1 comments about Northeast India (Regional Guide).

1. If you are going to just the areas included in this book, then it's a fine choice. Otherwise you might do better with a North India or an all India guidebook because there's not that much more detail here.
   
   When I first saw this book advertised, I assumed that it specialized in what's normally considered the Northeast--Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram. But these areas only comprise 50 out of the 376 pages! Most of the text is given over to introduction, Orissa, West Bengal, and Sikkim. An interesting chapter called "Excursions" briefly covers nearby places such as Varanasi, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

5 comments about My Job Went to India: 52 Ways to Save Your Job (Pragmatic Programmers).

1. I think this book, is a brief and good overview. It should be required reading for anyone considering a job which involves a chair let alone a job in the software or engineering professions.
   
   Basically for most situations and for my money the book could have been titled "If you sit in a chair for a living, read this book!" The hard reality is that unless you are just "paid to be smart" (as the author notes), your job is already gone.
   
   While specifically concerned with the fairly competitive software engineer field, I think looking past the technical points makes this book invaluable for any professional and is a good primer for those concerned about the overall outsourcing trends and their effect. Reading nearly as a call to arms for the office workers of first world marketplaces, the general task of how workers can keep themselves current and relevant to the jobs available in today's international workplace.
   
   Some of the most relevant points in my opinion
   
   1. "Love it or Leave it" - A tragic observation that far far too many people don't love the field of software engineering/programming and if you are just clocking in and just collecting a paycheck, get a job somewhere else, save yourself the pain , do it now.
   
   2. Love of Learning - if you don't or aren't comfortable retooling your skillset every couple of years until your old and gray and beyond, find another gig.
   
   3. "Be A Generalist" - The best "Tip" or subject covered was something that is tragically not obvious to many programmers and other professionals, within the fields I've worked. The tip notes that as an individual worker, realizing that professional diversity in your skillset is vitally important to competetiveness, not in regard to not just outsourcing but to long term job survival in any marketplace.
   
   I've been involved in programming, systems administration or database design or any number of other "titles" for the last 25 years and I was happy to discover that I already do many BUT NOT ALL of these tips.
   
   Personally, I could not have continued for more the a few years had I not been willing and ready to learn entirely new things every few years and I think the author gives enough tips that its possible for many a seasoned worker to leave their "comfort zone".
   
   Doing this for as long as I have, I can say from experience, that many of the author's suggestions are spot-on.
   
   On the negative side, since each chapter is small (2-3 pages) it is unfortunately not as deep into particular areas as one might like.
   I would have been interested if the author reviewed some of the advantages US workers have in more depth and highlighted some of the overall concerns regarding oursourcing in more detail.
   
   From a more general perspective, I found this quick read wonderfully dovetailed and makes a fresh and good companion to the excellent and deep Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (by Paul Kennedy)
   
   Overall, A huge thank you Chad!



2. I am glad to run into this book. I like its comprehensible and friendly tone. It is like a wand. I believe it helped me greatly to reconsider many things I have been thinking about and reevaluate my priorities. I would frankly recommend the book to read thru and get back to its chapters on regular basis.



3. I love this book. It's full of great ideas on how to be a creative employee who significantly contributes to her organization. I really wish I'd had it 20 years ago when starting out. Note: The title is misleading; it's not about outsourcing so much as making yourself highly valuable. Highly recommended.
   
   More at: A few highlights from "My job went to India"
   http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2007/02/few-highlights-from-my-job-went-to.html



4. This book has a bunch of generic advice along the lines of keep up with things and don't put all your eggs in one basket. Not exactly a revelation here.
   If you read the relevant blogs, web sites and talk to people in the industry you don't need this book.



5. "Pragmatic Bookshelf" has a solid reputation for publishing great books and this book is no exception. This one ranks right up there with books like "The Pragmatic Programmer" and "Code Complete". With small bite sized chapters with specific and pointed advice, you won't go wrong buying this book.
   
   In the era of globalization -- specifically with regard to software development, the book offers a complete list of techniques and approaches to not just survive but excel in the programming world. Having lived in India for a short while, he has some really astute observations about India including some great tips related to recruiting good programmers. There are a couple of chapters available for free off the publishers website. Read them and also take a look at the table of contents. Just the table of contents is probably worth the price of the book.
   
   It is unfortunate that the title "My job went to India ..." was chosen. Apparently, the author's propensity for cuteness overcame his wisdom. Looking at the cover makes it seem like some kind of a trashy joke book and it's possible that a lot of folks might have given it the go-by judging the book by its cover. The publishers might be doing the general public a great service by releasing a new edition with some updates and renaming it while not wearing their funny hats -- maybe something like "The Relevant Programmer".

No comments about The Khyber Pass: A History of Empire & Invasion.

No comments about Selected Subaltern Studies (Essays from the 5 Volumes and a Glossary).

5 comments about Culture Shock! Jakarta: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! at Your Door) (Culture Shock! at Your Door).

1. Viewed from a safe distance, it's easy to assume that these days it's just one bad thing after another in Indonesia. How terrible must this place be to actually live in? How on earth do people manage to live there?
   
   It's easy for the outside world to get a distorted view of life somewhere, when all that seems to come from there is bad news. But these are just events, little blips that get reported along the way. It's in the moments between these events where the real picture lies, where day-to-day life goes on, apparently as normal.
   
   If you want to stand any chance of knowing Indonesia at all, you'll need to be there at ground level, with it whizzing all around you.Towering well over 1.83m tall, my co-authoring friend Terry Collins is definitely at ground level. In this reworked version of CultureShock! Jakarta, Terry brings our picture of Jakarta bang up to date.
   
   With 20 years of Jakarta living under his belt, he is well qualified in shifting the story forward. And, crucially, he still has enthusiaism for the Jakarta life. He may of course completely deny this, but it's this very enthusiasm that has helped paint this much fuller picture of the city, and one too that helps guide us through the often confusing decade of change (or non-change) since President Suharto made his dramatic exit in 1998.
   
   So here then is Jakarta today. It's big. It's frustrating. It really is a monster. Don't say we didn't warn you.



2. I have been waiting for this book to come out for a few months!
   
   I wish it was available when we first arrived in Jakarta.
   
   This book is a very comprehensive guide to life in Jakarta, it should be compulsory for all new expatriates as it makes life so much easier when you understand whats going on around you. Even after living here for nearly 12 months I learnt a lot.
   
   The book was originally authored by Derek Bacon nearly 10 years ago and has just been thoroughly revised and updated by a renown Jakarta Blogger, Jakartass.
   
   Some of the topics covered:-
   
   * First impressions
   * History, Geography and Politics
   * Fitting into society
   * Settling in
   * Food and entertainment
   * Culture and travel
   * Communicating in Jakarta
   * Doing business
   * Fast facts
   
   I was very impressed with this book and hope you will be too.



3. Culture Shock! is the only must-read book on how to survive the confusing "monster" named Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Being born and raised there, Jakarta hasn't stopped surprising me to this very day, especially since I no longer reside there in the last decade.
   
   This revised version is more comprehensive and up-to-date, as the co-author Terry Collins is, undoubtedly, superbly skillful in describing and explaining how Jakarta has evolved and will continue to evolve as one of the most unique places on the planet. Overall, it is a great book to read and keep on your bookshelf. Suitable for those who intend to visit Jakarta for pleasure or business for a few days, weeks, months, or even years.



4. I loved the book! I'm going to go live in Indonesia, possibly Jakarta, and the book gives all the tips you would want to know. I would buy this series for any new place that I want to live. It goes over everything from how to pick a house to weather patterns. It give a great description of what the people are like and how they think. A must buy for anyone moving to Indonesia. Priceless information that would take years to learn on your own.



5. I am not quite sure why I bought this book!
   
   Maybe it was to make sure that the authors (Terry Collins and Derek Bacon) get at least some royalties for their efforts or perhaps the more likely excuse is that I needed to see whether my experiences were the same or similar to others. Then again maybe I bought the book because I just wanted to criticize the characterization or stereotyping of what it is like for us white folk living in Indonesia and particularly Jakarta!
   
   The book set me back some IDR 163,000 from Kinokuniya in Plaza Indonesia. I was in Kinokuniya to buy a cross-stitch magazine for my better half and I happened to see the book and thought, why not? So, I whacked it on the counter and I now have my very own copy!
   
   You might be wondering why a bloke who has spent so long in Jakarta wants to read anything to do with Culture Shock. Well, even after all this time living in Indonesia I am still "hey Mister" and perhaps this is both the beauty and the beast that is Jakarta; no matter how long you might have lived here and no matter how much you have integrated into society, you will never get away from being "Hey Mister!"
   
   The book is well written (at least for my mind) and I found myself smiling and chuckling to myself as I read through it. It is surprising how much of the experience is common and how much we tend to forget of what has happened. It was nice to read and remember some of those long forgotten experiences that were jogged back into the more conscious memory!
   
   I know one of the authors (Terry Collins) and perhaps I should make this as a disclaimer. Nevertheless, those of you that know me would know that I pull no punches. If I thought the book was garbage I would say so in not such an eloquent way! Yet, the book, I have found has been worth the money I outlaid for it, if for no other reason than it reminded me of moments that I have enjoyed during my stay.
   
   Funnily enough most people are reporting that they are not finding this book in the arrival halls to Jakarta but rather in the departure shopping areas. I guess this might afford those on their way out of Jakarta a chance to buy the book for the purposes of answering this question: "what the hell just happened to me?"
   
   I would have thought though that the best spot for this would be in the departure lounges of foreign locales and the arrival lounges of points of entry into Indonesia...but I guess this is why I studied law and not marketing!
   
   But for anyone interested in learning the "ins and outs" of the Jakarta experience then this is perhaps the book for you. The book contains sections on the history and politics of Jakarta, settling in for those of you who might want to be more than tourists, visa and immigration information, business information, food and entertaining, fitting in, and communicating, among a number of others.
   
   I think the most valuable learning tools in the book are the short glossary at the end, the culture quiz, and the "do's and don'ts" section.
   
   So, go out and buy the book as it might just help you understand the experience you are about to have or the experience that you have just had!

3 comments about From Here to Nirvana.

1. This is a great book.It was written for those of us who want to travel to India and learn more yoga, meditation etc.Not all places are described in equal length and depth but you will always find useful information about yoga schools, ashrams and monasteries in all the parts of India.In a lot of cases, the writers have been there and they took the classes for you, sat through the satsangs and tried the food and water.The book talks about each place separately and gives you info on "Teachers & Teachings", "Facilities and Food", "Schedule","Fees","Contact Information","How To Get There",etc.A very helpful guide for spiritual seekers who intend to travel to India.



2. This book would be excellent for people seeking ashrams. However, there is nothing about major temples, festivals, or other local observations. There is a little bit of information about local pilgrimage sites but it is laughably inadequate.



3. Thanks to this book, I was able to arrive in Delhi at midnite, go to the taxi stand at the airport and not wonder where I would end up for the night. I had already made arrangements to stay in an ashram in Delhi that night. And taxi drivers don't give you the hotel runaround when you tell them to take you directly to a particular ashram. For that alone, this book was worth every penny to me.

   I would recommend reading it before you go because some of the places/people to be contacted must be done ahead of time. and you may find that contact information can change sporadically in India (one of the many beautiful challenges you'll find on your travels there).

3 comments about Baksheesh and Brahman: Asian Journals - India (Campbell, Joseph, Works.).

1. Before I read Baksheesh and Bramhan, all I knew of Campbell was that he was an author of formidable intellect and also engaging wit (if the print version of Moyers series is to be believed)with a deep understanding of Oriental faiths. Campbells' account of his encounter with the land of these faiths - India - is at once insightful of the man and India in the 1950s. Confronted by the actual India - ancient, prudish, theieving, an emerging nation seeking a semblance of pride, low on self esteem, spiritual - Campbell is all at once the fastidous Westerner at odds with a culture he has admired from afar, charmed by its exoticism and occasionally getting bang on and incisively the actual reality of India. This book is an easy read and essential for anyone who has ever admired Campbell's work. Also a must read for anyone who wants to hold up a mirror to the new Indian nation and how far and how less that nation has travelled in the 50 odd years since. Campbelll's acerbism on fellow American travellers make for marvelous diversions.

   One small observation and this must stem from being an Indian - that India is a hospitable nation is clear from this book. I am sure a lot of Indians would attribute it to Campbell being white, but there is something in here of hearts and houses being thrown open to a stranger.




2. Before I read Baksheesh and Bramhan, all I knew of Campbell was that he was an author of formidable intellect and also engaging wit (if the print version of Moyers series is to be believed)with a deep understanding of Oriental faiths. Campbells' account of his encounter with the land of these faiths - India - is at once insightful of the man and India in the 1950s. Confronted by the actual India - ancient, prudish, theieving, an emerging nation seeking a semblance of pride, low on self esteem, spiritual - Campbell is all at once the fastidous Westerner at odds with a culture he has admired from afar, charmed by its exoticism and occasionally getting bang on and incisively the actual reality of India. This book is an easy read and essential for anyone who has ever admired Campbell's work. Also a must read for anyone who wants to hold up a mirror to the new Indian nation and how far and how less that nation has travelled in the 50 odd years since. Campbelll's acerbism on fellow American travellers make for marvelous diversions.

   One small observation and this must stem from being an Indian - that India is a hospitable nation is clear from this book. I am sure a lot of Indians would attribute it to Campbell being white, but there is something in here of hearts and houses being thrown open to a stranger.




3. This book comprises Joseph Campbell's private journals during his first visit to India. Before Campbell set off for India, he had already established a worldwide reputation in the field of Indian mythology through translating the works of Heinrich Zimmer. In 1954, he was awarded a fellowship to travel and conduct research in India for future publications on Indian mythology. In this book, which was not written for publication, but intended to be solely Campbell's private record of his journey, Campbell is confronted with the realities of India for the first time, and he is shaken to the core by how different India is from what he had been led to expect.
   
   Campbell's stay in India lasted approximately 6 months, during which time he traveled extensively throughout the country. He started off the journey in the company of Swami Nikhilananda and several female devotees. Together with this troop, Campbell visited various Ramakrishna Missions and temples. Before long, however, he began to lose interest in this party, as he observed that the Ramakrishna Missions seemed to play a much smaller role in Indian society than he had ever imagined. He began to travel independently, visiting temples and talking to people he met along the way (mainly intellectuals, who were able to discuss philosophy in English). He also struggled to book a dance tour for his wife, Jean Erdman, a well-known artist of modern dance.
   
   For the first three months of his journey, Campbell is so affected by culture shock that he is practically incapacitated. Although he had traveled widely in Europe, from the descriptions in these journals, he had no experience traveling in the Third World. He had a most un-adventurous palate, so he ate European food where it was available, and then complained mightily about its quality. His attitudes towards hotels and service were inflexible, and he seemed to lack the sense of humor and ability to let things slide that are essential for dealing with a culture that is completely alien to one's own. He is strongly patriotic and greatly dismayed by Indian criticisms of his own country.
   
   The extent of his ignorance concerning Indian art is illuminated by his reactions to Indian dance. At the first Indian dance recital he attended, he was outraged by the fact that only he and another Westerner found the performance at all interesting. But instead of trying to understand why the Indians in the audience were not impressed, he was simply outraged that they didn't react the way he did. At the next recital that he attended, he noted that the Indian members of the audience seemed to have a separate set of values for judging the performance than his own. As he became more familiar with the classical dance forms by attending a few lectures, he gradually began to develop an appreciation for the art. When his wife arrived and began her Western modern dance tour, he seemed to expect Indians to approach this foreign dance form in the same way that New Yorkers or Parisians might, forgetting or being entirely ignorant of the role of dance in Indian society and the different set of aesthetic values associated with dance.
   
   Nonetheless, the notes presented here are fascinating because in them, we can see Campbell coming to terms with Indian culture. Whereas before this trip, he imagined India as drawn for him by Krishnamurti, Nikhilananda, and Zimmer, he finally begins to build his own understanding of the culture during this journey. This understanding is colored not only by his visits to temples and conversations with philosophers, but also by the mundane struggles to book his wife's dance tour.

5 comments about Fodor's India, 5th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Hello to fellow travellers to India.

   I bought this 2000 edition of Fodor's India because I got a deal online, but found the book to be of very limited use.

   One of the best features of this book is the recommendation of itineraries based on the number of days that you might spend in a neighborhood. For example, if you intend to visit the state of Tamil Nadu, the book recommends specific itineraries if you have 4 days, 7 days, or 10 days at your disposal. If such a feature is important to you, this may be a very satisfactory book for you. The section on travel tips is also a good one.

   I found the book to lack in comprehensiveness. For example, if you intend to visit any places in Maharashtra other than Bombay (Mumbai) or the Ajanta, Ellora caves, you wont be able to find it in this book. The hotel and dining recommendations were also disappointing. We stayed at the beautiful Park guest house on the beach at Pondicherry and ate at wonderful Annalakshmi restaurant in Madras (Chennai). Neither was listed in Fodor's.

   Another helpful feature that you find in other guides such as Footprint is the location of money changers (for foreign exchange) in any given city - a feature that you will not find in Fodor's.

   If you are looking for historical details about locations, it is hard to beat the Blue guides. I was also impressed by the Rough guide and Footprint guide. The latter is especially good about including detailed maps of cities. (I got a chance to look at these various guides in a local library and would recommend to others that they look at as many guides as available in your local library before buying one to take with you to India.)

   No matter which travel guide you use, I hope you have a great time in India!




2. When you're embarking on any big adventure, and India certainly is, you'd be foolish to rely on one guide, and this one is no exception. (Take a look at my review of Lonely Planet India). Fodor's is always pretty reliable when it comes to restaurants and hotels, especially if you're not a low budget traveller. Prices of course are usually out-of-date pretty quickly, and the exchange rate fluctuates all the time, but their "$$$" system gives a good idea of the relative costs of different places. I also like the "star" system highlighting sites to see--in a country chock-full of palaces, temples, forts, and natural wonders, it helps to prioritize if time is short. The maps of local areas are OK as you plan your trip, but of course no guide book has really good maps--pick one up as you arrive in a major city, and as you plan your itinerary around the country, a country map is critical. Fodors is, however, short on history and culture, and some reading before you go is critical. And remember--things change, particularly in a place like India--local knowledge from your hotel or guide (from a reputable company, not someone you stop on the street) is always the best bet.



3. This is a good book for getting an overview of where to go and what to do. It also does a good job of listing hotels (though it's not the best for lower end venues). The book is frustrating, however, in that the person who makes the maps does not seem to be coordinating his/her efforts with the person who writes the text. Maps list main streets, but not the ones where major hotels are located (except in the big cities). Hence, you have no idea if your hotel is near or far away from major sites. This is especially problematic for single travelers who might wish to favor a central location to minimize commute times and the troubles that accompany them. Also, there is some inconsistency in the text. A suggested "ideal" itinerary will exclude an item that is later listed in the text as a "must see." Perhaps the problem occurs when different reviewers provide updates for the guides and don't bother to read the existing text carefully. Is the book worth your time? Yes, for the early stages of planning a trip. But you will definitely need another guide for information that could easily have been provided here. Finally, the guide subscribes to the PC nonsense that has become so popular lately....they soft peddle important things like SAFETY tips. It's not being a wet rag to acknowledge that there are some serious safety concerns you must keep in mind....and spelling them out for each area.



4. Now in an updated and strongly recommended fifith edition, Fodor's India is an information-packed travel guide to just about everything business or vacation travelers need to know or would like to see in this vast and dazzling nation. From where to go tiger-spotting to paying homage to holy sites to learning how to navigate bazaars and much more, Fodor's India brims with over 600 pages full not only of places to go, but tips for blending in and making the most of one's experience when one gets there. Over 600 pages cover the sights to see in various sections of India as well as a basic overview of the culture, language, and strategies for navigating. Fodor is a premier publisher of travel guides offering expert information on cities and countries abroad. Send for their free catalog for a complete title listing.



5. The book is very helpful for someone planning a first trip to India, answering many, if not all, of the questions I have. Because India is such a large country, there is almost an overwhelming amount of information. It is also a large book --more than 600 pages -- to carry in a day pack, but I plan to do it anyway!

1 comments about Customs & Etiquette Of India (Simple Guides Customs & Etiquette).

1. ... but does not contain enough detail to be truly useful to someone getting ready to travel to India. About half the book is taken up with geography and history information that is readily available in other sources. Cultural awareness tips are scattered throughout, but I wouldn't feel comfortable heading to the subcontinent armed only with the hints contained here. This book is probably best suited for armchair travelers.

No comments about New Delhi Insight Fleximap (Insight Fleximaps).