Book Review, Indian Author

Book Review: Fix Your Problems – The Tenali Raman Way

When I was teenager, we used to see this show based on Tenali Raman. Before the show started, I already knew many of his stories and seeing cartoon of same was indeed reminiscing childhood days. Now in adulthood, these memories fade away and you end up remembering stories of soap opera and comic character converts into superhero movies. Tenali Raman stories are very witty and smart, but you lose touch with the content and crux of character. 
Reading book like ‘Fix Your Problems – The Tenali Raman Way‘ by Vishal Goyal in adulthood is not just an exercise to remember the past or cherish those movement’ but also finding out solutions to our problems. In many ways, these small stories give us hint of how to find our way when we are faced difficult situation. During the period of reading endless heavy books with too much information and emphasis on how to live your life, Fix Your Problems – The Tenali Raman Way was a fresh book and reminder of how I used to love reading book which are just fun yet give us some learning. This was a transition book after which I ended up reading all fiction and fantasy novel series. 
Coming back to Tenali, he was a Bramin (a higher caste in society) who deeply prayed to God Kali who appeared in front of him once she was pleased with the devotion. God Kali offer two cup to Tenali, one was Intelligence and other was Wealth. He was asked to choose one. Tenali, being witty from beginning, tricked God and drank both the cup. God got angry but he saved himself saying, “what is the use of intelligence if I can’t have wealth and what is the use of wealth when I am not intelligent to save it from people who wish to take it away”. God was satisfied with the answer and she spared Tenali who later became one of eight poets in the palace of King Krishnadevaraya. This was one of the short stories in the series of Tenali Raman.

The book Fix Your Problems – The Tenali Raman Way by Vishal Goyal is not just a story telling book. It nicely talks about each stories and from stories, he picks up the lessons and quote which are quite relevant in today’s world. Stories are something many of us will know as a kid, but we would have never though of seeing lessons in such stories. Example. The intro story of how Tenali gains intelligence and wealth has a lesson too. During the tough situation, especially when someone threatens you, instead of panicking and fighting back, stop and think of reasonable way to save yourself. If Tenali didn’t give the reasonable answer, God would have burned him alive. A stable and calm mind will always win the fight!
In a way it is self-help come management tip book. The good thing is that lesson comes with a witty story of Tenali and soon when the book is complete, you will wish to be as smart and humorous like Tenali. Cherish the stories and stories will give back few tips to you! 


Must read for those who love short stories (even if you don’t read management lesson, just spend time reading the wonderful stories). 

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