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No Regrets: The Guilt-Free Woman's Guide to a Good Life

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This is not a self-help book. It's a book that tells us what not to do, what to remember and what to forget. From being a mother to lessons learnt from our own mothers; managing money to marriage; coping with pain and anger to taking ownership of our health and growing old, Kaveree Bamzai, first woman editor of one of India's largest newsmagazines, a wife, and mother of two boys and two dogs, tells us how to live a guilt-free life, with a little help from a host of highly accomplished women. With sparkling advice from Naina Lal Kidwai, Arianna Huffington, Sudha Murty, Smriti Irani, Twinkle Khanna and Sania Mirza, among others, No Regrets is the go-to book as we fumble and stumble through life.

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2019

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159 people want to read

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Kaveree Bamzai

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Khyati Gautam.
897 reviews254 followers
October 13, 2019
No Regrets: The Guilt-Free Woman's Guide to a Good Life by Kaveree Bamzai is a wonderfully written book on how we women must unapologetically live our lives. 

Divided into 19 chapters, the book explains what it takes to live a life you want. The book begins with the author explaining how everyone around us wants us to be perfect. And why we need to realize that we can't be upbeat at all times. A woman is supposed to give up on her dreams and career as her life takes over, as her other roles start occupying her life. She would be expected to be a perfect wife, mother, etc but what about her personal goals. At the same time, it is crucial to have a family and know how to strike the right balance.

The book contains tips from some of the accomplished women like Naina Lal Kidwai, Sudha Murty, Sania Mirza, Smriti Irani, etc who have triumphed over the odds stacked against them. The author goes on to talk about how women should never give up on their aspirations. The women are blessed with a wonderful gift of multitasking and they are ought to utilize it well.  

Additionally, the book deals intelligently with the issues we face - anger, pain, responsibilities, expectations, etc. The author puts on an engaging narrative juiced with her own experiences and that of others to serve us a perfect recipe for a fulfilling life. I really liked the way she strongly expresses her opinions and makes us realize that we can do it. With no preachy prose, the book does manage to wake us up to a refreshing perspective. 

The no-nonsense narrative of the book speaks about the strong women from different fields working hard and efficiently. Also, it further says that we should learn to embrace our true selves and enjoy our lives. There's no use in fretting over something and living a life of regrets. Grow gracefully and beautifully. Take risks, keep everything on your radar and if you really set your heart on something, never leave it no matter what. 

A modern woman should be a fitting example of courage, audacity, and determination. And as the author is ready with the spectacles around her neck, sunglasses perched on the head, a pen and diary to rock the world; we should take everything in stride and keep dreaming. Because unless we dream, we don't achieve. 
Profile Image for Mridula Gupta.
726 reviews196 followers
October 9, 2019
"As women we are so used to holding up half the sky that it blinds us to the imperfections of those around us."
Kaveree Bamzai's guide to living a life with no regrets is a well-researched piece on how to go about your life after you're married, have a family to support and dreams to chase.

Divided into chapters that cover various aspects of life such as maintaining a work-life balance while simultaneously following one's faith, managing anger, indulging in social media, money management, networking and accepting certain ground realities. Bamzai also includes anecdotes from popular books, movies, and articles floating all around us because everything becomes more relevant when it has been fairly represented by mass media.

Bamzai is realistic in her approach, not condemning actions but merely stating facts. She is vocal about everything a woman has to face in order to climb the ladder of success, often having to choose between family and career. The book has tips from various women from different sectors such a film, business, law, investment sector, etc. and the amount of effort the author has put to compile this collection of stories, that claims to not be a 'self-help' book, is evident and fruitful. We come across quotes by authors such as Deborah Levy, excerpts from articles published by Guardian and Huffington, TV series like Big Little Lies etc to mention a few. The collection is a minefield of information and statistics that we were otherwise unaware of.

