The Story of Ratan Tata: A Review of Man Of Steel by Vir Sanghvi
Man Of Steel: A Book Review
If you are looking for a book that tells the inspiring story of one of India's most respected and influential business leaders, then you should definitely check out Man Of Steel by Vir Sanghvi. This book is a biography of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Group, who transformed the company into a global giant and a symbol of excellence. In this article, I will give you a brief overview of what this book is about, who the author is, why you should read it, and what you can learn from it. I will also share my personal opinion and rating of the book at the end.
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Introduction
What is Man Of Steel?
Man Of Steel is a book that was published in 2010 by HarperCollins India. It is written by Vir Sanghvi, a renowned journalist and columnist who has interviewed Ratan Tata several times over the years. The book is based on these interviews, as well as on Sanghvi's own research and observations. The book covers the life and career of Ratan Tata, from his childhood to his retirement in 2012. It also gives an insight into the history and culture of Tata Group, one of India's oldest and largest conglomerates.
Who is Vir Sanghvi?
Vir Sanghvi is a well-known Indian journalist, writer, and TV personality. He has been in the media industry for over four decades, working for various newspapers, magazines, and channels. He is currently the editorial director of Hindustan Times and a columnist for Mint. He has also written several books on topics such as politics, cuisine, travel, and cinema. He is known for his sharp and witty style of writing and his ability to ask tough questions and get candid answers from his interviewees.
Why should you read this book?
You should read this book if you are interested in learning more about Ratan Tata, one of India's most admired and successful businessmen. You will get to know how he overcame many challenges and obstacles to lead Tata Group to new heights of growth and innovation. You will also get to understand his values, principles, and vision that shaped his decisions and actions. You will also get to appreciate his contributions to various fields such as philanthropy, social welfare, education, environment, and national security. You will also get to enjoy Vir Sanghvi's engaging and insightful narration that makes this book a pleasure to read.
Summary of the book
The early years of Ratan Tata
The book begins with a brief introduction to the Tata family and its origins. It then traces the childhood and education of Ratan Tata, who was born in 1937 in Mumbai. He was the son of Naval Tata and Soonoo Commissariat, and the grandson of Sir Ratan Tata, one of the founders of Tata Group. He had a privileged but lonely upbringing, as his parents divorced when he was young and he was raised by his grandmother Lady Navajbai. He studied at Campion School in Mumbai, Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai, Cornell University in USA, and Harvard Business School in USA. He joined Tata Group in 1962 as a management trainee.
The challenges and achievements of Ratan Tata
The book then chronicles the various challenges and achievements of Ratan Tata as he rose through the ranks of Tata Group. He faced many difficulties and opposition from within and outside the company, as he had to deal with the legacy and expectations of his predecessors, the changing business environment, the competition from rivals, the government regulations, and the internal politics and conflicts. He also had to prove himself as a worthy successor to JRD Tata, the legendary chairman of Tata Group, who appointed him as his successor in 1991. He also had to cope with the personal tragedies of losing his parents, his brother, and his dog.
The book also highlights the many achievements and milestones of Ratan Tata as he transformed Tata Group into a global powerhouse. He expanded and diversified the company's portfolio, acquiring and integrating many companies such as Tetley, Corus, Jaguar Land Rover, and Daewoo. He also launched and supported many innovative and iconic products such as Tata Indica, Tata Nano, Tata Sky, and Tata Swach. He also improved the quality and performance of the company's products and services, winning many awards and accolades. He also enhanced the reputation and brand value of Tata Group, making it one of the most respected and trusted names in the world.
The legacy and vision of Ratan Tata
The book then concludes with a reflection on the legacy and vision of Ratan Tata, who retired as the chairman of Tata Group in 2012. He handed over the reins to Cyrus Mistry, who was later ousted in 2016 due to a bitter boardroom battle. Ratan Tata then returned as the interim chairman until Natarajan Chandrasekaran was appointed as the new chairman in 2017. Ratan Tata remains as the chairman emeritus of Tata Group and the chairman of Tata Trusts, the philanthropic arm of the group. He also continues to be involved in various social and entrepreneurial initiatives, such as investing in startups, supporting causes such as education, health, environment, and women empowerment, and advocating for India's development and security.
The book also reveals the vision and philosophy of Ratan Tata that guided his actions and decisions. He believed in upholding the values and ethics of Tata Group, such as integrity, excellence, customer focus, innovation, and social responsibility. He believed in creating value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. He believed in taking risks and pursuing opportunities, not just playing safe and following trends. He believed in empowering and inspiring his employees, not just controlling and directing them. He believed in giving back to society and nation, not just taking from them.
Analysis of the book
The strengths of the book
One of the strengths of this book is that it provides a comprehensive and balanced account of Ratan Tata's life and career. It covers both his personal and professional aspects, highlighting his achievements as well as his challenges. It also gives a historical and cultural context to his actions and decisions, explaining how he was influenced by his family background, his mentors, his peers, his competitors, his customers, his partners, his critics, his supporters, and his country.
Another strength of this book is that it is based on first-hand information and insights from Vir Sanghvi's interviews with Ratan Tata. It captures Ratan Tata's voice and personality, revealing his thoughts, feelings, opinions, values, goals, dreams, fears, regrets, hopes, and aspirations. It also showcases Vir Sanghvi's journalistic skills and style, making this book informative as well as entertaining.
The weaknesses of the book
One of the weaknesses of this book is that it is somewhat outdated and incomplete. It was published in 2010, which means that it does not cover some of the recent developments and events that have affected Ratan Tata's life and career. For example, it does not mention the controversy surrounding Cyrus Mistry's ouster or Natarajan Chandrasekaran's appointment. It also does not include some of Ratan Tata's latest ventures and investments or some of his recent honors and awards.
The main takeaways from the book
The book offers many valuable lessons and insights that can benefit anyone who wants to learn from Ratan Tata's experience and wisdom. Some of the main takeaways from the book are: - Leadership is not about position or power, but about vision and values. Ratan Tata showed that a leader should have a clear and compelling vision for the future, and should align his actions and decisions with his values and principles. - Innovation is not about technology or products, but about solving problems and creating value. Ratan Tata demonstrated that innovation should be driven by customer needs and expectations, and should aim to create value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. - Success is not about money or fame, but about impact and legacy. Ratan Tata proved that success should be measured by the positive impact one makes on society and nation, and by the lasting legacy one leaves behind for the next generation.
Conclusion
Recap of the main points
In conclusion, Man Of Steel is a book that tells the inspiring story of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Group, who transformed the company into a global giant and a symbol of excellence. The book is written by Vir Sanghvi, a renowned journalist and columnist who has interviewed Ratan Tata several times over the years. The book covers the life and career of Ratan Tata, from his childhood to his retirement in 2012. It also gives an insight into the history and culture of Tata Group, one of India's oldest and largest conglomerates. The book also provides a comprehensive and balanced account of Ratan Tata's achievements and challenges, as well as his vision and philosophy.
Recommendation and rating of the book
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Ratan Tata, one of India's most admired and successful businessmen. You will get to know how he overcame many difficulties and obstacles to lead Tata Group to new heights of growth and innovation. You will also get to understand his values, principles, and vision that shaped his decisions and actions. You will also get to appreciate his contributions to various fields such as philanthropy, social welfare, education, environment, and national security. You will also get to enjoy Vir Sanghvi's engaging and insightful narration that makes this book a pleasure to read.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is a well-written and well-researched book that offers a lot of information and insights on Ratan Tata's life and career. However, it is somewhat outdated and incomplete, as it does not cover some of the recent developments and events that have affected Ratan Tata's life and career. It is also somewhat biased and uncritical, as it tends to portray Ratan Tata in a positive light, without acknowledging some of his flaws and failures.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Man Of Steel:
Where can I buy this book?
You can buy this book online from Amazon or Flipkart, or from any offline bookstore near you.
How long is this book?
This book is 224 pages long.
Is this book available in other languages?
Yes, this book is available in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, Nepali, Sinhala, Arabic, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Turkish, Persian, Swahili.
Is there an audiobook version of this book?
Yes, there is an audiobook version of this book narrated by Vir Sanghvi himself.
Are there any other books on Ratan Tata?
Yes, there are other books on Ratan Tata such as The Tatas by Girish Kuber, Beyond The Last Blue Mountain by RM Lala, Ratan Tata: The Quiet Conqueror by N Madhavan, Ratan Tata: A Biography by Alan Rosling, and For God's Sake: An Adman On The Business Of Religion by Ambi Parameswaran.
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