After a long time, had the luxury of going back to an old habit - reading 3 different books/authors simultaneously.

Read three priceless gems. NOISE by Daniel Kahneman ( of the Thinking Fast And Slow fame) and two equally gifted co-authors. A must read for all individuals and decision makers, as it lucidly brings out how Noise (variations, in a word, though you need to read the book to understand the concept), as distinct from bias, affect decision- making, almost always for the worst, and how to minimise this Noise.

A serious and somewhat technical book, that requires careful reading and reflection, though the brilliant authors have made it as simple and as understandable as possible for lay persons, such as me.

The second book, called PLATO AND PLATYPUS WALK INTO A BAR, explains a wide variety of concepts in philosophy by recalling jokes that fit or provide the explanation. An amazing and eminently readable book, even if only for the jokes.

Finally, a trilogy ( or, more aptly, a book with sequels 1A and 1B) by a brilliant author, who writes in Tamil, and his equally gifted translator Anirudhan Vasudevan. ONE PART WOMAN tells the tale of the travails of a childless couple in rural Tamil Nadu; this is followed by two sequels (TRIAL BY SILENCE and A LONELY HARVEST) , which are alternative sequels to the first book.

Consider myself lucky to have stumbled upon this outstanding teller of life in rural Tamil Nadu, of human emotions, and the tremendous internal strength and will power of women.

Lesson: we need to read more Indian authors - by not doing so we stand deprived, as also reamain ignorant of our own culture, and of how really good our authors are.