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Life over Two Beers and other stories
An entertaining and surprising ride through an India you thought you knew
Sanjeev Sanyal, bestselling author of Land of the Seven Rivers , returns to enthral readers with a collection of unusual stories. Written with Sanjeev's trademark flair, the stories crackle with irreverence and wit. In 'The Troll', a presumptuous blogger faces his undoing when he sets out to expose an Internet phenomenon. In the title story, a young man loses his job in the financial crisis and tries to reset his life over two beers. In 'The Intellectuals', a foreign researcher spends some memorable hours with Kolkata's ageing intellectuals. From the vicious politics of a Mumbai housing society to the snobberies of Delhi's cocktail circuit, the stories in Life over Two Beers get under the skin of a rapidly changing India-and leave you chuckling.
Sanjeev Sanyal, bestselling author of Land of the Seven Rivers , returns to enthral readers with a collection of unusual stories. Written with Sanjeev's trademark flair, the stories crackle with irreverence and wit. In 'The Troll', a presumptuous blogger faces his undoing when he sets out to expose an Internet phenomenon. In the title story, a young man loses his job in the financial crisis and tries to reset his life over two beers. In 'The Intellectuals', a foreign researcher spends some memorable hours with Kolkata's ageing intellectuals. From the vicious politics of a Mumbai housing society to the snobberies of Delhi's cocktail circuit, the stories in Life over Two Beers get under the skin of a rapidly changing India-and leave you chuckling.
223 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2018
79 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
Sanjeev Sanyal
18 books591 followersSanjeev Sanyal is an economist, urban theorist and writer. He grew up in Sikkim, Kolkata and Delhi before heading off to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He spent the tumultuous summer of 1993 in South Africa as it transitioned from apartheid, and then extensively travelled through Guatemala as it emerged from civil war. These experiences made him a keen observer of rapidly changing societies, an interest that reflects in many of his varied writings.
Sanjeev spent most of his adult life battling international financial markets, a few years in Mumbai and many in Singapore. One day in 2008, mostly on a whim, he decided to move back to India and travel all over the country with his family. This resulted in his hugely popular second book, Land of the Seven Rivers. Then in 2011, again for no particular reason, he went back to finance and took up a role as the global strategist of one of the world’s largest banks. He also spent the next few years exploring the Indian Ocean rim—Oman, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Vietnam, Indonesia, and up and down India’s coastline. These travels resulted in The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History.
Currently Sanjeev lives in New Delhi where he serves as the principal economic adviser to the Indian government.
Sanjeev spent most of his adult life battling international financial markets, a few years in Mumbai and many in Singapore. One day in 2008, mostly on a whim, he decided to move back to India and travel all over the country with his family. This resulted in his hugely popular second book, Land of the Seven Rivers. Then in 2011, again for no particular reason, he went back to finance and took up a role as the global strategist of one of the world’s largest banks. He also spent the next few years exploring the Indian Ocean rim—Oman, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Vietnam, Indonesia, and up and down India’s coastline. These travels resulted in The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History.
Currently Sanjeev lives in New Delhi where he serves as the principal economic adviser to the Indian government.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
October 12, 2021
I do feel that this book is so underrated and should be talked about more!
I find the stories amazingly well-researched and well-written.
The author is well-known for his non-fiction writings but this collection of fictional short stories did impressed me and I feel should be recommended more.
I love the various themes of life in general, adulthood, relationships, jobs and mundane days, luck and power, the inevitable play of the media these days, the human nature and its various characteristics, weird people who we actually meet and know in real that are being well adapted into these short stories.
I would rate each story based on the plot, the theme presentation, plot progression, the characters and their development, the endings considered:
1. The Used-Car Salesman 3 🌟
2. The Troll 5 🌟 (amazingly written! Love it!)
3. The Bench By The Lake 5 🌟 (food for thought)
4. Life Over Two Beers 4 🌟 (love the idea!)
5. The Reunion 5 🌟 (yes, what happened to that popular kid in college?!)
6. The Caretaker 4 🌟 (The reality of the stagnant health programs)
7. The Conference Call 3 🌟
8. The Intellectuals 4 🌟
9. Waiting At The Time of Cow-Dust 2 🌟 (Feels so incomplete)
10. Books 5 🌟 (one of the best!)
11. A Revolution in Humours 4 🌟 (medically relevant!)
12. Drivers 4 🌟
13. The Return of Imagination 4 🌟
Love this collection! I thoroughly enjoyed these stories!
I find the stories amazingly well-researched and well-written.
The author is well-known for his non-fiction writings but this collection of fictional short stories did impressed me and I feel should be recommended more.
I love the various themes of life in general, adulthood, relationships, jobs and mundane days, luck and power, the inevitable play of the media these days, the human nature and its various characteristics, weird people who we actually meet and know in real that are being well adapted into these short stories.
I would rate each story based on the plot, the theme presentation, plot progression, the characters and their development, the endings considered:
1. The Used-Car Salesman 3 🌟
2. The Troll 5 🌟 (amazingly written! Love it!)
3. The Bench By The Lake 5 🌟 (food for thought)
4. Life Over Two Beers 4 🌟 (love the idea!)
5. The Reunion 5 🌟 (yes, what happened to that popular kid in college?!)
6. The Caretaker 4 🌟 (The reality of the stagnant health programs)
7. The Conference Call 3 🌟
8. The Intellectuals 4 🌟
9. Waiting At The Time of Cow-Dust 2 🌟 (Feels so incomplete)
10. Books 5 🌟 (one of the best!)
11. A Revolution in Humours 4 🌟 (medically relevant!)
12. Drivers 4 🌟
13. The Return of Imagination 4 🌟
Love this collection! I thoroughly enjoyed these stories!
August 13, 2018
Sanjeev Sanyal is equally good at writing fiction. Having read and loved his previous books, the land of seven rivers and the ocean of churn, it came as a no surprise that this book is amazing. Life over two beers, a collection of short stories is a refreshing read. Hard to put the book down, read it at one go.
April 14, 2021
I have the author’s non-fiction books on my TBR. When I saw that he has a fiction work, that too a collection of short stories (most of which are satirical), I knew I had to read these first. As a short story writer and a fan, I value these more. I was glad when I read the author’s note and found out that he also likes short stories and feels sad that they don't have as much fame anymore.
Coming to the book, the stories are based on India (obviously) with Indian and a few foreign characters, with their quirks, musings, thoughts, and lamentations.
With themes like life, society, friendships, politics, ambitions (or the lack of them), and most mystic semi-fantasy lands bound together in a single book, Life over Two Beers is an alluring mix of short stories and a couple of verses.
Most stories are satirical, while the mythical ones are metaphorical in nature. That’s some combination, and it sure works in this book. Though the writing isn’t what I’d call ‘awesome’, it suits the tone of most stories, and that’s what matters.
If you are a fan of light humor laced with some introspection and a few digs at the ‘intellectual elite’, this book is for you. None of the stories are deep, though some will make you think.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable book if you don’t high expectations and want something fun to read.
Coming to the book, the stories are based on India (obviously) with Indian and a few foreign characters, with their quirks, musings, thoughts, and lamentations.
With themes like life, society, friendships, politics, ambitions (or the lack of them), and most mystic semi-fantasy lands bound together in a single book, Life over Two Beers is an alluring mix of short stories and a couple of verses.
Most stories are satirical, while the mythical ones are metaphorical in nature. That’s some combination, and it sure works in this book. Though the writing isn’t what I’d call ‘awesome’, it suits the tone of most stories, and that’s what matters.
If you are a fan of light humor laced with some introspection and a few digs at the ‘intellectual elite’, this book is for you. None of the stories are deep, though some will make you think.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable book if you don’t high expectations and want something fun to read.
May 18, 2018
Let Knowledge be filled by Imagination
I try hard not to become a fan but every time I read or hear Sanjeev Sanyal, my admiration for him increases.
The book is awesome.
I try hard not to become a fan but every time I read or hear Sanjeev Sanyal, my admiration for him increases.
The book is awesome.
June 20, 2019
The book has a fair mixture of satirical and emotional short stories. Can entertain the reader throughout. But I wouldn't count this among the best fictional works I've read. Sanyal is more effective in the non-fiction arena. But, this is definitely a fine start for someone who is exploring fiction.
September 24, 2020
Nice book. Interesting collection of very short stories about modern India and its people. I liked the satire in many of the stories. However I found the stories to not be very deep somehow and still couldn’t relate to the characters or feel what they were feeling! I still prefer the Sanjeev Sanyal writing history.
Maybe the reason could be that this was my first audio book. It was monotonous to listen to a book. Reading can be at your pace with your own tempo and style stopping to breathe while running. I don’t know; I didn’t enjoy the audio format with short stories. Maybe I need to try a longer book with the audio format.
Maybe the reason could be that this was my first audio book. It was monotonous to listen to a book. Reading can be at your pace with your own tempo and style stopping to breathe while running. I don’t know; I didn’t enjoy the audio format with short stories. Maybe I need to try a longer book with the audio format.
January 10, 2020
Delicious, Delectable, Delightful! Yes, it is a 3 D book, folks! Do pick up a copy!
August 26, 2023
Nothing special about the stories :/
August 12, 2018
I had read a few of the non-fiction books by Sanjeev Sanyal and had liked his style of writing. This was his first venture into the world of fiction and I believe he did a neat job.
It is always delightful and engaging to read short stories, the plot of his stories is amazing with a pinch of satire in a number of them. The narrative of the stories is still pretty amateur, but nonetheless I enjoyed reading them.
A very quick read, that is set in various cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc, and Sanyal tries a little too hard to give the local flavor of those cities.
It is always delightful and engaging to read short stories, the plot of his stories is amazing with a pinch of satire in a number of them. The narrative of the stories is still pretty amateur, but nonetheless I enjoyed reading them.
A very quick read, that is set in various cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc, and Sanyal tries a little too hard to give the local flavor of those cities.
April 27, 2019
Had nothing to read before boarding a flight, so picked this book up in the anticipation of reading light hearted Indian stories. Guess what - it turned out to be the signed copy!
The book is the collection of short stories and poems by the author who has made his name in non-fiction domain. The stories are not that riveting as I expected them to be. There is a constant undertone of satire but it becomes difficult to appreciate that without a good character development.
It was just fine to completed, but not something that can't be missed.
The book is the collection of short stories and poems by the author who has made his name in non-fiction domain. The stories are not that riveting as I expected them to be. There is a constant undertone of satire but it becomes difficult to appreciate that without a good character development.
It was just fine to completed, but not something that can't be missed.
July 23, 2018
About the author's attempt to bring short stories back to business; My only words are that if those make us ponder about the stories before and after like it did for most of the stories that he has penned, then these stories should be brought out in a collection like this.
Must read for adults who loved short stories as kids.
Must read for adults who loved short stories as kids.
May 25, 2018
3.5 Stars
January 11, 2021
Life Over Two Beers & Other Stories (2018) by Sanjeev Sanyal
A book of some 13 short fiction stories and 3 poems. A light read with good insights traversing through the events of the life of men/women of the upper-middle class and upper class. Plus two medieval period stories too. The book is more of a satire on contemporary issues ranging from household gender sensitivity to international trade disputes. Yet, they are simple stories in simple writing with good humour. The author claims it's all a fiction but he must have been an ardent follower of daily newspaper issues to feed his imaginative thoughts.
A good travel read and the ending of each stories gives a sudden humour which is delightful and sometimes, he lets ourselves to imagine the ending where he doesn't want to bore with details. Those who enjoy light humour with a good insight behind can enjoy in a single sitting or an small travel.
(Helped me to note down two good liquors from one of the stories... so this is a good time spent, I suppose. Need to message my NRI frenz 😜...)
A book of some 13 short fiction stories and 3 poems. A light read with good insights traversing through the events of the life of men/women of the upper-middle class and upper class. Plus two medieval period stories too. The book is more of a satire on contemporary issues ranging from household gender sensitivity to international trade disputes. Yet, they are simple stories in simple writing with good humour. The author claims it's all a fiction but he must have been an ardent follower of daily newspaper issues to feed his imaginative thoughts.
A good travel read and the ending of each stories gives a sudden humour which is delightful and sometimes, he lets ourselves to imagine the ending where he doesn't want to bore with details. Those who enjoy light humour with a good insight behind can enjoy in a single sitting or an small travel.
(Helped me to note down two good liquors from one of the stories... so this is a good time spent, I suppose. Need to message my NRI frenz 😜...)
January 12, 2019
I picked up this gem while on a study tour to India and wanting to bring home some works by Indian writers. It was fantastic and I loved all the stories - perhaps with the exception of the last two which were a bit more magical, which I like, but were out of sync with the style of the rest of the stories.
The stories were witty and really good character pieces, starting with the poor cousin in The Used-Car Salesman who manages to charm his way into the society of celebrity and get more than he'd really hoped.
Most of the stories have a common thread about the expectations of life and family and the responsibilities that go with it.
I think I'll definitely go back to read some of the stories again because they were simply so good. There are also some short poems interspersed amongst the stories but they didn't add much to the collection.
The stories were witty and really good character pieces, starting with the poor cousin in The Used-Car Salesman who manages to charm his way into the society of celebrity and get more than he'd really hoped.
Most of the stories have a common thread about the expectations of life and family and the responsibilities that go with it.
I think I'll definitely go back to read some of the stories again because they were simply so good. There are also some short poems interspersed amongst the stories but they didn't add much to the collection.
October 15, 2021
This is a lovely collection of short stories, a truly delightful read! They are funny and witty, and most left a lingering smirk on my face.
The themes are varied but many of them seem to have a common link - the intellectual(s), the author seems to be mocking certain behaviours of theirs. The wide variety of settings from mythical ancient cities to present-day Calcutta and Delhi makes the collection even more interesting.
I'm guessing these stories have been written over a long time as there's some maturity in the writing style of most stories that seems to be lacking in few others.
A brilliant read nonetheless.
The themes are varied but many of them seem to have a common link - the intellectual(s), the author seems to be mocking certain behaviours of theirs. The wide variety of settings from mythical ancient cities to present-day Calcutta and Delhi makes the collection even more interesting.
I'm guessing these stories have been written over a long time as there's some maturity in the writing style of most stories that seems to be lacking in few others.
A brilliant read nonetheless.
September 17, 2022
More than just a fiction. Satires speak. Has great poems too! I liked this one in particular
Of Forbidden Memories
Of who we are
Of who we're not
Are we the prisoners of our mememories?
But whose memories? Mine? Or Yours?
Are we the sum total of our stories?
But whose stories?
Mine? Or Yours?
of lies that are true
And dreams that are forbidden
Of dreams that are true
And memories that are forbidden.
There are great takes on society:
"artsy look- the absurd uniformity of those who wished to be different in exactly the same way".
Loved the book!
Of Forbidden Memories
Of who we are
Of who we're not
Are we the prisoners of our mememories?
But whose memories? Mine? Or Yours?
Are we the sum total of our stories?
But whose stories?
Mine? Or Yours?
of lies that are true
And dreams that are forbidden
Of dreams that are true
And memories that are forbidden.
There are great takes on society:
"artsy look- the absurd uniformity of those who wished to be different in exactly the same way".
Loved the book!
February 18, 2019
LET KNOWLEDGE BE FILLED BY IMAGINATION.
I have recently started reading fiction books from Indian authors.
Though SANJEEV SANYAL is mostly known for non fiction , his first venture to world of fiction writing is effortless.
Life over two beers is a collection of short stories is a refreshing read. All the stories have a twist ending which gives a feeling of reading MANTO.
Hard to put the book down, read it at one go. Must read for adults who loved short stories as kids.
I have recently started reading fiction books from Indian authors.
Though SANJEEV SANYAL is mostly known for non fiction , his first venture to world of fiction writing is effortless.
Life over two beers is a collection of short stories is a refreshing read. All the stories have a twist ending which gives a feeling of reading MANTO.
Hard to put the book down, read it at one go. Must read for adults who loved short stories as kids.
April 4, 2019
A nice Collection of short stories, each highlighting a different aspect of Indian lifestyle and culture across the ages. Some fell flat for me, as I didn't get a lot of the references (I still have no idea what the story with the medicine council was about), but it was a nice light read for a flight.
April 14, 2024
A wonderful find in a strangers library at a homestay at Chikmaglur. It was an Indian contemporary short story collection, my fav kind. I finished about 12-14 short stories in 24 hours flat. Sometimes it’s wonderful to read like that. I loved each and every story especially the short poetry - rich and felt.
Read more:
https://storywala.blogspot.com/2024/0...
Read more:
https://storywala.blogspot.com/2024/0...
September 13, 2020
A very nice, insightful, often ironic and sarcastic look at what we have become. A vignette of stories spanning the absurdities of modern life (starting with the India Habitat Centre lot) to the ‘armchair intellectuals’ and stories peeping into your and my life.
Wonderful read. Smooth as silk.
Wonderful read. Smooth as silk.
July 25, 2024
It is a light read. The stories are sarcastic and humourous. Not very rememberable though. I like his non fiction stuff better
March 9, 2019
I thought some of the stories were good, some abrupt. A quick read.
October 17, 2021
An interesting short read. Filled with wit and sarcasm, the stories are fast paced and the characters are vividly portrayed. The story about the village structure was the best of the lot.
October 26, 2020
Wonderful book-filled with a lot of wit, intelligence and panache. Easy read over the weekend.
August 8, 2022
A splendid book with lots of interesting insights into the modern Indian mentality. Well written, marvelously.
July 9, 2025
This collection of 16 short stories was an unexpected delight. Only after finishing the book did I learn—through the Author’s Note—that this is Sanjeev Sanyal’s first foray into fiction. As someone who’s always loved short stories, I couldn’t resist picking this up. When crafted well, short stories can be more impactful than sprawling sagas, delivering sharp insights and lasting impressions in just a few pages.
Reading this book brought back memories of school days spent with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, fairy tales, and O. Henry's clever endings. Perhaps that’s why I hold short stories to a high standard—they have a limited canvas but limitless potential. The best ones leave you stunned at the final line, equal parts satisfied and wanting more.
Among this collection, a few stories truly stood out for me:
The Conference Call – A clever, timely piece that imagines a scenario both humorous and plausible in today’s AI-driven world. It caught me off guard and left me laughing.
The Intellectuals – A subtly sharp story that comments on how we assign the label of "intellectual" and how easily that perception shifts under social pressure. It felt both familiar and thought-provoking. Other stories like A Revolution in Humours and The Return of Imagination also explore similar themes—how perception, politics, and identity shape our lives in quiet but significant ways.
Books – This story surprised me with its warmth and subtlety. It challenges assumptions about women, rural life, and literacy in a refreshing and empowering way. I found Shashwati Dubey's character especially memorable.
It’s a quick and easy read. If you're looking for a light, idea-driven collection with a mix of social satire and speculative elements, this might be worth a shot.
Reading this book brought back memories of school days spent with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, fairy tales, and O. Henry's clever endings. Perhaps that’s why I hold short stories to a high standard—they have a limited canvas but limitless potential. The best ones leave you stunned at the final line, equal parts satisfied and wanting more.
Among this collection, a few stories truly stood out for me:
The Conference Call – A clever, timely piece that imagines a scenario both humorous and plausible in today’s AI-driven world. It caught me off guard and left me laughing.
The Intellectuals – A subtly sharp story that comments on how we assign the label of "intellectual" and how easily that perception shifts under social pressure. It felt both familiar and thought-provoking. Other stories like A Revolution in Humours and The Return of Imagination also explore similar themes—how perception, politics, and identity shape our lives in quiet but significant ways.
Books – This story surprised me with its warmth and subtlety. It challenges assumptions about women, rural life, and literacy in a refreshing and empowering way. I found Shashwati Dubey's character especially memorable.
It’s a quick and easy read. If you're looking for a light, idea-driven collection with a mix of social satire and speculative elements, this might be worth a shot.
