Book Launch @ Landmark

Reading a good book ensures learning from the wise man, who writes it. Meeting a well read researcher definitely conjures up the learning not just from many books but interesting people.

I had this experience at Landmark last Saturday at the book launch of “Secrets of the world’s most inspirational women “, by Zerbanoo Gifford. It was an interesting session. Karen Anand anchored the discussion with Mrs. Poonawala and the author. I reached late hence missed it out on the start .I heard the author thanking everyone who made the book possible and was happy to launch it in Pune.She shared her experiences of learning from the women achievers .She intended to reach out to every women who looks for mentoring for excellence. She shared some of her mentoring exercises wherein she helped women to achieve and live upto their full potential.

The discussion gained momentum when the open house began. The question posed by reader who had already gone through the book and asked why Oprah Winfrey was not included among the 300 women in the book. To this, Zerbanoo replied, that Oprah is undoubtedly an achiever just like the other women she wrote about. The world already knows everything about Oprah; she had known so much about her, that there was nothing else to interview and discover. She mentioned that her book includes an achiever from China, who has more than 10 million viewers, much higher than Oprah’s viewership. The next question was on the one common ability that she found in all the women she interviewed. Pat came the reply,’ hard work -hard work and hard work’! She spoke at length on the issues like owning the responsibility, by women to curb dowry. I asked for her message to women who choose career over relationship .She took her stand by honoring all the women who balanced both. Zerbanoo narrated the story of the Sufi Saint who had answers to every question. One day a man plots him to put him down and takes a bird to the saint. He asks the Saint to tell him if the bird is dead or alive. The Saint replies, that the bird is in his hand, hence he decides whether the bird is dead or alive .And with that she answers me, it’s a choice made by every individual. The discussion went further and she captured every question that was asked to her to pull her down with her limericks and wisecracks. She even read out a part of the book for the benefit of the gathering .The session ended with words of Karen Anand. I grabbed two books and Zerbanoo was sweet enough to autograph them and make my evening memorable. I walked away from the gathering with insights and wisdom through the ideas that I heard. I wish her all the success for her book.

[In the Picture, Zerbanoo addressing her readers with Karen Anand on her right and Lila Poonawala on her left.]