In this episode, we continue to read the book "This is a story of a Happy Marriage" by Ann Patchett which is collection of her essays.

We read and discuss three essays in this episode - Essay 13 - The Love Between the Two Women Is Not Normal, Essay 14 - The Right to Read and Essay 12 - Do Not Disturb.

In ‘The Love Between the Two Women Is Not Normal,’ Patchett challenges social judgment and prejudice by reflecting on how love—authentic, human, and transformative—often gets labeled and misunderstood. It’s a piece about the courage to stand by what’s true even when society resists.

Then, in ‘The Right to Read,’ she explores the freedom of access to books, the importance of intellectual independence, and why reading is more than just personal enjoyment—it’s a right that shapes democracy and critical thought.

Finally, in ‘Do Not Disturb,’ Patchett gives us a quieter but deeply relatable meditation on solitude, boundaries, and the small yet vital ways we protect our personal space in a noisy, demanding world.

Together, these essays weave a conversation about love, freedom, and the need to guard both our relationships and our inner lives. So, stay with us as we unpack Ann Patchett’s insights—reflecting not just on her words, but on what they mean for us today.

In this episode, we read and discuss the book Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams.

In Careless People, former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams shatters the curated veneer of innovation and purpose, exposing the company’s inner workings—from whispered power plays on private jets to decisions that fueled global harm. It’s called Careless People, echoing Fitzgerald’s indictment of moral irresponsibility—Tom and Daisy meet tech-bro excess.

This is more than a memoir—it’s a searing account of how unchecked ambition and carelessness can reshape societies, not just social networks.

So grab your earbuds and steel your heart—it’s time for Careless People.

In this episode, we continue to explore Essay 6: Loosening the Past from Mother Pious Lady, where Santosh Desai reflects on the subtle and striking ways India’s middle class is moving away from tradition—without entirely letting go.

This section delves into how the boundaries of morality, modernity, and identity are shifting under the influence of globalization, aspiration, and self-expression.

From “The Moral of Drinking” to the irony of “Father Amitabh”, Desai holds a mirror to our evolving values—where beach vacations with Sunita, Western clothes, and private rebellion coexist with cultural guilt and inherited conservatism. In “The Death of the Baritone,” Desai mourns the loss of gravitas and restraint in our public voices—replaced now by high-pitched, opinionated noise that mirrors our increasingly restless, reactionary selves.

Do let us which sub-essay is your favorite?