Category Archives: 7 Books

Books I’ve liked: Personal finance, investing & entrepreneurship

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Every now and then, a friend asks me for a book recommendation, especially on personal finance, entrepreneurship and investing. Not because am an investing guru (which I am not), but because I read a ton of them!

I thought I will note it down here as well.

All these are books that I have read and liked a lot.

Few like One up on Wall street gave me the confidence that I too can be an investor in the stock market, which until then was crocodile infested space to me. Few like Intelligent Investor have been a huge huge help on almost everything finance. Few like Where are the customers yachts? changed my opinion on the stock market quite abruptly and changed my style of investing drastically.

And yet, few like Richest man in Babylon made me realize that simplicity and a principled method matters. A few like Extraordinary popular delusions helped me stay away from making costly mistakes.

Perhaps, there have been a few that have led me astray as well. Rich dad poor dad? Could be!

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Hobbyists Hub: A concept

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In the last one week, I had been discussing with friends and family about an idea I had in mind. The hobbyists hub.

What initially started as an idea of a book library for a niche segment, morphed and mutated into something you see in the image. I was pretty excited because it stitched together many things I loved.. books, photography, travel, cycling, etc.

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The family just got bigger

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News!

My family just got bigger! The additions are a Mr Nikkor 10-24 and a Ms SB600.

Recently I decided to take my photography even more seriously. But photography skills are not sold on Adorama, Amazon or flipkart. They sell only equipment and books.

So I did the quickest and easiest thing I could. I bought new gear! Yay!

And, I have more coming my way soon, esp if my trip to the US happens (May)

  • Manfrotto / Gitzo tripod – mostly a 055xProB with a 498RC2
  • Nikon ML-L3
  • Circular polarizer
  • GND filter
  • A telephoto length macro lens
  • SU-800 commander
  • Light meter
  • 2nd speedlight
  • misc stuff

Does it make me a better photographer? Nay! Its the same old baggage behind the camera… perhaps more confused now with more gear.

Now, to add more knowledge to handle this additional stuff, I have purchased a few books.

  1. Light – science and magic by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua
  2. Photographer’s eye by Michael Freeman
  3. The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes by Joe Mcnally
  4. Creative Composition: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques by Harold Davis
  5. few more from this list

I know there are those who don’t read books so as not to get influenced by other’s style… to maintain their individuality.. blah blah, I don’t give it a blink. As long as I improve my skills, I am fine.

Whether the gear and books will help me gain knowledge is another question. And whether the knowledge will help me gain better skills is yet another question. And whether the skills will help me take good photos is yet another question. I will conveniently not talk about them.. at least for now.

Now, before anyone bats an eyelid about the cost…

  • yeah, its a big hole in my smallish pocket
  • if I invest it somewhere and let it compound for many many years, my daughter will have a few lakhs more as her inheritance (will help her buy her Nikon stuff maybe). But hey, I would expect her to support herself fully beyond her higher education!
  • I let all my personal finance learning over the years out of the window… and just let my heart follow a passion! You gotta break rules at times!
  • opens up a lot of areas for me, which may (or may not) be a great help over the next few years
  • I feel it is more of an investment than an expense (too nascent maybe)
  • my savings is still in pink health (maybe its just me dreaming… )

For those that are inclined towards psychological explanations and behaviour patterns, there is a better explanation of such acts. Read more about it here.

PS: If you are a photography enthusiast, let me know what you are secretively planning for, to buy next! (And pray that your spouse doesn’t read about it)

Writing a book on Neilgherries

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This has been a long long running thought.

To write a book on Neilgherries (called Nilgiris today).

Why?

  • To satisfy the (poor?) writer in me
  • I grew up there
  • I love the place
  • I want to tell the story of how wonderful it was 100-200 years back and how it is now
  • I want to write something and can’t think of anything else
  • I want to publish my own photographs of birds, animals and landscapes somewhere
  • I want to dedicate something to my dad, and he will love my idea of a book on Nilgiris

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Books an investor should read

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“Which are the best books that any investor should read?”

Many people have this question.

I have attempted to answer that question in this post. I have read almost all the books listed here. But have included a few which I haven’t read too, because the reviews of those were very good and from very reliable sources. I have indicated the ones I haven’t read yet. Okay, here we go!

Basics
Any investor who has a strong hold on the basics is leaps and bounds ahead of the one who doesn’t. I would say every single book in this basic section is a must!

  1. One up on Wall Street by Peter Lynch. An amazingly well written book, one of the best for both the novice and the expert.
  2. The Intelligent investor by Benjamin Graham. The bible! Miss this and you can’t be an intelligent investor.
  3. Common stocks and uncommon profits by Philip A Fisher. Great book on long term growth and focus oriented investing
  4. The essays of Warren Buffett. The master at his very best!
  5. The interpretation of financial statements by Benjamin Graham. A simple book on balance sheet basics.
  6. Richest man in Babylon by George Clason. A timeless classic on personal finance.

Further reading
Once you have completed the basic books and are thirsty for more, please choose from this list. Continue reading →

The bible of investing

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In the movie “The pursuit of happyness”, when Chris Gardner is an intern at Dean Whitter, the training manager gives them all a copy of a book and says this is your bible!

I couldn’t see the name of the book at first, but guessed it alright. I thought it had to be Intelligent Investor or Security analysis.

Paused the movie…..and went back to the scene again. It was indeed Security analysis!

Then satisfactorily, I resumed watching the movie.

The Go-Getter: A Story That Tells You How to Be One

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More than 85 years old. Less than 85 pages.And the story sounds dumb as you are half way through. But when you keep the book down, you cant deny that it was really inspiring.

Thats Go-Getter, a fantastic book written in the 1920s.

Its a small book (and the mother of all fable based business books like Who moved my cheese?) that I finished in one sitting flat. It talks about being a go-getter. The attitude and qualities that you have to have to be a go-getter.

It cost me only Rs 100.

PS: You may not like the book until the first half is over. So I suggest that you dont keep the book after reading a few pages. Its only when the story is over, you realize how valuable the lessons in it are.

Getting things done

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I would recommend reading “Getting things done” by David Allen to improve your productivity and to improve your organizing skills.

For a start, I would suggest you visit David’s website and download a few of his articles and read them. Here is the link to download a few articles (free).

A list of book stores in Bangalore

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For all the bookworms out there in Bangalore, here is a list of bookstores in Bangalore.

Gangarams Book Bureau
# 72, M G Road.
Bangalore – 560 001
080-2558 7277
E-mail : gangarams@vsnl.com

Landmark
The Forum, Hosur Road, KoraMangla
Bangalore – 29
080-2206 7777

Crossword
ACR Towers, 32, Residency Road,
Bangalore – 560 025
080-2558 2411
E-mail : cwdblr@booknmoreindia.com

Bookworm,
www.bookwormindia.in
NO 32, Basement, Brigade rd cross, Behind Shoe track,
Bangalore-01
9845076757080-41126755
Email: krishna_ruk@yahoo.com

Blossom
http://www.blossombookhouse.com/
Church street,opposite Amoeba

Strand Book Stall
http://www.strandbookstall.com/
S 113 -114, Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road,
BANGALORE – 560 042
Phone: (080) 25580000
Tele-Fax : (080) 25582222
strandbk@bgl.vsnl.net.in

Sapna Book House
http://www.sapnaonline.com/

Higginbothams Ltd.
68, M. Gandhi Road,
Bangalore 560001
080-25586574 / 25587359

India Book Distributors
9, Motor Chambers, Cgm Road
Bangalore – 52
080-2226 4544

India Book House
5th Main Road, Gandhinagar
Bangalore – 09
080-2225 2385

Select Books
71, Brigade Road
Bangalore – 01
080-2558 0770

Sankars Book Shop
15/2, Upstairs, St Mark’s Road
Bangalore – 01
080-25586867, 25671356

Asian Books Pvt. Ltd.
103/104, Swiss Cplx, R C Road
Bangalore – 01
080-2220 0438

Bhaskar Book Centre
114, OK Road Kumbarpet
Bangalore – 02
080-2223 9440

Focus Book Shop
33/3, 8th Mn, 12th Crs, Malleshwaram
Bangalore – 03
080-2334 6692.

Fountainhead
41, Lavelle Road
Bangalore – 01
080-2222 9759

Goodbook
2041, 17th Mn, HAL 2nd Stg
Bangalore – 08
080-2527 2850

L B Publishers & Distributors
90-91, MG Road
Bangalore – 01
080-2558 7621