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peppered minds

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Peppered Minds is about the journey of a young geologist, Neeraj, beginning his professional life. His imaginative mind conjures up a thesis presented on a brainstorming session for the welfare of his countrymen and the nation. The book provides an interesting insight to explain blatant problems that contribute to the lack of innovation, misconduct and all kinds of frenzy we see around today.

The writing of the book is a lighthearted account of the protagonist, Neeraj, brought up in a conservative middle-class god-fearing family, who travels from Jaipur to Hyderabad to start his professional life as a geologist. The story depicts his bitter and heartening experiences, be it meeting an astrologer, making a railway reservation, going on a rail journey from Jaipur, joining up at his new office in Hyderabad or eventually completing a successful geological expedition in the wild. Neeraj’s tryst with the various characters along his brief journey brings to light the mind set, personal traits, beliefs and culture of a vast cross section of the ordinary public that span age groups ranging from the child to the octogenarian. The book depicts several interplays of events that envelope the geologists in the office as well as in the field. One of the momentous events that overwhelms Neeraj is his meeting with the Moon and learning of the unbelievable history of human existence on earth. There are also hilarious episodes, including the one which describes the use of kerosene as the basic material for nuclear research.

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About the author

Om Somani

4 books21 followers
Peppered Minds author Om Somani, born in Cambay, Gujurat and raised in Rajasthan, is a geologist by profession and has effortlessly worked in different parts of India. As much as he loves his workspace, he enjoys going out on field expeditions amongst which many were in the most remote areas across the country. He has had the opportunity to study rocks from various terrains and the minerals associated with it extensively. That’s not all! Along with rocks, he was able to explore the mindset and lives of people in these regions as well. This knowledge has been a source of inspiration for Somani to pen the life of a fresh geologist inducted in a company along with other situations in the life of geologists in general, both personally and professionally. Through Peppered Minds, Somani offers a clue for the pill of wisdom that can lead to the transformation of minds to effectively compete with the developed world. He indulges in reading, meeting people, touring, yoga and meditation as forms of recreation. Currently, Somani resides in Ahmedabad.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Ayush Ayush.
Author 10 books28 followers
April 6, 2020
I had no idea that I would discover the meaning of this title in the last page. It is an amazing book, written in simple language with the intention of making people laugh and understanding a few concepts that can change the overall attitude of our human race, especially Indians. Also, the story is told from multi points of views, and I loved the lead person Neeraj and his simplicity. Extensively descriptive, I read it in my leisure time and I enjoyed the moments like anything, I felt as I am reading R.K. Narayan once again. Very good work. Loved it.
Profile Image for Sumedh.
Author 1 book1 follower
May 20, 2020
We all know how fervently we, Indians, adore chilies and spices but have we ever pondered upon the question ‘Why do we eat chilies’? Peppered Mind by Om Somani is a novel which answers such basic questions in a humorous way with a slight touch of magical writing.

It is a story of transition of a boy into a man. Neeraj, a resident of Rajasthan belongs to a middle class family who dreams of becoming a successful geologist. When he sets onto a journey to join his job in Hyderabad and enter into professional life, he meets many interesting people. The problems that he faces and the way he overcomes them are very realistic. His journey is not only about his expedition but it also explores the different mindsets, beliefs and cultural aspects of India.

The lucid, to the point and simple writing of this book is what makes it more readable. The author links together interconnected plots in the story which makes us read more and more. What I liked about this book is its characters. They seem so realistic and so alive. There was not a single instance while reading this book that made me keep it aside. This book is a great example of witty writing and the author really should be appreciated for his magical way of storytelling.

I will strongly recommend this book to them who love to read about human nature and culture. In the end this book will teach you many things.
3 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
Book Review: Prppered Minds

Somebody rightly said 'That's the thing about books, they make you travel without even moving your feet.' Peppered minds by Om Somani is one such book that potrays the professional lifecycle and related events of geologist named 'Neeraj.'

The transition from Jaipur to Hyderabad with all those heartening experiences is what makes it a must read. A fantasy comedy novel, simple writing, lively characters is what makes it even more interesting and catchy. The smooth writing style answering the basic Indian questions with a spice of comedy will keep the readers attached to the string till the end.

The protagonist Neeraj, belongs to a middle class family. His professional life begins with a lot of twist right from tne start where he books a train reservation to Hyderabad. The life of an ordinary man facing various problems during his professional tenure is beautifully described by Om Somani. The story may not serve as a solution to various daily life problems, but definitely acts as an insight to deal with it calmly. The subject chosen for the book i.e, Geology is quite enthralling.

The story definitely keeps you wanting for more till the end. A strong recommendation for young readers.
Profile Image for Kevin Mallik.
551 reviews30 followers
April 6, 2020
Wow! What a great book. Superb writing and the way the author covered idiosyncrasies of a professional man named Neeraj and other things that mattered most to him, puts a show of brilliance. It was one such book where I never felt the boredom while reading 300 long pages fiction. While reading I always thought that why did the author put the title as 'Peppered Mind', but as I finished, I got to know the discovery behind the title.

The novel is poignant in bringing out the intricacies of a middle-class family and what taboos and ethos surround it. Other than being descriptive of everything, the author has put a brilliant concept before us - why do we eat chili - does it suit our mood or soul? What harm it is causing, have you ever given a thought to it. I was thrilled to know the concept being justified by taking examples from the ancient Indian culture. The novel is written in simple and lucid narration, the author has given enough space to all characters and they develop and act accordingly. Combining everything, this novel is indeed a remarkable work.
1 review
May 20, 2020
Peppered Minds is a fantasy comedy novel beautifully written by the author Om Somani. The novel is ebullient to read and the story is about the young geologist, Neeraj, who is stepping into the professional world. The story revolves around the protagonist, Neeraj, with a middle-class family, who travels from Jaipur to Hyderabad to start his career as a geologist. The author has described beautifully the culture, beliefs, behavior patterns, and personal traits of the ordinary people, who met Neeraj during the train journey. The book provides rich insight to describe the problems that contribute to the dearth of innovation and creativity around the world.
I like the writing style as it is simple and pushes you to keep reading. And the best thing is that you can relate to most of the incidence written in the story like conversations on the train. It is an astonishing book highlighting the journey of Neeraj “the protagonist” to his professional career. I want to recommend this book to everyone who seeks simple reading with a great story.
Profile Image for Dashrath.
88 reviews
April 19, 2020
Peppered Minds by Om Somani, is light hearted humourous story.
The protagonist ,Neeraj belongs to a middle class family from Jaipur, who travels to Hyderabad as his job demands.
The whole story is filled with funny incidents. The shift from rajasthan to South India brings in space for sarcasm and witty humour.
Description of importance of letter in our lives, food habits of north Indians and south Indians are all fun to read. The long explanation of use of chilli, it's origin and why it is eaten and how it affects our brains is all informative and sarcastic too. The author calling this kali-yuga as chilli-yuga is hilarious and thus the title justified.
The author has presented the middle class family with wit. The language is lucid with simple and crisp narration.
Yes, I recommend this book for easing your reading senses and spicing up your wit . Just grab this book and enjoy the peppery fun
2 reviews
May 20, 2020
Peppered minds by Om Somani is an impeccable journey of a geologist named Neeraj. His tryst begins with no luck in his field of work to meeting an astrologer, children, old people, god fearing families from middle class backgrounds who mould his thinking and ideologies. I found his mind very impressionable, who will take essence from every character he meets on his train journey, to change his thinking, his lifestyle, his way of approaching situations and incidents that shape his character.

The hilarious take of the writer Om has been a delight to read and experience the journey of Neeraj through the mind of Om's imagination. The writing style is smooth, the story keeps you wanting for more and the incidents described are pretty relatable for an Indian who has traveled in trains to various destinations. The language used is simple and easy to read. I might recommend this to young readers as there is no violence, nudity or vulgar language.
3 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
Peppered Minds by Om Somani would take you on a comic, tragic, and an eye-opening journey of the protagonist Neeraj. A regular guy from the typical Indian middle-class family, Neeraj is now a geologist paving his own path to success. This book has all the sweet and spice you can expect from a regular Indian-family, and then some more. In this story filled with humor and wit, you encounter the dramatic albeit not so fictional issues our country faces when it comes to development. Face all the real-life dilemmas from someone else’s point of view.

The 300-page journey is a roller coaster ride filled with tears of humor, joy, and emotion. I just can't recommend this book enough to everyone out there who is looking for something out of the ordinary. The book is sure to bring you some much-needed entertainment and a handful of lessons. And be prepared for an epiphany towards the end that will leave you reeling.
1 review6 followers
May 20, 2020
‘Peppered minds‘ by Om Somani talks of the impact, which routine interactions have on a person’s perceptions.

Om Somani has proved to be an ingenious storyteller, with a wonderful and convincing imagination, spiced up with sparks of humour.

It is a riveting practical story where the simple middle class Indian, Neeraj, chooses to set on a new unrestrained future, that of a not-so-known career ( in India), a geologist. As the story unfolds, we develop a kind of connect and explore the more common anxiety and some painful realisations, along the way.

In Indian context, almost each possesses strong belief system and enduring values which have a lasting effect on one’s behaviour. This gives direction, guiding us through the temptations and distractions. Juggling with intimidating opinions and frustrations, Neeraj tries to take a stance.

All in all, the imaginative action and effective methods has thrills, keeping one hooked till the end.
Profile Image for Saby Samar.
292 reviews13 followers
April 6, 2020
The book is lengthy, around 304 pages. But the good aspect is that it never bothered me. Once the story and the protagonist Neeraj reach Hyderabad, at his office, I had no looking back. So full of wit, fun, humour, gossiping, and mind blowing perceptions - I mean this is a book that typically describes the life and environment of middle class families and an individual's life at a government office. The story is casual and written in dialogue form, but it never stopped making me laugh. I liked Prashant from the characters list. Every description was so good that now I long for a sequel. Except tragedy, the novel has every thing to delight my mood. Wonderful piece of writing, looks effortless. I have also reviewed the book on my blog as well, there in a bit long fashion. In the end, I would say the message the author tries to give is good, but totally sounds fictional.
2 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
A great read about Neeraj the protagonist over here. The book has nicely portrayed a journey of a middle class indian.

Though the book is a bit lengthy, the humour makes it up. The book is filled with simple messages like how eating chilli might effects our soul. These can be impactful if one tries to find some hidden messages.

The best part is how a normal reader can associate himself with the hero and the day to day troubles he lands in. Each person we meet has a great impact over our lives and this has be communicated very well in the book by describing the neeraj's meet with the astrologer, or a conductor.

I won't say the book could provide solutions to all our problem but show us the mirror and help us to find a happy path.

Overall the book is a good read. Learnt a bit but enjoyed a lot
Profile Image for Rahul Verma.
34 reviews7 followers
April 8, 2020
Such a nice fiction story of a young geologist Neeraj. He was brought up in a middle class family that fears God. The story provides an interesting insight to explain blatant problems that contribute to the lack of innovation, misconduct and all kinds of frenzy we see around today. The author has very well discussed on different topics. It also tells us about the use of kerosene as the basic material for nuclear research. The narration is smooth and clear. Grab a copy now and enjoy reading this book.
Profile Image for Readers Choice .
1,393 reviews71 followers
April 7, 2020
Really a great fiction story that is a long read but totally worth your time. The title of the book 'Peppered Mind' is really apt. The novel has very well discussed about the intricacies of a middle class family and what taboos surround it.

The story is thought provoking with questions like why do we eat chili? Is there any benefit or harm of it? The language of the book is simple and therefore easy to understand.
10 reviews8 followers
April 7, 2020
Peppered Minds is about the journey of a young geologist, Neeraj, beginning his professional life. Neeraj was brought up in a conservative middle-class family. He travels from Jaipur to Hyderabad to start his professional life as a geologist. The story is about his bitter and heartening experiences. The vast knowledge shared by the author is really appreciated. This book is something you shouldn't miss to read at all.
Profile Image for _sassy_39.
2,670 reviews164 followers
April 7, 2020
I really love reading fiction stories. Recently my friend recommended me to read Peppered Mind. The book is about the main character Neeraj. He is a young geologist. He moved from Jaipur to Hyderabad, joined a new office there to become a geologist. This books describes about many events that envelope the geologists in the office as well as in the field. The plot of the story is different. The language is lucid and this is a must read.
3 reviews
April 8, 2020
Peppered Mind is a story of the protagonist Neeraj who is a young geologist. The story depicts his bitter experiences like meeting an astrologer, making a railway reservation, going on a rail journey from Jaipur, joining up at his new office in Hyderabad or eventually completing a successful geological expedition in the wild. Neeraj was glad to learn about the unbelievable history of human existence on earth. Pick this book and read the interesting story. I am sure you gonna like it.
Profile Image for deepikareads_.
65 reviews7 followers
April 8, 2020
I have great interest to read books based on geology. This is a story about a young geologist named Neeraj. He travelled from Jaipur to Hyderabad to become a successful geologist. His journey was not so smooth and involve so many bitter experiences but there was so many lessons that he learnt during this journey. This is such a great read. The language of the book is lucid. I really got attached by the title and the cover page of the book.
Profile Image for Monika Singla.
374 reviews24 followers
April 7, 2020
Peppered Minds by the author On Somani is really a great fiction book. The protagonist of the story is a young geologist Neeraj. He was raised in a middle class family. In order to become a geologist, he went from Jaipur to Hyderabad. His meeting with different characters made his short journey full of different experiences. A book that is entertaining and enhanced my knowledge. 
Profile Image for Isha Singh.
229 reviews12 followers
May 16, 2020
It is a cool book of a man from Jaipur who goes to Hyderabad for a job in a govt. company to work as a geologist. The book is full of funny events and thought process and much more. I have even saved a couple of excerpts from the book to share with my friends...totally a hilarious book and much lighthearted. Superb narration. The story is no so strong but hundred percent fun unarguably.
3 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2020
This is very good story of a common man this story contains so many funny incidents in it. Neeraj is a geologist and he travels to Hyderabad from jaipur for his job purpose and the whole story is about that journey.
5 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
This story is about a geologist and this is really very funny story I've ever read. The story is around Neeraj he travels to Hyderabad from Jaipur and the all story is about this journey. If someone likes funny stories must go for it.
1 review1 follower
May 20, 2020
This is very funny and different story it contains so many funny incidents and different circumstances which teach a lot about life. This is very nice story I've ever read. guys who love funny stories must go for it.
1 review1 follower
May 20, 2020
This story is about a journey to Hyderabad from Jaipur and it has so many funny incidents and this is a very good story I've never been bored while reading this book and this is very funny and intresting story.
2 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
Such a lovely read really very funny book very interesting read was it and I've enjoyed the story a lot the story is all about a journey of Neeraj he is a geologist and travels to Hyderabad from Jaipur and this all story is all about this travel it has so many funny incidents.
1 review
March 23, 2020
Author's unique story telling skills, and wonderful comic sense delights the readers, worth reading.

V.V.N.RAJU
5 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2020
This is a story of a common man, geologist Neeraj, he goes to Hyderabad from Jaipur and the whole story contains so many funny incidents. I think this book describes a common man story very well.
3 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
This is very funny story of a common man he is geologist. he goes to Hyderabad from Jaipur and this story goes through this journey this is very good and funny story.
1 review1 follower
May 20, 2020
This is very nice read I've ever gone through. This is a funny story of Neeraj. The story is around the Neeraj's journey Jaipur to Hyderabad and this is very good story really very funny.
3 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
Very Nice story I've ever read the story is about a geologist Neeraj he travels to Hyderabad from Jaipur for his job purpose and this story is all about this journey and this is very funny story.
3 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
Very nice and funny story of a geologist he goes to Hyderabad from Jaipur so this story is all about this journey it contains too many funny incidents in it and this story teaches us so many things.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews