Booknomics

9 Travel Books from the Pothi.com Store on World Tourism Day

Today is World Tourism Day. During an era when travel has receded into the shadows of the pandemic, we thought we would talk about some of the travel literature available at the Pothi.com Store. There are quite a few books as self-publishing is an ideal medium for travel bloggers and explorers.

Travels of an Indian backpacker girl by Munia Pakhi| Pothi.com

Thirty-something Munia was always an explorer and her wanderlust leads her to Europe. She knew no one there but with a lot of careful planning she managed to travel on a shoestring budget. ‘She got lost in forests in Germany, became witness to a road accident, got scammed under the Eiffel tower, drank glacier water, walked on an active volcano, swam in the Mediterranean, saw celebrities, lived the history of places and saw spooky things in Austria. Eight different countries, 5 different languages, 42 days.’

Traveling To An Enchanted Land Of Castles: Facts And Information On The Castles Of Britain by Herbert Howard| Pothi.com

Herbert is a travel enthusiast with a long alphabetical list of castles on his itinerary- Allington Castle, Ashby Castle, Barnard Castle, Barnwell Castle, Bedford Castle, Beeston Castle, Berkeley Castle, Berkhamsted Castle, Berry Pomeroy Castle, Brancepeth Castle, Buckden Palace, Caister Castle, Canterbury Castle, Carisbrooke Castle, Carlisle Castle, Castle Rising, Chester Castle, Christchurch Castle…….

BEYOND SOUVENIRS by Amrutha Langs | Pothi.com

Amrutha Langs is an explorer. In this travel book, she provides useful information for any explorer who is out on a world tour. Her knowledge snippets may benefit anyone who is trying to get a headstart in a new land.

Everest by Almond Syiem and George Tetlow| Pothi.com

Singer-songwriter and poet Almond Syiem and George Tetlow, book designer, illustrator and lecturer synthesize poetry and artwork based on the Himalayas in a beautiful book.

Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) For Beginners by Krishnakumar T K | Pothi.com

A detailed travel guide about several Pallava era monuments of the historic Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) town. The author is a traveler and blogger.

One Man Gets the Sack by Ketan Joshi | Pothi.com

A travel fiction filled with adventure and humor. Ketan Joshi is the author of the ‘Three Men on Motorcycles’ series and the ‘One Man Goes Backpacking’ series.

REGARDING LUCKNOW by Syed Rizwan | Pothi.com

A collection of essays on the city of Lucknow from a historical perspective. The author has majored in History. His book talks about the culture and etiquette of the place.

An Indian Goes Around the World – II: WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY THIRTY-DAY EUROPEAN ODYSSEY by M. P. Prabhakaran | Pothi.com

M. P. Prabhakaran writes about the tour he undertook through ten countries of Europe in the summer of 2009

‘The 2009 tour, he says, opened his mind to various aspects of European cultures he had been quite ignorant of until then. It cleansed his mind, he adds, of the many misconceptions he had about peoples and events that shaped the destiny of Europe. It convinced him, once again, that bookish knowledge is no substitute for the knowledge one gains from the people he interacts with, events he witnesses, and things he gets exposed to during his travels to new places.’

TALES OF KURLA STATION by Debashis Mitra | Pothi.com

A collection of short stories set in one of the oldest stations of India. ‘To ones that have had the dubious fortune of having traveled the trains of Mumbai, the stories easily relate to their personal observations and compels them to ponder.’ Debashis Mitra is an architect with an eye toward fiction.

Tell us about any travel literature you have enjoyed recently. If you have traveled and want to self-publish your travel fiction, get in touch with us

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World Pharmacists Day: Six Pharma Books at The Pothi.com Store

The World Pharmacists Day commenced at the FIP Council 2009 in Istanbul to encourage activities that promoted the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world.

We have a large number of books at the Store that have to do with the pharma field:

PHARMA FIRST-LINE LEADER TO CEO: THE ROADMAP TO SUCCESS | Pothi.com

A roadmap to success and brief autobiographies of four eminent persons from the Indian pharmaceutical industry who have risen from medical representatives to managing directors / CEOs. The author, Prof. Vivek Hattangadi has put in over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, beginning his career as a medical representative, later working in brand management and rising to the position of Head of Sales and Marketing in India’s topmost transnational pharmaceutical house. In January 2004, he started his own consultancy firm The Enablers that specializes in pharma brand management & training.

HOW TO GET DOCTORS ADDICTED TO YOUR BRAND – 13 UNSHAKABLE LAWS OF PHARMA BRANDING | Pothi.com

Another book by Vivel Hattangadi, here the author talks about the 13 virtues that Benjamin Franklin advocated and the 13 laws of pharma branding. The author focuses on Good Marketing Practices and each law is the culmination of observation and experience.

WHAT THE PHARMA CEO WANTS FROM THE BRAND MANAGER: OVERCOME THE TOUGH CHALLENGES OF PHARMA BRANDING (Edition III) | Pothi.com

The Chinese bamboo tree is the miracle that all brands can learn from. It doesn’t grow until after five years of nurture but when it does it shoots up extremely high. What happens in the five years of watering the bamboo is that it grows an elaborate network of roots. So keep working on the brand and it will come into the limelight eventually.

CONCEPTUAL PHARMACY | Pothi.com

Like many books at the Store, this one is academic and designed for the candidates who are preparing for competitive examination. This book contains important portions covering almost all major areas of Pharmacy subject such as Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Forensic Pharmacy and Microbiology to some extent.

Indian Pharmaceutical Regulations by Dr. Premnath Shenoy | Pothi.com

The book explains key Indian pharmaceutical regulations in an easy-to-understand presentation. The book targets Pharmacy and Life sciences graduates seeking to make a career in Pharmaceutical Industry. It is also beneficial to key professionals and startup sector in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure compliance. Dr Premnath Shenoy has nearly four decades of rich experience in the area of Pharmaceutical Research, Quality, Regulatory affairs and compliance.

Pharmacology for Nurses: Pharmacology Study Checklist, Questions and Rationales to easily Pass the NCLEX test | Pothi.com

The book provides ample practice for the NCLEX. 15% of the NCLEX test plan comprises pharmacology questions. The aim of this book is to provide an NCLEX pharmacology study checklist that highlights the most important topics.

Go to the Store for more titles.

World Rose Day: Seven Books That Talk About Cancer, Hope and Survival

World Rose Day is celebrated on September 22 keeping in mind the welfare of cancer patients. Cancer is often looked upon with fear but those who must battle the diagnosis need as much support from fearless caretakers in the community as they can get. On this occasion, we thought we would look at some cancer literature.

TOUGH: WOMEN WHO SURVIVED CANCER edited by Marquina Ilieve-Piselli

Forty women tell their stories about their cancer experience. Although the journey is long and hard, the stories are filled with hope. Creativity is sometimes the best cure for any illness and many of the survivors talk about their tryst with creative pursuits.

The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness by Jerome Groopman

A must-read book for caregivers and the afflicted. Groopman doesn’t believe in providing false hope but he wants to explore how important hope is in the face of adversity. I

Close to the Bone by Lisa Ray

This autobiography of actor and model Lisa Ray is no-holds-barred account of her life. She suffered from multiple myeloma at age thirty-seven.

‘How fortunate it is when life alters you without warning.’

The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back by Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh gives a brave, honest account of his tryst with cancer and chemotherapy. The book is an account of his cricket journey and his own personal growth.

Healed: How Cancer Gave Me a New Life by Manisha Koirala

Another celebrity cancer autobiography. Here Manisha Koirala speaks about her triumphant win against ovarian cancer.

My Cancer is Me: The Journey from Illness to Wholeness by Vijay Bhat

Cancer is a disease with many stereotypical notions attached to it. Vijay Bhat writes about how the disease can be used as a transformative experience. He explores perspectives toward the disease and holistic and scientific approaches that can help cure the afflicted.

Unafraid by Niyati Tamaskar

At the Pothi.com Store, we have a book by cancer survivor Niyati Tamaskar. She was a thirty-four-year-old breastfeeding mother when she got the diagnosis. She grew up in India where the c-word was taboo and so she opens up about her journey. Her words give strength- watch her Ted Talk here.

What books would you recommend for cancer survivors and caregivers? Tell us in the comments section.

Syed Mujtaba Ali: The Bengali Polyglot Who Captured South Asia With His Pen

Syed Mujtaba Ali was born on this day in 1904. He was a Bengali author, journalist, scholar, polyglot and global citizen.

He was born in Assam to a family of intellectuals. His brother Murtaza Ali also was a writer of great stature. Mujtaba Ali studied at Shantiniketan. His work in education and religious studies took him across the world.

His travel narrative Deshe Bideshe captured a snapshot of the upheavals in South Asia and it’s a good idea to read the book right now if you are interested in the goings-on in Afghanistan.

He was awarded the Narsinghadas Prize, the Ananda Puraskar and the Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh.

Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay- the Bengali Storyteller who Inspired Satyajit Ray

Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay was born on this day in 1894. He grew up in a village in West Bengal. Storytelling ran through the family- his father was a storyteller and a Sanskrit scholar. He was a prized student but since his family fell in a hard way, once his studies were complete, he enrolled as a teacher in a school in Hooghly before he went on to become a writer full time.

His setting was primarily rural Bengal. The Apu trilogy based on Pather Panchali and Aparajito caught Satyajit Ray’s attention and since then Bandyopadhyay’s works have become immortal on the silver screen.

His best-known works are the autobiographical novel, Pather Panchali (The Song of the Road), Chader Pahar, and Aranyak. He’s been called “perhaps the best of all modern Indian novelists” and his legacy is substantial- over a dozen novels, hundreds of short stories, memoirs and essays. His style is rooted in an almost romantic love for his environment and a traditional mode of storytelling- yet his voice is modernist and relevant even today, especially when he speaks about the disappearance of the rural fabric in the face of capitalism.

He died in 1950.

Discover Fabulous Books and Read for Children on International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day, first observed in 1966 and now included in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals program, was established in order to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.

Every year on September 8th, UNESCO observes International Literacy Day. The main aim is to gain global awareness on the issues related to child and adult literacy. Literacy is the best remedy is a phrase used by UNESCO in its banners, as literacy is central to the right of all children to an education.

In India, the literacy rate is 77% and there is a sizeable disparity at a gender-wise and state-wise level.

Reading Programs in India

On International Literacy Day, let’s look at two organizations that are doing their bit for kids’ reading efforts:

Pratham Books

Pratham Books runs an annual storytelling campaign called One Day One Story on International Literacy Day where Reading Champions from across India conduct storytelling sessions. The campaign aims to get ‘a book in every child’s hand’. Two books are selected for this venture- this year it’s Satya, Watch Out!, a Level 2 book written by Yamini Vijayan and illustrated by Vishnu M Nair for younger kids, and Puchku Seeks a Song, a Level 3 book written by Deepanjana Pal and illustrated by Rajiv Eipe for older kids. You can sign up here.

A Story A Day

Another initiative that has to do with reading books is the #AStoryADay initiative launched by Pehlay Akshar. Stories that are narrated are shared with children from underprivileged backgrounds and helps give them a headstart in English learning.

A couple of stories from children’s books at the Pothi.com Store are part of the #AStoryADay initiative. Here’s a story from Footprints on the Moon read by the writer Ishmita Menon.

In India alone, over 300 million children have been unable to study owing to the pandemic, so such initiatives are the silver lining. Tell us about any worthy reading initiatives you think we should know about.

Visit the Pothi.com Book Store on Buy a Book Day and Support an Author Today!

Today is Buy a Book Day!

On this day, we thought about talking about the Pothi.com Store, the place where all the authors who use the Pothi.com platform are at. Once you decide to self-publish, you can upload your files onto the system and ta-da your book shows up at the Pothi.com Store. That simple.

Pothi.com Book Store

Since today the onus is on buying books, let’s have a look at our Book Store- Books by Self Publishing Authors | Pothi.com

At the Pothi.com Store there is a huge variety of books in as many as 50+ categories from Antiques and Collectibles to Business Books to Travel Books and Comics. There are books by authors from all over the world, so we have books in the Store in over 40 languages!

In the New Releases section, you get to see the latest print books and eBooks that have been self-published. The Bestsellers is a list of the books that have the highest sales. Editor’s Choice is a curated list that we update from time to time- the books on this list are recommended by our in-house Editorial Team.

You can also search for a specific book using the search option.

On this day, pick up a book and encourage an author. A book is a labor of love- so much thought and effort go into the making of one and when an author decides to self-publish, they need to take so many decisions- not just when it comes to writing the book but also taking into account the making and selling of it as well. Do your bit to support our Pothi authors and buy a book now!

Celebration of Teachers’ Day: Six Books About Teachers and Mentors

Teachers’ Day recognizes the unique role that adults play in the lives of young minds and in shaping a country’s future.

Teachers’ Day is observed annually in India on September 5 to commemorate the birth of the country’s former President, scholar, philosopher, and Bharat Ratna awardee, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, on this day in 1888.

The significance of this day is paramount. It is a day to acknowledge the significance of teachers in shaping the young minds of children. For students, the day also means gifting roses, chocolates, and handmade cards to their favorite teachers to express their gratitude. Teacher’s Day is a day of role reversal and celebration for senior students.

Books to Read on Teachers’ Day:

Literature pays a great due to teachers. Here we have put together a list of books where teachers play an important role in molding their young students.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda develops a bond with her kindergarten teacher, Miss Honey, who encourages her academically and emotionally when no one else does. It is the most adorable and heartwarming book there is, and it shows how a good teacher can shape the mind and life of an innocent child.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

Lucy Snowe begins a new life as a teacher at a boarding school in a fictitious city in Belgium. She is attracted to all the things that are adventurous and romantic. Lucy Snowe is the counterpart of Jane Eyre, a more patient reserved version. Villette is Charlotte Bronte’s last book.

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

This Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award tells the story of a young man who returns to 1940s Cajun country. His aim? To visit and teach a black youth sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. They learn about the heroism of resistance as a group. Gaines brings to this novel, a sense of place, a deep understanding of the human psyche, and compassion for people and their struggle against racism and ignorance. His story is just as relevant today.

Anne of Green Gables by M. Montgomery

Miss Stacy, Anne’s teacher, uses unconventional and liberal teaching methods that others criticize, but she becomes a much-needed role model and mentor for Anne.

The English Teacher by R. K. Narayan

The English Teacher is a part of a series of novels and collections of short stories set in R. K. Narayan’s fictitious setting of Malgudi. The story follows Krishna, an English teacher, his little triumphs and follies.

Teaching Yoga in an Upside-Down World by Susan Hopkinson

At the Pothi.com Store, we have a book about self-care for teachers, yoga teachers in particular. Susan Hopkinson discovered yoga in 1985, began teaching in 1998 and qualified as a yoga therapist in 2007. She negotiates the path a teacher needs to take in the modern world where fitness instruction and yoga asanas are often confused as one and the same.

We can never thank the good teachers in our lives enough! Share a memory of your favorite teacher or a book on teachers that you read and admired.

Wildlife Day: Eleven Books for Readers in the Anthropocene

National Wildlife Day was founded by animal behaviorist and philanthropist Colleen Paige. The idea behind this day is to bring to the fore knowledge about endangered animals and spread the word about animal conservation.

We put together a list of wildlife animal books for you on this day.

A Zoo in My Luggage by Gerald Durrell

Gerald Durell is the first writer who comes to mind when you think about books featuring animals.This is a rollicking account of his travels and how he created his own zoo.

“I hope that, in a small way, I am interesting people in animal life and in its conservation. If I accomplish this I will consider that I have achieved something worthwhile. And if I can, later on, help even slightly towards preventing an animal from becoming extinct, I will be content.”

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera and the antagonist Sher Khan are unforgettable fictional characters from the immortal fiction The Jungle Book. Kipling wrote the book for his daughter Josephine as he mentioned: “This book belongs to Josephine Kipling for whom it was written by her father, May 1894.” Unfortunately his daughter lived only for six years.

“A black shadow dropped down into the circle. It was Bagheera the Black Panther, inky black all over, but with the panther markings showing up in certain lights like the pattern of watered silk. Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his path, for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down.”

Every Creature Has a Story: What Science Reveals about Animal Behaviour by Janaki Lenin

Janaki Lenin is a careful observer of the wildlife around her. This book is a collection of essays where she examines the wild and wonderful behaviors of unlikely animals from rodents to wasps to humpback whales. Animals are only now beginning to be understood and Lenin traces paternal love, altruism and the variegated emotions of the members of the animal kingdom.

Man-eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett

Corbett was a man-eater detective of sorts. In his book that has remained in print for seventy years he elaborates on the conflict between humans and big cats.

“Those who have never seen a leopard under favourable conditions in his natural surroundings can have no conception of the grace of movement, and beauty of colouring, of this the most gracefuL and the most beautiful of all animals in our Indian jungles.”

The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen

The snow leopard is an elusive predator and Peter Matthiessen knows that there is a possibility that in his quest for the bharal, the Himalayan blue sheep, he may see one. The Snow Leopard is a physical journey toward clarity and an understanding of Zen.

“Indicating his twisted legs without a trace of self-pity or bitterness, as if they belonged to all of us, he casts his arms wide to the sky and the snow mountains, the high sun and dancing sheep, and cries, ’Of course I am happy here! It’s wonderful! Especially when I have no choice!’ In its wholehearted acceptance of what is;I feel as if he had struck me in the chest. Butter tea and wind pictures, the Crystal Mountain, and blue sheep dancing on the snow-it’s quite enough!

Have you seen the snow leopard?

No! Isn’t that wonderful?”

Indian Mammals: A Field Guide Book by Vivek Menon

A comprehensive field guide to 400 species of mammals in India accompanied by photos, illustrations and expert insight. Reading the book helps familiarize you with the enormous diversity of the animal kingdom in India .

The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis by Prerna Singh Bindra

Prerna Singh Bindra talks about the sorry state of wildlife governance in the country. Bottlenecks in bureaucracy and lackadaisical policy make the animals of the country its victims. The author was a member of the National Board for Wildlife and on Uttarakhand’s State Board for Wildlife. She has worked passionately to protect wildlife habitats and critically endangered species.

The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

A remarkable book where the eminent nature writer Robert Macfarlane and the genius artist Jackie Morris have brought back the vocabulary of the British wild. The book has received much praise and can be read and appreciated by children and older readers alike. An Indian counterpart of lost nature terms in India is greatly needed.

At the Pothi.com Store, we have a couple of books around the theme of wildlife conservation by H. S. Pabla, former Chief Wildlife Warden of the state of Madhya Pradesh. He was once on the faculty of the Wildlife Institute of India and is an international consultant in forestry and wildlife management in South Asia now. Here are the links to his books: Road to Nowhere, Wardens in Shackles and Besides Loving Beasts.

Tell us which book about wildlife you would recommend.

National Nutrition Month: Four Books to Show You How to Eat Smart, Starting Now!

All around the world, there are millions of resources being employed to find the most nutrition-dense diet there is. It is no news to us that a proper nutrition intake in our diet is so necessary for our bodies to function properly and keep deficiencies at bay. Many campaigns and activities are conducted all over the world to spread this message. In order to educate people on the need for nutrition in our bodies, National Nutrition Week is celebrated from 1^st to 7^th September.

History Behind National Nutrition week:

After being introduced in March 1973 by the members of the American Dietetic Association, National Nutrition week was an initiative to deliver a nutrition education message to the people. It gained a lot of support during the 1980s, after which the Indian government started the National Nutrition Week commemoration in India in the year 1982. This campaign was initiated to encourage people to adopt a healthy and a sustainable lifestyle.

Theme of 2021 National Nutrition Week

Every year, the first week of September focuses on a new theme. For the year 2021 it is: Feeding smart right from start. It aims to promote the consumption of nutritious and healthy foods. The goal is to promote the idea of a balanced diet, which in turn will promote good health and well-being.

Books that Promote Good Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle:

The Baby Elephant Diet by Ravi Mantha

With a super cute title, this book focuses on adding fiber to your diet to help maintain a healthy weight. The author describes the use of readily available fruits and vegetables in India. A large part of the Indian population in India is vegetarian and this book is a boon for them.

The Healthy Indian Diet by Dr Raj R Patel, Anuja Balasubramanian and Hetal Jannu

With modern diets and refined foods causing a slew of chronic diseases, this is the book of the hour. The focus is on traditional home cooking with natural ingredients, which helps to control and prevent health problems like obesity, insulin levels, and chronic inflammation. In addition to that, the book contains dos and don’ts related to nutrition and healthy lifestyle. It also has delicious and amazing recipes.

Prenatal Fitness 360°: The Way to a Healthy Pregnancy by Sonali Shivlani

Sonali Shivlani’s book has provided valuable information to soon-to-be mothers about a healthy pregnancy. The book is divided into five sections that cover diet plans, nutrition charts, a prenatal exercise regimen, a postnatal weight loss diet and exercises, and breathing techniques, providing a 360-degree approach to a healthy pregnancy.

The Wholesome Kitchen by Pooja Dhingra

Pooja Dhingra is the founder of Mumbai’s famous Le 15 Patisserie and she writes about healthy desserts and wholesome breakfasts in her book. Her focus is majorly on the idea to consume locally grown ingredients, which are fresh and nutrition-packed.

Are there any books on nutrition that you recommend?