Not so randomly yours

The cover is inviting and the content-- rich. Not SO Randomly Yours by Vivek Atre, offers profound insights about everyday life in a deceptively light manner.

Easy to read, the writings collected in the book touch diverse subjects. A read through would leave you with a heightened sensitivity for the surroundings, as well as about the environment of the mind.

The author is a former bureaucrat, motivational and leadership speaker and mentor, who has penned six books. In between, he has been writing a fortnightly column in Hindustan Times, Chandigarh, for over a decade. Not So Randomly Yours is a collection of 120 of these writings, written in his signature style.

A maverick who wears many hats rather easily on his sorted head; as a writer, he is prolific. Retaining interest in a column for a decade is not an easy task.

He has done it successfully; handling subjects that cater to a wide spectrum of readers. A few pieces read like diary entries—personal and relatable. Others take on a philosophical turn.

Sports, cinema and humour, the popular subjects apart, one finds obscure subjects like AI and impediments to meditation. All handled with elan.

The writings selected for this book are divided into ten broad chapters. The first chapter--Empathy, Leadership and Inspiration-- resonates with the readers.

Instead of making these topics didactic, dry or preachy, Atre peppers his columns with humour, anecdotes, historical references and cinematic experiences. Ditto for The Battleground of the Mind. Rib Ticklers are the ones that a reader consumes first.

I loved his take on mamarazzi, podcasters, category of bosses, the WhatsApp senders and his observations on the large families travelling together.

The Battleground of the Mind is the most interesting arena. A place where wrestling is not with an outsider, but within. It is subtle. Riding the Relentless Tempest of Time or JOMO is far better than FOMO—the writings require insights and introspection to be translated into light-hearted juxtapositions.

A few examples, “The manner in which we live depends hugely on the rules, regulations, norms and of course, the laws that surround us…certain types of human transgressions fall into intangible realms.

These include the act of admiring someone else’s girlfriend or mooning over a handsome dude, both of whom probably don’t know that they have an unnoticed additional follower!”

There is a lot to take home from his pieces on Relationships, Engagements and Interactions, for the young and not so young. Let’s Celebrate the ‘Gup Shup’ Cup, or Narrowing the Generational Chasm, find resonance in the minds and hearts of the reader.

In the writings collected under the title, Goose Pimples from Sports, the author turns current news from sports into finding role models, heroes and inspiration for the young.

“The triumph of Gukesh, in any case means much more than winning a world title. His victory represents the dreams of millions, billions of youngsters from across the world.

A young boy or girl from Vellore, Rajamundhry, Kota, Ranchi, Burdwan, Ambala or Dharamshala can identify more easily with Gukesh than someone who has been on a pedestal for years. “

The Buzzing India Vibe carries a flavour of seriousness around the subject. If you are interested in self-evolution, go grab a copy. There is a lot to read, reflect and assimilate in the 462 pages of Not So Randomly Yours, priced at Rs 495/.