Breaking News

A Better India, A Better World – Book Review

A Better India, A Better World. N R Narayana Murthy. Penguin Books India. Rs. 299.

N R Narayana Murthy is undoubtedly one of India’s most respected business leaders. More than a businessman, he is also a philosopher, with a clear vision on the development of the nation. He reflects on things which most others of his genre avoid (except in CSR section of annual reports). Once a leftist who almost joined politics, his bitter experiences with socialism led him to his much-repeated “Wealth has to be first created before it can be distributed” philosophy. His logical argument is that without the opportunity to develop human potential, socialism leads only to a distribution of apathy and poverty.

He also dwells on why he thinks that the economic reforms of 1991 was the best thing that happened to Infosys, and even to India. His views on the importance of values and education, as India’s only way to becoming a truly progressive nation, is thought-provoking. And finally, the thing that all leaders tend to end with – the importance of leadership! Which is actually true, since India is a nation blessed with resources aplenty, but few men to manage them.

The book is undoubtedly a philosopher’s statement, or rather, a collection of statements. Therein lies the problem. The book is a collection of Narayana Murthy’s lectures, and not a true “book” by him. If it was edited and condensed, the book would have been half its size, and much more readable. But alas! Here the ideas tend to repeat at many places, and by the time one has covered 80% of the book, it is near impossible not to skim over. Penguin India has not even bothered to put it on the front page that this is a collection of speeches by NRN, and the unsuspecting reader would surely think otherwise.

A great visionary and thought-provoking title by a great man, spoilt by poor editing. Worth reading, but not worth buying, except for hardcore NRN fans

Book Review by Anoop Ramanujam

       

Check Also

Blue Ocean Strategy

Globalization, it must be said, has actually resulted in globalization of competition. There is hardly …

4 comments

  1. Great review my dear friend. we are expecting more such reviews.

  2. We have 12/14/17 seat tempo traveller available for tour and contract trips. If you have a plan for tour trip feel free to call me for the said vehicles.We also arrange all kinds of vehicles for tour and package trips.

    Biju GS
    Gowri Tours and Travels
    Trivndrum-KERALA
    09633041582
    09388196025

  3. I discovered http://www.technoparktoday.com on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…

  4. Some Excerpts from this book in my blog.

    http://vivekraja.blogspot.com/2011/11/better-india-better-world-excepts.html

    Pls. do check out. You will ever feel worth reading it.

    the one which I have sticked in my cabin.

    What do I expect from the India of 2067, after another sixty years? I want an india where every child will have access to decent education,health care, nutrition and shelter. I want an India where every child belonging to any race, religion and case is confident that there is a bright future for him/her if he/she is honest and hardworking. I want an India which receives respect from every global forum because we will be high performers; we will be peace-loving; we will gracious hosts; we will be fair; we wil be pluralistic and respect every faith; and we will be trustworthy.