman of Tata, but what we can become is someone who is good at heart. That is what Ratan Tata seems to have lived by throughout his life, and the book presents that idea beautifully.
While reading the book, I could feel it slowly working on me in my day-to-day thinking. At times, I noticed my subconscious mind trying to think in ways a Tata might think — with humility, grace, dignity, and a sense of groundedness.
Towards the end, the book becomes slightly overwhelming as many incidents are narrated together. A few of them also start to feel a bit repetitive. The author could perhaps have structured those sections differently to make the reading flow smoother.
Overall, it was a good read and leaves a strong impression of Ratan Tata as a person. It is also the kind of book one can return to, revisiting some of these stories whenever life feels confusing or discouraging.
February 17, 2026
Doing the Right Thing offers a powerful glimpse into the life, values, and leadership philosophy of one of India’s most respected industrialists, Ratan Tata.
The book beautifully captures anecdotes from his journey moments that reflect his unwavering dedication, humility, resilience, and his deep-rooted belief in ethics over expediency. What stands out most is not just his professional success, but the grace with which he handled challenges, criticism, and setbacks.
His quiet determination to fulfill long-held dreams, while staying grounded, makes this an inspiring read. While I truly appreciated the insights into his life and leadership mindset, I did feel that at times the book leaned heavily into references around work and corporate details. In certain sections, this slightly affected the narrative flow and emotional grip of the book.
That said, it remains a fabulous and insightful read — especially for anyone looking to understand principled leadership and draw inspiration from a man who consistently chose integrity over shortcuts.
A meaningful book about doing the right thing even when it isn’t the easiest thing.
The book beautifully captures anecdotes from his journey moments that reflect his unwavering dedication, humility, resilience, and his deep-rooted belief in ethics over expediency. What stands out most is not just his professional success, but the grace with which he handled challenges, criticism, and setbacks.
His quiet determination to fulfill long-held dreams, while staying grounded, makes this an inspiring read. While I truly appreciated the insights into his life and leadership mindset, I did feel that at times the book leaned heavily into references around work and corporate details. In certain sections, this slightly affected the narrative flow and emotional grip of the book.
That said, it remains a fabulous and insightful read — especially for anyone looking to understand principled leadership and draw inspiration from a man who consistently chose integrity over shortcuts.
A meaningful book about doing the right thing even when it isn’t the easiest thing.
January 4, 2026
Doing the Right Thing is an insightful book that draws meaningful lessons from the life and leadership of Sir Ratan Tata. Through engaging case studies, it highlights his innate ability to consistently choose what is ethical and principled, even in challenging situations.
Sir Ratan Tata has inspired generations, and the book captures valuable learnings from his experiences that can be applied to both personal and professional life. In my humble opinion, the writing could have been a bit crisper at times. While I understand the author’s choice to maintain a high-level narrative—given that much of the information is publicly available—a more concise approach might have enhanced the impact.
Overall, it is an inspiring and worthwhile read on the enduring importance of doing the right thing.
Sir Ratan Tata has inspired generations, and the book captures valuable learnings from his experiences that can be applied to both personal and professional life. In my humble opinion, the writing could have been a bit crisper at times. While I understand the author’s choice to maintain a high-level narrative—given that much of the information is publicly available—a more concise approach might have enhanced the impact.
Overall, it is an inspiring and worthwhile read on the enduring importance of doing the right thing.
January 30, 2026
It is truly a powerful portrayal of a great personality. There is no single fixed way to live life — but there are definite principles by which life can be meaningfully lived and honored. Those principles are what we learn from a visionary like Ratan Tata — humility with strength, success with values, and leadership with compassion.
Indeed, India is truly blessed that such a noble son was born on its soil, whose life continues to inspire generations to think beyond themselves and serve a greater purpose.
Indeed, India is truly blessed that such a noble son was born on its soil, whose life continues to inspire generations to think beyond themselves and serve a greater purpose.
January 11, 2026
a good book on Ratan Tata and his principles that the author has captured through 5 key themes. interesting natation of anecdotes during the lifetime of Ratan Tata from unification and deployment of Code of conduct to the holding of respect and care in his final days.
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February 5, 2026I had high expectations from this book with the picture of Mr. Tata. But the book was deceiving. No interaction was there of him, but just few conversations overheard or narrated by somone. Highly disappointed.
February 19, 2026
great stories of the great man, Ratan Tata Sir
you will learn how businesses are built beyond strategies and profits only
you will learn how businesses are built beyond strategies and profits only
December 27, 2025
Amazing to learn from Masters… 👍
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews