Reading Room: "The Jason Bourne Series is my all time favourite": P M Balakrishna

P M Balakrishna, chief operating officer, Allied Media, speaks about his favourite books, why he loves Shogun by James Clavell and the book that he is looking forward to read next.

Currently, I am reading the autobiography of Steve Waugh, Out of My Comfort Zone. It is about a very fierce and competitive person who has lived an interesting life as a man of cricket but not just for cricket. What I like about it is that he gave grit a good name and proved that it is not just the pretty, but also the tough and determined, who can make it.

Greatness was not handed over to Waugh. He pursued it diligently, single-mindedly and the story of his resolute journey among the other things makes for enjoyable reading. I think the title is apt as throughout the book he makes you feel the importance of going beyond your ability constraints and stay focused on achieving what you want.

Some of my all time favourite books are the Jason Bourne Series by Robert Ludlum. I like them for the sheer charisma of the character of Bourne, the intense drama of his life spanning continents and countries and action packed encounters possibly with every single spook agency of the world. I have read all the three books - Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum.

In my favourites, I must also mention Shogun by James Clavell for its realistic insight into the Samurai way of life and the Japanese feudal culture weaved together in a very strong and mystical way of storytelling.

The book that I want to read, after I finish my current one, is Amitabh Bachchan: The Legend written by Bhawana Somaaya.