Books
“Yes, My Accent is Real and some other things I haven’t told you” (24 pages; $26) by Kunal Nayyar; published by Atria Books (http://atria-books.com)
At the outset, the author wants you, the reader, to know that his book is not a memoir. He reminds you, he is only 33. Instead, he points out it is a collection of stories from his life. Born in London, raised in New Delhi, then on to USA, Nayyar has a heck of a fun story to relate with the “crazy journey” ending as the nerdy astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali in the hit TV show “The Big Bang Theory.” In his own inimitable, hilarious way, the actor reminisces about the crucial moment of his first kiss, a dreadful makeout session with a Mormon on Thanksgiving, audition successes and disasters in the showbiz hub Boise, Idaho, and ends it all with his extravagant seven-day marriage to a former Miss India, Neha, in New Delhi. He intersperses sections of the book with his uproarious take on holiday traditions such as Rakhi, Dussehra, Holi and Diwali. And how can we forget some of his father’s advice? “If what you want happens, good. If it doesn’t happen, very good.” “Disarm with a smile.” “When you lend money, don’t expect to get it back.” “Treat a king and a beggar the same.” Some of Nayyar’s “Thoughts Recorded on an Aeroplane Cocktail Napkin” are a hoot, like him: “If you can forgive people even before they hurt you, you will forever be bulletproof.” “Get up, keep fighting, keep pushing, keep clawing for every inch of success. The other option is to quit. And that’s not an option.” “There is a lot in this world to be worried about … But there is also a lot to celebrate. Don’t be a worrier. Be a smiler. Be a boss.” This intriguing collection from Nayyar makes for a speedy read, one that can be wrapped up in a sitting. Watch out for some side-splitting loud laughs!
“Fifty Shades of Marketing: Whip Your Business Into Shape & Dominate Your Competition,” by Naresh Vissa (258 pages; $10.99 paperback); published by Krish Publishing; (www.nareshvissa.com)
Sending mass emails? Then Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. are the best days and times of the week to do so. Or maybe you want to post on social media? Well, post around 3 p.m. on Facebook; same time but make it Thursday for Instagram; check ww.tweroid.com to find out when your Twitter followers are most active; and about 8 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday is a good fit for LinkedIn. These nuggets of invaluable advice and much more can be found in Vissa’s latest book on marketing. In short, in a world that now also revolves around the Internet to conduct business, forget the traditional marketing of yesteryear. Instead, the marketing whiz author devotes chapters to create constructive, result-oriented Facebook campaigns; how to make money off Craigslist and blogging; the power of podcasting; how public speaking can draw clout; get discovered on LinkedIn; and even how to publish a book. Founder and CEO of Krish Media & Marketing, Vissa also is author of the bestseller “PODCASTNOMICS: The Book of Podcasting … To Make You Millions.” He puts it bluntly to the entrepreneur, “Sometimes, it’s not about the content, or how the product looks, or its brand or perception. It’s all about directly connecting with consumers. Of course, the product still needs to be high quality for retention, but it’s even more important to get customers through the door before they buy.” If you want to be up to speed on the ins and outs of the ever-evolving digital world, you should pick up this quick, witty read by the Tampa-based author. It will open your eyes and do wonders for your business ventures.
“No Big Deal” by Sudeer V. Palli; (290 pages; $9.99 paperback, .99 cents ebook); published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; (www.sudeervpalli.com)
Meet Sri and Gokul, two college students madly in love with each other. Enter the villains, the girl’s strict grandmother, her university professor-father, and others in the family. On the other hand, the boy’s father is the owner of an auto center. So, as expected, social status, caste, sub-caste come into play in bringing or not bringing the two together. With tempers flaring on both sides of the family, it is no surprise that the couple along with the daring Gokul’s merrymaking band of friends, flee home to tie the knot in the Tirumala hills temple. Of course, all’s well that ends well and even the disciplinarian grandma caves in to their will. “I was glad that they made a decision and stuck with it against all odds. I should say a pinch of luck and tons of love made them sail through the sea of life and its hardships,” she says. We can bet Sri and Gokul’s tale, narrated by the lovers throughout the book, will awaken those distant and far but wonderful memories of youthful days in some readers. Hats off to debut author Palli, a software professional in Tampa, for narrating a simple, elegant story in an unassuming, easy-to-read style.