History Unpacked: The Why, When and What of Ancient India
Forget dusty dates and yawning over dynasties. This witty guide unpacks Ancient India—from the Stone Age to the Golden Age—through hilarious stories, quirky maps, and baffling connections. History finally makes sense (and stays fun) for curious minds aged ten-plus.
History Unpacked: The Why, When and What of Ancient India || Saisudha Acharya
The Padmas
From the football field to the laboratory, these fifty illustrated biographies celebrate seven decades of India’s highest civilian honors. A stirring collection of grit and greatness, it proves that perseverance turns ordinary dreams into extraordinary legacies for readers aged eight-plus.
The Padmas | Neha J. Hiranandani
The People of the Indus
Unravel the enigma of the Indus through this meticulously researched graphic narrative. From 3200 BCE to its mysterious decline, experience a visually stunning journey that replaces dull dates with the vibrant, everyday lives of a civilization that reshaped human history.
The People of the Indus | Nikhil Gulati, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer
The Incredible History of India’s Geography
From ostriches roaming the plains to being related to a blond Lithuanian, this trivia-packed journey explores the “unbelievable” in India’s geography. Full of quirky illustrations, it turns complex history into a fantastic, fact-filled adventure for curious minds aged twelve-plus.
The Incredible History of India’s Geography | Sanjeev Sanyal
A Children’s History of India in 100 Objects
From prehistoric hand axes to the iconic HMT watch, discover the vibrant pulse of India through 100 extraordinary objects. This colorfully illustrated journey captures the voices of both rulers and commoners, weaving a rich tapestry of history, identity, and culture for young readers.
A Children’s History of India in 100 Objects | Devika Cariapa
The Constitution of India for Children
From the colorful Republic Day parade to the seventeen-day countdown of its creation, this essential handbook brings India’s foundational document to life. Packed with cheerful illustrations and surprising facts, it transforms legal complexity into an engaging, witty guide for every young citizen.
The Constitution of India for Children | Subhadra Sen Gupta
Whether you’re tracing the Indus or discovering why your ancestors might be Lithuanian, these stories prove that the past is anything but boring. Dive into these essential reads to see India’s legacy in a whole new light—because understanding where we came from is the ultimate adventure.
February arrives with stories that refuse to stay quiet. From military memoirs to folk tales whispered across generations, dystopian futures to kitchen chronicles from conflict zones, this month’s releases span the spectrum of human experience. Whether you’re chasing longevity secrets, marketing mastery, or the art of being fabulous, February delivers books that inform, inspire, and occasionally make you question everything.
Here’s the complete list of books to read this February!
General Brasstacks: The Sundarji Story – Probal DasGupta
The definitive biography of Lt. Gen. K. Sundarji, the military strategist who reshaped modern Indian warfare. From Operation Brasstacks to his controversial doctrines, DasGupta captures the brilliance and complexities of a general who thought beyond the battlefield.
General Brasstacks | Probal DasGupta
The Last of the Earth – Deepa Anappara
Anappara returns with a haunting vision of environmental collapse and human resilience. In a world running out of earth to stand on, her characters navigate survival with grace and grit. Speculative fiction that feels uncomfortably close to prophecy.
The Last of Earth | Deepa Anappara
After Nations – Rana Dasgupta
What comes after the nation-state collapses? Dasgupta envisions a world where borders blur, identities fracture, and new forms of belonging emerge from the ruins. Provocative, unsettling, and impossible to ignore—political philosophy as existential thriller.
After Nations | Rana DasGupta
The Four Life Skills – Amit Agarwal
Cut through the noise with four essential skills that actually matter. Agarwal distills decades of wisdom into practical tools for navigating modern life with clarity and confidence. Self-help that respects your intelligence and your time.
The Four Life Skills | Amit Agarwal
Stories from a Kargili Kitchen – Yash Saxena
Food as memory, survival, and resistance in one of India’s most contested regions. Saxena serves up recipes wrapped in stories of conflict, community, and resilience. A cookbook that nourishes understanding as much as appetite.
Stories From A Kargili Kitchen | Yash Saxena
Voices in the Wind: Folk Tales, Oral Traditions, and Living Literatures – Namita Gokhale, Malashri Lal
The stories grandmothers told, finally preserved and celebrated. Gokhale and Lal curate India’s oral traditions—the folk tales, songs, and wisdom that shaped cultures before anyone wrote them down. Living literature that refuses to be silenced.
Voices in the Wind | Namita Gokhale, Malashri Lal
Appetite – Shivranjana Rathore, Tino De Sa
Goan voices converge in an anthology about hunger—for food, belonging, love, escape. From beach shacks to colonial mansions, these stories capture the island state’s contradictions, complexities, and insatiable spirit. Appetite in all its forms, served raw.
Appetite | Shivranjana Rathore, Tino De Sa
Manifest Anything in 100 Days – Amiett Kumar
A hundred days to turn intention into reality. Kumar offers a structured roadmap for manifestation that trades magical thinking for disciplined action. For anyone tired of wishing and ready to work toward what they want.
Manifest Anything in 100 Days | Amiett Kumar
The Lady Who Carried The Monk Across The River – Pavan Varma
A philosophical tale wrapped in parable, where a simple act of kindness reveals layers of meaning about attachment, ego, and enlightenment. Varma transforms ancient wisdom into contemporary meditation on letting go and moving forward.
The Lady Who Carried The Monk Across The River | Pavan K. Varma
Thirteen tales where the dead won’t rest and the living should be afraid. Chakravarty summons spirits, curses, and the kind of atmospheric dread that lingers after you’ve turned off the lights. Indian gothic at its chilling best.
Creeping Shadows | Aruna Chakravarti
A Life in Public Service: Nepal from Autocracy to Democracy – Bhesh Bahadur Thapa; Translator: Prawin Adhikari
A statesman’s front-row view of Nepal’s tumultuous journey from monarchy to democracy. Thapa’s memoir chronicles decades of political upheaval, diplomatic maneuvering, and nation-building. History told by those who shaped it, translated with precision and care.
A Life in Public Service | Bhekh Bahadur Thapa
Marketing that Works: Building Breakthrough Brands in India – Shivaji Das Gupta
The playbook for building brands that break through India’s chaotic marketplace. Das Gupta combines case studies, strategy, and ground-level insights for anyone trying to make their mark. Marketing wisdom earned in the trenches, not boardrooms.
Marketing That Works | Shivaji DasGupta
Busy Women: Building Commerce and Culture in Middle India – Shinjini Kumar
The untold story of women entrepreneurs reshaping India’s heartland economy. Kumar spotlights the busy women juggling businesses, families, and cultural expectations—creating commerce on their own terms. Economic history with the women finally centered.
Busy Women | Shinjini Kumar
Colombo: Port of Call – Ajay Kamalakaran
A travelogue through Sri Lanka’s capital where history docks at every corner. Kamalakaran navigates Colombo’s colonial past, civil war scars, and cosmopolitan present with the eye of someone who sees cities as living narratives. Travel writing as cultural archaeology.
Colombo | Ajay Kamalakaran
Rebellion in Verse – Raghavan Srinivasan
Poetry as protest, dissent set to meter. Srinivasan curates verses that challenged power, questioned authority, and refused silence across centuries of Indian literary tradition. A collection that reminds us rebellion has always found its voice in rhyme.
Rebellion in Verse | Raghavan Srinivasan
LeanSpark – Jaideep Prabhu, Priyank Narayan, Mukesh Sud
Innovation on a budget, brilliance without burning cash. The authors reveal how constraint breeds creativity and frugal engineering powers breakthrough success. Essential reading for anyone building something meaningful with limited resources and unlimited ambition.
Lean Spark | Jaideep Prabhu, Priyank Narayan, Mukesh Sud
Hanuman – Vimlesh Kanti Verma
The monkey god reimagined through fresh eyes and contemporary context. Verma explores Hanuman’s enduring relevance—devotion, strength, loyalty—in ways that resonate beyond temple walls. Mythology that breathes in the present tense and speaks to modern seekers.
Hanuman | Vimlesh Kanti Verma, Sunanda Verma, Avi Asthana
The Alphabets of Africa – Abhay K
A poet’s journey through the continent, one letter at a time. From Algeria to Zimbabwe, Abhay K captures Africa’s diversity, complexity, and beauty in twenty-six poetic meditations. Travel poetry that expands geography into philosophy and observation into understanding.
The Alphabets of Africa | Abhay K
The Art of Being Fabulous: 10 Rules for a Beautiful Mind & Life – Shalini Passi
Fabulousness as philosophy, glamour as lifestyle strategy. Passi shares ten rules for cultivating beauty that starts in the mind and radiates outward. Part manifesto, part style guide, all unapologetic celebration of living luxuriously and authentically.
The Art of Being Fabulous | Shalini Passi
The Longevity Code: The Science and Strategy of Resilience, Performance, and Lifelong Vitality – Pullela Gopichand and Sophia Pathak
The badminton legend and wellness expert decode what it takes to sustain peak performance across decades. From physical resilience to mental fortitude, this is longevity science grounded in athletic wisdom. A blueprint for thriving, not just surviving.
The Longevity Code | Dr Sophia Pathai, Pullela Gopichand
Era of India – Minhaz Merchant
India’s moment has arrived—but what comes next? Merchant analyzes the political, economic, and cultural forces positioning India on the global stage. Part analysis, part projection, this is essential reading for understanding where the nation stands and where it’s headed.
Era of India | Minhaz Merchant
From battlefields to kitchens, poetry to policy, February’s releases remind us that stories come from everywhere and speak to everyone. Whether you’re manifesting dreams, building brands, or simply seeking a good ghost story, this month has something that will catch your eye and hold your attention. Here’s to a month of discovery between the covers.
March is a month that often asks us to look inward, and our new releases are here to guide the way. From the intimate reflections of Bloom and Queerly Beloved to the sweeping generational sagas in This is Where the Serpent Lives, our latest shelf is an exploration of the human heart in all its forms. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of modern relationships in What They Don’t Tell You About Marriage or finding stillness in From Chaos to Clarity, these books offer a home for every reader.
Ready to dive in?
From Chaos to Clarity – Shonali Sabherwal
Strategies for Cancer Prevention and Remission Acclaimed nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal offers hope for those affected by cancer. This essential guide provides detox plans, nutritious recipes, and holistic dietary strategies for prevention, remission, and treatment phases—empowering readers with practical advice during life’s toughest battles.
From Chaos to Clarity | Shonali Sabherwal
Half of Forever – Ravinder Singh
What if forever isn’t measured in time, but depth? Ravin and Heer’s chance meetings grow into unintended love but at a heavy cost. Ravinder Singh’s reflection on transformative love quietly closes his trilogy following I Too Had a Love Story.
Half of Forever | Ravinder Singh
Queerly Beloved – Farhad J Dadyburjor
Ved Mehra and Carlos Silva plan their big fat Indian wedding, but complications mount: his mother’s smitten, his father’s secret surfaces, and his ex returns. Farhad J Dadyburjor’s sparkling romcom celebrates love in all its messy, complicated glory.
Queerly Beloved | Farhad J Dadyburjor
What They Don’t Tell You About Marriage – Yashodhara Lal
Couples therapist Yashodhara Lal reveals the real work after the honeymoon. Drawing on clinical experience and her two-decade marriage, she normalizes conflict and offers practical tools for managing differences, money, sex, in-laws, parenting, and betrayal with clarity.
What They Don’t Tell You About Marriage | Yashodhara Lal
Rebel English Academy – Mohammed Hanif
After a political execution, OK Town erupts. At the Rebel English Academy, refugee Sabiha arrives with a gun and secrets. Meanwhile, disgraced Captain Gul hunts protesters. Mohammed Hanif’s wry, searing novel explores political power, religion, sexuality, and dissent in modern Pakistan.
Rebel English Academy | Mohammed Hanif
The Yellow Metaphor – Jiban Narah
99 Selected Poems: 1990–2023 Three decades of Jiban Narah’s shimmering poetry from Assam and India’s North-east. Steeped in Mising and Assamese lore, his verses carry the Brahmaputra’s memory, displacement’s ache, and quiet rebellions—translated luminously by Anindita Kar into incandescent, metaphor-rich reflections.
Leading scholars reappraise Indian forests as living, contested spaces shaped by power, culture, and society. Spanning prehistory to present, this volume examines forests as ecological lifelines and sites of legend, memory, and scientific knowledge—asking fundamental questions about their fate.
Deepa and Ruchi’s swift childhood friendship follows them from India to Connecticut suburbs. As class disparity, family needs, and desire test their bond, a dangerous secret about wealth forces both women to weigh loyalty against survival in their burgeoning Indian American community.
Every Happiness | Reena Shah
This Is Where the Serpent Lives – Daniyal Mueenuddin
From Pakistan’s chaotic cities to lawless countryside, Daniyal Mueenuddin follows interconnected characters struggling between moral paths and worldly survival within systems of caste, capital, and social power. Intimate and epic, this tour de force destined to become a contemporary classic.
This Is Where The Serpent Lives | Daniyal Mueenuddin
Hot Butter Cuttlefish – Ashok Ferrey
Personal trainer Malik relocates to sleepy Kalabola village when COVID strikes. In Ashok Ferrey’s deliciously dark Sri Lankan romantic comedy, lines blur between hero and villain, love arrives in strange disguises, politics get personal, and Karma may be the true leading lady.
Hot Butter Cuttlefish | Ashok Ferrey
Bloom – Aisha Sharma
Aisha Sharma explores the delicate balance between resilience and vulnerability. Through intimate reflections, Bloom guides readers toward self-compassion, celebrating the quiet power found in embracing both our strength and softness on the journey to authentic self-love and personal growth.
Bloom | Aisha Sharma
Vikram and Betaal – Night of The Blood Mood – Amit Juneja
Silicon Valley entrepreneur Vikram abandons everything when his wife faces terminal cancer. A desperate bargain with a mysterious priest binds him to capture the ancient pishach Betaal. Amit Juneja’s haunting tale explores where ancient folklore collides with modern reason, testing love’s limits.
Vikram and Betaal | Amit Juneja
Winning People Without Losing Yourself – Ankur Warikoo
This collection of sharp, lived truths reveals how people behave, why, and how to respond with clarity instead of chaos. One page, one insight—a practical guide for dealing with people without exhaustion.
Winning People Without Losing Yourself | Ankur Warikoo
Evolve – Debashis Sarkar
Could intuition create blind spots? Debashis Sarkar explores counterintuitive thinking—questioning assumptions and embracing strange strategies. Drawing from psychology, economics, philosophy, and technology, this result-oriented toolkit offers research-backed principles for unlocking hidden opportunities and competitive edges through innovation.
Evolve | Debashis Sarkar
Unruly – Upasana Sarraju
Prize-winning research that makes you laugh first, think later. Funny, unhinged, and quietly radical, this love letter celebrates weird science, weirder scientists, and stubborn curiosity.
Unruly | Upasana Sarraju
Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake – Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe
In the 21st century, former war reporter Katharina shelters a fugitive while baking cakes from an old recipe. In the 17th century, Santiago defies The Company by marrying local pepper farmer Maria. Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe explores colonial exploitation’s complex legacies.
Father Cabraal’s Recipe for Love Cake | Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe
The Manifestation Mindset – Vrindda Bhatt
Everything you want is within reach—master the mindset to claim it. Vrindda Bhatt’s science-backed guide moves beyond wishful thinking to grounded transformation. Through practical exercises covering health, relationships, money, and career, readers learn to train their minds for purposeful, fulfilling action.
The Manifestation Mindset | Vrindda Bhatt
Soft Kill – Shubhra Krishan
A powerful man is found dead in 1990s Delhi — no clues, no suspects, no justice. When the cold case resurfaces, buried secrets and dangerous lies unravel, forcing the truth into the light where it can finally kill.
The Booker longlist is here — and it’s anything but boring.
This year’s 10 books take us from shrimp-shanking on a foggy British coast to a gold-bar murder on a Yorkshire farm, from trains where strangers meet and fall in love to Greek cafés where grief lingers like cigarette smoke.
And we at Penguin are celebrating big: five of these bold, brilliant titles are by our authors, including Kiran Desai’s luminous new novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.
The Books Everyone Will Be Talking About
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (Penguin Random House India)
When Sonia and Sunny first glimpse each other on an overnight train, they are captivated — yet haunted by their families’ failed matchmaking in the past. Sonia, an aspiring novelist back in India after a painful chapter abroad, and Sunny, a struggling journalist fleeing family strife in New York, embark on a search for happiness together. Spanning continents and generations, this is a sweeping tale of love, family, and the alienations of our modern world — and Kiran Desai at her most ambitious yet.
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny || Kiran Desai
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (Penguin Random House UK)
Thomas lives a quiet, unchanging life scraping for shrimp on a gloomy British beach, until a charismatic American visitor promises him a future beyond the horizon. This haunting and timeless novel captures the tension between a life constrained by circumstance and the risky pursuit of dreams.
Seascraper || Benjamin Wood
Audition by Katie Kitamura (Penguin Random House UK)
An actress and a much younger man meet for lunch in Manhattan. Who are they to each other? And what truths lie beneath the performances of their everyday lives? With her trademark precision, Kitamura unspools two competing narratives, rewriting our understanding of intimacy, identity, and the roles we play.
Audition || Katie Kitamura
Flashlight by Susan Choi (Penguin Random House UK)
From post-war Japan to suburban America and the North Korean regime, Choi crafts a generational saga teeming with intelligence and heart. When ten-year-old Louisa’s father vanishes on a coastal walk, the reverberations of that night echo across decades and continents in this hypnotic, layered novel.
Flashlight || Susan Choi
Flesh by David Szalay (Penguin Random House UK)
An unflinching meditation on mortality, vulnerability, and desire, Szalay’s novel confronts the very essence of what it means to inhabit a human body.
Flesh || David Szalay
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits (Faber & Faber)
A poignant and often humorous road trip novel that asks: what’s left when your children are grown and the roles that once defined you have shifted? Markovits delivers a compassionate portrait of long-term marriage and midlife reckoning.
The Rest of Our Lives || Ben Markovits
Universality by Natasha Brown (Faber & Faber)
On a Yorkshire farm, a man is brutally bludgeoned with a gold bar, leading a young journalist deep into a web of power, rhetoric, and rebellion. With the incisiveness that made Assembly a critical hit, Brown delivers a slippery, daring novel about truth, language, and how narratives shape our world.
Universality || Natasha Brown
Love Forms by Claire Adam (Faber & Faber)
Dawn Bishop left Trinidad as a teenager and gave up her baby for adoption in Venezuela. Decades later, a stranger contacts her claiming to be that lost child. In this tender, heart-wrenching story, Adam explores motherhood, longing, and the many forms that love can take.
Love Forms || Claire Adam
Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga (Daunt Books)
An Albanian interpreter in New York becomes entangled in the traumas of those she translates for — and in her own buried memories. Propulsive and unsettling, Xhoga’s debut is a sharp meditation on compassion, communication, and the cost of unchecked altruism.
Misinterpretation || Ledia Xhoga
One Boat by Jonathan Buckley (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
After her father’s death, Teresa returns to a small Greek coastal town to grieve, reflect, and revisit her past encounters there. Quietly powerful and exquisitely constructed, Buckley’s novel grapples with identity, free will, and the enduring ties that bind us.
One Boat || Jonathan Buckley
Celebrating storytelling without borders
It’s fearless. It’s genre-blurring. It’s full of books that will make you think, feel, and maybe even yell a little.
The shortlist drops in September, and the winner will be revealed later this year. Until then, start reading — these are the books everyone will be talking about.
Silent Journeys by Benyamin (translated by Anoop Prathapan) A poignant collection that captures lives shaped by migration, memory, and silence. Benyamin returns with stories that are deeply human, mapping the quiet dislocations of global movement.
Silent Journeys || Benyamin (translated by Anoop Prathapan)
Caste: A Global Story by Suraj Yengde An incisive investigation into caste as a global system of inequality, spanning continents and centuries. Through personal history and sharp analysis, Yengde challenges readers to confront the persistence of social hierarchies.
Caste: A Global Story || Suraj Yengde
Caught Yapping: A History of Cricket in 100 Quotes by Abhishek Mukherjee From sledges to stump mics, this book tells the story of cricket through its most iconic words. It’s a witty, insightful tribute to the voices that have shaped the game.
Caught Yapping: A History of Cricket in 100 Quotes || Abhishek Mukherjee
The Paths We Choose by Monica Rana A heartfelt memoir of resilience, ambition, and finding one’s way in a world full of expectations. Rana reflects on identity, purpose, and the power of choosing differently.
The Paths We Choose || Monica Rana
The Calm Prescription by Luke Coutinho A science-backed guide to managing stress, improving health, and living with intention. This book offers 75 simple yet powerful strategies to unlock long-term wellness.
The Calm Prescription || Luke Coutinho
Charlottesville by Deborah Baker A gripping narrative that examines the fault lines of race and memory in modern America. Baker blends reportage with reflection in this chronicle of a city—and a country—at a crossroads.
Charlottesville || Deborah Baker
Enter Prompt: How to Navigate India’s AI Future by Barsali Bhattacharyya & Sidharth Sreekumar A crisp, compelling primer on India’s emerging AI landscape. This book explores how technology is reshaping jobs, ethics, and everyday life in the world’s largest democracy.
Enter Prompt: How to Navigate India’s AI Future || Barsali Bhattacharyya & Sidharth Sreekumar
Breaking the Glass Ceiling by Lt. Gen. Shakti Gurung The inspiring memoir of the Indian Army’s first ethnic Gorkha lieutenant general. It’s a tale of perseverance, service, and rising above historical and systemic barriers.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling || Lt. Gen. Shakti Gurung
Rhythmic Parenting by Salone Zutshi and Aprajita D. Sadhu Parenting meets neuroscience in this guide to building strong, secure family rhythms. Grounded in research and experience, it offers a roadmap to help children thrive in a fast-paced world.
Rhythmic Parenting || Salone Zutshi, Aprajita D. Sadhu
Secession of the Successful by Sanjaya Baru A provocative analysis of regional aspirations and economic divides in modern India. Baru explores how ambition, growth, and identity are driving a new kind of secessionism.
Secession of the Successful || Sanjaya Baru
Shoorveer: The Story of the Hat-Trick Fauji Col R.K. Sharma by Col R.K. Sharma The true story of a soldier who served on three critical frontlines. Col Sharma’s memoir is a testament to grit, leadership, and unwavering patriotism.
Shoorveer: The Story of the Hat-Trick Fauji Col R.K. Sharma || Col R.K. Sharma
This Book Will Not Teach You Parenting by Riri Trivedi & Anagha Nagpal A refreshing take on raising kids that throws away the rulebook. Blunt, funny, and full of real-life insights, it celebrates parenting as a messy, evolving journey.
This Book Will Not Teach You Parenting || Riri Trivedi & Anagha Nagpal
On the Brink of Belief: Queer Writing from South Asia edited by Kazim Ali An evocative anthology that captures the complexities of queer life and belief in South Asia. These bold, intimate voices challenge binaries and carve space for new forms of expression.
On the Brink of Belief: Queer Writing from South Asia || Kazim Ali
Holy Tirthankars: In the Light of Heartfulness by Daaji A spiritual exploration of Jain Tirthankars through the lens of Heartfulness meditation. Daaji brings ancient wisdom into conversation with present-day inner growth.
Holy Tirthankars || Daaji
One Minute Wisdom by Debashis Chatterjee Short, sharp reflections on leadership, learning, and living with purpose. Perfect for busy readers, each insight is a spark for transformation.
One Minute Wisdom || Debashis Chatterjee
The Nurturing Quotient by Rajesh Ramakrishnan & Nirupama Subramanian A practical framework for leaders who want to grow people, not just profits. It blends empathy and strategy to build more conscious leadership cultures.
The Nurturing Quotient || Rajesh Ramakrishnan & Nirupama Subramanian
The Power of Gold by Sundaravalli Narayanaswami A sweeping history of gold’s influence on India’s economy, society, and identity. From temples to trade routes, it reveals how the precious metal has shaped a civilization.
The Power of Gold || Sundaravalli Narayanaswami
Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel A radical reimagining of mythology through ten fierce female lenses. Patel blends rebellion, divinity, and power in this bold narrative retelling.
Ten Incarnations of Rebellion || Vaishnavi Patel
The Conscience Network by Sugata Srinivasaraju A riveting account of journalists, thinkers, and dissenters during India’s Emergency. This book is a tribute to those who stood their ground when it mattered most.
The Conscience Network || Sugata Srinivasaraju
The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris An exposé of one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical empires. Harris uncovers a web of corporate deception, health crises, and broken trust.
The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson || Gardiner Harris
In a historic win for regional storytelling and translation, Heart Lamp, a collection of stories by Banu Mushtaq and translated by Deepa Bhasthi, has been awarded the 2025 International Booker Prize. Originally written in Kannada, Heart Lamp offers a searing, tender, and witty look at the lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India.
Heart Lamp || Banu Mushtaq
Through a rich, spoken style that is both colloquial and emotionally charged, Banu Mushtaq crafts portraits that are as unforgettable as they are urgent. Her characters — spirited children, resilient grandmothers, helpless husbands, and, above all, the mothers who carry unbearable emotional burdens — are rendered with piercing empathy and insight.
A former journalist and lawyer, Mushtaq’s commitment to justice and women’s rights pulses through every page. She does not shy away from the tensions of caste, patriarchy, and religious conservatism — instead, she lays them bare, and often with sharp wit.
Translated with lyrical precision by Deepa Bhasthi, Heart Lamp is more than a collection of stories — it is a living archive of resistance, tenderness, and truth. Its recognition by the Booker jury is a powerful affirmation of the importance of regional voices and the transformative power of translation.
This win marks a watershed moment not just for Kannada literature, but for all the unsung stories that are waiting — burning — to be told.
We are thrilled to announce that five out of the six shortlisted titles for The International Booker Prize 2025 are published or distributed by Penguin Random House. This impressive lineup showcases the diversity and excellence of our publishing list and we are honoured to share this news with our readers and authors.
The shortlisted titles include:
Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq
In Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq exquisitely captures the everyday lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Published originally in the Kannada, these portraits of family and community tensions testify to Mushtaq’s years as a journalist and lawyer, in which she tirelessly championed women’s rights and protested all forms of caste and religious oppression. Written in a style at once witty, vivid, colloquial, moving and excoriating, it’s in her characters – the sparky children, the audacious grandmothers, the buffoonish maulvis and thug brothers, the oft-hapless husbands, and the mothers above all, surviving their feelings at great cost – that Mushtaq emerges as an astonishing writer and observer of human nature, building disconcerting emotional heights out of a rich spoken style. Her opus has garnered both censure from conservative quarters as well India’s most prestigious literary awards; this is a collection sure to be read for years to come.
Heart Lamp || Banu Mushtaq
A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre
A Leopard-Skin Hat may be Anne Serre’s most moving novel yet. A masterpiece of simplicity, emotion and elegance, it is the story of an intense friendship between the Narrator and his close childhood friend, Fanny, who suffers from profound psychological disorders. A series of short scenes paints the portrait of a strong-willed and tormented young woman battling many demons, and of the Narrator’s loving and anguished attachment to her. Serre poignantly depicts the bewildering back and forth between hope and despair involved in such a relationship, while playfully calling into question the very form of the novel. Written in the aftermath of the death of the author’s little sister, A Leopard-Skin Hat is both the celebration of a tragically foreshortened life and a valedictory farewell.
A Leopard-Skin Hat || Anne Serre
On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle
On the Calculation of VolumeBalle is hypnotic and masterful in her remixing of the endless recursive day, creating curious little folds of time and foreshadowings: her flashbacks light up inside the text like old flash bulbs.The first volume’s gravitational pull—a force inverse to its constriction—has the effect of a strong tranquilizer, but a drug under which your powers of observation only grow sharper and more acute. Give in to the book’s logic (its minute movements, its thrilling shifts, its slant wit, its slowing of time) and its spell is utterly intoxicating.writing that listens.
On The Calculation of Volume || Solvej Balle
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
Anna and Tom, an expat couple, have fashioned a dream life for themselves in Berlin. They are young digital “creatives” exploring the excitements of the city, freelancers without too many constraints, who spend their free time cultivating house plants and their images online. At first, they reasonably deduce that they’ve turned their passion for aesthetics into a viable, even enviable career, but the years go by, and Anna and Tom grow bored. As their friends move back home or move on, so their own work and sex life—and the life of Berlin itself—begin to lose their luster. An attempt to put their politics into action fizzles in embarrassed self-doubt. Edging closer to forty, they try living as digital nomads only to discover that, wherever they go, “the brand of oat milk in their flat whites was the same.”
Perfection—Vincenzo Latronico’s first book to be translated into English—is a scathing novel about contemporary existence, a tale of two people gradually waking up to find themselves in various traps, wondering how it all came to be. Was it a lack of foresight, or were they just born too late?
Perfection || Vincenzo Latronico
Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami
In the distant future, humans are on the verge of extinction and have settled in small tribes across the planet under the observation and care of “Mothers.” Some children are made in factories, from cells of rabbits and dolphins; some live by getting nutrients from water and light, like plants. The survival of the race depends on the interbreeding of these and other alien beings–but it is far from certain that connection, love, reproduction, and evolution will persist among the inhabitants of this faltering new world.
Unfolding over fourteen interconnected episodes spanning geological eons, at once technical and pastoral, mournful and utopic, Under the Eye of the Big Bird presents an astonishing vision of the end of our species as we know it.
Under The Eye of The Big Bird || Hiromi Kawakami
These titles represent some of the best in contemporary fiction, exploring themes that range from identity and culture to philosophy and human relationships. We are proud to bring these stories to readers in India and around the world and we look forward to seeing which title will take home the prize.
Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and wisdom of women across the world. What better way to honor this day than by immersing yourself in stories and insights that highlight their journeys, struggles, and triumphs? Whether you’re looking for personal memoirs, feminist perspectives, or cultural narratives, here’s a list of audiobooks that are perfect for this special occasion.
1. Unfinished by Priyanka Chopra
A deeply personal and inspiring memoir, Unfinished takes you through the incredible journey of global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas. From her childhood in India to her rise as an international star and philanthropist, this book is a testament to ambition, resilience, and the power of believing in oneself.
Unfinished || Priyanka Chopra Jonas
2. Sita by Devdutt Pattanaik
A retelling of the Ramayana from Sita’s perspective, this audiobook presents her as a strong and independent figure, rather than just a victim of fate. Devdutt Pattanaik offers a refreshing look at this iconic character, making it a must-listen for those interested in mythology and feminist narratives.
Sita || Devdutt Pattanaik
3. Grandma’s Bag of Stories by Sudha Murty
Perfect for listeners of all ages, this collection of heartwarming tales by Sudha Murty brings back the nostalgia of childhood storytelling. Through simple yet powerful stories, she imparts wisdom, values, and a deep appreciation for Indian culture.
Grandma’s Bag of Stories || Sudha Murty
4. Sati Savitri by Devdutt Pattanaik
Devdutt Pattanaik brings to life the stories of legendary women like Sati, Savitri, and others from Indian mythology. These tales explore themes of devotion, courage, and sacrifice, shedding light on the evolving role of women in cultural narratives.
Sati Savitri || Devdutt Pattanaik
5. Equal Yet Different by Anita Bhogle
An insightful audiobook that explores gender dynamics in the professional world, Equal Yet Different provides a practical guide to overcoming challenges and leveraging unique strengths. Anita Bhogle offers valuable perspectives on leadership, ambition, and the evolving role of women in various industries.
Equal, yet Different || Anita Bhogle
6. Seeing Like a Feminist by Nivedita Menon
For those looking for a thought-provoking read on feminism, Seeing Like a Feminist challenges societal norms and structures that define gender roles. Nivedita Menon’s sharp and engaging analysis makes this audiobook a must-listen for anyone interested in gender equality.
Seeing Like A Feminist || Nivedita Menon
7. Dr. Cuterus by Tanaya Narendra
Dr. Tanaya Narendra, popularly known as Dr. Cuterus, brings a refreshing and informative take on women’s health in this audiobook. With humor and scientific accuracy, she debunks myths about reproductive health, sexuality, and overall well-being, making it an essential listen for every woman.
Dr. Cuterus || Dr. Tanya Narendra
8. Treasures of Lakshmi by Namita Gokhale
This audiobook beautifully explores the mythology and symbolism of Goddess Lakshmi, representing abundance, prosperity, and feminine power. Namita Gokhale’s storytelling weaves together history, devotion, and cultural insights, making it a fascinating listen.
Treasures of Lakshmi || Namita Gokhale
Why Audiobooks?
In today’s fast-paced world, audiobooks provide an accessible way to absorb knowledge and inspiration while commuting, exercising, or simply relaxing. These stories and perspectives serve as powerful reminders of the strength, wisdom, and contributions of women across history and modern society.
This Women’s Day, let’s celebrate by listening, learning, and empowering ourselves through these incredible audiobooks.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to immerse yourself in stories of love, passion, and second chances. Whether you’re celebrating love, healing from heartbreak, or simply in the mood for an emotional rollercoaster, these audiobooks are perfect companions for the season. Here are eight must-listen audiobooks that will make you feel all the feels this Valentine’s Day.
World’s Best Girlfriend – Can Love Survive the Test of Time?
A heartfelt story about love, longing, and the struggles of maintaining relationships, World’s Best Girlfriend is an emotional ride that will leave you rooting for its characters. If you believe in love that defies the odds, this audiobook is for you.
World’s Best Girlfriend || Durjoy Datta
Wish I Could Tell You – A Story of Unspoken Words
Sometimes, the most powerful emotions are the ones left unsaid. Wish I Could Tell You is a poignant audiobook that explores love, loss, and the regrets that come with silence. This listen will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to express their feelings.
When I Am with You – A Love That Feels Like Home
This is a tale of comfort, connection, and the beauty of finding love when you least expect it. If you’re looking for a warm, uplifting romance that will make you believe in soulmates, When I Am with You is a must-listen.
I Don’t Love You Anymore: Moving On and Living Your Best Life – A Guide to Healing
Not all Valentine’s Day listens have to be about finding love—sometimes, they’re about finding yourself. I Don’t Love You Anymore is an empowering audiobook for anyone going through heartbreak, offering insights on moving on and embracing self-love.
Fool Me Twice – A Tale of Betrayal and Second Chances
What happens when love is tested by betrayal? Fool Me Twice takes listeners on a journey through deception, forgiveness, and redemption, making it a gripping listen for anyone who loves a story filled with twists and emotional depth.
Something I Never Told You – A Secret That Changes Everything
This audiobook delves into the complexities of love, secrets, and the courage it takes to reveal one’s true feelings. If you enjoy stories with deep emotional conflicts and powerful revelations, Something I Never Told You will keep you hooked.
I Too Had A Love Story – A Classic Tale of Love and Loss
A heart-wrenching love story that stays with you long after the last page, I Too Had A Love Story is a must-listen for anyone who has experienced love in its purest form. It’s a reminder that love, even when lost, remains eternal in our hearts.
All That Sizzles – A Passionate Romance to Ignite Your Heart
For those who love steamy, passionate romance, All That Sizzles is the perfect pick. Full of sizzling chemistry and irresistible characters, this audiobook is sure to add some heat to your Valentine’s Day listening list.
As December wraps up the year, it’s time to lose yourself in stories that feel like a warm hug or a thrilling escape. End the year on a high note—one page at a time! Check out our picks—you might find your next favourite!
Gods, Guns and Missionaries || Manu S. Pillai
In Gods, Guns and Missionaries, Manu S. Pillai takes us through remarkable dynamics. With an arresting cast of characters—maharajahs, poets, gun-wielding revolutionaries, politicians, polemicists, philosophers and clergymen—this book is ambitious in its scope and provocative in its position. Lucid and exhaustive, it is, at once, a political history, a review of Hindu culture and a study of the social forces that prepared the ground for Hindu nationalism. Turning away from simplistic ideas on religious evolution and European imperialism, the past as it appears here is more complicated—and infinitely richer—than popular narratives allow.
Parde ke Peechhey || Ila Arun
Ila Arun burst into public view with the controversial song from Khal Nayak (1993), Choli Ke Peechhey. But several years before that, she was already well known for her contribution to Rajasthani folk music. A writer herself, with several original plays and many adaptations to her credit, this is her first book, an autobiography. Told in her inimitable style, with sincerity and a touch of humour, this is Ila at her candid best, sharing a glimpse into her life and experience onstage and backstage, parde ke peechhey.
The Notbook of Kabir || Anand
Kabir is the most alive of all dead poets. He is a fabric without stitches. No centres, no edges. Anand threads his way in. Over the years, as a publisher and editor, Anand immerses himself in the works of Babasaheb Ambedkar and other anticaste thinkers. The Notbook of Kabir is the result of this pursuit with no end in sight. This is the story of how Anand loses himself trying to find Kabir.
