non-fiction books by Indian authors August 2019

Much like the fiction, there is a plethora of excellent and must-read non-fiction releasing in August. There is a real life thriller on espionage and terrorism and a book which teaches you about the Indian consumer. You also have the inspiring swan song of a cancer-patient and a collection of essays on the Cold War. Business, history, and political books all make an appearance in August. And if that wasn’t enough, the incomparable Suketu Mehta releases his take on immigration. August promises to be an exciting month for non-fiction lovers.  

01

Delhi Heritage: Top 10 Baolis

Vikramjit Singh Rooprai

Part of the Delhi Heritage series, this slim book tells the fascinating history of 10 of Delhi’s most important baolis or step-wells. These baolis have great cultural and historical value as they played an important role in the social structure of the city, and more importantly, we can learn about water conservation from them- something that India desperately needs in the current times.    

Releasing on August 6, 2019. Buy it here.

02

Savarkar: Echoes From A Forgotten Past, 1883–1924

Vikram Sampath

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a.k.a. Veer Savarkar, was an important Indian freedom fighter and a controversial figure. He staunchly opposed Gandhi’s pacifist methods and propagated the idea of Hindutva; yet, at the same time, vehemently opposed blind superstitions such as cow-worship and encouraged inter-caste marriage. He was arrested by the British for being a revolutionary and placed in the dreaded Cellular Jail in the Andamans. This is the first part of a two-part biography which tells of Savarkar’s formative years, how he developed his revolutionary ideas, his time under arrest, and the torture he suffered.  

Releasing on August 16, 2019. Buy it here.

03

Denial, Desire, Immersion: Evolution Of Indian Consumers

Kishore Chakraborti

The first question all businesses should answer is who their customer is, what are their unmet needs, and what motivates them to buy a product or service. While each business targets a different set of customers, Denial, Desire, Immersion attempts to demystify the Indian consumer as a whole – what is common to all Indian consumers and how far have they evolved in their buying patterns. Using socio-economic history, geography, pop culture and the advent of media, Chakraborti explains what makes the Indian customer tick.

Releasing on August 18, 2019. Buy it here.

04

Financial Affairs Of The Common Man: Master The Art Of Personal Finance Management

Anil Lamba

Managing one’s personal finances can seem like a daunting task to many. Where and how much to invest; the difference between mutual funds, bonds and stocks; and how to make sense of all the financial jargon thrown at you are just a few questions Financial Affairs answers. Written in language that even a layperson can understand, this book will attempt to make you wealthier as it tells you about the benefits of compounding and other topics relevant to an amateur investor.

Releasing on August 19, 2019. Buy it here.

05

India And The Cold War

Manu Bhagavan (Ed.) 

When you think of the Cold War, you probably associate it with the U.S. and the erstwhile U.S.S.R.; however, India also had an important part to play. This collection of essays shows how India actively encouraged dialogue between the two warring global superpowers. It also shows how India stood firm on policies of global governance and disarmament, becoming the beacon of hope to many smaller countries. This book is perfect to help you explore a part of history which you are unlikely to have even thought of before.  

Releasing on August 19, 2019. Buy it here.

06

Transforming Systems: Why The World Needs A New Ethical Toolkit

Arun Maira

Arun Maira, former member of the Planning Commission of India, brings to you a particularly relevant book as India is on the brink of becoming a major player in the global market. In a world governed by Big Data, Maira argues that it’s time we start valuing a person more for who he really is and less for what his ‘data’ says about him. Further, for countries to grow sustainably, they need to pay attention to environmental policies, social inequalities and the opinions of the common man. Maira’s book promises to make readers rethink their views. 

Releasing on August 20, 2019. Buy it here.

07

Who Blunders And How?

Robin Banerjee

While it is normal for businesses to have cycles of growth and stagnation, have you spent some time trying to analyse why a corporate giant fails? In Who Blunders And How?, Banerjee provides in-depth studies of some of the biggest businesses that have failed. From sacrificing quality in favour of lower costs to bad leadership and internal politics, and from fraud to a lack of understanding of the customer, this book will teach you what not to do to ensure you create and run a long-lasting successful business.   

Releasing on August 20, 2019. Buy it here.

08

Tales From The Tail End: My Cancer Diary

Ananya Mukherjee & Peeyush Sekhsaria (Illus.)

Despite her infectious optimism, Ananya Mukherjee succumbed to cancer in November 2018. But she left the world with this gem of a book- one in which she details her ‘cheerful fight’ with the emperor of all maladies. She adds humour to dark moments and provides handy tips on how to deal with the side-effects of the treatments, and through it all inspires patients, survivors and care-givers to never lose hope. Part of the proceeds from this book will go to the Yuvraj Singh Cancer Foundation. 

Releasing on August 20, 2019. Buy it here.

09

This Land Is Our Land: An Immigrant’s Manifesto

Suketu Mehta

Whether European countries, the U.S.A. or even India, all big nations are struggling with immigration issues. At a time when many leaders are taking a stand against welcoming immigrants, Mehta argues that we shouldn’t be worried about immigrants themselves but about our own fears of them. He provides real life examples of times when immigrants have made a nation better, from Dubai to New York, and uses his own stories of growing up as a child of immigrants in the U.S.A. to explain the prejudices immigrants face. As the U.S. prepares for a presidential election and the U.K. grapples with Brexit, this book is more timely than ever.

Releasing on August 22, 2019. Buy it here.

10

The Messenger

Shiv Malik

The Messenger is a true life tale that promises to be as exciting as any fictional thriller. It is the story of the friendship between an idealistic journalist and a repentant jihadist and takes us through secret meetings and bombings, arrests and nearly ruined careers. But, more importantly, in this book, Malik raises questions about whether it is the constant fear of terrorism that has given rise to fake news and if our governments are truly worthy of being trusted or not.

Releasing on August 26, 2019. Buy it here.

11

Netas: Leaders Who Defined India’s Politics

Various

Through India’s independent history, many political leaders have redefined the way India functions and either united or polarised its population. This book studies 11 famous Indian politicians and looks at the way they impacted India and the way its government functions. From Indira Gandhi’s authoritarian style to Mamata Banerjee’s appeasement measures, Netas offers you an in-depth view of some of India’s most controversial leaders. 

Releasing on August 31, 2019. Buy it here.

12

The Broken Ladder: The Paradox And Potential Of India’s One-Billion

Anirudh Krishna

In The Broken Ladder, Anirudh Krishna, a professor at Duke University, provides some development strategies required for a country where the majority of its one billion population is below the poverty line. The book is a culmination of decades of research,  and Krishna spent time living in slums and villages to write it. Not only does he give instances of underutilised talent, but also provides possible solutions to inequity and inequality of opportunity. At a time when India is grappling with poverty and the issues related to it, this book provides actionable solutions for dealing with the situation.   

Releasing on August 31, 2019. Buy it here.

Disclaimer: Some of these books were previously available on Kindle or as international editions which were available for import. This list features Indian editions of these books, which tend to be more affordable. The information featured here is accurate as of July 26, 2019.