Read about economic crisis, health secrets and business (IANS Books This Week)

NEW DELHI - The books we chose this weekend reflect the tide of the times… a carefree mix of substance and entertainment.

1. Book: “Global Crisis Recession and Uneven Recovery”; Written by Y.V. Reddy; Published by Orient Blackswan; Priced at Rs.585

The worst of the economic crisis has passed and the global financial system is picking through the wreckage of its reckless ambition. Recovery has started at different places at different phases, but it promises everywhere to be prolonged and uneven.

The writer, a former RBI governor, provides a thinker and policy maker’s understanding of the genesis, anatomy and impact of the financial crisis and of the lessons it offered. It contains perspective and analysis that the author has not published before.

2. Book: “Walk on Sand Before You Sleep on Silk”; Written by Promod Batra and Vijay Batra; Published by Full Circle; Priced at Rs.150

The writers show us that success consists of blending and mixing values, skills, ethics and habits. Put these together in the right mix and you can realise your own dreams. This is achievable by learning from the first-hand experiences of the men and women who have reached the top.

3. Book: “Madhouse: True Stories of the Inmates of Hostel 4, IIT-B”; Compiled and edited by Urmilla Deshpande and Bakul Desai; Published by Westland; Priced at Rs.295

The book is a journey into the illustrious course that the IIT-B (Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay) has charted down the decades not as a technical school - but as the epicentre of great stories, dare-devilry, brilliant minds, revolutions and laughter.

The students of IIT are adept at retelling these incredible escapades in a wonderfully droll style. It is assuring to know that many of our current leaders from politics to polyester - from software to hardware - are so human and have a sense of humour because they are part of a go-getting and shining family called IIT.

4. Book: “How the Banana Goes to Heaven and Other Secrets of Health from the Indian Kitchen”; Written by Ratna Rajaiah; Published by Westland; Priced at Rs.395

Did you know that a couple of bananas a day can lower the blood pressure, sailors in the 19th century ate potatoes to fight scurvy, the Ayurveda considers rice a perfect healing food, the urad dal is an aphrodisiac and that George Bernard Shaw was a brinjal-loving vegetarian?

The writer takes a walk down memory lane to her grandmother’s kitchen full of spices and condiments - pausing often to explore the delights of coconuts, chillies, mangoes and jackfruits.

5. Book: “Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink: Why 40 Percent of Your Business is Unprofitable and How to Fix It”; Written by Jonathan L.S. Byrnes; Priced at Rs.399

“Islands of Profit in a Sea of Red Ink” tells you how to rethink your business for maximum profit - what to do, what difficulties you’ll encounter, and how to overcome them.

The writer shows which customers and businesses are cash cows; and which efforts are just a drain on resources. Most astonishingly, in each case, he finds that roughly 40 percent of his clients’ businesses are unprofitable.