That's I.T - TOP 100 best seller Amazon list

Our book has finally made it to the TOP 100 Best Seller list on Amazon 

http://www.amazon.in/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/1637105031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_3_last#5

Why FREE?

I was asked this question many times before. So, I thought why not answer it on this BLOG once and for all. 

Why do you give away your book FREE?

My answer is simple. I've not written this book to make money. That was never the intent. When I wrote my first book "Job Interviews" for Gyan Books and that book got translated into Telugu and was published by 2 other publishers, I made money. This book was from day 1 intended to be educational and written to make our industry think and leave the HERD MENTALITY. 

If Valmiki wanted to make money, Ram and Ramayan (Hindu mythology) would not be as popular today :-)

 

Then, why not give it away free? Why do you keep it on sale? 

The answer to this question is with Amazon. Amazon doesn't have an option to make your eBook available FREE all the time. You can only make it available for FREE for 5 days in a quarter. I religiously use up those days every 3 months and give away my book FREE. The day Amazon makes the option available, you would have it from me as well. Promise is a Promise 

;-) 

Until then you have wait for those special days to read the book :-( 

TOP 100 PAID List....Thank you!!!

My Book "That's I.T" has made it to the TOP 100 (#86) PAID Books list on Amazon...

More than 10,000 downloads to date

Thank you!!!

http://www.amazon.in/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/1637059031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_3_last#5 

Feedback on the book from an other author

========== Book Review ============
Here's my book review of  a recent eBook, "That's I.T" by Ramesh Revuru

The book and narrative are easy to read. The author holds a mirror to readers – primarily those who have worked with offshoring IT service providers – drawing on his own experiences and empirical observations of the sourcing industry segment. 

Those of us who have spent time in the trenches of offshoring can instantly relate to the anecdotes. I love the author’s chutzpah: trying to make a point about Indian English Vinglish with a hit-below-the-belt observation of Infosys former CEO’s “thick Kerala accent in his spoken English.” Ramesh goes on to narrate how Kris, the “CEO in his less than 30 minute speech used the words “(and) things like that” as many as 72 times. His body language and posturing too were showing how uncomfortable he was”

Ramesh uses humor to mask serious topics and observations on practical challenges faced by those working for offshoring service providers: he explores the topic of loyalty (chapter 9) with a moving anecdote of a software trainee from Pune. While trying to address the issue, Ramesh was frustrated that he was not empowered to request additional time at the company guest house for a deserving employee. 

I guess the underlying message in the anecdote is the lack of maturity of HR processes. HR managers seek to manage with a process driven template, delegating much of the face-to-face interactions to line managers without actually empowering them. Line managers like Ramesh have a lot more operational issues on their plate than they can handle. Picking up an internal battle with HR on behalf of an employee is perhaps least of their priorities. In this case, Ramesh had to travel onsite the day after he discussed the issue with his direct report. Many readers who have worked with offshoring firms are sure to have similar anecdotes to narrate. Years ago, I fought an uphill battle when I found myself at the receiving end (ref: eBook : a Child lost in flight)

A highly readable narrative and writing style though at times the use of “we” left me wondering if there was a co-author or just the author’s use of English Vinglish (or perhaps it was a royal “we”?) Example “..intentionally, we have left out the below from this discussion. We decided not to consider Ads posted in newspapers for…” (chapter 4. Rocket Singh).  Note: The author later stopped by the blog with his explanation of this usage (comments)

Recommendation: Five stars for research and aggregation of topics. Four stars overall.  (Also cross-posted the review on Amazon)

========== Book Review ======

My response to Mohan's review comments 

Thank you for your detailed analysis! I've never met you in person but admire your fighting spirit and wish you health & fortune. Even today, I'm very much part of the same industry that I've criticised in my book. I cannot distance myself. I feel responsible for the (sad) state of affairs in our industry. Hence, the references to 'we'. -- Ramesh (Author of the book) 

Cover Picture - Behind the scenes

Some readers have asked me why is the match box empty? Why is there an Indian flag on the match box? OR What does the cover picture signify?  

Few months before completing writing the book, I started wondering what the cover picture of the book should look like. By then I had decided on the title "That's I.T" and was searching for a picture that would be a teaser to the content and also be appealing. I toyed with various ideas of Indian I.T industry in the backdrop and "That's I.T" title in the forefront. I consulted few experts and they suggested I use something completely unrelated to the topic. For instance, picture of a tiger. I was not convinced with that idea. I then decided to show HERD MENTALITY by depicting a HERD of ZEBRAS or ELEPHANTS. I showed it to few close friends and they didn't like it. I dropped the idea and then started thinking again

That is when I switched back to depicting the TITLE in the cover page. An empty match box in the picture depicts we have exhausted all our options and time has run out. Last match stick in the box too has been lighted (Last match stick is what you see as "I" in "I.T") signifying "That's I.T - It's all finished". As we all know, lighting a match stick is an irreversible process. There are limited options (number of match sticks in the box) and we have consumed them all without any end result. Since the book is about "Indian" I.T industry I use Indian Flag on top of the matchbox. Usage of Black Text on a white backdrop also gives the right impact.

I know the cover picture has caused some confusion among the readers but then confusion also helps and creates some curiosity :-) 

That's I.T now available on Google Play

That's I.T now available on Google Play

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=sSL1AAAAQBAJ 

Solutions in second book?

Some of the readers have asked me why the book doesn't solve the problems discussed in the book. Why did you not offer a solution to the problems? Are you planning that as your second book? While you (author) poke fun at our industry (software) you should have elaborated on how we can solve these problems. 

First and foremost...I'm not writing a second book...This is my first and last..."That's I.T" ;-) 

Importantly, I'm not a baba (Avatar of God) to solve the industry problems by weaving a magic wand. Most of us have got used to fast food. We want instant solutions and gratification. For the rest, it is simple. Let's "Google" and find the solution. Book is meant to help each one of us introspect and find those solutions to the problems. This is not a "self-help" book :-) Book holds a mirror to the industry and highlights the problems. 

Also, which solution in this world is constant. Like problems, solutions too need to change. I don't want to write a book every time there is a different solution to the problem. Lot of authors make the mistake of solving the problems. Who are they to solve somebody's problem? This is not about fence sitting & not sticking one's neck out. If I can help everyone introspect, then they can solve the problems on their own. Like the famous "non-vegetarian" saying "Give fish to a hungry person and you feed them for a day. Teach them how to catch fish and you feed them for a life time".  

Go ahead and solve the problems. We are holding the mirror for you. 

Thank you in advance!!!