Walter Sylesh > Recent Status Updates

Starts with promise. Mr Prasad brings in some fresh thoughts on reforming the legal system. Hoping his experience as a legal practitioner shows through the book.

Sood blends both Realist and Marxian perspectives to weave his narrative on the US led West's failures, hypocrisy and impending decline.

Some of the lenses to see, questions to ask are relevant. It helped me in my travels recently.

It's always fascinating to read the ideas of my namesake. Helps me understand how Germans and more generally Europe sees India and its kaleidoscopic culture and relevance. Lindner's analysis of the idea of India, his sense of its history and his grasp over current political trends is eye opening. The writing flows in a classic diplomatic style - I feel like he's next to me having a friendly conversation.

Couldn't let go of this exhilarating page-turner that's more than just a memoir. It's a rags-to-riches story, geopolitical compass, psychological thriller, political drama and public administration lesson all in one! Truly fascinating to see how institutions that valued merit could change individuals' lives for the better! As a sidenote, I'm more curious to read about Lee Kuan Yew after the author's accounts of him.

I explored the curated desk at the Oxford bookstore in New Delhi in search of a book to introduce my friend to reading. Glanced upon a familiar name -Sudha Murty- who I haven't read in 13 years; still, I was piqued. Upon reading the blurb, I thought it to be a good gift and an apt introduction to Indian fiction for my friend. A day later, it is I who's poring over Murty's poignant prose on trust, love & corruption.

Completed an important expose into the life of Hersch Lauterpacht who thought the individual was the subject matter of all law including international law. Interesting read on the origins of crimes against humanity and genocide in international law.

Trying to find my groove by reading Vikram Sood's piquant account of the role of narratives in shaping international perceptions and consequently, relations. This book from 2020 took me back to my time at high school when I began knowing more facts about the world. Mr. Sood's ideas redirect my thinking towards a closer approximation of the truth and his exposition of narratives helps me separate the fluff from news.

Quick revision of history and geography at the same time! Who knew a children's adaptation of Sanjeev Sanyal's Land of Seven Rivers would be useful for this purpose?

Feels good to read something more grounded and written well after the Hillman disaster. Swarup sir doesn't disappoint and has interesting stories to share in his career as a civil servant. Breezed through the anecdotal part of the book, eager to hear his way forward tomorrow.

I find Hillman crossing the blurry lines of facts and myth quite often and freely like the daimon-spirit whose existence he argues for. While he argues for the soul's freedom to assert its own facts, his evidence for his other supporting arguments also relies on such fiction. To appear contrarian and be beyond traditional thinking is what makes him sound sophisticated. He isn't. 2 more chapters to see how this ends.

The book alternates between fast and slow. Some of Hillman's arguments are quite contrarian and questionable. His use of anecdotes from famous people are the ones that keep me engaged; the rest of his sophistry and mysticism are a drag. Eager to explore his complete argument in the coming days.

Read 3 more accounts of Caesar's expeditions in Gaul and Brittania. I learned that strategy depends on preparedness, quality of information courage and a little bit of fortune. The number of times the battles seemed to be against the Romans but Caesar always prevailed in the end. When landing in Britain due to storms and low supplies, Caesar's men were cornered but his foresight helped them prevail and thrive.

I missed reading books like this! Handling a personal slump in productivity by picking up Caesar's strategic conquest of Gaul.

War, diplomacy and personal courage all feature in this inspiring book. Ave Caesar!

Just followed a recommendation from Robert Greene and I'm mostly skimming through this book on Multiple Intelligences.

Howard has prefaced this book as an attempt to describe and not reify the complex phenomenon of intelligence in the human species. It's an attempt to explain the diversity of the notion of intelligence while also challenging the traditional notions of intelligence as a silo-ed gift.

Completed the essays on Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bhutan. Fairly dated but sums up the crux of the general trends in India's relationship with these countries. Onwards to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

A surprise gift from my brother. A signed copy from the author himself. The book is quite a page turner and my foray into Indian fiction after years. Halfway through the book on the very first day!

Surprisingly fast and riveting read by a former bureaucrat! Tons of insights about a flailing bureaucracy in India based off of the nineteenth century British government model. I like the author's humor and style. Back to India with a very Indian read after having a glimpse of bureaucracy and its failures in the United States.