Mind Without Fear

It ain't so Joe

I had to apologize for recommending Rajat Gupta’s book to friends after having heard only the fist 2 hours. The book fell flat after that and turned into a banal recounting of his life story which has been told in a much shorter form in countless articles both in the west and in India. I personally thought Billionaires Apprentice was a much better book, more pacy and told multiple sides of the story with many more characters and left the reader to decide if he did it. After listening to Rajat’s book I’m not sure I’ve been enlightened more that before. If I was to score the audiobook, I’ll give it highest marks for delivery. He has read it well for a first time performer. But other than that. It’s a flat 2 on plot. I’ll also give his publisher, high marks for getting the audiobook out and more importantly for getting him to read it himself (although I have a feeling he wanted to tell his story after not having testified at the trail). The promotion of the book has been relentless in India with Rajat giving hourlong interviews to every notable journalist and news outlet. While most interviews have been sympathetic and hence more about his sob story and book promotion, I found Madhu Trehan’s interview on Newslaundry more balanced (bit leaning on the critical and questioning side) and worth watching.

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Inspirational

Its a good read. very well narrated and detailed insight about life of Rajat Gupta.

Great book on Mind and the Times of an exceptionally accomplished person

I finished listening to Rajat Gupta’s memoir ‘Mind without Fear’ in just two sessions. It is a compelling story. He had the good luck to be the right person in the right place to become first non (white) American managing director of MicKinsey & Co, when the firm was ripe to go global. He was the wrong guy at the wrong time when he entered the financial markets with the wrong guy, and got the wrong overzealous prosecutor thus getting jailed for two years. He draws inspiration from his father who was an ICS officer but resigned Gandhiji’s call for freedom and was jailed and beaten mercilessly with permanent damage. He also draws inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore, whose beautiful poetry threads the book and gives it the title of Mind without Fear. He also draws solace from his strong family and the many friends who stood with him and believed his story. He however deeply regrets not taking the stand and testifying in his own trial, as he received overwhelming advice from his lawyers and his family that allowing the prosecutor to question him directly will be too risky. At the end of it all, he comes out of the ordeal with his head held high, without much bitterness for those who deserted him including the McKinsey firm who dismissed him summarily and took his name off their alumni list.

I believe Rajat Gupta’s story, as I have done over the years. He is a fellow IITD alumnus ten years my senior. I met him at Pan-IIT meets in 2007 and 2009. He looked handsome and seemed very honest and a good listener. I do remember some of the stories of the next few years as the attorney Preet Bharara with political ambitions set his sights on a fellow successful Indian. There was a story in the Indian press about Preet Bharara and Dr Sanjay Gupta, whose moms knew each other from India, about who is doing better in the US. I recall a feeling of a certain revulsion at that approach to achieving success by beating down an iconic fellow Indian. Some of my well-meaning friends however felt at that time that greed and power had gotten the better of Rajat Gupta.

Rajat Gupta has done much good work including seting up Indian School of Business and the Public Health Foundation of India. He also started the Global Fund against three major diseases. These inspirational stories are laid out in great detail in the book. That alone makes the book worthy of attention. What the book does not tell is that none other than Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys, compared Rajat Gupta with Jawaharlal Nehru for having started two world class organizations in India. I also salute Rajat for his great work. May God grant him strength to continue his good work. He wants to work on the American penal system which he observed from the inside and found deeply lacking. He should write a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the book that he read during his incarceration and which helped him come out stronger, with malice towards none and with his head held high.

Phenomenal listen

really everything you would want In A Book Like This brutally honest interesting and absolutely riveting.

Redundant and self-pitying

I have read nearly a dozen books related to the 2008 insider trading trials; this one is my least favorite. I admire Mr. Gupta and worked with some of the related firms during the subprime crisis, but after the first few hours, he sounds smug and indignant. Instead of telling his story and pleading for change, he sounds entitled and repeated his insistence of innocence and blamed everything around him: Raj, the prosecution, his own lawyers, the media (especially the media). Mr. Gupta relies incessantly on his credentials and connections as though that alone should place him above suspicion. Mr. Gupta did an excellent job for a first time narrator, but his editors did not do him justice by keeping in some of the written material.

An amazing story!

An amazing read. Very impressive story telling. Pretty emotional too.

Totally nitpicking but the one thing which you got wrong (I think) was your grand dad giving two rupees from under the bed for sweets. Assuming that was appx 60 years ago - 2 rupees in Calcutta would have been a lot for sweets.

truly inspiring!

Loved it! Hearing the words spoken by the author himself makes the narrative quite relatable.

Honest and Inspirational

Mr. Gupta's career and professional acheivements have always been inspirational and motivational, so have been his tireless pursuits for human welfare.

This book seems to be very honest and I have a sense of beleif he did not commit the crime he was convicted for.

I greatly admire is his profound sense of persevarance, deriving spiritual optimism and spiritual intelligence from Bhagavad Geeta, ultimately emerging from the difficult sentence like a winner.

Excellent narration and story

Rajat Gupta, one of the most successful Indian immigrants to the US, narrates a gripping and insightful life story of his incarceration and US justice system. He deeps dive into how the SEC framed him unjustly in insider trading while ignoring the main banker culprits.

And incredible well told journey

I retired from professional services, Price WaterhouseCoopers, LLP 15 years ago. Having worked in this industry as a business management consultant for many years, I understand how difficult and grueling every day life can be under the incredible, high stakes microscope of Fortune 50 leadership. This book and the phenomenal experience Rajat Gupta expresses through his soul and spirit, rise and fall from grace is both a joy and a crushing heartbreak to read. This is a story that is can only be made in America, well written, reads like a mystery novel an autobiography and a tale that will provide a basic contempt for our legal system just by listening. It’s a real and quite astonishing insight into the financial devastation of this past decade, Wall Street players and the natural downfall of many perpetuated by greed and distrust. This amazing leader whose reputation preceded him in every major institution became a victim torn to shreds albeit for the exception of his Mind Without Fear. Loved his steady narration. Certainly no one could have told the story with the passion, perspective and conviction that he did. Each chapter left me wanting to know what happened next, in his own words and whether or not Rajat Gupta came out whole. Read it and find out. Answers to a lot of question for me and our colleagues. A look into the world of business management consultants working in rare air and what that life is like, why the stakes are higher and how it must feel to free fall.