Book Review: One & Done by Veronica D’Souza

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When I was growing up in 90s, I could hardly see any family with just one child. In India having a family means children around parents and home. However, with time, this trend changed and many people understood the value of raising children in a positive and conducive ambience, thus, people created family with two children. Even government of India promoted the same concept, Hum Do, Hamare Do.

Today we are about to cross the year 2020, besides Coronavirus pandemic has changed many things in our life. It also impacted how we look upon the idea of starting a family. I was right in thinking that due to Covid many couples and parents took backseat in family planning. Those who have one child now thinking of living life with just one child! And those who want to start a family decided on just one-child family. I think due to Covid some things changed for good. As I picked up this book, it was presented right in the first chapters that Covid has impacted the overall family planning.

As I turned more pages and tried to grasped content, I found Veronica justifying the stance of the book. As she explained the benefits that come along when we raise just one child, the benefits are not only for family but also for the globe such as contribution in population control, global climate, and humanity and much more.

The book solely focuses on the pointers that are associated with one child family. I know people will have difficult time accepting someone emphasizing a family with one child – but it is now becoming an acceptable reality.

Later, much part of the book presents various aspects that help in raising and grooming more than one child. Therefore, this book is a hot treasure for people who just have one child…but equally useful for normal parents that take pride in raising more than one child. The book is about creating a happy family and then how to maintain it. I think the author shed light on all important factors that matter when a child arrives in the family.

The book’s content is easy to gel up with. It is presented in proper chapters and in the last part there are interviews from parents. I mean the book is like mix of fiction, research, pragmatism, stats and facts. I would not suggest one to read this book in haste, rather one should read with his/her own pace and must jot down the points for future reference. Pace and narration of the book is perfectly fine for veteran to naïve readers.

If you liked the review and thinking of buying the book, you can do so from Amazon/Kindle.

What is the Cheapest and Fastest Way to Publish a Book?

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If you ever think of publishing your book fast with very low or no budget, well then the answer is self-publishing. Don’t ever think of approaching literary agents or traditional publishers because they take 6 months to reply that your manuscript doesn’t meet their criteria.

But the further argument is to understand types of self-publishing. Basically, it can be bifurcated into two i.e. ‘DIY self-publishing’ and ‘Supported self-publishing.’ Both are self-publishing but differ in intensity and nature. So, you can choose what suits best for you. Let’s see them one by one. It will help you in choosing the best for you.

DIY Self-publishing:

In this type of publishing, the author is responsible for everything. He/she does everything from designing cover page to setting galley to editing to book marketing to listing the book on Goodreads.

Generally for new authors it is a cumbersome process. In this process it’s not guaranteed whether the book will be available on leading online book stores like Amazon, Kindle, Kobo, and Flipkart. Often DIY self-publishing is good for experimenting. It lacks that polish and standardization. Books taken care by professionals are class apart. I will not recommend it to authors that are serious about their writing career. Best examples of this DIY self-publishing are Pothi and Notion Press’ Express Publishing.

Supported Self-publishing:

This is advanced type of self-publishing. This form of self-publishing gives complete freedom to authors over almost all aspects like editing, cover designing, setting prices, print on demand, setting price, book marketing, and distribution. Also, authors have the opportunity to avail services that one feels are compulsory or in need from a publishing company.

From my experience, I would recommend you BookMedia Publishing Company for supported self-publishing. They offer almost 360 degree support and help in publishing a book. They have a responsive team, from emails to WhatsApp chat – they are always connected. BookMedia is one of the best publishing platforms I found to publish my second book. My first book was a total fiasco as I chose to experiment with it on Pothi platform.

I would like to list some of the benefits of the BookMedia:

  • There runs freedom. They give you time and space while deciding the content, title, design, editing, marketing plan, distribution, price of your book. You will get chance to work directly with editors and designers.
  • They will publish your book within 10 days or according to your scheduled date. Once the agreement and payment is done, consider the work is done. They are honest and never cheat. You own all the copyright of the material.
  • Their royalties are best in the industry. Always above 80 percent – no matter what package you choose.
  • They have great online and offline distribution network. Their books are also sold in bookstores across the world, and they also supply a good amount of number of books in public and private libraries and in the book fair.

Hope this helps you in understanding the basic mechanism of self-publishing. Do research and make a smart choice.

Book Review: What is the Demand of Time by Arijit Chakraborty

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What is the Demand of Time by Arijit Chakraborty is a perfect self-help book on various aspects of demands in our lives. The book holds seven important chapters, the first chapter lists out the various sorts of demands that we see in our lives and how we understand and respond to each one. Next, the following chapters try to decipher the meaning of various demands and how one can conquer them to lead a happy and successful and valuable life. However, I noticed that the book is full of examples from the medical field and author’s personal encounters. For this reason, the book is easy to read and taste for medical professionals, but for laymen–it will take time to settle down. No doubt the book is entertaining while doling out significant information but somehow it seemed one-sided and falling back on medical terms.

So, I would suggest you to read this book twice to savour all of its relevance. The USP of the book is that it is interconnected and progressive and the author tried to simplify things by laying out charts, maps, quotes, and so on.

Creativity, Practicality, being Proactive, Richness, Knowledge and Fearlessness are the major takeaways from the book. It teaches us to learn many things…but I doubt myself. Would I be able to learn so many things from one book?

From all factors the author insisted much on creativity, I think the following paragraph sums the essence quite perfectly:

“The mind works best when it is blank and then you can consciously feed information. Then it generates ideas connecting emotion to that and this becomes a starting point of creativity.”

It is 98 pages but reads like a lengthy book. Content was good but it could have been more simplified. Writing is good and the book is truly a gem if read comfortably and in leisure.

Book Coverage: Give Me a Break (A Jigneshbhai and Swami Story) by Ranjit Kulkarni

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Give Me a Break (A Jigneshbhai and Swami Story) by Ranjit Kulkarni is a short, around 150-pages read. The author has already written a few more books featuring this familiar comedy duo Swami and Jigneshbhai.

The novel is extremely funny with some of the situations, especially where Swami goes berserk with his own imagination and opinions. However, at a wider level, the novel highlights how greed overshadows aspirations.

The overall dosage of humour is likable and it never leaves the backdrop. The story moves at a measured pace, brimming with mirth, fun, and wit. Despite comedy at the centre of the novel, the author built the story slowly and with full credibility.

Like many other humorous novels, this too occupies ironical situations. From time and again, some inevitable circumstances put Swami in trouble and then the hysterically funny show begins. The author very cleverly balanced the comic and serious characterization. In fact, the characterization is mix of some cool yet interesting people. It is to be noted that the novel is not one-man army. There you will meet Raichand, the greedy boss of Swami, and then Purno – a long lost friend of Swami. Purno is so cunning that in the garb of social activism, he tries to fulfill his aspirations. Puneet and Ishita are another set of characters that keep the plot buoyant, witty and wry.

Since it is a Swami and Jigneshbhai book, how could one ignore the realistic and silent wise man? Jigneshbhai is somewhat serious and philosophical type of character who believes that Swami is not only gullible but also a fool.

There are many instances where one will fall in love with the idiosyncratic innocent wit of Swami. The main theme of the novel is to get peace from the hustle-bustle of city life, from office, and so on. Well, when Swami and Jigneshbhai go to the farms of Sridhar Mama, a different and slightly embarrassing situation traps them. However, with courage and little stupidity, they try to tackle all problems one by one. Will they succeed? Is Jigneshbhai funny James Bond? May be! Did the book maintain its comic charisma when the duo confronts the familiar faces with dark aspirations?

At times the humour is dry, but most of the time, the storyline manages to sail swiftly without creating doubt in the hearts of readers. At its core, it is a funny book with one mega funny character Swami.

Book Review: Grow Rich Selling Groceries by Pradeep Cp

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Starting a business, running it systematically, and reaping profits is not an easy game. Setting up a successful business is a distant dream for many, yet it is feasible. The book by Pradeep Cp, Grow Rich Selling Groceries (published by BookMedia) is a niche-oriented business management book. This 88-something page book depicts as how someone can start a profitable grocery business, be it brick and mortar store or selling online through apps or websites.

Not only for new merchants but also those who struggling in this field to make profits can learn many valuable lessons from this book. The book will guide you as how you can start a retail grocery-inclined business anywhere in the world. How you can manage the stock and decide on the pricing and set SOP for all? In fact, I am short of words; there is everything that you look forward for your business.

This book solves problems, gives solution, along with consultation. Many people do not know where to start a grocery business – they may be running pell-mell to find a perfect location or godown…right? Worry not you can learn how to set up, how to set price, how to design racks, how to get software for GST and other billing, how to make SOPs for all, how to monitor, how to reduce dump and damage, and most importantly how to cut on cost so as to make higher margins of profit. From A to Z – you can think of related to business – it has all.

Without saying much, I can assure that once you pick up this book, you will be rich with knowledge and will get clear ideas as how you can start your business online and offline. The author has put in his knowledge and years of experience so that millions of readers across the world can make the most from this book. For sure, it is a book that can help in business. Getting a book that teaches someone how to be successful in a specific business is rare nowadays. If you are looking for a healthy business idea, it’s a must read book. From language to vocabulary, all is simple to understand. There are tables and worksheets for better understanding. In a nutshell, there is so much guidance in the book.