Book Reviewed by Arya Kalpesh Gosavi Student of MBA-1 Gokhale Education Society’s, J.D.C.Bytco Institute Of Management Studies And Research, Nashik. Sudha Murty known for her philanthropic work and her reputation as a storyteller and an
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Book Reviewed by Arya Kalpesh Gosavi Student of MBA-1
Gokhale Education Society’s, J.D.C.Bytco Institute Of Management Studies And Research, Nashik.
Sudha Murty known for her philanthropic work and her reputation as a storyteller and an author,showcases the books that often put light upon the human nature. Her writing style is simple yet impactful,making her stories relatable and easy to comprehend. Currently serving as the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and wife of the co-founder of Infosys Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murty is known for her humble and down to earth behavior which shows in her writing as well. Diving into wise and otherwise, it is a collection of short real life anecdotes from the authors experiences. People might come across this book as a self help book which is a big misconception. What’s intriguing is how these stories, some heartwarming and some shocking offer us lessons subtly. Each story is a window into everyday wisdom we often miss in our busy lives.
SudhaMurty’s stories don’t scream moral lessons at you. Instead they make you stop, think and question. One of the short story in the book titled ‘The Wise Man’ is about an old man who always lived humbly, not flaunting his wisdom or wealth. He didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. Here Murty contrasts this wisdom with loud often misguided persuit of recognition in our world today. It makes one question why are we so obsessed with being seen as wise? Is wisdom about showing off or just living quietly and meaningfully? The story leaves one thinking about humility and how wisdom is something you carry within quietly without seeking applause.
Another short story ‘The Price Of An Apple’ showcased different aspects of human nature and empathy. The story can make the reader feel guilty of how sometimes small acts of kindness can be taken for granted. The story is about a poor women who gives away an apple to a child which costs her more than she can afford. The beauty of the story is not just kindness, but in the act of selfless sacrifice that comes with it. It reminds one of the times when we hesitate to help, thinking what we offer might not be enough or with a selfish thought that we wouldn’t receive anything in return. Its not about what we give,rather its about the heart behind it.
What one can find in ‘Wise And Otherwise’ to be exceptional is that exploring complexities of human nature wherein each story in the book touches upon wisdom, kindness, judgement, sacrifice, empathy and many more without being preachy is not a piece of cake. SudhaMurty does not preach. Instead, she lets the stories speak for themselves. And honestly, that’s what makes this book so impactful. It is real, raw and full of layers of human nature that gets unfolded with each real life experienced story by the author. It enables one to reflect on their on actions, biases and understanding of what it means to be wise. Self realization that wisdom isn’t about knowledge or age rather its about how we see the world and interact with it.
To wrap up, if one is looking for a book that challenges views on life, kindness and wisdom without being preachy then ‘Wise And Otherwise’ is the one to pick up. Every story in the book has a lesson, and the beauty is, its all open to one’s interpretation. So whether the reader is a youngster or an elder person and have the urge to dive into simple truth’s of life, this book will speak to you.
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