In Penguin India’s September 2025 lineup, five gripping books unravel mysteries of transformation, resilience, and influence, each poised to captivate and provoke. From Subroto Bagchi’s untold story of Odisha’s rise as a global skill powerhouse, to Dr. Sujata Kelkar Shetty’s urgent tools for parenting teens through a dopamine-fueled digital maze, to Gopi Krishnaswamy’s revelation of emotional intelligence as the secret weapon in AI-dominated workplaces, to Sarthak Ahuja’s insider finance playbook for a volatile economy, and Ravishankar Iyer’s clandestine art of storytelling that turns memos into movements—these aren’t just books; they’re ticking time bombs of insight, waiting to explode with ideas that could reshape how we navigate governance, parenting, leadership, wealth, and communication in a world on the edge.

Penguin India September 2025 Book Summaries

1. The Day the Chariot Moved by Subroto Bagchi

Summary: Subroto Bagchi, co-founder of Mindtree and former Chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority, chronicles Odisha’s transformation into a global hub for skill development. The book details how the “Skilled in Odisha” brand emerged, rivaling “Made in Japan,” through effective governance and grassroots initiatives. It highlights real stories, like those of railway loco pilot Muni Tigga and retail manager Sumati Nayak, showcasing how skill training fosters dignity and opportunity.

2. Resilience Decoded by Dr. Sujata Kelkar Shetty

Summary: Dr. Shetty, leveraging NIH-backed research, offers a guide for parents navigating teen anxiety in the digital age. Comparing the adolescent brain to a Ferrari—powerful yet prone to crashes—the book provides practical tools like burnout checklists and resilience practices to combat issues like isolation, burnout, and dopamine-driven app addiction.

3. The Monk in the Corner Office by Gopi Krishnaswamy

Summary: This narrative-driven manual explores emotional intelligence (EI) as the key to thriving in 2025’s AI-driven workplaces. With Deloitte’s 2025 survey noting only 6% of Gen Z aspire to leadership roles, the book follows professional Sid and teacher Krishna to reframe mindfulness for corporate success. It emphasizes EI for resilience, empathy, and purpose-driven leadership.

4. The Money Ball by Sarthak Ahuja

Summary: Sarthak Ahuja, a CA-CS-CMA-ISB topper with 3M+ social media followers, delivers a finance guide for the “reel generation.” The book decodes budgets, valuations, and startup failures with practical frameworks like investor outreach playbooks, a “Seven Sins” checklist, and regulatory primers, tailored for founders, investors, and students.

5. Story Rules by Ravishankar Iyer

Summary: Ravishankar Iyer, a CA-turned-IIM gold medallist, distills storytelling into 31 jargon-free techniques, supported by 300+ examples from India’s 1991 reforms to startup pitches. Frameworks like BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) and contrast help journalists, founders, and leaders communicate with clarity in high-stakes settings like fundraises and AGMs.