Corporate training ko background mei ignore krte hue ye mail padha, aap jab khi phunch jate hain to aapka safar sirf aapka nhi rehta ham jaise logo ka bhi ho jata hai, jo bhatak rahe hain abhi bhi. Kitaab ki badhai, pichle mhine hi pre order kr di thi. 🐱
Hi Anurag, I've known you for only couple of months. I first read you substack and then got to know you page on instagram. As creative STEM student from Kanpur, I understand what it must have meant to create your path with arts in your world. I hope your book reaches masses. I don't want you to suffer financial losses but I look forward to seeing your book selling in the road side book stalls, that's a sign of a successful book right?😄
Congratulations Anurag! Your success seems very personal. You are one of those few artists I have been following since very early stage and I treasured your work as hidden gems of the internet. So definitely bought the book :)
Hi, thanks for writing. I am from engineering college, and probably around the same time you did engineering, even before Orkut days, I think. I did not hate engineering though and was pretty ok with it, but unfortunately, the way the world is set up, it is always a big struggle for creative people.
I knew one of my colleagues in my first job who always wanted to be a writer. He used to write a magazine and email it to people—everything he used to write—and he did that for many years along with his tech job. I lost touch with him eventually, and guess what? A few days back, I was happy to find his book on Amazon.
Your story also reminded me of a time when I was interviewing freshers for hiring in my company. I found one guy, let's call him S. S had great grades in 10th and 12th, but his grades were very ordinary in engineering. When I asked him why it was so, he said that when he was in 10th, he was told that this was the final frontier, and once he did well in 10th, he could enjoy his life. He worked hard and did well. Then came 12th, and again he was told that this was the one final frontier, and he did well. Again, to be told that engineering was his next FINAL frontier that he needed to scale... he said that he had given up on the world and did what he liked in engineering.
We ended up hiring him, and he was a remarkable guy and a very enterprising person. Pity that our education system does not reward this.
I have not read your book but will pick it up. Keep writing and keep your enterprising spirit up.
Hi Anurag. I really enjoyed the post. I, too, studied engineering from one of the so-called premier institutes, and fortunately for me, I liked it. Of course, by that time, the education system had pretty much killed the creative spark in me (whatever remains shows up in the occasional use of brighter colors in my PowerPoint slides ha ha), but not the appreciation for people like you who have a lateral POV on things and provide moments of joy to the likes of us. Unlike most of my batchmates, who considered the mandatory humanities courses a waste of time, I quite enjoyed them. Your experience reminded me of my batchmate and friend who painted, wrote poetry, played music, and somehow managed to graduate while hating every minute of the experience. And like you, he has found success after stepping off the treadmill of the corporate rat race.
I reread the article in The Print and the comments, which pretty accurately reflect a society that considers humanities studies a waste of time, much the same way my batchmates felt over 30 years ago. So thanks again for your outpouring. I have bought the physical book and will bring it back with me the next time I visit India. Is there a plan for an audiobook since I find that medium much more accessible these days?
Thank you, Shantanu for such a thoughtful note. Your engineering classroom memories feel very familiar. I think all engineering college memories have some kind of similar connection :) And yes, an audiobook is planned and should happen in few months.
This was just the inspiration I needed to keep chasing this silly thrill of writing just for its own sake, and stop worrying, if only for a moment, about how people respond to it. I always love your articles because of the ease and gentleness with which they unravel social norms and cultural behaviour. As a writer who is trying to build a new version of herself out of the smoke of failed plans, antagonistic circumstances (and boredom), this was a special treat!
Thank you for letting me see you, Anurag. I hope to meet you someday and we can perhaps compare notes on where we were life in at what points of time, what engineering examination halls we were amidst the dread of, and perhaps what happiness looks like.
I got my copy last night. Starting with the preface, I am in the first chapter now. I have lived every bit of it. I have to admit I often break into your VLOG persona in my head while reading it and like your VLOGS it’s insightful, witty, and so well crafted. I am no critic but I can easily say that non fictions in this genre tend to be unputdownable in the way that you move fast and it’s fun. Every line is meticulously written and asks you to wait for a bit as the narrative draws you in to get on to find more. Between all those stories and insights, what I am also absolutely loving is about your personal journey. Going back to the start - the preface is a perfect start to what feels like an awesome book. Loving every bit of it.
Been a fan of the podcast for a few years and found your writing here. Your creative expressions are unique because they are so honest and unpretentious, I think. This essay is so good.
I have been following your work for 2 months and I find you are really one of kind person amidst all copycat personality or work, you have quite riveting point of view which can't encapsulate or generic into some definition however it's mix of intelligence humour ,some wickedness and absurdity and abundance of wisdom ,I have ordered book written by you, to know you more as creative ,some people in creative field or media or cinema which I deeply admire ,like varun grover , ravish kumar ,javed akhtar ,shaunak sen , Anurag Kashyap, chaitanya tamahne ,
Corporate training ko background mei ignore krte hue ye mail padha, aap jab khi phunch jate hain to aapka safar sirf aapka nhi rehta ham jaise logo ka bhi ho jata hai, jo bhatak rahe hain abhi bhi. Kitaab ki badhai, pichle mhine hi pre order kr di thi. 🐱
Bahut sundar baat kahi :)
Hi Anurag, I've known you for only couple of months. I first read you substack and then got to know you page on instagram. As creative STEM student from Kanpur, I understand what it must have meant to create your path with arts in your world. I hope your book reaches masses. I don't want you to suffer financial losses but I look forward to seeing your book selling in the road side book stalls, that's a sign of a successful book right?😄
Haha. Technically it is one of the most important sign of success :)
Congratulations Anurag! Your success seems very personal. You are one of those few artists I have been following since very early stage and I treasured your work as hidden gems of the internet. So definitely bought the book :)
Thank you so much, Rishija, for the generous words and for always being so supportive.
Hi, thanks for writing. I am from engineering college, and probably around the same time you did engineering, even before Orkut days, I think. I did not hate engineering though and was pretty ok with it, but unfortunately, the way the world is set up, it is always a big struggle for creative people.
I knew one of my colleagues in my first job who always wanted to be a writer. He used to write a magazine and email it to people—everything he used to write—and he did that for many years along with his tech job. I lost touch with him eventually, and guess what? A few days back, I was happy to find his book on Amazon.
Your story also reminded me of a time when I was interviewing freshers for hiring in my company. I found one guy, let's call him S. S had great grades in 10th and 12th, but his grades were very ordinary in engineering. When I asked him why it was so, he said that when he was in 10th, he was told that this was the final frontier, and once he did well in 10th, he could enjoy his life. He worked hard and did well. Then came 12th, and again he was told that this was the one final frontier, and he did well. Again, to be told that engineering was his next FINAL frontier that he needed to scale... he said that he had given up on the world and did what he liked in engineering.
We ended up hiring him, and he was a remarkable guy and a very enterprising person. Pity that our education system does not reward this.
I have not read your book but will pick it up. Keep writing and keep your enterprising spirit up.
That's a wonderful story, Aman. Thanks for sharing it. I remember few people from engineering who went through this similar journey.
I'm reading the book, and will do a book review.
Thanks Abhinav. Looking forward to reading it.
Hi Anurag. I really enjoyed the post. I, too, studied engineering from one of the so-called premier institutes, and fortunately for me, I liked it. Of course, by that time, the education system had pretty much killed the creative spark in me (whatever remains shows up in the occasional use of brighter colors in my PowerPoint slides ha ha), but not the appreciation for people like you who have a lateral POV on things and provide moments of joy to the likes of us. Unlike most of my batchmates, who considered the mandatory humanities courses a waste of time, I quite enjoyed them. Your experience reminded me of my batchmate and friend who painted, wrote poetry, played music, and somehow managed to graduate while hating every minute of the experience. And like you, he has found success after stepping off the treadmill of the corporate rat race.
I reread the article in The Print and the comments, which pretty accurately reflect a society that considers humanities studies a waste of time, much the same way my batchmates felt over 30 years ago. So thanks again for your outpouring. I have bought the physical book and will bring it back with me the next time I visit India. Is there a plan for an audiobook since I find that medium much more accessible these days?
Thank you, Shantanu for such a thoughtful note. Your engineering classroom memories feel very familiar. I think all engineering college memories have some kind of similar connection :) And yes, an audiobook is planned and should happen in few months.
Pre ordered it a while back. Looking fwd to reading it.
Congratulations Anurag. Love your podcast. Looking forward to reading your book. 🙂
Thank you, Rahul :)
Thankyou for writing, I'm 98.9% convinced to not to be a creative
Awesome and inspiring. Thanks for being so honest and sharing your journey. Your writing has a lot of heart in it.
Thanks a lot, Mihir.
This was just the inspiration I needed to keep chasing this silly thrill of writing just for its own sake, and stop worrying, if only for a moment, about how people respond to it. I always love your articles because of the ease and gentleness with which they unravel social norms and cultural behaviour. As a writer who is trying to build a new version of herself out of the smoke of failed plans, antagonistic circumstances (and boredom), this was a special treat!
Lovely! Thanks a lot, Shubha.
Thank you for letting me see you, Anurag. I hope to meet you someday and we can perhaps compare notes on where we were life in at what points of time, what engineering examination halls we were amidst the dread of, and perhaps what happiness looks like.
- a fellow writer from Kashmir.
My best wishes, Tabish!
I got my copy last night. Starting with the preface, I am in the first chapter now. I have lived every bit of it. I have to admit I often break into your VLOG persona in my head while reading it and like your VLOGS it’s insightful, witty, and so well crafted. I am no critic but I can easily say that non fictions in this genre tend to be unputdownable in the way that you move fast and it’s fun. Every line is meticulously written and asks you to wait for a bit as the narrative draws you in to get on to find more. Between all those stories and insights, what I am also absolutely loving is about your personal journey. Going back to the start - the preface is a perfect start to what feels like an awesome book. Loving every bit of it.
Lots of love and power to you AMV!
This really means a lot. Thank you for reading so closely and with so much generosity. Sending lots of love back!
Been a fan of the podcast for a few years and found your writing here. Your creative expressions are unique because they are so honest and unpretentious, I think. This essay is so good.
Also yes Murahami is boring, thank you!
Thank you so much :)
I have been following your work for 2 months and I find you are really one of kind person amidst all copycat personality or work, you have quite riveting point of view which can't encapsulate or generic into some definition however it's mix of intelligence humour ,some wickedness and absurdity and abundance of wisdom ,I have ordered book written by you, to know you more as creative ,some people in creative field or media or cinema which I deeply admire ,like varun grover , ravish kumar ,javed akhtar ,shaunak sen , Anurag Kashyap, chaitanya tamahne ,
thank you so much :)
What about the kindle version, I don't see it listed?
It's out now :)