The Pause Between Two Books: A Quest for Perspective
With the final draft of Engineering Dreams, Inspiring Souls now approved, I find myself in a brief pause while working on my next book, Horizon Beyond Certainty. It is a pause, not of inactivity, but of reflection. Every book leaves behind a trail of thoughts, questions, and unfinished conversations. Before stepping into new journey, I feel the need to sit quietly with those thoughts and listen to what they have to say.
I have just finished reading Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts for the second time. Since childhood, biographies and autobiographies have been my preferred companions. They have always fascinated me because they offer far more than a record of events. They provide a glimpse into the minds and hearts of people who dared to dream, struggle, fail, persevere, and create. While reading them, I inevitably become involved with the personalities themselves. Their victories inspire me; their mistakes intrigue me; their choices compel me to ask difficult questions.
Over the years, however, my perspective as a reader has
evolved. I have read many books and written a few of my own. Reading is no
longer merely an exercise in acquiring knowledge or seeking inspiration. It has
become a lifelong quest to understand a question that continues to fascinate
me:
Why do people behave as they do?
Every life story seems to offer a different answer. Some
lives are shaped by ambition, others by conviction. Some are driven by
circumstances, while others are guided by values. Two individuals may encounter
the same situation and yet respond to it in entirely different ways. Human behavior remains one of the most fascinating and complex mysteries. Perhaps this is why I continue to return to biographies and memoirs. They are not merely stories of individual; they are
explorations of human nature itself.
What is equally fascinating is witnessing how some of the
ideas I explored years ago in Value-Based Leadership continue to unfold
in the world around us. As I observe the rapidly changing social, political,
and economic landscape across nations, I often find myself revisiting thoughts I had expressed earlier. It is not a matter of prediction. Rather, it
is an affirmation of certain enduring principles about leadership, values,
institutions, and human behavior.
The world changes. Technologies evolve. Political equations shift. Economic priorities are redefined. Yet beneath these changes, the fundamental drivers of human behavior often remain remarkably constant. Seeing these patterns emerge strengthens some of my convictions while simultaneously reminding me of the importance of remaining open to new perspectives.
During this pause between two books, another book has already begun to occupy my thoughts. Belonging by Sonia Gandhi, scheduled for publication on 10 November, was ordered through Amazon today and is expected to arrive the following week. Interestingly, there is a small but meaningful connection between this book and my forthcoming work: Penguin. Belonging is being published by Penguin, and Penguin will also be sole distributor of, Engineering Dreams, Inspiring Souls.
My interest in Belonging is further deepened by the fact that I was a witness, directly or indirectly, to some of the periods, events, and public developments that form part of its narrative. Over the years, I have developed my own perceptions about certain incidents, decisions, personalities, and historical turning points. It will be intellectually stimulating to compare those perceptions with the author's perspective. Agreement may reinforce my understanding. Disagreement may challenge it. Both outcomes are valuable.
I hope this exploration will offer fresh insights into people, leadership, society, and the forces that shape collective destiny. Those insights may eventually find their way into future books. More importantly, they will enrich the continuing journey of learning itself.
After all, every new book begins long before the first sentence is
written.
It begins with a pause.
It begins with reflection.
And it begins with a quest for perspective.
Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Pune on Nov 8, 2026
Author of Value‑Based Leadership
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