The Big Switch: It's never too late

by John Thomas

What does a 24-year-old man want in life?

Love?

A decent job?

Keith has both. He is a software engineer at a reputable company and has a girlfriend whom he loves a lot.

Yet, there is something missing in his life. He is not even close to being happy.

Only after losing his girlfriend, he realizes what the reason for his unhappiness is.

He realizes that he is caught up in the wrong career.

With time running out, he knows that he must switch to a new career — one that makes him happy.

But, is 24 too late to do that? Is he making a mistake?

Find out as Keith follows his heart in pursuit of an impossible-looking dream.

Genres: Fiction, Indian Literature

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2017

Reviews

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has made it big didn't know how they were going to doing it. They just knew one thing - they had to do it.

The Big Switch is a story of chasing your dreams and never giving up. It's a story of living life on your terms and doing what you love the most.

Keith is a software engineer caught in a dead end job he doesn’t enjoy, a career he sees no future in. The passion & zeal for anything is missing in his life. He is not happy even in his personal life. After much heartbreaks & soul searching, he realizes that he is caught up in the wrong career. With time running out, he knows that he must switch to a new career — one that makes him happy. Will he able to achieve his dream? Will he able to find the happiness he is looking for?

Keith’s story is what many may have experienced in their own lives. Most of us have sacrificed some dream in life and hence the mental dilemma which Keith faces will resonate with the readers. The simplicity & innocence of the story will make you enjoy it even more while reading. The story is fast paced and has many twists & turns, some expected and some unexpected. Some characters could have been given more space than the others, the romantic track felt unnecessary & the conversations between the characters could been more informal. But, overall the book gives a positive message, without being too preachy or a being a self-help book. As you read on, you start identifying with the Keith, his struggles and the book leaves you with a positive feeling in the end. Overall, it’s a good fast paced read which will you inspire you and give you a lot of hope, something rare in today’s world.

The author, John Thomas, provided me with an eBook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings when I have got this book. It was highly praised book looking by reviews. Though fictional, it was a story of an IT guy and that's why I was bit hesitant. Still, I started this book, and I really liked the was story progressed.

The protagonist of our story is Keith. Being a solely responsible guy for his family economic responsibility he was giving his 100% in his current IT job. Captured between insensible boss and over-expectant girlfriend his life had become frustrating, boring & monotonous. His frustration crossed limits when his annual appraisal & girlfriend both dumped him. In the mix of leaving the company or doing something else, he got chance to work with a new manager for the duration of 2 weeks. And that was all he could have asked of the God. His life got new direction after meeting that guy. I don't want to reveal more information. So do check the book for the same.

Talking about writing style, I was finding book "okay-okay" in first few chapters. Maybe I have worked in IT industry, where I have seen a similar situation in the day-to-day. Maybe for the people from other industry/mindset find it more interesting. Having said that story takes an interesting turn once Keith meth new manager, Ramesh. Their conversation was having inspirational material. Every few pages you can find a life-changing quote or line. I have shared more than 10 such wonderful line on Twitter while reading the book.

Talking about characterization, the author has used optimized detailing to create them. You won't find too much use of words to explain or describe a thing. The storyline was also to the point. The pace was medium to fast, appropriate for the genre.

Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2018/02...
Author Interview Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2018/02...

[Alok Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It could well be an average fiction but the theme and the conflict that the author has initiated in the narrative make it a good novel for the youths who will surely find themselves somewhere in the novel. The obstacles faced by Keith are the obstacles which almost every person beginning the corporate career faces. The drawbacks of the book are there and I will say that the single-dominance of the character, the central protagonist, in this case, is a little boredom at times when you have to read his monologues. Otherwise, the novel is super and well-written and a sort of humane motivational work!

[Aakanksha Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have dreams, but only a few have the courage to endure them. The Big Switch by John Thomas is all about hope and dreams. It's the author's debut book. The cover page and title make sense after a certain point in the story. I really like the idea of a man walking on the rope. It portrays the main lead's lifestyle in a suitable manner.

Plot - The male protagonist Keith is 24 years old lives in Mumbai. He's a software engineer and a corporate slave; works late night without any job satisfaction, only to fulfill his duties towards his family. His life changed when his girlfriend Maya left him and, he met Ramesh in Bangalore for work purpose. They two soon create a bond, and Ramesh's positive attitude affects Keith so much that he starts believing in his dreams. Keith tries football but somehow ends up with writing. The story revolves around Keith's transformation into a more sophisticated and enthusiastic person.

Read the full review here - https://www.bookscharming.com/2019/05...

[Amit Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading some of the novels that feature career issues as the core themes. Authors like Chetan Bhagat also do the same but there the core is removed from the core itself and the new kind of theory installed in the middle and the career issues take the back seat and somewhere the readers are insinuated to concentrate on an altogether kind of geography which we all know what that is. But here, John writes a different kind of story which does not derail itself and remains focused on the professional dilemma of Keith. aND thus, The big switch is all about career and the career problems. You must read this novel.

[Saman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, John Thomas, provided me with an eBook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

"Remember this- you get to choose what you want to be. You alone. No one else. Others might find your dreams to be far-fetched and stupid. But that's alright. You must follow your heart irrespective of what other's think."

Keith Kurien works at H&G Mumbai. Being solely responsible for financially supporting his family, he works hard in his job in IT sector. He even works extra hours regularly to earn a high percentage of annual appraisal. He had planned to go watch a movie with his girlfriend, Maya but unfortunately, his manager, Mathur entrusts him with an unplanned work. Having required completing the task on the same day, he cancelled his plan and eventually Maya dumps him. He receives a poor appraisal at work. He miserably fails to maintain a balance between his professional and personal life. He is no longer interested in his work when he gets a new opportunity to work on a new project in Bangalore. His new and temporary manager, Ramesh encourages him to follow his heart to fulfil his dream.

I find self-help books cliché with the same advice of ‘following your heart'. It's easier said than done. I gave this book four-stars rating for this reason and also some conversations between characters had me rolling my eyes.

The author has included some small and regular aspects of life which I've never read in a book before.

"The message looked good to go. Keith sighed, closed his eyes and pressed the send button. A second later, a rupee got deducted from his prepaid balance. The message was delivered."

Football and cricket, though a team game is totally different. And it's not only in terms of rules. I think it's obvious. The difference between cricket and football however vivid, I never realized it until I read it.

"It's quite different from cricket. It is a team game. Yes, cricket is also a team game. But at a given moment, there is only one person bowling or batting. But football is so different. Every player is involved throughout the game. I just love that about football." 

A simple rule, to find a solution to our problems, we need to ask ourselves a positive question and not a negative one.

"So I need to ask myself positive questions. But I can't think of any. How do I start?"

I found the writing style simple and less detailed yet beautiful and impactful. 

"Some memories live forever. Fighting the steady and strong flow of time, they remain etched in our hearts."

The story hit me hard and kept me hooked, fluctuating between medium and fast pace. Self-help books are usually predictable ending with the protagonist achieving his/her goal. And, thus the authors tend to deviate from the original plot and readers are left to read a monotonous guide to follow their heart. This was the only self-help book I've read and enjoyed after ‘The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho. It only seems fitting when Ramesh gifted The Alchemist to Keith when he was about to quit the pursuit of his dream.

I won't say the story ends with a twist because probably many of you would guess it. So did I. But surely it was an inspirational read. I enjoyed the book thoroughly. And if you're facing career issue and looking for a genuine self-help book, I highly recommend this book.

"Life isn't fair always. All we can do is take such instances with a pinch of salt."

[Rohit Enghakat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is pretty simple and uninteresting. I expected too much when I read the blurb and had high expectations.

The book is about an engineer who is bored of his humdrum corporate life and wants to follow his passion. During the course of the story he loses his love, falls in love again, quits his job, finds his passion and finally success.

Here the protagonist, Keith, is bored of his job due to a bad manager and bad appraisals. One day he goes to see a cricket match - the 2011 World Cup Final. He is inspired by his cricketing idols and gets the BIG CALL. Now he is in a dilemma whether to pursue cricket or football. Somebody with a passion would know where his interests lie and what he would like to do in future. So he mulls over and makes a choice to play football. I mean, c'mon, he doesn't know what his passion is at age 24 ? And surprisingly when he realises that he wants to play football, he doesn't know the rules of the game ! I mean how many people have a hobby or a passion which they want to pursue but doesn't know the basics. Moreover, it is hard to believe that somebody from Kerala which is a football crazy state, unlike other states in India, doesn't know football ! Inspired by his colleague, Ramesh Singh, who has become a programmer after spending a few years as an accountant (I am wondering how a person with a bachelor's degree can be inducted into a firm as a chartered accountant !), he embarks on self-discovery road. Halfway through the book, Keith decides that he needs to quit his job and pursue football full time but to keep earning a steady income, he needs to find another job. And voila ! He decides to become a writer ! Now this is a truly incredible story.

The book holds interest for the first five chapters. Then it starts dragging and later it becomes predictable and uninteresting. The dialogues seemed immature at places, especially in the romantic scenes. The book is a motivational story and the author constantly drives the fact that one needs to follow one's passion. Many people would have faced the same situation in life and the author has taken up this subject and tried to tell a tale around it. The redeeming factor is that the prose was excellent and easy to read.

This being a debut, I wish the author success in his future endeavours.

PS:- Free copy in exchange for a review.

[Ricky · Rating 1 out of 5]

A free Kindle copy in exchange for a review

First thing first, stop with the fake reviews, guys. Stop it. Just because you got a free copy from the author doesn't mean you should feel entitled to rate his book 5 stars. In that way, you aren't helping the author. Sure the book may sell a little, but he won't improve. So be honest here. I can understand if you're a beginner reader, but well-read people rating this a 5 is a shame.

Now to the review, I can't help thinking this book is semi-autobiographical. Are you by any chance an engineer, Mr. Author? Because the trend set by Chetan Bhagat is still going strong in my country.

PLOT
This is a fable about Keith who isn't happy with his job. His love life isn't working either. And then one day, he meets this Les Brown-like guy who motivates him to listen to his heart's calling. So let's play football.


PROSE
I was told that this is a fast-paced book. Indeed, it is. I haven't read anything so fast, skimming pages after pages. Sometimes, I'd skip a whole chapter (don't blame me, I lost my mind when I came across a whole chapter about watching players play cricket and commentary on it.) If this were some pages longer and not a review copy, I'd have dnf-ed it. The prose was pretty amateurish. I can understand the excitement of publishing a book, but you've got to have patience.

The dates at the beginning of each chapter was unnecessary.

Mentioning time over and over is a waste of time itself.
For example: The commute, which usually took 15 minutes by bus, had taken him 45.

And this: Keith reached home at 1:30 am.

Or this: A quick estimate said that his exit time would fall somewhere around 6:30 pm. In the morning, when he had begun, the feat looked impossible. But he was glad that he was about to pull it off. Though the office hours were from 9 to 6, the work culture was such that even an employee leaving at 8 was considered to be leaving early. This is why Keith had thought of making an explicit mention in the daily meeting of the fact that he would be leaving at 7 pm.


DIALOGUE
Now I should be grateful to the dialogues, because those are what gave me a sense of what was going on, and I was able to finish this so quickly. Nevertheless, it's childish.

“Over the last one year, I have seen you grow by leaps and bounds.

Or take this conversation between the lovers:

“What? What did you just say? You love me?”
“Yes, Keith. I have fallen for you.”
“Oh my! I really don’t know what to say.”
“Keith, I didn’t plan to say this. I am so sorry if I offended you.”
“No, Kyra. You have not offended me. In fact, I always felt that you were out of my league.”
“What?”

CONCLUSION
I'd be glad if this isn't semi-autobiographical. Because the protagonist here has a f-ed up approach towards art.

“I can write!” Keith shouted again. “Writing can be the source of income I am looking for.”

“I am confident about my writing now. I think I can become a full-time freelance writer. Kyra has a lot of contacts. Getting projects shouldn’t be a problem. I can earn fifteen to twenty thousand every month.”

This is ART for f's sake. You don't do art for the money. You do it to better people's lives, help them relate. Money's important, I understand, but not at the cost of bad art. If it's that important, one should focus on other professional pursuits. Engineering, perhaps?


ADVICE
I'd suggest the author read. A lot. And write a lot. If you aren't willing to do these two things passionately, I don't see any shortcut to writing a great book.

[Megh. Megh. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's never too late, and yes I am a firm believer of that, this is a story of a 24 years old Keith Kurien our protagonist, who works in an MNC in Mumbai. His work life ain't that great, he is not appraised and respected enough in his firm, the manager just uses him to get his work done.

The story is something that every millennial can connect to, we all have faced this situation or currently facing, we are working overtime but still not paid enough. Most of us are just working for money and are not interested in the work at all.

It's a motivational book, in which the writer pushes the reader constantly that don't be afraid of the leap. Do what interests you, life is too short to do things which you don't want to.
It's an easy read, the vocabulary is simple and crisp. The story is in sync as well.

The writer has solely focused on the character of Keith, as its his story, but would have been great if other characters had some depth.
Also, the emotions of the protagonist and other characters could have been projected in a better way. Some part of the book was a bit slow for my taste.

Ill highly recommend this book, as its very relatable and it gives you hope that things to work out in the end if you give it all you have.

Happy reading!!!!

[Renuka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come soon!

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you find difficulty in coping with what you are doing, give this book a read and you'll see the change. 

The Book Switch by John Thomas is a phenomenal book written on pursuing your goal and realizing its value. It has got that magic that could mold your views in a positive light. For once, you won't feel detached from the story. The author makes sure that you remain beside Keith throughout the book.

Keith's life throws light on several crucial aspects of the life which we fail to see. He is brought up by her mother with quite a difficult childhood. He works hard to become able enough to support his family. It is Ramesh who brings Keith out of his monotonous and dissatisfied life and instills in him the courage to walk on a new path. Keith musters the courage to make a big switch in his professional life that will lead his future. With determination and focus, Keith finds the ultimate purpose of his living. 

The book is not full of hardcore positive quotes to fill you in with enthusiasm. It does not preach. Rather, it tells you by an example that what it takes to follow your heart. It also makes you believe that once you have chosen a path, there's no looking back. The right destination will bring happiness to you but before that, you need to cross all the barriers of self-doubt and unconfidence. The author used simple language to weave a plotline that keeps you interested to know about the subsequent events of the novel. The coherence of the narrative keeps the reader engaged. And if ever the reader seems to lose his interest, there are interesting quotes and enough instances in Keith's journey that will not let him lose himself in the wilderness. 

The pursuit of goals, the importance of love, repositing faith in your dear ones, trust, friendship and the need to carve an individual identity is highlighted in the book. The author emphatically expresses the faith one should have in oneself. He also clearly explains that if one decides to trace a path towards his goal, he should be prepared to tackle the hardships. The success and the fulfillment one will achieve right after that will be unparalleled. The right decision is all you need. 

So, if you are in the quest of your goal and you are finding it difficult to face the challenges, pick this book to immerse yourself in the inspiring world of Keith and rejuvenate yourself to strike your aim! 

[Ruchi Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Ratings- 4.5/5 stars

“The more you push towards your dream, the more obsessed you get about it. And even before you realise, the dream takes on a whole new meaning. It feels as if your entire life is depend on the fulfilment of the dream.

Its the story of Keith, who is 24, works in a IT sector job. Like every other employee, he was unsatisfied with his job, poor raise/appraisals in the job, on top of that his girlfriend Maya left him. He was so directionless. Then he met a really positive person named Ramesh. He changed his point of view towards his life, his goal and his dreams. Read the book to reveal further plot.

▶️ I loved the plot. Unique and extraordinary. Different one.
▶️Story is very inspiring. Nowadays majority are doing office job and unsatisfied but can’t dare to choose different path. This one is inspiration to those who want to choose different carrier path.
▶️Nicely written. Good use of vocabulary and Language.
▶️Story holds your attention till the end.
▶️Well elaborately written plot.
▶️Overall I liked this. Definitely recommended.

[Audriza Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Switch
Thank you John Thomas for the review copy.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

The cover is very unique.
Narration is good but can be improved.
There is no lagging or slowing of pace from the beginning to the end.
A very relatable thing for a person who is not doing what he wanted in life will be the fact that the protagonist Keith is always in dilemma.
Some of the twists though put well ended up being predictable.
Do complete in one sitting because if you give up once you will loose all the pace and energy to complete it.
There is a lot of motivation and inspiration in the book along with positive vibes.
The plot has been made in such a manner that the reader can put her/him self in the protagonist’s shoes and suffer from all the wrong choices he has made.

"Your fears have a strange knack of finding you."

Link to the book

The Big Switch : It’s Never Too Late https://www.amazon.in/dp/1643240099/r...

[Nidhi Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The major theme in the novel, no doubt, is the dilemma of Keith regarding his career. However, more than that, I can see how it builds upon the conviction-less personality of Keith... he wants to be sure but cannot be because he just cannot be! He loses his love because he was unsure whether Maya was his love or not.... it will surely be a very intriguing read for the youths because most of the times, most of us, are somewhere wondering what to do or what not to do... read this and enjoy!

[Anupama C K(b0rn_2_read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. It was easy to connect to Keith as I work in the software industry. Detailed review later

[Mayur Sarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple story with an extraordinary message. A must read book.

[Sohinee Reads & Reviews (Bookarlo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full review here: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...

If you are at that stage of your life where you’re confused with your career options or you are secretly holding a passion for something people wouldn’t approve of, this book might be for you.

I have read a number of books which claims to be an inspirational or a motivational book with the same theme of following your passion and most of the times they are non-fiction. Either they provide you with some step by step guides on achieving your goals or they are autobiographies of some famous people. Now, I am not much of a fan of non-fiction books but since, The Big Switch had an actual story going on, I thought of giving it a read. There are plenty of career-based books and when it comes down to career, everyone seems to be a “guru” with lots of advices (the ones which they themselves rarely follow) up their sleeves.

The Big Switch tells the story of Keith Kurien. The book begins with the scene where Keith is being interviewed for a job and he appears to be fairly confident with his answers. It’s when he successfully secures his seat at the office, trouble seems to be following him around. To start with, his manager Mathur always keeps him on his toes by bringing up works at the last minute and Keith being Keith obediently follows his orders. At one such eventful day when Keith was supposed to be meeting his girlfriend Maya for a movie night, he is kept busy at the office.

Break-up was just a start, when he doesn’t get the expected hike in his salary even after working extra long hours, Keith feels confused and angry. To top it, his manager Mathur commented on his lack of creativity.

With each passing day, he slowly starts to lose his interest in his work. When he is presented with an opportunity to work in Bangalore, instead of feeling happy, he feels dejected. It is in Bangalore when he meets his new manager Ramesh that his life takes a positive turn. When you’re surrounded by people who think positively, it does leave an everlasting effect on you. Keith was surprised with his new manager’s behaviour. He seemed more friendly and approachable and he always complimented on Keith’s hard work, unlike Mathur. Keith was left feeling happy and content with his work. Optimism is what makes all the difference.

The rest of the story follows Keith on his pursuit of working on his chosen career. Whether he makes it or fails is for you to see.

The writing style is good. The author has managed to write a motivational story without sounding like an advisor with too many advices. The narration was good too, it had a nice flow to it. As for Keith, he represented a guy who had made wrong choices in his life but is determined to remedy the situation and turn the tables around so that it works out well for him. The book does have a fast pace and till the last page, the pace remained consistent. Keith starts late in his age, so for the late bloomers, who are faced with realisation of “following your heart” now, this book can be an inspirational read. I liked Ramesh’s character in the book. His presence in the story made a whole new difference. Ramesh was perhaps the only character who saved the book from being monotonous.

The whole following your passion is okay. One should do what he/she believes to be good at. But for me, Keith mostly made a clear cut through all the non-existent problems. I don’t think it is that easy to follow your dream as Keith made it look. There should have been more hurdles on his way, he should have faced more problems. That way the story would have been more realistic. I am not saying that it wasn’t good as it is, I am saying that the “following your dream” could have been better executed in the storyline. The characters weren’t very expressive with their words which at times made them look emotionless and as a result, from time to time, the dialogues felt flat. There were some grammatical glitches which I noticed, so I would recommend that the author does a second round of editing.

RATINGS :

Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐

Book Title: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Concept: ⭐⭐⭐

Plotline: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Narration: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Language and Vocabulary: ⭐⭐⭐

Grammar and Punctuation: ⭐⭐⭐

[Mishika · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Review copy sent by author.
Full review will be updated soon. :)

The Big Switch is the story of a confused 24 year old engineer, who is 'stuck' in a job that he 'loves', but is not sure if this is all he wants from his life. The narrative starts with the appointment of Keith in a software company, and traces his personal and professional journey in the next one year or so. While on his path to discover what he really wants from life, i.e. what'll make him happy, he comes across many friends and mentors, some inspiring him in his journey, others motivating him to keep going irrespective of the hurdles that come his way.

The story does have a very overt self-help tone to it that gets slightly monotonous in places. However, since the story of Keith also keeps moving alongside, it is not very difficult to ignore this shortcoming. ( I say shortcoming because I am not a big fan of self-help books.)

Coming to the title, I found it to be a bit of a misnomer. I expected, as the title itself suggests, a BIG switch. However, it was more of a gradual (very gradual) turn of events and not anything drastic, as I had expected after reading the title and the blurb.

The relationship between the main character and the supporting casts is sketched satisfactorily. The importance given to the role of every person in Keith's life is evident and understandable. Every character serves its purpose is a befitting manner. I do, however, feel that Keith was smitten slightly unrealistically by Ramesh's character.

However, there were some things that did not work for me:

1. Contemplating a switch in career from engineering to sports (and that too, not cricket) while having no experience in the said sport seemed quite a juvenile thing to do, especially for someone who has to sustain a family that is entirely dependent on him. When I think of a 24 year old, I think of someone who has just discovered the power of money and wishes to hold on to it for as long as they can; not someone who is willing to trade that for a 'hobby' that may or may not take the shape of a full-fledged career, and even if it does, there is not guarantee at what stage that'll happen.

2. The Bangalore episode, the obsession with questioning oneself about taking up cricket as an alternate career, the discussions regarding what career to choose - very repetitive. Tens of pages of the same thing again and again and again and again.

3. A lot of the advise given was more spiritual than practical. (At 24, I think it is more important to be practical. Surviving in Bombay is not a joke.)

4. The end. It convinced me that Keith was an overgrown baby who needed a tight smack to be brought back from LalaLand. In the last few pages, the fickle minded character of Keith overtook everything else and the whole episode of his deciding to resign, sitting for the interview, being a hormonal teenager in front of his interviewer just aggravated my suffering.

Why 3.5 star - The Big Switch is a refreshing read in terms of fluidity of language and grammar and vocabulary, with very few errors! (Though 'No ways!' and 'Right from the word go..' did find their mention every now and then.) The characters are innocent, the relationships relatable. While I am not convinced with the switch in the book, I do relate to the fog of confusion that every 20-something struggles to clear almost everywhere. Ramesh, as a mentor, is like a warm blanket on a cold stormy night (Yes, I say that even though I would never take his advise.), always egging Keith to keep moving forward. And Brijesh is that hot spiced cardamom tea that makes weathering every storm that much easier. Having spent a couple of years on my own, living with my friends, getting frustrated about my work every other day, I totally understand the difference a good flatmate can make in your life. Brijesh was that much needed breathing space.

Recommended one time read. :)

[Bewitchingly Paranoid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think about the time when your grandparents or your parents wanted to do something but never really got the chance or the proper opportunity. After the Indian Independence, every single individual wanted some sort of stability and that’s how they trained their kids as well. But if you think about it, as per their thought process, they weren’t wrong. Now, coming to the current generation, the need of doing something “different” has really rooted up a lot. For example, if I talk about myself, I don’t think I will be able to do a “job” in a huge corporate office and listen to some person who I know is knowing crazy. This current generation has so many options to choose from and that actually is a boon. The Big Switch: It’s never too late is a story somewhat similar and I am sure a lot of youngsters can relate to it.

The story revolves around Keith, a 24-year-old man who works in an MNC but his life is at crossroads as he needs to make important decisions in order to find true happiness. Under so much pressure from his workplace and totally unable to balance his life between his personal and professional time, Keith does not only frustrate himself but also loses the girl he loves, Maya. So, the question which arises, does he quit his well-paying job to pursue his dreams and makes The Big Switch or he continues living a mundane life.

The start of the book gives you a very refreshing feeling. It becomes very easy to connect with the story and to understand what is actually happening. I am sure a lot of people must have put themselves in Keith’s character. It is without a doubt, a gripping story, I didn’t really take a lot of time to finish it (even though I hate ebooks). The characterization has been done very beautifully and they literally come to life. Since the writing style is smooth and easy to grab, it gives you a very pleasant reading time. I liked the book cover, subtle colours have been chosen with a hidden message and that message can be interpreted after you read the book. Surely a must read! The Big Switch: It’s never too late is a book for all those confused youngsters out there who wants to do something different in life!

[Nidhi Srivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about the character Keith, who is a software engineer having a relationship as well as a boss breaking him into pieces. The plot speaks very much about the corporate world where the boss is ready to burden you with work as soon as you pick your bag to leave. The same old story of smoke breaks and added team work pressure to make life worse for Keith. A hardworking Keith is trapped in the cruelty of corporate world and an over-expecting girlfriend, Maya. Maya failed to understand how Keith was struggling to keep his boss and her happy at same time. Every time in real world, we feel it’s the mistake of the guy in a relationship. However, there is lack of understanding between people where they fail to understand priorities in life, basic humanity and at times take the other person for granted. Mathur, his boss made his life difficult with unplanned work schedules and low hikes. A rule of the corporate world, which has been described perfectly in the novel… where the person and work is rewarded unrealistically. How aptly, the author has described the hike and appraisal process in Keith’s organization, which is similar to every corporate company. Friends like Brijesh help Keith in realizing the difference between staying in love and falling in love. Irony of life: There is always a friend who would warn you about dating a girl and it serves true in most of the cases. There are few places where the motivation has been degraded in Keith and he defeated it most of the times, paving a path for his career. The author has mentioned the career plans and transformations Keith’s life undergoes. The plot has been described in the simplest language, keeping the reading time for chapter less. Do you think Keith continued apologizing to Maya and cribbed about his job? What was the big switch of his life? To read further continue venturing into his world.

[Vignesh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author for an honest review. Thank you, John Thomas.

Rating: More like 3.75 Stars...

This is a really good start for a debut novel. Honestly, I like this book but not love it. I guessed that I would not like this book at first. But I was fairly wrong. I really liked it. Thank God this is not one of those non-fictional success story. If it is, I wouldn't have read it. I am staying as far away from that genre.

The general gist of the story is this. To follow your heart . Even if it's so hard to follow.
I presume this is either the story of the author or his closed ones. I liked the characters, especially Ramesh Singh.

The only thing I felt bad is that the love seems kinda insta-love. That maybe a resemblance of a Bollywood or Kollywood movies or not. Other than that, I liked it.

On the whole, this is a good read!

[Murali Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Switch: It's never too late by John Thomas, an fictional tale dwells with motivation, love, career and relationships. The story starts from where Keith selecting for H&G company in an interview and ending up in the interview. So story is of twits and hardships Keith faced in his life. Where Maya leaves her in crucial stage of his career then Kyra comes in his life, he takes a big switch in his career from employee to something he didn't even dreamt of to be. The part of Keith knowing his own interest and working towards it is inspiring. Story can be relatable to every youths. Simple language with elegant narration. A good debut novel keeps you engaged.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book by John Thomas is certainly a fresh and fair and worthy attempt... Our shelves are often full with literary garbage these days and this one, the story of Keith, was splendid!

Motivation catches him and he catches the readers' attention... Very good book and must read for the youngsters....

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome motivational book.

Some things mentioned cannot be done but overall it was a good book.

It gives a lot of optimism and the strength to carve our way through the challenges to mark the path of success.

:-)

[Ravi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one starts with the middle class dream of a young IT professional who wants to get out of the monotonous 9 to 6 job. Life give him purpose to move out of the rat race and pursue his dreams. The novel is about the ups and downs he face in pursuit of his dream.
Now I would judge this book as a reader on the three parameters given below-

Story- 2/5(It looks promising and could have been better. By better I mean many parts later in story were easy to guess. At some point the pace of the story was also unnecessary slow. Altogether it is fair amount of effort in terms of story)

Writing- 4/5( It was easy to read with no hard words for an average reader. Written in mind keeping the audience. Good effort on this. 1 star struck off because of slow pace in some part of the story)

Binding factor- 1/5 (If you complete in one sitting then ok otherwise if you are planning to read it in multiple seating then most of you will definitely think that when will it get finished as it starts getting boring after some point.)

Net rating-2.5/5
PS- Please read if you are started reading as a fresh habit otherwise I would suggest not to delve into it. As a reader I am a bit disappointed in it.

[Saket Niranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novels like these are either too hurriedly written or too introvertly written. However, John has done a good work and he has managed to keep it within the readers' zone and which has helped him make his debut a success! The Big Switch can be attempted by a person from any age group and the truth is that it will certainly appeal the youths a little more than usual readers. The story of Keith is remarkably plotted which encircles all the major issues a youth might face in his early twenties. The direct confrontation (in an abstract way) between Maya and Kyra and then the two corporate doodles Keith faces are amazingly drawn. Job and self-service - personal goals or corporate boredom - this or that job... the book tries to answer all the questions in a fictitious was and thus, the novel becomes a wonderful piece of art! Must read, I will say!

[Anuradha Sridharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally relatable, especially if you work in the software industry. The characters, the day-to-day interactions, struggles and challenges of working in a high-pressure environment, the boss who extracts as much work as he can from his best performers, the biases during appraisal - the story has it all. The author has etched the character Keith very well. His transformation through life experiences, mentor and friends form an inspiring story about making the big switch and pursuing your dreams. The use of simple words and a fast narrative make this book an interesting read for an afternoon. Would classify this book under Self-help genre that conveys the message using a simple, relatable story.

[Ravi Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything else about the novel is really awesome save the cover which is more than monotonous! It has to be colourful and vibrant and busy as the novel is itself! It betrays the beauty the novel indeed is from the inside... a youth's story which tells many tales more than its title says. Keith makes a switch and his fate forces him to make another... finding true love and his true course of life - this is what Keith does in the novel and it is unique as well as wonderful!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!! The story is so relatable and very inspiring

A great read for everyone but especially for those who are stuck in an office routine and tired of their life. Perfect for reading during your commute to work - may just inspire you to do your best!

[Adv. Vandana Choudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Big Switch is a story of 24 year old guy Keith, who is working in a reputable company as a Software Engineer. He has a girlfriend Maya whom he loves a lot. Keith is a hard working professional but he never gets his annual appraisal even after all his efforts. He gets stressed due to all this unfair things happening in his office and at the same time due to some reasons he breaks up with his love Maya. As we can all predict, he is unhappy with this kind of life where his hard work is not appreciated and his girlfriend does not try to be understanding at this stage of his life. He tries to find the reason for this unhappiness. One day he goes to watch a Cricket match with his friend Brijesh. There after seeing the players playing with great enthusiasm, he realizes that he is caught up in a wrong career. At appraisal, he doesn't get the expected hike, even after working for extra hours. His good performance is never appreciated by his boss Mathur. He doesnt find job satisfaction which is really important in any job. But his job is really important for him because his family is dependent on his salary. He decides to switch to a new career but at the same time he also feels that at the age of 24, it is too late to do that. Then he gets an opportunity to meet and work with his new manager Ramesh for few weeks. The highly influential personality of Ramesh and his working style leaves an impact on Keith and he finds enthusiasm to work towards his goals with newly found confidence, He follow his heart in pursuit of impossible-looking dream. He goes through many difficult phases but he is determined to achieve his dream. To know whether Keith gets success or not, to know more about Keith's journey, you'll have to read this book.


WHAT I LOVED IN THIS BOOK:
The character which I really liked in the story after Keith is Ramesh, as he tries to bring out the best in people around him. I also liked Kyra's character. I am impressed with the amazing writing style of the Author. The book is fast-paced and I really enjoyed reading it. I found the book cover image attractive and the title apt.

This book has truly inspired me to work towards my goals. This book teaches us so many good & positive things that will motivate us to achieve our dreams. Through this book Author sends out the message to readers that it is never too late, to do things you that always wanted to do. We just need to believe in ourselves and have strong determination to achieve what gives us true happiness. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

RATING: I would like to give 5/5 Stars