Onsite Opportunity – A book review

I don’t usually do book reviews. As much as I love reading books, I don’t really enjoy writing about them. Perhaps because I fear destroying the impact of the book, by using words that don’t fully convey its essence. This book though, is special. The author of this book, Mukul Kumar got in touch with me and asked me if I’d like to review his book on my blog. If I did, he would send me a copy. I have an insatiable appetite for books. So obviously, I was terribly excited. Moreover, I had read the book review on Sharell’s blog, and she had only good things to say about it. So I was waiting for my copy to arrive in the mail.

Within a few days, I had the book in my hands. I read it in one go, and let me tell you, I am not disappointed. This book is about ‘Onsite Opportunities’, offered to people in the software industry. The synopsis of the book told me I would be able to relate to it. I do have a lot of friends working in the IT world. In fact, the BFF spent many years in an IT company, before she decided to do an MBA and switch fields. Mint’s brother, Oregano, is also currently working in the IT industry. So yes, I already had an idea of what their lives are all about.

Onsite Opportunity is a book that gives you a dose of reality. Ganga, and a bunch of his colleagues end up in projects that take them to foreign countries. They are starry eyed Indians, excited by the possibilities their futures hold. As the book progresses, you find yourself relating to most of their experiences. On more than one occasion  I found myself saying, ‘Oh yes, that happened to me too when I stepped out of India’. It talks about Indians,who have always lived in a cocoon , and how they cope with the differences in culture.

The book also describes the desperate measures people take to grab that Onsite Opportunity. It makes you wonder and think why most Indians are enamoured by the West. How worth it it is. Do we end up disappointed? Or addicted to their ways?

Mukul Kumar has done a great job. The language is simple. The book is a light hearted read. At the same I would call it insightful as Mukul takes you to the countries he has traveled to. Since India is currently under the software/IT spell, I would say most people will be able to relate to the book.  If you are looking for a breezy read, I’d say this is the book for you.