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Joker in the Pack: An irreverent view of life at IIMs
This is a story of dreaming the great Indian middle class dream, and of life shaped accidentally or by design, only God knows by the great Indian middle class values. The joyride begins in the lap of two favourite pastimes of the nation cricket and television and after some shattered dreams, leads to the hallowed precincts of the venerated IIMs. It is a story of the life at the IIMs, and of life beyond. It is a story of how to play the IIM game successfully and beat the super distillation system refined by the IIMs to separate the chaff from the grain, the also-rans from the super achievers. The story has bit of raw truth. It is also tongue-in-cheek. It is designed to whet the appetite of those aspiring. It will evoke nostalgia amongst the alumni; it will also anger a few. Read on... you will either love it, or hate it, but will find it difficult to put down.
198 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 22, 2012
aptly titled 'Joker in the Pack'...definitely a well written book, makes u realize that how our priorities changes in life...
You really get connected to character Shekhar Verma,and it makes you realize that at some point in our lives v all have sacrificed/lost our relationships, passion etc. just to make our future/ career bright or to fulfill parents expectations etc.
By Cracking IIMB shekhar felt to be crowned as king........but this was not the end rather beginning of his struggle to get dream job.
Shekhar gave his best and got the dream job but that was at the cost of his relationship with Anoushka.
The book also has humorous characters like champak,chummi,thoku etc. which m sure all of us can relate to our close friends.
Overall its definitely a good one, makes u realize that v all are jokers running towards our target with belief that once the target is achieved v will be out of the PACK (like Shekhar believed) but it never happens v can never get out of this Pack, its just the pack changes...Although the book ended with shekhars achievement of dream job, but m sure today in the corporate world shekhar (like v all) must be running for better prospects/ opportunities... v call this a LIFE so just be in flow, face all ups and downs......and keep running.....cheers
You really get connected to character Shekhar Verma,and it makes you realize that at some point in our lives v all have sacrificed/lost our relationships, passion etc. just to make our future/ career bright or to fulfill parents expectations etc.
By Cracking IIMB shekhar felt to be crowned as king........but this was not the end rather beginning of his struggle to get dream job.
Shekhar gave his best and got the dream job but that was at the cost of his relationship with Anoushka.
The book also has humorous characters like champak,chummi,thoku etc. which m sure all of us can relate to our close friends.
Overall its definitely a good one, makes u realize that v all are jokers running towards our target with belief that once the target is achieved v will be out of the PACK (like Shekhar believed) but it never happens v can never get out of this Pack, its just the pack changes...Although the book ended with shekhars achievement of dream job, but m sure today in the corporate world shekhar (like v all) must be running for better prospects/ opportunities... v call this a LIFE so just be in flow, face all ups and downs......and keep running.....cheers
February 28, 2021
I go back to this one often. There are many things in here that I can relate to from my personal experiences. The sacrifices one needs to make to achieve a dream are not trivial!
October 23, 2021
Revisited the book after several years and felt compelled to write a review. It's an honest account of life at a very competitive b-school in India. Could identify with several of the incidents (e.g. the placement "mandi"), the breakups, the pressure from India parents. Things are changing now, but 90s kids will surely relate. Hope the authors decide to write more, maybe about corporate life after b-school.
February 28, 2016
I borrowed this from Akshay and read it on the flight to Bangalore, when I was going home for term break, having just completed my first end exams at IIM.
It's a fairly depictive story of what happens at an IIM - the engineering background, the interview process, orientation "Hoax" week, getting the results of the first microeconomics quiz (sigh! I remember this only too well), the Summers, the electives, and the final placements, along with a lot of masala thrown in to depict this life as a mad rat race to the pit of money of loneliness.
It's a fairly depictive story of what happens at an IIM - the engineering background, the interview process, orientation "Hoax" week, getting the results of the first microeconomics quiz (sigh! I remember this only too well), the Summers, the electives, and the final placements, along with a lot of masala thrown in to depict this life as a mad rat race to the pit of money of loneliness.
