Review: A GENTLE REVIEW OF DEMANDING TIMES
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 20, 2013
Krishna Kranthi, author of MBA IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, BLAZER, ARROGANCE (to be known as MBA et al throughout the rest of this review) appears to be a gentle man troubled with conflicting thoughts and ambitions about his future.  When he asked me to review his novel about obtaining advanced business degrees in India I was somewhat taken back because of the obscure subject matter.  I wasn't particularly interested in the United States' advanced business degree procedure, much less one halfway around the world.  But I'll read anything, as my followers know.  I'm glad I did, in spite of a stumbling start.Kranthi got MBA et al into my Kindle and I started to read.  My first impression was that I'd fallen into alphabet soup.  Apparently, in India, the use of abbreviations for almost everything is rampant.  The young student, Revant, is starting a year's program to obtain his MBA from a school known as SPJIMR in Bahrain.  I found out later that the initials stand for S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (I don't remember the author keying that for us anywhere in the book).  Nearly every person in the book has an initialed title.  Schools and programs are in initials; initials are everywhere in the book with no indexes to explain their meaning.Then I found the writing to be a little obscure with what appeared to be time and tense errors.  There were odd phrases and statements that defied coherent and orderly interpretation.  I began to question my judgment in reading MBA et al.Then it all meshed when I came to understand that this is a bright, young Indian man who doesn't speak or think exactly as I do.  I finally decided, however, that there is nothing wrong with the way he expressed himself or solved problems.  It's all very calm and orderly and might well become the way I'd like to conduct myself in the future.  It's gentle, a trait I've never been credited with having.The storyline is clearly autobiographical and, except for the turmoil over beautiful women that Revant is constantly immersed in, I see no reason for Kranthi to pretend otherwise.  Revant is inquisitive and somewhat of a pest.  But his motives are pure and his questions reveal intellect.  If the character Revant is based on Kranthi's behavior while at school, there's nothing to be ashamed of.  Revant's constant confusion about what to do, when to do it, and why it should be done are typical debates that occur in most intelligent young persons' minds.I actually liked this book a lot.  There are brilliant thoughts about corporate and personal behavior, organizing one's life, and decision making, both individually and in groups.  The gentle prodding by instructors as they encourage rational thinking is a technique that is expertly explained.  If the advice comes across as a little condescending to some, apparently it is thought provoking in the young Indian students.  The need to come to one's own resolution of a life pattern is not often explored in our culture but seems to be ingrained in Indian logic.I strongly urge you to follow Revant on his year's journey in both the classroom and around India and Europe as he asks questions, participates in programs and laboratories, and generally enjoys the being a young man.Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES