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Archives: Books

A-Z of Indian History

‘Charmingly illustrated and irresistibly readable, this is history without the drudgery’ Dr Shashi Tharoor

Did you know that in Mughal times, sixty feet of incredibly fine Indian muslin could fit into a small pocket snuffbox?

Or that the first Indian stunt heroine, the swashbuckling ‘Hunterwali’ Fearless Nadia, was actually an Australian actress called Mary Evans?

Did you know that there are more than 300 versions of the Ramayana, across India and around the world? Or that Harappan children also played games like lagori or pitthu?

With eighty quick, exciting stories, this book is perfect for curious kids who love to ask, ‘Wait . . . really?’ Every page opens a tiny door into a India’s past, filled with wow moments, strange facts and awesome surprises.
Packed with cool trivia, bright illustrations and a fun, playful design, this is the ultimate history book—without any of the boring stuff. Prepare to jump and shout, ‘I never knew that!’ again and again!

My Name is Khadija (Hook Books)

Khadija does not like her name. But no one is letting her change it. How will Khadija fix this?

About the Hook Book Series

In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.

Hook Books keep the fun going with:

  • Short, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers)
  • Bright colour illustrations that pull kids into the story
  • Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy!

From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.

The Curious World of Uncle Tarini: All 15 stories of Satyajit Ray’s iconic creation now in English | Mystery, Adventure, Horror stories | Featuring original illustrations | | Ages 10+

Step into the irresistible world of Tarini Khuro—the witty, eccentric, unflappable adventurer whose life reads like one long, outrageous anecdote. Whether he is single-handedly outsmarting a venomous scorpion and an even more venomous twelve-year-old prankster in Ajmer before landing in the middle of a terrifying dacoity or spending a night in a haunted hunting lodge, calmly interviewing a ghost at midnight or travelling across India as manager to a master magician, Uncle Tarini never fails to enthral his young listeners.

For the first time, all fifteen Uncle Tarini stories appear together in this complete English translation, bringing Satyajit Ray’s inimitable humour, warmth and sense of wonder to a new generation of readers.

This collector’s gift edition also features rare, original artworks by Satyajit Ray, offering a glimpse into the creative universe of one of India’s most celebrated storytellers and filmmakers.

A treasure for Ray admirers and lovers of classic storytelling alike, The Curious World of Uncle Tarini celebrates boundless imagination and the everlasting joy of stories.

What They Don’t Tell You About Marriage

About to commit to a relationship and wondering what lies ahead?
Already married and quietly googling “Is this normal…” at 2 a.m.?
Or looking for ways to reconnect with your long-term partner?

This book is your wake-up call and roadmap. Couples therapist Yashodhara Lal pulls back the curtain on what no one tells you: the real work that begins after the honeymoon. Drawing on years of clinical experience and her own two-decade marriage, she guides you through the stages of long-term relationships — normalising conflict, misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and the unconscious games couples play. You’ll learn how to manage differences, make genuine apologies, truly appreciate each other’s unique ways of loving (and quirks), and handle tough topics like money, sex, in-laws, parenting, and even betrayal with clarity and confidence.
Bold, compassionate, and refreshingly real, this book replaces fairy-tale romance with practical tools that help you understand — and transform — your relationship.

Get Hooked to Magic

Celebrate magic in our lives, in strange and different forms!

Cyrus the Whyrus by Lavanya Karthik
Illustrations by Priya Kuriyan

Cyrus has a lot of Whys! They buzz like bees, they graze like goats. They are driving everyone crazy! The whys must be stopped. But how?

Who’s There? by Hansda Sowendra Sekhar
Illustrations by Anupama Ajinkya Apte

The cats are mewing in panic. Strange voices are calling from the attic. Who’s there??

Gawa’s Bag of Good Regards by Anushka Ravishankar
Illustrations by Canato Jimo

Everyone asks,
What do you want to be?
But Gawa only knows
What he wants to do.

I Won’t Wash My Hair by Aparna Kapur
Illustrations by Ogin Nayim

In Divya’s hair, you will find pencils, peanuts and paintbrushes! All because Divya refuses to wash her hair. But how long can she go on like this?

About the Hook Book Series

In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.

Hook Books keep the fun going with:

  • Short, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers)
  • Bright colour illustrations that pull kids into the story
  • Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy!

From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.

Gangrene

In percentage terms, Punjab has the highest Dalit population in India (around 30 per cent of its population). But inspite of that, Punjabi Dalit writing has struggled to find recognition.

Initial writings about Dalit issues were largely by the stalwarts of Punjabi literature like Nanak Singh, Gurbaksh Singh Preetlari, Kulwant Singh Virk and Gurdial Singh. Since the 1970s though, Punjabi Dalit writing has undergone a shift in consciousness with the emergence of Attarjit, among the earliest Dalit writers to make a mark. Soon, others like Prem Gorkhi, Mohan Lal Phillauria, and Bhagwant Rasulpuri emerged.

Gangrene is an attempt to compile some of Punjabi literature’s most powerful short stories on Dalit themes and issues. Carefully curated by Prof. Akshaya Kumar and Navdeep Singh, this volume features stories on a variety of issues ranging from caste identities and rural exploitation to urban life and housing. Searing in its indictment of casteism, this volume is a window to a better understanding of Punjabi society.

The Asylum Confessions

“They arrive alive. They always leave in body bags.
But not before they confess everything to me.”

The name’s Jack Steen, Night Nurse at an asylum for the criminally insane.

For those who arrive at my ward, mine is last face they’ll see before they die. Most of them know me as their Angel of Death.

I call them what they are. Serial killers, rapists, manipulators. Predators who’ve run out of time.

I can make death come easy.
But there’s a catch. I need their confessions. The ones everyone wants to hear.
Patient 1024 has an interesting appetite. Patient 1203 is fragile, sweet as honey, but she’ll break your heart. Patient 974 is Ken to his Barbie; he’ll do anything to keep her smiling.

But these monsters are masters of the game, lying and hunting through life. Their final confession might be true—or one last hat-trick to burrow into my skull.

And now? Maybe yours too.

The nurse who listens isn’t your hero—he’s your guide into hell.
Beware. These aren’t bedtime stories.

The Sister Under The Stairs

A chilling psychological thriller from New York Times bestselling author Steena Holmes

“It’s a miracle I am alive, they say.
I say miracles don’t happen in today’s world.”

Twelve years ago, Jess vanished without a trace.

Each year since, Paige, her twin sister receives a bouquet of flowers and a note that simply says: I’m sorry.

Until the day she gets a text that changes everything: I found her.

Desperate for answers, she follows the trail—only to realize she’s walking straight into a labyrinth.

Someone knows what happened that night. Someone has been waiting for her to come looking.
And the truth is far darker than she ever imagined.

A missing twin. A guilty sister. A secret that refuses to stay buried.

Tense and addictive from the very first page—Steena Holmes delivers twist after twist until the final, devastating reveal.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, Lucy Clarke, Lucy Foley, Shari Lapena, T.M. Logan and Clare Mackintosh.

The Art of Critical Thinking

What skills do you need to succeed today? How do you make profitable choices?

Critical thinking is a crucial skill to master to succeed in the world today; with so much fake news and information everywhere, it helps to focus on what’s important.
These skills help us think well and make good decisions. One of the reasons most of us fall short in thinking critically is that our educational system doesn’t teach this thinking skill.
This guide is here to fix that. It gives you the best tools to develop these skills:

  • Critical Thinking In a Nutshell: How to Become an Independent Thinker and Make Intelligent Decisions
  • Conquer Logical Fallacies: 28 Nuggets of Knowledge to Nurture Your Reasoning Skills
  • The Habit of Critical Thinking: Powerful Routines to Change Your Mind and Sharpen Your Thinking

With practical exercises that make every point easy to understand and remember, this book will help you make strong arguments, decide confidently, and see where people go wrong in their thinking. It’ll make your life better, both at home and work.
The only guide you need to buy on thinking critically and logically.

Evolve

Intuition—our mental shortcut for navigating the world!

But … could it also lead to blind spots? Is it possible that we might get stuck in ‘the way we’ve always done things’ and miss growth opportunities?

Hence Evolve!

This book is about counterintuitive thinking, about the art of questioning assumptions and embracing strategies that might seem strange at first. It is about looking beyond common sense.

Counterintuitive thinking jolts us out of comfort-zone, igniting fresh ideas that unlock hidden opportunities. It equips us to see what others miss, giving us a competitive edge through innovation and sharper decision-making.

Evolve: 49 Counterintuitive Principles for Business offers a practical toolkit for applying these principles in your own business. It explores research-backed and experience-tested ideas from psychology, economics, geopolitics, business, philosophy, technology and sociology, all presented in a clear and actionable way.

Result-oriented and pragmatic, it is the secret sauce you need…

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