Reading Room: "Albert Camus is my favourite author": Zubin Driver

Zubin Driver, group creative director, Network18 Group and CEO, Cell 18, speaks to afaqs! about his favourite books, authors and why he loves 'Kautilya's Arthashastra'.

I read books across all genres - ranging from comic books to spiritual texts.

Currently, I am reading Kautilya's Arthashastra. It is a revealing and insightful study of political governance and strategy. It uses real-time examples with exquisite attention to detail, so one can understand the context of each possible decision. It is a guide to kings, king-makers and citizens, with enough of universal insights that can be applied to corporate life in India.

If you translate 'enemies' to be 'competition', then you open the door to a whole universe of insights that any brand manager would love to have. In today's competitive environment, kingdoms are brand kingdoms - their power is measured by how many people are brand loyal, like loyal citizens. The Arthashastra is a detailed discourse on how to keep the citizens in control.

Whether it is military strategy or brand strategy, the interfaces are many and very interesting.

Some of my all time favourites continue to be Jughead, and The Plague by my favourite author, Albert Camus, which explores the deepest motivations of 'action'. Camus' writing is just too dry, clinical and sharp as a knife. Murakami and Borge are my other two favourites. I plan to read Siva Purana next.