As for my personal opinion, this book does serve as a guide to thousands of women, struggling to find their place, confused and lost. It restores out faith in hardwork and that we all have our struggles and at the end of the day, no successful woman had it easy.
Profile Image for Nikita (thebookelf_).
208 reviews74 followers
October 9, 2019

I absolutely loved the book! A sassy guide to living a guilt free living. This is what we need today. The book is a bible to all the vivacious and thriving women out there. All the ambitious mothers looking to make a career while juggling between kids and work and ambitious young girls looking to make a mark in the world, the book just preaches two words – Do It.
Women are not meant to be shackled and bound to the kitchens and nurseries and the 19 chapters help us navigate our path by teaching us how to strike the right balance between our aspirations and our routine lives and face all the challenges life throws at us. I loved the narrative of the book and the fact that it is replete with advice and tips by some of the most accomplished women out there.
This book fits perfectly into the big picture painted for and by the modern women of today who should live her life unapologetically and guilt-free. It is less of a self-help and preachy book and more of a conversation stirring and inspiring read.
This book is a keeper – every women out there should have this one in their night stand/bookshelves. A go-to guide for all women, this book will be your BFF the next time you find yourself feeling guilty of enjoying life.
Profile Image for Radhika Gupta.
309 reviews3 followers
Want to read
November 3, 2019
There are some books which are actually a friend, a companion to you for a better life. This is that book for all the modern women out there, who are riding the boats of independence and being a "good" woman. 

The nineteen chapters long book is a guide, inspiration, and lessons to live a guilt-free life where you enjoy yourself as well as maintain that homely vibe within. The book breaks the stereotypes and the norms that are made by the old patriarchal world for a "perfect woman'. 

The book holds talks from the various strong women from India like Sudha Murthy, Smriti Irani, etc, who tell you how they overcame the difficulties in their life. Being a mother, employee, wife, doesn't mean the end of your life. Being the sassy aunty to the warm mother, this book is everything a woman can learn from. 

I recommend this book to every female out there for a happier and better life. 
22 reviews3 followers
February 21, 2020
'No Regrets' By Kaveree Bamzai Is A Go-To Book As We Fumble and Stumble Through Life

With sparkling advice from Naina Lal Kidwai, Arianna Huffington, Sudha Murty, Smriti Irani, Twinkle Khanna and Sania Mirza, among others, No Regrets is the go-to book for everyone.

Divided into 19 chapters, No Regrets: The Guilt-Free Women's Guide To A Good Life explains what it takes to live a life you want. The book begins with the author explaining how everyone around us wants us to be perfect and why we need to realize that we can't be upbeat at all times. With no preachy prose, the book showcases a refreshing perspective. Moreover, the books and series references between the pages are sure to increase your TBR.

This is not a self-help book. It's a book that tells us what not to do, what to remember and what to forget. From being a mother to lessons learnt from our own mothers; managing money to marriage; coping with pain and anger to taking ownership of our health and growing old, Kaveree Bamzai, first woman editor of one of India's largest newsmagazines, a wife, and mother of two boys and two dogs, tells us how to live a guilt-free life, with a little help from a host of highly accomplished women. With sparkling advice from Naina Lal Kidwai, Arianna Huffington, Sudha Murty, Smriti Irani, Twinkle Khanna and Sania Mirza, among others, No Regrets is the go-to book as we fumble and stumble through life.



Bits of Brilliance from the Book:

∼ Such is our luck when an iron woman like Indira Gandhi wins a war, declares an emergency, and still manages to win a popular election to return to power, she simply falls to pieces when her beloved son dies, never ever able to recover either her self belief or her self confidence. And if history offers Hillary Clinton a chance, one who has survived an unfaithful husband and years of being reviled for wanting to work, she loses to a man who fits the textbook description of bully and misogynist.

∼ If there’s anything I learned well and in time is this: there’s no point in having regrets or feeling guilty. It’s like carrying a whole lot of excess baggage and it’s not even monogrammed Louis Vuitton. So why bother?

∼ All you need to live comfortably in Delhi is a cool, a driver and the membership of a club. What they didn't tell you is that you end up spending your entire salary on that.



The book includes interview of many successful woman personalities like Twinkle Khanna, Vanitha Narayan- chairman of IBM India, Smriti Irani, Farah Khan, Sudha Murty, Kiran Rao, Naina Lal Kidwai, Ariana Huffington, IAS officer Anita Karwal, Shobha De, Sania Mirza, Sangita Reddy- MD of Apollo Hospitals, Nandini Harinath- operations officer for Mars Orbit Mission in ISRO among others.

The book is a bit similar to Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In or Michelle Obama's Becoming and touches upon every aspect of womanhood.

Kaveree Bamzai is an independent journalist with more than 30 years of experience. She has worked at various notable media houses such as India Today, The Indian Express and The Times of India. Along with being a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship, she is on several committees, among them the Women Exemplar Committee of CII and is recognised as a changemaker by Save The Children charity.


Book details: Publisher- Harper Collins India| Genre-Non fiction | Date of Release- September 2019 | Paperback- 200 pages

Profile Image for Hope of  Readers World.
121 reviews8 followers
December 2, 2020
Your work is essential, but it should not define you. Your relationships should.

Why women are the only one to ask to give up on their career to raise their children and handle the family?

This book is not some sort of self-help. All women must work outside their homes. Otherwise, they will not know what real life is like. In my opinion, it should totally depend on the women whether they want to give up their career or not.

Title/ Cover –
The title speaks for itself. ‘No Regrets’ live without the feeling of any regrets and guilt.
The cover is vibrant and colourful. It shows women enjoying their work.

Storyline –
Motherhood is a thankless job because it doesn’t come with a manual. When we think of the institution of motherhood, no symbolic architecture comes to mind, no visible embodiment of authority, power, or of potential or actual violence. It’s a book that tells us what not to do, what to remember and what to forget from being a mother to lessons learnt from our own mothers, managing money to the marriage, coping with pain.

Conclusion –
In a nutshell, this book is a guilt-free guide for women to live and choose things they want to without feeling any guilt. Whether they choose their career or quit their job. They can balance both things together as well.

Profile Image for Natasha.
238 reviews90 followers
July 25, 2020
The author had my undivided attention from the introduction itself where she mentions Indian mythological women including Sita, Draupadi and, to my surprise as I have always wondered why no one ever talked about her in this light, Surpanakha. The frankness with which realistic life lessons are depicted from the lives of myriad women is amazing. It tells women to maintain their independence and follow their dreams without trying to live up to other’s expectations of being perfect. The author mentions that this is not a self-help book for women, and I completely agree with her. This is not a self-help book. Rather, it is a reality-check book, especially for those women who not only have accepted societal norms as their way of lives but also force the same on other women including their daughters and daughters-in-law.
Profile Image for Deepthi Nair.
106 reviews7 followers
April 17, 2020
Falling short of words to describe this book. Yes it's not a self help book. But it has helped me to view my life as a woman from a different perspective..a more flexible one..a more sensible one. It has helped me shed many unwanted baggages I have been carrying around. Tiny doses of wisdom from different women of different ages from different places, background, professions, etc gained through different challenges that each have faced and succeeded, somehow has helped me to view various areas of my life in a better way. Definitely recommended!!!
Profile Image for Parul Gupta.
16 reviews
July 10, 2020
Simply loved it. I just came to know about the author in JLF and thought to get this book for my friend. Somehow couldn't get it delivered to her so thought to read it myself. And I found it wonderful. I don't want to call it a guide but yes it is a complete package for women. The book covers every possible aspect women face during their lifetime, and gave optimistic thoughts on how one can deal with it.
One can really pick it up and help herself to get more clarity for how to go ahead in life.. without guilt. 🙂
3 reviews
May 6, 2020
It's a great guide for women chasing their dreams amidst all stereotypes and Prejudices.