September 12, 2019
There are three firsts to this book - my first by the author, the author’s first non-fiction and my first contemporary, non-fiction short story collection.
I didn’t know anything about Sanyal except that he wrote Land of the Seven Rivers and that it was very good. I picked up Life Over Two Beers on a whim; the cover reminded me of a book that I cannot recollect and because a Raccoon had mentioned it. And thank you, dear Raccoon! For I love short stories and have not read such fantastic, smile/laughter and thought-inducing ones in a long time. My last one was Twist in the Tale by Jeffrey Archer.
Writing short stories is an art in itself and it is hard to believe that this is the author’s first attempt at them. Reviewing short stories without giving away the plot is difficult (for me). So I will leave you with some of the ones that I liked more than others:
The Troll
The Conference Call
The Intellectuals
Drivers
However, the one that had me floored with the writing style was Waiting at the Time Of Cow-Dust.
I didn’t know anything about Sanyal except that he wrote Land of the Seven Rivers and that it was very good. I picked up Life Over Two Beers on a whim; the cover reminded me of a book that I cannot recollect and because a Raccoon had mentioned it. And thank you, dear Raccoon! For I love short stories and have not read such fantastic, smile/laughter and thought-inducing ones in a long time. My last one was Twist in the Tale by Jeffrey Archer.
Writing short stories is an art in itself and it is hard to believe that this is the author’s first attempt at them. Reviewing short stories without giving away the plot is difficult (for me). So I will leave you with some of the ones that I liked more than others:
The Troll
The Conference Call
The Intellectuals
Drivers
However, the one that had me floored with the writing style was Waiting at the Time Of Cow-Dust.
December 23, 2024
This book acts like a “bubbly bento” for our surrounding, exposing and exploring all the said and heard aspects of the many of the Indian ways while being conspicuously obscure. The stories indicate, albeit, subtly that the writer has had access to the coteries of the lutyens durbar but has perhaps managed to remain untouched by all it’s glitz. Cafe Tortoise and it’s description in Drivers had me laughing; Such being the deja vu!
My favorite stories were, “The Troll”, “Live over two beers”, “The caretaker” and “Waiting at the time of cow dust”. If I get to meet him someday, I’d wish to talk more about A Revolution in the Humours and Return of Imagination, they were esoteric for my understanding.
While the author says that he intends to remain primarily a non fiction author, I do hope he comes with more stories someday because he clearly has a good hold over fiction, much like Economics and geography. A very pleasant read and certainly something I’d recommend and share!
My favorite stories were, “The Troll”, “Live over two beers”, “The caretaker” and “Waiting at the time of cow dust”. If I get to meet him someday, I’d wish to talk more about A Revolution in the Humours and Return of Imagination, they were esoteric for my understanding.
While the author says that he intends to remain primarily a non fiction author, I do hope he comes with more stories someday because he clearly has a good hold over fiction, much like Economics and geography. A very pleasant read and certainly something I’d recommend and share!
May 24, 2018
Delightfully entertaining
An entertaining read with lots of short stories which explains reality in a fictional style. The funny, unexpected and entertaining twists ("Waiting till the Cow-Dust" chapter an exception) makes the book a fabulous read. Have been a fan of Sanjeev's non fiction books and this book came as a surprise for me but then, it showed the other side of the author - as a keen observor of the society and a person with a great sense of humor, wit & creativity .
An entertaining read with lots of short stories which explains reality in a fictional style. The funny, unexpected and entertaining twists ("Waiting till the Cow-Dust" chapter an exception) makes the book a fabulous read. Have been a fan of Sanjeev's non fiction books and this book came as a surprise for me but then, it showed the other side of the author - as a keen observor of the society and a person with a great sense of humor, wit & creativity .
July 31, 2018
I am not usually a big fan of short stories, but I picked up this book in rather hurry just because of the author's youtube videos. Fortunately, I wasn't too disappointed with the book even if it was just a collection of short stories. As usually happens some stories were very powerful ( Books ) and some perhaps not so much (Reunion) but overall I am glad I picked it up. It has that easy going quality like that of Sudha Murthy books and touch a raw nerve every now and then.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews