Review: Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs

Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs by John E. Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As an Indian who is acutely aware of the history and the animosity that often flares up between India and Pakistan, I found this book an interesting read. I have lived through the events of the last two decades that are key to the plot, and this story helped me understand how the other side felt. The tale gives one a few glimpses into the day to day lives, the hopes and the fears of ordinary Pakistanis, which are no different than that of Indians. I am glad I read this book.

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Review: Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice by Bill Browder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What would you do if you have irked the supreme leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world, for the right reasons? You would write a book about your exploits pertaining to doing business in that country, and how things went astray when you highlighted the corruption that went all the way to the top (up to the aforementioned supreme leader). As the author, Bill Browder, himself says in his book that this tale, which reads like a spy-thriller of sorts, is his way of letting everybody know that if he expires in mysterious circumstances (or not, for there are ways known to man to end a person's life without rousing suspicion), the world should know whom to point the finger at. Bill Browder is a very brave man. His relentless pursuit of justice for his fallen comrades reveals that he is not just a hard-nosed capitalist you might peg him as, given his profession. To quote him, "There is no feeling as satisfying as getting some measure of justice in a highly unjust world". Essentially, this autobiographical account centers around justice.

The title of the book "Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice", and a glance at the excerpts already tell you a lot about what to expect. I personally have another takeaway. Bill Browder's grandfather was a communist who spent years in Russia, and his grandmother was a Russian. As a young man fresh out of college, Bill was motivated to look for opportunities in Eastern Europe because of the Russian connection. To cut a long story short, his urge to connect with his roots put on a path that brought him considerable wealth and influence (and pain, yes). I find this quite fascinating and I hope people, young and old, take heed of that.  

All in all, a very interesting read.

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