This book is a perfect guide to women of all ages to pave their own way boldly in the society that is constantly expecting women to be within the established frames of culture and religion. I loved reading this book. I will try to live by it.
Profile Image for A_Chirping_Aquarian.
382 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2020
It is no doubt that this is the best guide for a women to live a guilt free life.
It gives you so feasible practices as well as practises which are followed by influencers or successful women around the world. It’s exceptionally well written and I loved it!!
Profile Image for Supriya Tawde.
33 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2020
An awesome guide for women who want to balance their home and family. The ones who are always guilty of not being able to fully be there for their children because they chose to work. I found every word relatable. This book really is a must read for working Moms.
Profile Image for Readgina .
475 reviews
May 31, 2020
I did not finish this. This is so not for me.
Apparently I reserved this at the library but don’t remember doing so.
Profile Image for Ankur Gupta.
23 reviews11 followers
November 28, 2019
The book doesn't provide a lot of new insights other than conventional wisdom. It's a bit of a drag and unstructured in some parts, and sassy in some. The value of the book in itself is the aggregation of good pieces of advice from multiple sources (lots of other books, advice from other women, etc.) into one place and to cover a lot of aspects of a woman's life in the process. In the sprint of our daily lives, it's always good to revisit the conventional wisdom that can get overlooked in our busyness. For that reason alone, it's a good breezy read.
Profile Image for Gunjan | Bookworm Reads.
136 reviews34 followers
October 10, 2019
No Regrets: The Guilt-Free Women's guide to a Good Life by Kaveree Bamzai is truly a life-saving book for women who have been caught up with the fast-moving life so much that they have forgotten to live for themselves, to take a break, to love themselves, to think of themselves before anyone else.

This book has some great inspiring stories and great advice from women like Sudha Murthy, Sania Mirza, Smriti Irani and a lot more who have struggled through their life but still managed to balance their personal and professional life and made a big name in every kind of industry be it management or entertainment or politics or IT or sports.

One thing the author presses upon is not to stop working and I totally agree. Working is something that is going to make you independent, confident and self-sufficient and it could be pretty intimidating and frustrating at times to balance home and work but hang onto it and don't give up your career.

We have all seen our mother and grandmother sacrificing for the need of their family, and it always disheartening to see that they don't care about themselves, they put their husband's and children's needs in front of them. It has been deep-rooted in women to keep themselves at the lowest in their priority list, I have seen it and experienced it myself. Somehow, we develop this sense of guilt if we put ourselves first. I mean, this is wrong, completely wrong. We should never ever feel that and we should not feel defined by the people around us.

For years, women are subjected to be defined by their family, first by their father and then the husband and then their kids as if they don't have a significant role, as if they cannot exist independently. This has got to change and we are the only one who can do it. So, work, get all the help you can get and never let anyone tell you that you can't do it.
Profile Image for Kinjal Parekh.
201 reviews25 followers
October 8, 2019
4.5/5 ⭐
From being a mother to lessons learnt from our own mothers this tells us how to live a guilt-free life, with a little help from a host of highly accomplished women. No Regrets is the go-to book as we fumble and stumble through life.

This book is somehow very fresh and the language is so outright direct, strong and frank. No sugar coating over anything!

This Non Fiction book talks loudly about women and how we must just be the way we are and not settle down just for someone else's sake. It is necessary to keep moving, it is important to evolve and learn new things and not be dependent on someone else.

Few major topics in this books relates to how and why women mustn't stop working, about motherhood and how it is not always roses, about managing our marriage and knowing pur rights. To get up and move on and up.

The book, at a point of time, might get 'too much of information to process' so if that happens, take a break and get back to the book the next day because every page has something very important to talk about.

The book includes tips and comment from many successful women like Sudha Murty, Twinkle Khanna, Smriti Irani, Shobhaa De - who spoke about the truth of the related topics.

Gift this book to your loved ones. Read this book for yourself. It is a beautiful and very helpful addition to your bookshelf. Recommended.

#LiveLifeGuiltFree
Profile Image for Ronak.
254 reviews124 followers
October 26, 2019
No regret, a guilty free woman's guild to a good life.

#qotd- not any specific just talking a moment to wish you a happy and colorful Diwali!🎆♥️

This book will definitely inspire a lot of women. A perfect guide to breaking through all responsibility and live your dream.

So ladies don't miss this book.

This book has some of the best stories from
Sudha Murty
Sania Mirza
Smriti Irani
And a lot who have shared how to deal with life and make a balance between profession and personal life.

The book is divided into 19 well-crafted chapters. Which will make you think a lot. The starting of the book is all about how everyone wants women to be perfect. We have seen most of the time women give up on their dream and end up in normal life.
The question is where is personal life?

The book explores so many emotions like pain, life, anger, responsibility, etc. The narration is well crafted and strong.
The language easy.

The only thing I can say after this

"Women should never give up on there dream""
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