Touching Distance: The Great Indian MBA Dream

The content of the book is crisp and holds your interest till the very last page and is a real "eye-opener". The biggest USP of this book according to me is that the author has stated many hard facts of life but with a tinge of humor which makes you laugh but at the same time think about them seriously. The characters seem very real and have been portrayed so well that you can’t help actually traveling along with them on their roller coaster ride of emotions throughout the book. What I also liked a lot about the book is that the author has very cleverly revealed a lot of things by means of this simple “can-happen-to-anyone” kind of a story which are “to be read (understood) between the lines”. For example, it clearly illustrates the kind of false hype that is created in India for any field or degree, be it IT, BT or maybe some new field that might come up in the near future. It also hints on how grades are given so much importance in our Indian society, makes you realize that when it comes to getting a job, it really does not matter whether you have been a distinction student or the topper of your class throughout your student life. What matters is how much of knowledge you have gained in the process (Being a distinction student throughout myself, who else would know it better than me?).

On the whole, a “must read” for everyone with that constant hunger for good reads. I mean like..it is definitely worth your time!

Hello Steve (ur english name ;) ) ,

It gives me great pleasure writing this up, I'm almost done with reading Touching Distance.. Great Book....

I really am not someone who reads a lot of novels but this one caught my attention: one, with its title (me being an IIM aspirant and having given CAT in '11) and two, the fact that you are my BMSCE alumni... :)

I could easily relate myself with so many instances that you had narrated, be it the interview process that happens at the very end of the novel(we having graduated from top institutes carrying a strong academic background and getting into the real world with a whole lot of expectations, and more often disappointed at the injustice & lack of interest in recognizing the real talents), or the characters like the Ranga's and the sensible & ever reliable Captains, or even the girl that you were in constant touch with throughout the course at ISB(I always read the italics part before the actual chapter :)) - all of these were so similar to that of mine.

My fav lines from the book:(fav because I now know that there's someone, in the form of you, who had felt the same way as me in most of the scenarios, especially when it comes to gals ;))

"I was not someone who would walk up to her and start an idle conversation which started with a wit and ended with Love..she was way out of my league. I wondered if she ever thought of me. Of course not, I told myself. She like every beautiful girl in India, found herself surrounded by a bevy of guys where ever she went. She never had the time to consider anyone who wasn't in eyesight. You couldn't blame her"

"I needed to shove drunken men out of the way to dance with one of the girls there. And besides, I knew that when the time came for me to shove-push, I needed it to be for someone important. I am quite an old fashioned guy who prefers intent, in such matters, over immediacy. And I hadn't found 'the one', haven't met anyone I feel strongly about. Love had to strike, and strike hard. Unlike some others, I wasn't keen on dancing with, or being seen to be dancing with X, Y or Z"

So true !!

I liked the way you had described ISB as a place, the characters and the exaggerated & hyped management studies in India... The best part was the romantic track that you drew parallely throughout the book, a very similar experience to mine.

My story goes on similar lines: Had admired her for quite sometime, she always carried the energy, a magical glow wherever she was went. But I felt that she was way out of my league. Worked hard over the years to reach or even get close to what she would expect from her guy, but it's just that I'm a bit too late now- needless to say why. I really doubt if I would come across such a girl ever again - but again there is a small hope that I'm carrying from Touching Distance, hopefully I will find my dream girl someday without getting into a fighting with the wolves around :D

Cheers and keep it going,
PraDon-2

Let me start by saying that though the title of the book might sound relevant only to the people who have been through an Indian MBA or aspire to do so at some point in time, it is a wonderful opportunity for everyone else as well to peep into this small world of a B-School. The descriptions are so vivid that anyone could paint a clear picture in her mind about a B-School. It simply is an eye opener for those who are yet to face it and a golden chance to relive those time for those who have been already through it. The pristine thoughts combined with a good humor makes sure that the reader never gets bored. Am sure that once you read it, you would not want it to end.
In the end, i shall recommend this to everyone who wants to have a good read. So overall...Faaaaak!!! What a book!

In my opinion, this book has clearly out-beaten some of the famous books. If at all the cinema makers had found this one earlier, we could have had a even better movie in theaters :)
One thing I cant believe about this book is it is author's debut book....:P The book held my interest on every page. The authenticity on the language is simply commendable. The humor cannot be challenged. I had a through laughter through out the read...I can now say that I know how ISB looks like and what the study culture feels like...

Say, Holden Caulfied is tired of being a catcher for those many years and wants to reinvent himself. He goes to b-school and later tells you all about it. You expect a candid, humorous and perceptive “tell-it-like-it-really-is” tale. That, in a nutshell is “Touching Distance” - only, the setting is the Indian School of Business.

As an alumnus, I have it on authority that Shiva does a fantastic job of capturing the trials and triumphs of that golden year on campus. An engaging read and a must for all aspirants.