F?@K KNOWS- Book Review

 

About the book
 

Title: F?@K Knows

Author: Shailendra Singh

Publisher: Rupa Publications

ISBN: 978-81-291-2388-6

No. of Pages: 234

Price : 195 INR

Genre: Non-fiction

 

About the Author

 

Shailendra Singh has B.T.D.T.—Been there. Done that. Some know him as a ‘sports marketing guru’, some as an ‘advertising whizz’ or ‘Bollywood producer’, and many acknowledge him as a shrewd ‘dealmaker’. He’s conceptualized the most famous and long-lasting campaigns for India’s biggest brands, managed and helped adjust the jockstraps of India’s most respected cricketers, and launched the careers and egos of the country’s biggest celebrities. He’s opened a direct line of communication with India’s youth by creating massive music festivals, is emerging as Asia’s largest music promoter, and has produced over sixty Bollywood movies. He has worked on awareness campaigns for HIV/AIDS, cancer and piracy. He enjoys short trots on the beach, any sport that uses a ball, and sugar. This is his first, and hopefully not last, attempt at writing a book.

 

 

The Cover Speaks

 

The lemon-yellow colour always rings as "Yellow Yellow ,Dirty Fellow". But this book calls for, "Yellow Yellow, Attractive Fellow". The credit of cover design goes to Nicole Sottung. The half-forehead surrounded with several options depicts that everyone dreams big but do they end up living those dreams or just puff them as a thought bubble.

 

Synopsis

 

What do you want from life? Are you on the right track? Are you truly happy? If your answer to these questions is ‘F?@k knows!’, then this book is for you. Find the answers to life’s most important questions with the help of uber-successful entrepreneur, Shailendra Singh, co-founder of Percept and inceptor of Sunburn. Told with sparkling, flavourful and in-your-face humour, this book will advise you on how to:

• Find yourself (Because you’re probably lost. Admit it.)
• Follow your heart (Because if you don’t then you’ll die unhappy, you stupid f?@ker.)
• Achieve your goals (You know you want to.)
• Live life like you give a f?@k (Because…why not?)

Candid and thoughtful, F?@k Knows will show you how to really live life on your own terms, to do what you want to do and not what you have to do just because your father said so!

Book Review

The book spreads across 72 chapters. Ahhaa!!! Hold yourself. Don't drop the idea. The author has very wisely touched the different life-fundas in each chapter with 5 pages in each on an average.
The book is more of a witty one. The author has suggested some ways to read this book to get the maximum juice out of it in 'How to Read this Book'.

The author has warned to read this book in breaks and even suggested to read not more than one chapter a day. But I disagree. I'm pretty sure just like me, you won't be able to put down the book. You will end up reading the book in dreams too.

The author composed this book five years ago titled as 'YOU AND I'. With much manipulation and efforts, the book came out in print with an altogether different title and content too.

Every chapter starts with a quote which is really a Bang-on start to read through.

The book starts with the author narrating his life in brief and what caused him to find the answers of Life. As you kickstart, the reading goes smooth with few profane words adding to the laughs in the middle.

The conversation on P-3,4 shows the very truth of what we desired for? What we ended at? What holded us back?
The p-20 is a must read delve-on before you lie on the death-bed.
On p-30, he talks of a 'second brain' and ends up explaining it nicely.
On p-135, he aptly circles the difference between 'have to' and 'want to' and complies with 'You don't have to do anything'.
On p-221, he quotes, "A smile takes you many miles'. I was left bewildered when I read it. It resembles much to my signature line, "Silly smiles...Take you Miles". Had Shailendra Singh landed on my blogspace?? I wonder :O I should better file a patent for my signature line. :P

As I went through the book, I liked some of the chapters and some of the quotes very much. They all are brimming with lots of insight flavoured with creepy laughs and amusement. Hereby, I'm putting some of the quotes which will make you think for a while.
'Who the Hell are They'
'f?@k knows why you need death, to make you live.'
'I'm unhappy because I don't want to be Happy.'
'In India, we are blessed with cuisine that you eat once, but enjoy twice.'
'I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure- don't try.'
'Friends forever. Sex never.'
'Most people never grow up. They just grow old.'
'If you are happy and you know it and you really want to show it... Don't. The world might hate you for it.'

My favourite chapter 'Conversation with God' outlines how simple the life was until we made it complex just for the sake of others. It's a must read chapter.

I won't disclose anymore. Get a cup of coffee and immerse yourself in the gyaan-with-fun.

In A Nutshell

It is a book for young India, in witty and in-your-face prose, that tells you how to get it together and be happy. Funny and candid, yet rich in insights on how to really live life on your own terms, this unconventional self-help manual is unlike any book around. Give it a read and you will eventually come to know that there lies a lot more behind the very profane word.

My Rating
3.5/5

My View

While I flipped through the pages of this book, I went bonkers many-a-times. The author has clubbed the meaning of the word with various situations we come across in our day-to-day life setting you to muse while you amuse. When I ended up, I was like WOW! This word is too powerful :P 

I was reminded of an audio clip which resonates with the theme of this book. I heard it long back and Shailendra Singh has now compelled me to tune to it again.(IIT-D prof. speaks on this word at length and the students just pull their hair out). I wish I could have shared it here. As the author says,"I'm completely indemnified." The same will I say. Grab your copy if the worm is biting you to dig up the sane truth wrapped in the insane dusts.

Hioy'oy Hoi Polloi

JJJ

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