Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

I’d Rather Read: Your Favourite Authors on their Favourite Books

Rate this book
Books areike best friends— always there for you when you need them. And it’ s not just you; Your favourite authors also feel the same way. In this collection, find out which are the books that inspired Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; what is Ruskin Bond’ s favourite book series; Subhadra Sen Gupta’ s favourite reading spots and how Sudha Murty’ songstanding relationship withibraries continues to this day. Plus, Roopa Pai talks about herove for Enid Blyton, Jash Sen narrates how reading detective fiction in a spooky old house only added to the fun, Arundhati Venkatesh reminisces about her childhood spent in the company of books and Anita Nair fondly describes the ‘ place of enchantment’ a book provided her. Plus, there are more delightful anecdotes by Satyajit Ray, Tanu Shree Singh, Jerry Pinto, Nilanjana Roy and Deepa Agarwal. Brimming with nostalgia and aove for books, I’ d Rather Read will make you fall inove with the written word all over again.

120 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2016

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

141 books1,902 followers
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam (Tamil: அவுல் பகீர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் அப்துல் கலாம்) usually referred to as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was one of India's most distinguished scientists. He was an Aerospace engineer, professor, and chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. During his term as President, he was popularly known as the People's President.

Before his term as India's president, he worked as an aeronautical engineer with DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). He was responsible for the development of India's first satellite launch vehicle,the SLV-3 He is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on development of ballistic missile and space rocket technology. Kalam played a pivotal organisational, technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.

He has the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from thirty universities and the country's three highest civilian honours - Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and Bharat Ratna (1997).

Former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who became popular as ‘People’s President’, passed away on July 27th, 2015 at the age of 83 in Shillong, India.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
17 (36%)
4 stars
20 (43%)
3 stars
8 (17%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Tarinee.
92 reviews
February 18, 2017
“Before I fell in love with books ,I was in love with pictures .pictures of books ,pictures in books "

This book is a collection of stories of some famous authors on how they started reading ,and what they have loved reading the most .some found their favorite books in school libraries ,others found them in old forgotten bookshelves .some went away to misty hill stations and discovered ghost stories and adventure stories there.others retreated under the bed to take refuge from pesky cousins and read there in peace with a kindly grandmother standing guard

I loved the one written by Subhadra Sen Gupta the most "Hills,Bus Stop and Under the Quilt " .others are also good but I would have loved to know their current favorite books apart from the ones from their childhood .I was also expecting more from Jerry Pinto other than that poem "I'd rather read"

contributing Authors :
Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam ,Subhadra Sen Gupta,Sudha Murty,Jerry Pinto,Anita Nair,Roopa pai,Jash Sen,Ruskin Bond,Andaleed Wajid,Dr. Tanushree Singh ,Nilanjana Roy ,Satyajit Ray,Arundhati venkatesh,Deepa Agrawal :)
Profile Image for Aruna Kumar Gadepalli.
3,053 reviews123 followers
November 23, 2016
This book is a collection of authors on their favorite books including the how they started enjoy reading, how they got to start the habit of reading etc. The authors include - Abdul Kalam, Subhadra Sen Gupta, Sudha Murty, Jerry Pinto, Anita Nair, Roopa Pai, Jash Sen, Ruskin Bond, Andaleeb Wajid, Tanu Shree Singh, Nilanjana Ray, Arundhati Venkatesh and Deepa Agarwal.
Profile Image for Rakhi.
Author 2 books98 followers
January 18, 2017
Have you been tagged as a bookworm when you were a child? Did you venture a reading spree under the blanket with the help of a torch? Did the libraries seem inadequate for your hunger for books? If yes, then this book will excite you. The book witnesses the childhood reading adventures of authors and personalities whom you looked up to.
Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shares his experience with S.T.R Manickam who helped the reader blossom in his heart. He shares some suggestions to develop a reading environment. We can also get to see the selection of books our former president cherished as a child. Subhadra Sen Gupta shares a quirky anecdote of his surreptitious reading venture with the help of his Didima and Thakuma. Sudha Murthy tells us about the inspiration that ended up in donating books for ten thousand libraries.A poem "I'd rather read" by Jerry Pinto is the highlight of the book. Anita Nair's relation with Ballantyne's Coral Island is lucid and enchanting. Rupp Rai tells us about her obsession for Enid Blyton and an explanation about the sexist, racist,elitist criticism faced by the authoress. Jadh Sen shares the reading experiences of books which enlightened him at each age. Ruskin Bond, Andaleeb Wajid, Tanu Sree Singh, Nilanjana Roy, Satyajith Ray and Deepa Agarwal also shares their journey of books.

The book tells us not to be flustered if someone calls you bookish since the book gives numerous examples of writers who lived, breathed and dreamt books. The book will be a huge inspiration in reviving the dying habit of reading. But Ruskin Bond says that reading habit is not dying. It was always a rare habit even during the times when there were lesser distractions.

If you have a childhood full of books, don't fail to grab a copy. If you want to be an avid reader, don't fail to grab a copy. If you are an avid reader, don't fail to grab a copy.


Reviewed for the publisher
Profile Image for Uma.
94 reviews18 followers
November 3, 2016
Was an interesting view of how writers read. Was a little disappointed with the Jerry Pinto one... Would have loved a more elaborate insight into his love for books and what he read - though the poem brought out his passion for reading...

In the same genre - I think Veena Venugopal's "Would you like some bread with that book" is a better book which explores the different aspects of reading.
186 reviews7 followers
January 27, 2017
The sub-title is slightly misleading in that not every author is talking about his/her favourite book(s). Most of the authors are talking about the joys of reading.
Hopefully it will help the gadget-obsessed generation of today to find the same joy in the printed word.
An enjoyable little book.
Profile Image for Sia.
235 reviews6 followers
July 19, 2021
Again! One of the finest books that I have read which is a short recollections of finest writers of India on how their love for reading started and some of their favourite books. It’s just amazing to read how they started reading in their own words.
Profile Image for Shikha Pakhide.
41 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2016
If you would like to know what exactly consists in a bookworm’s world, pick up this book. And if you want to coax somebody to pick up reading, gift them this book.
Profile Image for Anil Kumar.
74 reviews5 followers
July 27, 2020
Some memories , some childhood, some funny habits about reading, and many more
Authors and their books ....
Loved it
Profile Image for Avinash Matta.
Author 1 book10 followers
March 30, 2021
Fell in love with reading all over again as I disocvered personal journeys of popular authors on their experiences with reading.
Profile Image for Saksham  Sharma.
1 review1 follower
May 26, 2021
Love it.♥

Reading this book felt like talking to someone who is as passionate about as you are. Highly recommend to anyone who love reading and passionate about books.
12 reviews
August 6, 2022
Nice Collection of Writer's journeys.

Beautifully captured the journeys of various well-known authors of India. A must read for all budding writers to keep their own writing journey alive.
74 reviews1 follower
October 4, 2020
A book is a dream that you hold in your hand .
Some contemporary authors of India writs about books which made an impact on them.
1 review
January 9, 2022
A simple and sweet read for all book lovers.
I found it interesting to know about how my favorite writers had caught the bug of reading.
10 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2022
Good sharing

Good experiences shared including childhood stories and it gives new light to our own memories .short but good book
to read
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews