This is a book of revelations. Written in form of a story, how the protagonist, Ravi discovers his own destiny and ultimately the holy writ is revealed to him. Read on to explore his chain of revelations.
This is not my usual genre. However, I applaud the author for looking at life from a different perspective. Ravi leaves many mundane jobs behind in search of life's true purpose, travelling to different places of spiritual interest and receiving snippets of wisdom from wise men on his journey which help him along the way. The poetry does enhances the story at various intervals and whether you are religious or not it is certain thought provoking. In my opinion it would appeal greatly to people who have spiritual and religious beliefs.
This book was very different from any book I have read before. At first, I thought it was all going to be about a young Indian man's career path to join the civil service and how his plans kept being thwarted. It had started very intriguingly with the starting lines: 'Around ten years from now when you will be in the epoch of your life... something big is about to happen. You are here with a purpose.' But then it seemed to be about exams, stress, disappointment and money. I thought it seemed more factual than fiction and it probably wouldn't be my 'cup of tea'; but then it started to pull me in. I began to see how the character Ravi was also getting fed-up and disillusioned with the life he was leading and was on a journey to seek out the real purpose of his life. He sought enlightenment in his travels around the religious sites in India and the people he came across. This book is very much about the culture and heritage of India, but the messages are universal. It is a very thought-provoking book. The story is very much enhanced by the meaningful verses in each chapter giving one a sense of the oral tradition of myth and legend.
the only thing I could say is that you are an awesome man. Too good. To tell you the truth, I am very selective while reading books, and to be frank I was not sure what to expect from it. The first 3 chapters I took my own time to read, but after that, once I reached the chapter on "The Third Eye" it got me completely hooked. I must say this is truly a different type of story I have read so far. The struggles faced by Ravi remind me of the day-to-day struggle of a common man. I can actually correlate the story to the story of my life, and how I longed desire to work for a technical project that let me change organization after organization when finally I landed up a leadership position with the tata group and within just 2 years I got a chance to lead a project in Hamburg, Germany for 6 months. This is by far one of the few good and innovative stories I have ever read. I hope Ravi was finally able to ask Sneha out on a date.
I really enjoyed reading this short book. At times , it reminded me of a 21st century version of Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. Ravi, who is based on the author, is a banker in India. He is struggling with the meanings of life, the pursuit of his dreams and the big question of what is life about. The book gives insight to life in India, but also cleverly explores religious beliefs, science and philosophy. One powerful statement made by the old man who gifted the ring to Ravi struck a chord with me. "Anyone who considers their religion to be superior is a terrorist." This is a relatively short book but a worthwhile read for everyone, no matter what your book genre preference is. It is incredibly well written, considering this is most probably a second language of the author. I do not intend to suggest there is any weakness in the writing by that last statement, it is a compliment to a talented and gifted writer.
Ashweeni Kumar's book, The Ring, has an intriguing cover. Which is why I picked it. And it does not disappoint. The story of the young and impressionable Ravi is the story of almost every Indian youth. The protagonist very wisely questions the exam system that produces so many graduates and post-graduates. With not enough jobs available, this leads to unemployment woes.
Another pertinent observation was "how emotions control the flow of economics." I found this worthy to ponder over.
A third plus in the book is the verse that concludes each section. Heartfelt and simple, it sums up the chapter well.
My favorite section is The Third Eye. Here Ravi meets a wise old man, who is a retired scientist from ISRO, India's premier space research organisation. His words bring Ravi to a spiritual awakening.
The Ring is a novella which feels like a conversation with a friend over coffee. It is also an informative book about banking, aspirants of civil services, solar energy and Indian religious and historical sites.
It is a perfect blend of anecdotes, mythology, philosophy, comments on social issues and existential crisis. It explores themes such as religion, spirituality, dreams, purpose, ultimate reality, truth and the significance of events in one’s life. The language is eloquent and poetic, not easy to comprehend. Yet it adds to the richness of the book. Awestruck at the end!
The author has the knack to convey a plethora of thoughts and emotions in minimum words. Will look forward for more such treats from Ashweeni!
A quick, inspirational read which leaves the reader thinking. Set in India, the story follows the main character, Ravi, who is told by a soothsayer that his life has a purpose. As life goes on, he has his doubts about his purpose, and tries to follow his dreams but questions everything along the way. I felt a connection with Ravi, who struggles to understand the meaning of his life and seeks wisdom from others. I really enjoy books that probe the deeper questions of life, explore our purpose and meaning, and leave me with a sense of hope rather than dread. This story accomplished it all. Also very well written and a super fast read. I highly recommend it!
I absolutely loved this book, The Ring by Ashweeni Kumar. It is very well-written, informative, motivational, and has nice verses and hymns that enhance the pleasure in reading it.
I loved getting to know the protagonist Ravi. Watching him searching for his true self, soul, strengths, dreams and destiny was inspiring and enjoyable.
I especially liked the part about the soul and the mind-body connection. Although it is written as a fiction story, it has empowering messages that are easily grasped by the reader.
This is an amazing book. I really enjoyed the story which felt so real most of the time. The struggles of the young generation of India was very well portrayed. I was hooked until the end and I'm glad that I discovered it.
An inspirational book and a great story that reads like a biography when which great. You never know where you dreams are going to lead you and the people that will help you along the way. Great writing. Well done.
I genuinely loved this story of one man’s journey through life and the obstacles that get in the away of achieving your dreams. It happens to the best of us and I can relate but he tells it so beautifully
I genuinely loved this story of one man’s journey through life and the obstacles that get in the away of achieving your dreams. It happens to the best of us and I can relate but he tells it so beautifully
I enjoyed reading this book, it was unique and different that is what kept me hooked reading, the day’s struggles of Ravi were unique making the story different to others.
The Ring is a truly splendid book, beautifully written. The author leads us through the daily life of a young man starting-out in an already saturated Indian employment market - with the extra stress and anxieties afforded by him wanting to walk a different career path and alongside the usual family pressures. Along this journey, Ravi meets wisemen of different persuasions who feed him nuggets of wisdom that help him make sense of the world. Accompanying the narrative is a backing-track of beautiful poetry. This is a spiritual book, but please do not let me misguide you - it is also a perfectly accessible and easy read - think Rushdie or Aravind Adiga. I suspect this novel will appeal to western tastes - especially those of us in the U.K. who have an historical, if slightly romantic, attachment to India. Presumably it will appeal equally to eastern appetites.