Showing results by narrator "Amit Varma" in All Categories

The GDP is today more a political tool than a statistical one. In episode 11 of The Book Club, Amit Varma recommends 'GDP: A Brief But Affectionate History" by Diane Coyle, a perfect primer on the origin and drawbacks of this controversial measure.

In episode 13 of The Book Club, Amit Varma talks about Vivek Shanbhag's masterpiece Ghachar Ghochar, a moving portrait of the innards of an Indian family.

India may seem sexually repressed and prudish–but in the past, we just been just the opposite. In episode 10 of The Book Club, Amit Varma discusses 'Infinite Variety', Madhavi Menon's eye-opening history of desire in India.

There is a cost to every action of ours, and being aware of this cost helps us spend our time and money better. Amit Varma and Vivek Kaul explain the concept of OPPORTUNITY COST in the riveting episode – which is definitely worth the time you spend on it!...

Do you want to ignite your reading habit? Do you wish you read more books? Tune in every week to "The Book Club with Amit Varma". Every Sunday, our host will fill you in on the merits of one particular book, and the many contexts that make it worth reading. We will cover all genres and account for all tastes–and hey, you could use it as a catalyst to start your own little book club! In the first episode of The Book Club, Amit Varma explains why there are so many great reasons to read Orwell's essays.

Politics in India is deeply complex, and nowhere is this as apparent as in Maharashtra, where centuries-old fault lines of caste, region and ideology collide. In episode 5 of The Book Club, Amit Varma raves about Sujata Anandan's 'Maharashtra Maximus', the perfect guide to this complex subject.

What is the purpose of the law? What should be the role of the state? Are we subjects or citizens? In episode 6 of The Book Club, Amit Varma argues that we have normalised oppression by the state, and we need to examine it anew with clear eyes. There is no better guide to this than Frédéric Bastiat's 19th-century masterpiece, 'The Law.'

Vivek Kaul went to Goa, ate too much and got the loosies. But why? As he explains in his conversation with Amit Varma, he made a mistake in MENTAL ACCOUNTING. This concept sheds light on a mistake we all make when it comes to money management – and much, much else...

We often think in binaries: something either happened, or it did not. But a far better way to look at the world is through PROBABILISTIC THINKING. This is also how we should evaluate the most important decision in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's career. Listen in for the full dope!...

Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' was published when she was 20 years old, but it is more than just a precocious book of early science fiction. In Episode 3 of The Book Club, Amit Varma explains how Shelley fearlessly tackled big themes, and delved as deep into human nature as the best literature of the time. Her book gave birth to many tropes that still exist – and showed an ambition that has since characterised the best writing in a genre she helped create.

Published in 1792, The Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft is not just a pioneering work of feminism, but also a step forward for political philosophy in general. Amit Varma explains how it drove liberalism forward with its argument, radical at the time, that human rights extended to all humans, and not just to men.

Public discourse has become toxic, and there is no better illustration of this than snark. We don't talk to people any more, we mock. We don't engage any more, we ridicule. In episode 7 of The Book Club, Amit Varma speaks about 'Snark', David Denby's prescient book about the degeneration of our conversations.

Humans are the only species who can reprogram themselves. This is astounding. In episode 8 of The Book Club, Amit Varma recommends you read 'Hacking Darwin' by Jamie Metzl, a lucid summation of the technological implications of genetic science – and the ethical questions they raise.

What does Shaheen Bagh have in common with Tahrir Square in Egypt and Gezi Park in Istanbul? A lot! In episode 12 of The Book Club, Amit Varma discusses 'Twitter and Tear Gas' by Zeynep Tufekci, which looks at the similarity in citizen protests across the world over the last decade.

Never throw good money after bad. And don't be imprisoned to the past. Amit Varma and Vivek Kaul begin with a story from Vietnam and end with a musing on bad relationships, explaining the factor common to both: THE SUNK COST FALLACY. Every single day, we encounter this fallacy in our lives...

Why do restaurants often list their more expensive items first? Why are sales such an attractive proposition? Amit Varma and Vivek Kaul explain the ANCHORING EFFECT. Understanding this is key to not being exploited – and to better decision-making...