September 30, 2012
I felt really disappointed reading this novel though it revolves around my alma mater and the writer is an alumnus. Throughout the book it seems that t he book has been written just for the heck of it! The author presents the protagonist as a self obsessed-paranoid-GPA hungry- lifeless twat who meanders aimlessly (and so does the story) into mindless inanities and sheer corniness.
October 6, 2012
I am an alumnus from the same college and saw that nothing much has changed from my time, which is slightly disappointing. However, the book served as a great trip down memory lane, I even lived in the same block referred to by the author. Overall, a very good read.
March 10, 2012
This book is crap. Please don't read it.[return]Writing junk and selling it in the name of IIMs.
July 20, 2025
There was a time when doing an MBA was considered critical for your career. We all, at some point, have heard news about placements and the insane salary packages that students from top MBA institutes get. This book gives us an insider look into what goes on behind the scenes. In the first 100 pages, you kind of get a feeling that the authors might give us some really good insights and solutions to the whole MBA circus but it just ends up being a very ordinary account of an IIM student - he is quite taken aback by the whole system but there is no exploration of why it is that way. So you have a book that's neither insightful not funny. It's not memorable in any way and as someone who doesn't have an MBA, there is nothing in it that I would not have known without reading it.
January 19, 2024
Very interesting read; if you'd like to picture life at IIMs, you may apply. Provides useful insight into life in a prestigious Indian institution and, unlike other Indian books, stays true to the subject matter without needless flourishes. Beautifully expressed in words and thoughts. Reading this was enjoyable.
December 18, 2019
Good one for time pass
April 22, 2021
Of all the campus books, this one is by far my favorite. I am not from IIM, but could imagine the pressure with this one.
June 12, 2021
Poignant, funny, nostalgic...all in one story of growing up in 90s India and competing for a salary...
November 20, 2021
really touched me as the story is similar to mine, even though I am not from IIM
May 23, 2023
An account of life at IIMs, but sadly nothing more. Expected more depth in the characters and better stories to be told but its pretty one dimensional.
June 14, 2017
A book on the lines of Chetan Bhagat's Five point someone. Enjoyable and light
February 6, 2016
This book is a fiction story and it has been miscategorized as an autobiography. The story starts at a normal pace and builds up a lot of thrill until the 25% mark. At the 25% mark the thrill factor slows down and the book drags the story in one direction, plotless and with no suspense. Upto the 50% mark the story drags on somehow but after the 50% mark it's reads not like a story but just the whole interview process in the IIMs. The only reason that I can see for continuing beyond this 50% mark is to find out what the interview processes in IIMs are like and how it would feel to participate in them. I just felt like I'm reading it just to know what life is like in the IIMs and not for the story or what is happening to the character, aka like a wikipedia chronology of events.
I would have given this book 3 stars but it breaks the Indian stereotype by not keeping an fing love story in between. So +1 for that.
The things that this book does good is to give you a "feel" of what it would be like if you were in the IIMs if you started out as a person chasing money and flashy jobs. The book does deliver what it's title promises. However, I just wish that the last 50% of the book didn't feel like it was dragging on. It would be much better if the central character had identified some goals and was working towards them.
Overall after reading this book I have bits and pieces of how people feel like in the IIMs, some idea about their recruitment and campus processes and I'm surer that the business/management line is definitely not where I want to end up finally.
I would have given this book 3 stars but it breaks the Indian stereotype by not keeping an fing love story in between. So +1 for that.
The things that this book does good is to give you a "feel" of what it would be like if you were in the IIMs if you started out as a person chasing money and flashy jobs. The book does deliver what it's title promises. However, I just wish that the last 50% of the book didn't feel like it was dragging on. It would be much better if the central character had identified some goals and was working towards them.
Overall after reading this book I have bits and pieces of how people feel like in the IIMs, some idea about their recruitment and campus processes and I'm surer that the business/management line is definitely not where I want to end up finally.