Caged || Gulzar, Sathya Saran
Intimate, subtle and deeply personal, Caged … Memories Have Names is probably Gulzar Saab’s first autobiography in verse. Gulzar Saab ruminates and writes in rainbow colours. From Rumi to Pablo Neruda and Jibananda Das, among others, have coloured him in myriad of hues. With this he has painted the portraits of Birju Maharaj, Mehdi Hasan, Pancham, Asha Bhosle in words. Their palpable presence, thoughts and words are etched in Gulzar Saab’s existence.
The Land of Lost Gods || Ahmet Ümit
As Yildiz Karasum, a Turkish detective, and her mysterious assistant, Tobias Becker, investigates the suspicious murders, they uncover secrets that could destroy the city that stubbornly clings on to its diversity without forgetting its past. And just as they seem to grasp the core of the missing and imperfect pieces of the puzzle, a new name is revealed… And a truth, that is beyond the reach of any mortal justice. Because when the Gods demand a sacrifice, there is always one to be chosen….
Aghori: An Untold Story || Mayur Kalbag
Subbu embarks on the most unique journey of his life, filled with indelible experiences. Aghori 1: An Untold Story is not just a tale, but an opportunity for readers to undergo an exuberant expedition that incorporates different and diverse activities that are spiritual, intriguing, ethereal and, at times, frightening.
Aghori 2: The Untold Story Continues || Mayur Kalbag
Subbu returns from the Himalayas, having spent many remarkable days with the Aghori sadhus. Three powerful mantras have been successfully embedded in him, and must now be extracted and transferred to Subbu’s revered guru. The sequel to the bestselling Aghori 1: The Untold Story is filled with spiritually invigorating adventures that readers will love.
With its focus on Nehru’s understanding of history and of India’s cultural past, the book opens a window to his deep understanding of communalism and commitment to secularism. Six decades after his demise, do Nehru’s principles which reflected the values of India’s independence movement still hold water? Candid, argumentative and thought-provoking, Nehru’s India is a brilliant work on the man who made sincere efforts to discover, champion and defend the idea of India.
The Slaying Sword || Kalki
Can Princess Kundavai fight her way through the web of political intrigue and deceit in which she is trapped? Will valiant Vandiyatevan continue to surmount the colossal challenges fate throws at him? Kalki paints a study in contrasts in The Slaying Sword, the third in the Ponniyin Selvan series, and Gowri Ramnarayan translates his world of conflicts with empathy and adroitness.
The Jewelled Crown || Kaliki
In the fourth part of the sprawling Ponniyin Selvan series, we learn more about the intricate complexities and histories propelling our characters towards their ultimate destiny. What will happen in Kadambur? The mute Mandakini Devi has been forcibly taken to Tanjavur, and Poonkuzhali rushes there to help her aunt. What will happen when the betrayed Mandakini meets the royal family?
Play to Potential || Deepak Jayaraman
Play to Potential offers a refreshing exploration of human potential, emphasizing discovery through play rather than work. Deepak Jayaraman weaves insights from his eponymous podcast, his coaching work and his lived experience to share a powerful yet simple framework that can act as a guide to navigate the pulls and pressures of life. This book is a guide to living a fulfilled life, integrating family, aspirations, value creation, and deep relationships.
The Start-Up Code || Mukesh Bansal
The Start-Up Code is more than just a guide—it’s your road map to transforming bold ideas into enduring success. Whether you’re a fledgling entrepreneur or a corporate leader aiming to ignite innovation within your organization, Bansal’s practical frameworks and proven strategies will empower you to dramatically improve your odds of success.
Why the Heck Not? || K P Singh, Aparna Jain
Through captivating anecdotes and insights, Why The Heck Not delves into Padma Bhushan awardee KP’s interactions with industry leaders, policymakers, farmers and communities. Learn how he navigated challenges, fostered collaborations, and revolutionised the Indian real estate landscape. A must-read for entrepreneurs, business enthusiasts, and anyone seeking inspiration.
The Power of Decision Making || Manoj Tripathi
The Power of Decision-Making is a collection of powerful learnings that will change the way you think about making choices. It will help you make decisions for the better to achieve lasting success in different walks of life. Conceived as a self-help guide, the book includes stories and quotes from some of the most successful people, whose decisions have changed their lives for the better.
The Content Creator Handbook || Varun Mayya, Achina Sirohi Mayya
Every day, millions of videos are uploaded, but only a handful break through to the mainstream. What separates viral content from forgotten content? It’s not luck. It’s not talent—it’s strategy. In this no-nonsense guide, Varun and Achina Mayya—creators of multiple successful YouTube channels and online businesses—reveal the strategies, tactics and insider knowledge that have helped them master the art and science of content creation.
How to Suffer Well || Peter Hollins
Life is tough, so you better get a helmet. You’ll run into pain, anguish, and obstacles. But who says that they need to affect you? How to Suffer Well is a literal guidebook to learn how to defeat the voices in your head that tell you to give up. Instead, they’ll be replaced with voices that tell you it’ll be okay, this will pass, and life can be happy despite the suffering; only if you know how to suffer well.
The Science of Attraction || Patrick King
Like all human interaction, even love is primarily guided by our hormones, and there is a definitive science to attraction. This book is your field manual to understand the instinctual, and evolutionary triggers of attraction. The Science of Attraction is an in-depth look at human attraction and what draws people together. Diagnosing and recommending highly actionable steps to take your dating life to the next level. No tricks, no manipulation; only getting inside the human psyche.
