Your weekend reading list

This week, we asked Sunder Aaron, senior vice president and business head, Sony Pix, on two books thathe has been reading. Here is what he is reading now:

Post American World by Fareed Zakaria

“The world is moving from anger to indifference, from anti-Americanism to post-Americanism.”
I am of Indian origin and grew up in the US due to which I was very intrigued by this fascinating bookby Fareed Zakaria. Zakaria too is an Indian- American and has used his knowledge and experience ofbeing from both worlds very effectively in formulating this book which has been written in the style ofan informative yet engaging essay.

This non-fiction fantastic read is based on the thesis- that a 'post-American' world order is emerging inwhich the United States of America will continue to be the most powerful nation but its relative powerwill be diminished with two countries which will result in India and China becoming stronger nations.

City of Thieves by David Benioff

''You have never been so hungry; you have never been so cold''

David Benioff is a highly gifted screen writer and has written the screenplay for films such as The KiteRunner, Wolverine, X Men etc. Benioff as an author is as effective and engages his readers as if they arewatching a film.

This fiction installment from the author is a pleasant change from other books centering on Russia whichhighlight either its beauty or the reigns of cruel Czars.

The story is based on two men - Beniov and Kolya who are imprisoned together and expect to besentenced to life. As luck would have it they are given an acquittal- they need to find a dozen eggs for avery senior Colonel’s daughter’s wedding. This is a bad time with chaos, ravage and famine which makesthis an impossible quest through the troubled countryside.

City of Thieves is loosely based on Benioff’s grandfather’s experience in Russia during World War II;combined with an extensively researched setting and effective narrative this is a must read.