Reading Room: 'I dislike fat books': Pushpendra Misra

Pushpendra Misra, director, Flying Saucer Films, speaks about his favourite book, genres and the books that are currently by his bedside.

I dislike fat books. What great wisdom exists in this world that can't be imparted in less than 300 pages? Having said that, I have just finished reading Steve Jobs' biography, which is about 600 pages.

The books that I read are usually by my bedside. At present, I have Ammi by Saeed Mirza, Ka by Roberto Calasso, The Theatre of the Abstract by Martin Esslin and Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda on the table.

Ammi is about Mirza's letters to his mother, who is no more. It is quite fascinating to see the way in which the writer draws out details. Ka, a great piece of work on Hindu mythology, moves fast. Yet, the description is as vivid as if the events are unfolding before your eyes.

I specifically love reading poetry. Poets have this great ability to step outside their own body, look at their misery from a third person's point of view and qualify it in simple words. This act itself is like going to a shrink. They end up becoming their own shrinks by the means of their poetry. The poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke fell upon me like a ton of bricks. It is so simple yet so deep.