Monday, May 30, 2016

Making Sense of Change Management - Esther Cameron & Mike Green


A Complete Guide to the Models, Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change
The world we live in continues to change at an intense rate. 
The rate of change and discovery outpaces our individual ability to keep up with it. 
The organizations we work in or rely on to meet our needs and wants are also changing dramatically, in terms of their strategies, their structures,their systems, their boundaries and of course their expectations of their staff and their managers. 
Written for students and professionals alike, Making Sense of Change Management is the classic text in the field. 
It is aimed at readers who want to understand why change happens, how it happens and what needs to be done to make change a welcome concept rather than a dreaded one. 
It offers insights into the many frameworks, models and ways of approaching change and helps the reader apply the right approach to each unique situation.

[Book Description Source: www.amazon.com ] 

Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 4.17 out of 5 (6 Ratings, 0 Reviews)
My Rating 4 out of 5 
My Comments: Quite a comprehensive & useful guide for change management professionals. Nice explanation of the theories underpinning change management.  


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Sunday, May 29, 2016

Stories Told by the Mother: Part 1 - The Mother (Mirra Alfassa)


During her evening classes in the 1950s, the Mother sometimes told stories to those gathered around her at the Aurobindo Ashram playground.
These stories rose naturally in the course of conversation, as illustrations of the points she wished to make.
Often she recounted incidents from her own life - her experiences in France, Algeria, Japan and India.
The angry lion in the Paris zoo, the children who made friends with the sun, the occult feats of Madame Theon, the woman who knew how to walk, the enchanting gardens of Tokyo, the clocks that stopped all at once in Sri Aurobindo's room - there are are fifty such stories in this book, suitable both for the young and the old. 
[Source: Back Cover of the Book] 

Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 4.25 out of 5 (4 Ratings, 0 Reviews)
My Rating 2 out of 5.  

Buying Options 
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Kitnay Aadmi Thay - Diptakirti Chaudhuri


Completely Useless Bollywood Trivia
Lights! Camera! Trivia! 
What was the name of the film they were shooting in Rangeela?. 
What was the Amul hoarding when Shahenshah released?.
Who has the longest-winning streak in Filmfare awards?.
Did Johnny Walker get his name from the whiskey or was it the other way round?. 
If Bollywood questions keep you awake at nights, this is the book you want to read. 
Packed with 50 lists and 500+ entries, it is a multiplex of pointless Bollywood gyaan.
Separated in eight logic-less sections and without a contents page(or index), it is a book for dipping into and zipping through.
Remember your favorite Bollywood film- fast, action-packed, mad, packed with colorful characters and a little bit of everything?
Well, they made this book out of it.
[Book Description Source: www.amazon.in ] 

Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 3.56 out of 5 (72 Ratings, 15 Reviews)
My Rating 4 out of 5.  
My Comments: A must for all the Bollywood trivia buffs !  

Buying Options 
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(Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.)

Monday, May 23, 2016

The Steradian Trail by M.N. Krish


They don’t come better than Divya. 
‘Uber-smart’ does not even begin to describe it. 
And even a single-digit All-India rank in everything is nothing more than a left-handed demonstration of the kind of stuff she is made of. 
But the limits of her prowess are suddenly tested when her professor, Lakshman, springs a bizarre new assignment on her—helping out Joshua Ezekiel. 
A world - renowned computer scientist at MIT, Joshua is now in India and in deep, deep trouble. 
A criminal genius who happens to be his former student is brutally murdered, leaving Joshua trapped in the mess and mayhem that follow. 
With Lakshman and Divya firmly on his side, Joshua begins digging up his crooked proteges sinister trail of secrets - secrets which spiral out of an ancient Indian city and unleash shockwaves much, much beyond.... 
 [Book Description Source: www.amazon.com ] 

