Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking

I recently read Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking and I must say, it was an incredibly insightful and engaging read. The author, Mr. Subramanian, has done an excellent job of taking the reader on a journey through the highs and lows of the banking industry, with his own personal experiences as a banker adding a unique perspective to the narrative.What I particularly appreciated about this book was the author's ability to explain complex financial concepts in a way that was easy to understand, making it accessible to readers who may not have a background in finance. The anecdotes and real-life examples used throughout the book helped to illustrate the points being made, making it an engaging and informative read.Furthermore, the author's candidness about the challenges faced by the banking industry, including issues of corruption and unethical practices, was refreshing and added a level of authenticity to the book. It was clear that the author was not afraid to speak his mind and share his honest opinions on the state of the industry.Overall, I highly recommend Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the banking industry. It's a well-written, informative, and thought-provoking book that is sure to leave a lasting impression on its readers.

I have many read books written by Mr. Tamal Bandyopdhyay . I really liked “Sahara: The Untold Story” and “A Bank for the Buck”. However, after reading “Roller Coaster” I am slightly disappointed. This book is more about Governors of RBI and CEOs of leading private sector banks, in the post liberalization era. I won’t hesitate of say that coverage of “ Duvvuri Subbarao” in the book has nothing new to offer. It is what media has covered about him. Also, in case you have read the book “Who moved my Interest Rate”, you will get a feeling that Mr. Tamal seems to have borrowed content from the book. The same applies in case of Mr. Raghuram Rajan as far as the book “ Roller Coaster” is concerned.In the chapter “Who’s Bigger: The Bank or the Banker?”, there isn’t much exciting as well. It is more about CEOs of private sector banks and their style of functioning. Anybody who is on LinkedIn would know that Mr. Vaidyanathan of IDFC First Bank plays guitar. I don’t want to read this book to know it. Also, the fact he gave shares of IDFC First Bank to driver is know to the world. Similarly, Mr. Sandeep Bakshi’s down to earth is known to many people. His coverage on Rana Kapoor is also very stale. In fact , if you have “The Banker Who Crushed His Diamonds: The Yes Bank Story” , written by Furquan Moharkan you won’t find anything new about Rana Kapoor in this book.In the chapter “Where will I stay” he talks about usual challenge that any low income earning migrant faces in Mumbai. In fact, I could relate to this more inspite of being repetitive. There is some roller coaster here.I would still suggest that anyone who has not read books mentioned by me in the review, can read this book and find new things. The book keeps you engaged at some places.

This book draws extensively on the personal interactions that the author has had with leading figures in the Indian banking industry. While many facts are probably in the public domain already, there are many new titbits also. The chapter on PSU Bankers is quite interesting and hilarious at times. This is an easy reading book and I would strongly recommend this to those who are interested in the human side of banking and bankers.

🔺The book brings to light the lives of India’s commercial and central bankers. But it does not discuss their successes, failures, or the ever-evolving dynamics of monetary and fiscal policies.🔺It’s about their persona-how they are as leaders, how they evolved, and how they changed the culture and ethos of the Indian banking sector.🔺The book avoids the conventional approach of discussing successes and failures, instead offering a window into the evolution and transformation of these leaders over the span of two and a half decades.🔺Through a careful examination of their journeys, the book paints a vivid picture of the individuals who have shaped and influenced India's banking landscape.🔺It was an okayish read for me overall and a learning that this genre didn't go well with me🙆🏻‍♀️ anyways it was still a learning experience.🔺No doubts, it is a fact based and people interested in this field will find it intriguing!🔺A well researched and a factful read for someone who's into analysis and banking industry or would love to explore the same!🔺If you are someone who is keen enough to understand the details Insights behind the banking systems, strategies and analysis, you might like this one!

It was a thoroughly engrossing read with trips down memory lane, revisiting familiar places in cities one has inhabited around a similar time frame. Rare glimpses into the private lives of the Titans of the banking industry with a touch of humour and loads of lessons to take back. It’s also a guide into the banking ecosystem superbly told by a foremost banking expert with a ringside view and a master storyteller.

The way the conduct of banking and banking officials is covered in the book, it's worth a read. In the end it gives a few learnings that you simply can't ignore. It's a reading in lighter vein to learn the seriousness of banking and how a banker should conduct himself seriously. Good work as always by Mr. Bandyopadhyaya

The book provides some interesting insights into the financial world and different kinds of individuals one can encounter. The best chapter for me was to read about the personalities of different bank heads and RBI governors.