A Century Is Not Enough By Sourav Ganguly, co-written with Gautam Bhattacharya

Publisher: Juggernaut

Pages: 258

Price: INR 699/-

Sourav Ganguly. What can one write about him which is not known in the public domain? Apparently nothing. But there you are mistaken, beaten by a peach of a delivery from Sourav bowling as if in the famous Sahara Cup in 1997, where he single-handedly won India the series against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Though everybody knows the main incidents described in his book like his maiden Australia tour in 1992, his fantastic debut at Lords, which in many ways was a ‘comeback’, Sahara Cup, his captaincy, the Eden Test of 2001, Natwest Win over England, World Cup 2003,the lows of Chappel-gate and finally his almost perfect swansong – what the reader gets is not what happened, but how Ganguly dealt with the highs and lows of his cricket and the surrounding personal life.

The first time, you read it, it seems like a player telling you how he did it. But the second time it feels like a guru telling you how you should do it in life.  The third time, you actually start doing it.

Final Verdict

Therein lies the success of this book.  You really feel as if you are right beside him throughout his journey. This book is almost a self-help or a management book, written in a very instructive, personal and distinctive style – which is very easy to understand and imbibe.

It is no wonder that this book reminds us of his captaincy. No nonsense, to the point, clear and very effective. The Ganguly flair is intact, and so is his biting humor, intensity and of course his legendary timing. Crisp, as his trademark cover drive.

In between all his cricketing anecdotes, the most poignant moment comes just after his cricketing career has hit rock bottom and he has a moving conversation with his father.

His is a story which must be read. Not because it happened with Sourav, but because it can and most likely will happen with all of us. We all are Princes of our own story and we all have expectations (internal or external) to live up to. We all have and will face failures and hit abysmal lows and have/will question our beliefs. But how do we keep moving forward is a lesson we should learn from Sourav.

One book is not enough Sourav, we need another soon. I already can suggest one and it is the title of a favorite song of mine “Eye of The Tiger” and we need you to roar again Dada!”