Anokhi Fashion Lifestyle Entertaiment

Coming of Age on Zoloft: How Antidepressants Cheered Us Up, Let Us Down, and Changed Who We Are

By Katherine Sharpe (HarperCollins)

It’s no surprise we live in an antidepressant generation. Katherine Sharpe got her first glimpse of this when she arrived at her college health centre 20 years ago complaining of homesickness. From then she was on Zoloft for the next 10 years. Sharpe delves into the need for antidepressants by today’s generation by blending her deep personal writing, attentive interviews and historical context. Her honest and thought-provoking content helps readers understand the complicated relationships young people develop with their medication, some feeling threatened by it while others finding it comforting.

Undesirables: White Canada and Komagata Maru

By Ali Kazmi (Douglas & McIntyre)

It’s 1914 and the ship, Komagata Maru that arrives carrying immigrants from British India is turned away when it tries to dock in Vancouver’s harbour. Many of these immigrants, have served in the British Indian Army and do not understand why they cannot reside in any of the vast regions of the Empire. This moment in history is detailed and explored by Ali Kazmi. Kazmi, by showing the story in a global and historical context set against Chinese, Japanese and African-American immigrants demonstrates how this episode was far from being the only one in Canada’s past. Exploring the delicate relationship between Canada’s past regulations to today’s immigration and refugee policies shows how this episode from Canada’s history is still as relevant today as it was when it occurred.

Leadership by Example: The Ten Key Principles of All Great Leaders

By Sanjiv Chopra with David Fisher (Thomas Dunne Books)

Most of us who think of leaders think of great men and women who accomplished the extraordinary. After reading about great people his whole life and providing leadership talks to more than 60,000 people around the world, Dr. Sanjiv Chopra reveals what makes everyday people leaders in their own lives. Through his 10 tenets of good leadership, he explains that one does not have to be a leader in all things as long as one can lead in his or her own specific situations. This could be in a business setting, a sporting competition, a school meeting or at a religious function. Professor of medicine and faculty dean for continuing medical education at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Chopra’s book is sure to inspire and evoke change wherever it’s needed in our lives.

A Hundred Flowers

By Gail Tsukiyama (St. Martin’s Press)

Bestselling author Gail Tsukiyama brings to life the pain and courage of an ordinary family living in 1957 China. Mao Zedong has introduced a new openness in society by declaring, “Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend.” But Kai Ling finds Chairman Mao’s words are a trap. Her life is turned upside-down when her husband, Sheng, is taken away from the family and shipped to a labour camp to be “re-educated” for having outspoken views against the Communist party. This is the tale of a family that deals with struggles and misfortunes, slowly shifting to hope in an era of despair and uncertainty. Tsukiyama’s story is fast-paced and captures the readers’ attention and sympathies from the very beginning to the very end.

That Book about Harvard

By Eric Kester (Sourcebooks)

Eric Kester’s mission for his very first semester at Harvard is not to make a fool of himself, except he fails on his first day after locking himself out of his room while only wearing Hulk boxers. Thus begins Eric’s craziest year at one of the most prestigious schools in the world. In this hilarious and comical narrative, we follow Kester from coming close to cheating on a final to falling for a stunning A-type brunette. Kester provides a fresh male perspective that makes readers laugh and, ultimately, understand that it’s not the grades or the girls that define success – it’s about accepting yourself.

The Truth about Men: The Secret Side of the Opposite Sex

By Ian K. Smith (St. Martin’s Press )

We’ve all read good books about the female psyche and why women feel the way they do. Now it’s time to take a look at what goes through a guy’s mind (and emotions) and understand their psyches a little. Dr. Smith’s book helps to answer questions like why a man takes us to meet his sister but not mother or best friend; or why he cruelly makes his date wait before finally texting her after the initial meeting. With funny and sometimes surprising topics like mindreading and ultimatums, Dr. Ian gives his female readers clarity and insight, revealing to them how they can make their relationships stronger and longer lasting.

Roshni: The Light of South Asia: North American Edition

By Rashmee Sharma (Roshni Media)

In 1990, Dr. Rashmee Sharma overheard her students making unfavourable remarks about Indian-Americans as nothing more than cabbies and gas station owners. Since then, it’s been her mission to showcase notable talent that’s to be found among South Asian-Americans and Canadians. This coffee table book includes contributors who have not only achieved immense success, but have also given back to the community. From the likes of political commentator Fareed Zakaria and film director Deepa Mehta, to our very own ANOKHI Media’s CEO & Founder Raj Girn, anyone looking for a great role model and lots of inspiration should pick up this book and be inspired.

BY SHAISTA KHAN / PUBLISHED IN THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE, JULY 2012