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The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka is a short, haunting novel about the lives of Japanese “picture brides” who came to America in the early 1900s. It’s written in a collective “we” voice, which makes the story feel like a shared memory—intimate but also universal. Here’s a clear, chapter-wise walkthrough so you can grasp the arc: --- Chapter-by-Chapter Summary 1. Come, Japanese! A group of young Japanese women leave their villages for America, carrying photographs of the husbands they’ve never met. They travel by ship, full of hope, fear, and dreams of a better life. 2. First Night Their first nights with their husbands are often disappointing, painful, or disillusioning. Some men look nothing like their photos. The reality of immigrant life hits hard. 3. Whites The women learn how white Americans see them—sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with condescension, often with misunderstanding. This chapter captures the delicate negotiations required to survive in a foreign culture. 4....

  The Richest Man in Babylon is a timeless personal-finance book built around simple parables from ancient Babylon. The stories are old-fashioned, but the principles are rock-solid. Here’s a clean, practical summary you can actually use. 1. Pay Yourself First (Save at least 10%) Before spending on anything else, set aside 10% of your income for yourself. This forms the seed of your wealth. If you earn 100, spend only 90. Most people reverse it—they pay everyone else first and stay broke. 2. Control Your Expenses Don’t confuse wants with needs. Track your spending and cut the leaks. You can’t grow wealth if your money flows out faster than it comes in. Live on 90% (or less) of your income. 3. Make Your Money Multiply Money should earn money. Invest your saved 10% in something that produces more income: business property lending (in the ancient story) modern equivalents: SIPs, index funds, rentals, side businesses Let compounding do the heavy lifting....

  The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a small book with a very sharp message: most of our frustration in life comes from “agreements” we unknowingly make with ourselves and others. Ruiz offers four new agreements that simplify life, reduce emotional noise, and help you act with clarity. Here’s a clean, practical summary of each: 1. Be Impeccable With Your Word Your words create your inner world. When you use them carelessly—gossip, self-criticism, exaggeration—you weaken yourself. Being “impeccable” means: Speak honestly, without harming yourself or others Avoid talking against yourself (“I can’t”, “I’m useless”) Use your word to encourage, not poison This is the foundation because once your speech becomes clean, your mind follows. 2. Don’t Take Anything Personally Other people’s actions come from their beliefs, wounds, fears, and stories—not you. When you take things personally, you hand over your emotional control. This agreement teaches: Don’t in...

  3 Ideas From Me I. "The best type of risks to take are ones where (1) the worst outcome is manageable and (2) the best outcome is life-changing. Think: Asking someone on a date. Or, investing an amount of money you can afford to lose into a business with high upside. Look for opportunities where it won't kill you if it goes poorly, but you'd be blown away if it goes well." ​II. "Three keys to improvement: Do you start quickly? Do you learn from your mistakes quickly? Do you stay in the game and keep trying?" III. "If your past achievements didn't make you meaningfully happier, don't expect your future achievements to make you happier. Remember that thing you so badly wanted? If getting it didn't meaningfully change your long-term happiness, then you shouldn't expect the thing you want right now to change your long-term happiness either. You are roughly as happy as you decide to be today. And some day, years from now, after you accompli...

10 key strengths of Varun Berry , the Managing Director & Executive Vice Chairman of Britannia Industries , based on his leadership style, business achievements, and strategic approach: 1. Strategic Vision He transformed Britannia from a biscuit company into a diversified food powerhouse by expanding into dairy, snacks, and health foods — aligning the brand with changing consumer preferences. 2. Execution Excellence Berry is known for flawless execution — cutting costs, driving operational efficiency, and improving margins while maintaining growth, especially during economic slowdowns. 3. Brand Building & Innovation He reinvigorated Britannia’s brand image, introducing premium and health-oriented lines (e.g., NutriChoice, Treat Croissant, Milk Bikis+) and modern marketing campaigns that kept the brand youthful. 4. Strong Financial Discipline He emphasizes profitability over pure volume growth , maintaining industry-leading margins through tight control of costs an...

In No Cure for Being Human , Kate Bowler—diagnosed with stage IV cancer at 35—writes with honesty and humor about confronting mortality and letting go of the illusion that life can be perfectly managed. A scholar of the prosperity gospel, she dismantles the cultural myth that hard work and positivity guarantee success or safety. Instead, she learns to embrace uncertainty, accept her limitations, and find meaning in small, ordinary moments. Her story is a reminder that there’s no formula for a good life—just the fragile, beautiful experience of being human. 📘 Chapter-Wise Summary Chapter 1 – The Life Plan Kate begins by describing how she built her life around achieving goals—degrees, marriage, career, motherhood. Her cancer diagnosis shatters this illusion of control and exposes the myth that life follows a plan. Chapter 2 – Everything Happens for a Reason (Or Does It?) She reflects on society’s obsession with finding meaning in suffering. Having studied the prosperity gospel, ...

10 Books That Teach You How to Start Again When Life Falls Apart | Books - Times Now  

  10 Books That Feel Like a Deep Breath After a Bad Year 1. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason A woman's decades-long struggle with undiagnosed mental illness affects her marriage, family relationships, and sense of self. Meg Mason writes with dark humour about Martha's journey through breakdowns, hospitalisations, and failed treatments while never naming her condition. The novel balances devastating honesty about mental illness with warmth and wit, showing how love persists despite suffering and how naming pain can begin healing. The ending offers hope without false promises, acknowledging that recovery is ongoing work rather than a destination, making this both heartbreaking and ultimately life-affirming. 2. Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny A young teacher in a small Michigan town falls in love with a handsome carpenter, beginning a relationship complicated by his ex-girlfriend, his intellectually disabled friend, and the messy reality of chosen family. Katherine Heiny write...

 Before choosing exactly, you need clarity on: Do you want immediate milk production (cashflow) or focus on future expansion / lower cost (investment) ? What feed/fodder base do you have (land, green fodder, silage, concentrate) and what is your budget for upkeep? What is the end-market: selling milk to a co-op, direct retail, value-added products (paneer, ghee)? What is your infrastructure: shed, milking equipment, cooling/storage, health/vet services? Your answers to these will determine whether you prioritise milking cows (ready production) vs dry / pregnant cows (investment for future yield) and what breed economically makes sense. 🎯 Milking cows with calves vs dry/pregnant cows Milking cows with calves Pros: You get immediate milk output , so quicker cashflow. You also have calves born (if actively breeding) for herd growth or replacement. Good if your infrastructure and management (milking, cooling, hygiene) are ready. Cons: Higher purchase...

Seamark Group / Seamark plc — frozen seafood / poultry / fruits — large export orientation; potential for India seafood, spices or co-packing partnerships. — Website; LinkedIn. VBites Foods — plant-based / vegan foods — ingredient sourcing (plant proteins) and contract manufacturing opportunities in India. — Website; LinkedIn. Euro Foods (Euro Foods UK) — ethnic foods & ready meals — India as a sourcing base for ingredients and co-packing for ethnic product lines. — Website; LinkedIn. Pickstock Foods Ltd — specialist meat processor (lamb/mutton) — spice blends, processed inputs and product development for South-Asian markets. — Website; Companies House / LinkedIn. Stateside Foods Ltd — chilled & frozen ready meals (pizza, snacks) — ingredient and co-packing sourcing, alternative vegetable preparations from India. — Website; LinkedIn. Abel & Cole — organic food boxes / sustainably sourced grocery — ethical/organic ingredient sourcing and supplier partner...

  “India Entry Partner” – Helping UK/EU MSMEs explore India for sourcing, manufacturing, or sales.  “I help European SMEs find Indian partners, suppliers, and distributors.” “Emerging Market Advisor” – Strategic market entry guidance, GTM models, pricing, consumer insights, and channel strategy. “Virtual CXO / Board Advisor” – Offer part-time strategic guidance on international expansion or cost optimization. “Bridge for Sustainable Sourcing” – Especially for FMCG, food & beverage, packaging, and natural ingredient companies.