A mind blowing cocktail of science and religion, mythology and technology, history and human greed, The Steradian Trail fires the starting shot of an explosive new series in lifestyle.. 
It is a highly original mystery-thriller that unravels hidden connections between computers, technology, religion, culture and an intelligent crime that will wow readers.
When the MIT professor of computer science, Joshua Ezekiel comes down to India for an academic visit, little does he know that this particular trip is going to be memorable in more than one way.
Professor Lakshman, Joshua Ezekiel's long time friend and batch mate is going to be compelled to take on more than what he thought he was responsible for, when he got instated as Head of the Department of Computer Science of a prestigious technological institute of the nation. 
Divya, Professor Lakshman's brilliant protegé might have made a breakthrough, pleasantly surprising her mentor. 
But convincing her mother that she needs to concentrate on her work instead of learning how to cook or stringing together prayer notes is not going to be an easy task.
The Steradian Trail: Book #0 of The Infinity Cycle opens with a murder that sets everything into motion. 
The events lead Joshua, Lakshman and Divya through a confusing yet enthralling maze of secrets and revelations. 
This involves ancient temples and traditions, in a race against time to understand the trail of secrets left by a dead man whose actions might have an effect more profound than imaginable.

Key Features

  • The book was flagged off in Chennai as part of an innovative radio show on Chennai Live 104.8 FM.
  • Krish said that he wrote the first three books of the series over a ten-year period and there are more in the offing.
  • Plot is made up of ancient history, traditions, mathematics and present day computer science.
[Book Description Source: www.amazon.in ] 

Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 3.88 out of 5 (138 Ratings, 34 Reviews)
My Rating 4 out of 5.  
My Comments:  A racy plot and a  gripping page turner.The fact that the story is set in IIT-Madras (my alma mater) made it more interesting. 

Buying Options 
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(Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.)

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Data Science For Dummies - Lillian Pierson

Discover how data science can help you gain in-depth insight into your business – the easy way!
Jobs in data science abound, but few people have the data science skills needed to fill these increasingly important roles in organizations. 
Data Science For Dummies is the perfect starting point for IT professionals and students interested in making sense of their organization’s massive data sets and applying their findings to real-world business scenarios. 
From uncovering rich data sources to managing large amounts of data within hardware and software limitations, ensuring consistency in reporting, merging various data sources, and beyond, you’ll develop the know-how you need to effectively interpret data and tell a story that can be understood by anyone in your organization.
  • Provides a background in data science fundamentals before moving on to working with relational databases and unstructured data and preparing your data for analysis
  • Details different data visualization techniques that can be used to showcase and summarize your data
  • Explains both supervised and unsupervised machine learning, including regression, model validation, and clustering techniques
  • Includes coverage of big data processing tools like MapReduce and Hadoop
It’s a big, big data world out there – let Data Science For Dummies help you harness its power and gain a competitive edge for your organization.
[Book Description Source: www.amazon.com ]
Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 2.22 out of 5 (9 Ratings; 1 Review)
My Rating 3 out of 5. Provides a good overview of lots of topics, but definitely not written in a manner so that dummies can understand. It is more like a refresher for experts. 
Buying Options 
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(Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.)

Saturday, May 21, 2016

The Luck of the Bodkins - P.G. Wodehouse


Seize this wonderful chance to embark on a Wodehousian voyage on the luxurious liner S.S. Atlantic - in the company of Monty Bodkin, whose passion for Gertrude Butterwick knows no bounds (except those set by the wild-at-heart Hollywood starlet Lotus Blossom and her pet alligator). 
Also aboard are a movie mogul, the centre-forward for the All-England ladies hockey team and the two Tennyson brothers (one of whom has been mistaken for the late poet laureate and given a fat movie contract...). 
Also a chatty steward, and a mouse doll in which all manner of things can be hidden. 
This hilarious comic novel is Wodehouse at full sail - a voyage of pure delight.

[Book Description Source: www.amazon.in ] 

Ratings
Goodreads Rating - 4.07 out of 5 (1,136 Ratings; 77 Reviews)
My Rating 3 out of 5.  

Buying Options 
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(Anybody can read Kindle books—even without a Kindle device—with the FREE Kindle app for smartphones and tablets.)