Book Box: How not to tell a story
Book Box: How Not to Tell a Story
Book Box – Returning to Mumbai after a long time brings more than the familiar sound of monsoon rains; it rekindles the joy of reconnecting with my cherished library. The shelves, which have grown ever more expansive, are filled with titles acquired through a shared love for reading, including books on creativity, business, and evolution, alongside review copies of freshly published works. These volumes, carefully curated, reflect the diverse stories that have shaped my understanding of the world. Yet, this week, my attention was drawn to a new addition to the collection: Breaking the Rules by Vinita Gupta, a book promising to chronicle the journey of a woman who built a Silicon Valley startup, securing an IPO and later a buyback. Another title that caught my eye was The Shopify Story, a more compact volume offering insight into the company’s ascent.
The Pitfalls of Business Narratives
As someone who has long admired the simplicity of Shopify’s platform, I was eager to explore its story. My first encounter with Shopify came years ago when I needed a tool to create a website for my tailored book subscription service. Its intuitive interface made the process surprisingly swift—I uploaded visuals, integrated payment systems, and launched a globally accessible site within hours. Since then, I’ve remained a loyal admirer of its straightforward design. However, the two business-focused books I recently read left me underwhelmed. While I continue to work through The Shopify Story, I’ve finished Breaking the Rules, only to find it an exercise in how to mislead a reader.
The book’s narrative, brimming with dramatic turns, is underplayed, as though Vinita Gupta deliberately withholds key details from her audience. Though this is her stylistic choice, the lack of narrative depth left me questioning her commitment to engaging readers. The emotional tone remained flat, with triumphs, setbacks, lawsuits, and betrayals treated as equal in weight. This uniformity diluted the impact of pivotal moments, leaving the reader disconnected from the characters and their struggles. Despite a few chapters dedicated to family and caretakers, the absence of vivid scene-setting and individual depth made the stories feel distant, despite their real-world relevance.
“If you are hesitant to share your story, you shouldn’t write a book,”
I mused, reflecting on the author’s approach. The book’s failure to immerse the reader in its world underscores the importance of storytelling in nonfiction. A compelling narrative should guide the audience through the highs and lows, crafting a journey that feels organic and relatable. Instead, Breaking the Rules seemed to prioritize structure over substance, leaving the reader questioning the value of its lessons.
Why Good Stories Matter
My recent dive into Peak Human by Johan Norberg offered a refreshing contrast. This book masterfully analyzes the rise and fall of empires—from ancient Greece to the Song Dynasty—while highlighting the complexities of human history. Its narrative is both engaging and informative, mirroring my appreciation for the Foundation and Robots series by Isaac Asimov. These science fiction tales, with their intricate plots and nuanced characters, demonstrate the power of storytelling to refract our reality through imaginative perspectives. In Robots and Empire, Gladia’s struggle with birth citizenship on her chosen planet sparks a chain of events that challenge her resolve, weaving geopolitics and human psychology into a gripping, modern narrative.
“In Robots and Empire, Gladia’s struggle with birth citizenship on her chosen planet sparks a chain of events that challenge her resolve,”
the text reads. Her debates with robots about geopolitics and human psychology feel strikingly contemporary, as if she were conversing with an AI. This is the power of science fiction: it reframes our reality through imaginative storytelling. Unlike the business books, Peak Human and the Foundation series immerse readers in their worlds, allowing for emotional investment and intellectual engagement. The enduring charm of these stories reminds me why I keep my bookshelves filled with timeless works.
As the monsoon rains drum against my windows and palm trees sway in the wind, I’ve set aside modern business narratives to immerse myself in the saga of a collapsing galactic empire. The Book Box, which I curate as a Mumbai-based journalist, serves as a bridge between these diverse reading experiences. By carefully selecting titles that balance informative content with narrative flair, the service aims to provide readers with stories that resonate on both personal and universal levels. This approach not only highlights the importance of storytelling but also underscores the value of curated reading in an era where attention spans are often fragmented.
Sonya Dutta Choudhury, founder of Sonya’s Book Box, believes that the act of reading is more than a passive activity—it’s a transformative experience. Through her service, she ensures that each book delivered to subscribers is not only relevant but also crafted with care. For inquiries about life, literature, or the service, contact sonyasbookbox@gmail.com. The Book Box continues to be a testament to the idea that storytelling, when done right, can unite readers across time, space, and subject matter.