Doglapan

Author - Ashneer Grover

A book reflects an author and his views. We get to read the author’s perspective in a book. Sometimes few authors do try to present a balanced view but that is an exception and not a norm. So, what happens when you have a book with personal bias, and which is part of an extensive PR exercise? Well, ‘Doglapan’ written by Ashneer Grover is one such book.

Outspoken and blunt Ashneer Grover, former MD of Bharat Pe, is known to speak his mind. He made the word ‘Doglapan’ famous on Shark Tank India so much that it was chosen as the book title. In the year 2021, Ashneer grabbed the limelight for multiple reasons, both wrong and right. Ashneer came into the public eye with his stint in Shark Tank. Subsequently, his ouster from Bharat Pe was a public spectacle that garnered negative publicity. Post this, he was seen on multiple platforms giving talks and sharing his side of the story. This book seems to be an extension of his PR exercise to build a more positive image of the author. Such books find readers to satisfy the sheer curiosity of reading more about the controversies.

The book is published as a memoir of the author chronicling his journey. One gets to read about his experiences, ideas, and thought processes. To create a positive image book spins a holier-than-thou persona for Ashneer by positioning him as a victim. One word of caution, the book only contains the author’s point of view, and no alternative point of view is discussed. Insights into the world of startups and the push and pull of the start-up ecosystem are good to read. The book has some fascinating anecdotes making it fun to read. Readers can also draw a few practical life lessons from the book.

The language of the book is simple and hence does not require the readers to apply much attention. It is an easy casual read that does not require effort. One can read this while commuting or travelling.

Overall, the book is a one-time read that might get relegated to the back of your book collection very soon.

BookVibe: 2/5