A book that chronicles the rise of reality television globally

The Campaign India Bookshelf has added an interesting mix of non-fiction titles. The topics are varied, ranging from television, to wildlife to the Mahabharata and adlanders highly recommend these titles for the long weekend ahead. Let us know what you think. Happy reading!

Billion Dollar Game
How Three Men Risked it all and changed the face of television
Peter Bazalgette
"This book tells the story of the rise of reality television across the globe. In particular, it maps the birth, the difficult years of growing up (launch and initial roll-out) and amazing years of reigning on top for the world’s top three reality formats, viz. Who Wants to be a Millionaire, The Big Brother and The Survivor. At one level, it is story of how three men charged by their respective ideas championed them with amazing passion and commitment against every possible odd, risked it all and came out winners one day. At another, it vivifies and chronicles the other side of a television, the side that pries on private life voyeuristic pleasures, makes its pantomime heroes and its pantomime villains often out of the most ordinary men and women. Read it and you will agree, reality is often more fascinating than fiction."
Vidyadhar Wabgaonkar, senior VP-strategic planning, Draftfcb+Ulka

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The Tiger's Destiny
Valmik Thapar
"If Sawai Madhopur and the Ranthambore National Park are too far from where you are this weekend then go there via The Tiger’s Destiny by Valmik Thapar. However, it may be tough to find this book since it was first published in 1992. You can finish it over the weekend but you won’t feel like putting it down. It has captivating photographs of the majestic cat in its native habitat and it explores the fascinating way in which man and the tiger have co-existed for millions of years. Population explosion has been destroying forests since decades and man's perpetual quest of the tiger for several dubious reasons has greatly reduced the number of surviving tigers. The book also traces the history of the tiger and its influence on ancient cultures along with narrating the journey of the tiger from the time a cub is born to its solitary adult life. The photographic essay in the book is my favourite part. But, the most endearing aspect of the book is its careful study of the relationship between a tigress and her cubs in direct contrast of the ferociousness that tigers are well known for."
Nikhil Fernandes, copywriter, Cheil Worldwide

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The Difficulty of Being Good
On the subtle art of dharma
Gurucharan Das
"I picked up the book without any expectations. What drew me to the book was its title and the author. If some of the characters of one of India’s greatest epics Mahabharata have intrigued you and made you wonder why they did what they did, pick up this book! It is comforting to know that the celebrated heroes of our greatest epic were flawed and faced moral dilemmas and uncertainties just like any ordinary mortals like us. One can so easily relate to the dilemma that Arjuna faced when he had to pick up his arms at the commencement of the battle. The question that we are all faced with so very often – am I doing the right thing?  Parallels drawn from Homer's Illiad makes it even more engaging and helps us look at our epic's characters in a very humane way. Krishna as the master strategist though deceitful at times puts into perspective the old adage of the end justifying the means. The part on Karna makes him dearer to the reader as the wronged hero who stood up for his beliefs under the most trying circumstances with tremendous grace and dignity."
Roopa Badrinath, group head - HR, Rediffusion Y&R