August 1, 2012
I could identify with most of what's there in the book, having graduated from the same college. The craze associated with placements, the fun (and misery for some) with the Hoax of the orientation week, and all the jing bang related to academics, clubs and fests. It's a pretty decent, quick read.
I appreciate the author's honesty when he admits being shallow enough to leave Team Vista because it leads to no "incremental return", and his desperation for grades and resume points. However, I feel the book presents a rather narrow perspective of what life is at this place. There is a lot more to tell, most of which might be intangible.
As an account of what would appear on the surface to the outsider, however, the book is pretty much to the point.
I appreciate the author's honesty when he admits being shallow enough to leave Team Vista because it leads to no "incremental return", and his desperation for grades and resume points. However, I feel the book presents a rather narrow perspective of what life is at this place. There is a lot more to tell, most of which might be intangible.
As an account of what would appear on the surface to the outsider, however, the book is pretty much to the point.
July 18, 2011
This describes the life of one of many students who are fighting for grades and resume points to get a job they don't even know they want.Even though its just a perspective, i loved reading this book.It made me realize that IITs and IIMs are same in many ways.Some of the best minds of this country getting together and pushing themselves to do better in life... A must read for every one who wants an IIM life.
May 1, 2016
Overall, the book provides a good picture of the life and events in top Indian B-schools. Makes me wonder how people do MBA for all the wrong reasons, in pursuit of the flashy lifestyle which only later they realise they never wanted. Amongst the intellectual nonsense, it becomes so important to remain grounded. It's hard to be true to yourself, and when the rewards are so high, the brain will do everything to rationalize and it becomes hard to catch its bullshit.
May 25, 2011
The wrong guy to be in IIM, got everything wanted but lost his love somewhere in the competitive life.
this book has everything aspiring middle class thinking, cracking the CAT,a love story and the fun side of the campus. very inspiring for the young graduates entering in to the tough competition, must be read by all graduates entering in to the B-Schools.
this book has everything aspiring middle class thinking, cracking the CAT,a love story and the fun side of the campus. very inspiring for the young graduates entering in to the tough competition, must be read by all graduates entering in to the B-Schools.
June 16, 2014
Positives
1. Gives you a narration about key events happening at a B-school
2. The Summer Internship and the Placement process are described wonderfully.
Cons
1. Depicts IIMs as money making machines
2. Depicts Placements too dramatically. Motivates people to aspire for an MBA but in the wrong way !
1. Gives you a narration about key events happening at a B-school
2. The Summer Internship and the Placement process are described wonderfully.
Cons
1. Depicts IIMs as money making machines
2. Depicts Placements too dramatically. Motivates people to aspire for an MBA but in the wrong way !
March 26, 2009
It's a okay read! When I bought this book, I had heard so many wonderful things about this book. However, I found it just alright. I mean, it only talks about the superficial stuff realting to names poeple were called by and all that.
June 8, 2010
Well, it is a good book as seen from the middle class point of view. Good language used. Explains pretty much about life at IIM-B. ITs worth read-it. I bought it last year and read it then. I am reading again as a refresher.
August 26, 2011
pretty cheap imitation of chetan bhagat with no imagination behind it...
it read like a biography of man in the plainest of terms...
its something any IIM grad could write and appreciate. for others it flies over the head
it read like a biography of man in the plainest of terms...
its something any IIM grad could write and appreciate. for others it flies over the head
December 20, 2013
A faboulously written book that gives an insight into the lives of the students studying in IIMs...Their dreams, their struggles to get grades and to get placed in companies with salaries that would be talked about on news channels and newspapers....
February 14, 2008
A fascinating insight to the world of IIMs..... well-written, humorous and realistic account... thoroughly enjoyable and easy to read.
May 12, 2012
Fun filled
June 17, 2012
Yes, MBA is a different world, you gotta be smart , passionate and not just Ghissu to get ahead. Can we have some Indian authors write something fresh... Puhlease!!!!
August 25, 2012
Bakwas very boring
August 28, 2012
One of the best in the genre, witty and humorous...i could identify with the protagonist quite a bit!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews