Sidin Vadukut’s debut book ‘Dork: The Incredible Adventures of Robin ‘Einstein’ Varghese’ (http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/Bookdetail.aspx?bookId=3878) is scheduled to go on sale on January 30 at the 19th New Delhi World Book Fair. In the book Sidin introduces himself as ‘a journalist, columnist and blogger’. Sidin is an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and has an engineering degree from NIT Trichy.

Truly speaking, you have to read the book to experience it. Our review can give just few pointers to this wonderful and ‘contemporary’ book, which can be undoubtedly called as a clear cut and straightforward representation of the post-MBA rat race in which thousands of MBAs get into every year.

The central character of the book is Robin ‘Einstein’ Varghese who is a true Dork (the slang for a quirky, silly and/or stupid, socially inept person). The book traces the career path of this intelligent Dork, who gets a good job on Day Zero of placements in his MBA school. The book describes the minute-by-minute account of events that lead to his rise from the position of Business Process Analyst (Trainee) to the position of becoming an ASSOCIATE.

Written as a first-person account the book is full of humour, choice abuses (with sufficient use of the four letter word), and lot of interesting manic episodes. The book is not just for MBAs.

The book is a vivid portrayal of the not-so-easy corporate life and provides learning lessons for all those who are part of the corporate world. The story of Einstein is of as much relevance to MBAs, as well as to HR personnel, Top bosses, Middle Bosses, Psychologists, and employees working in firms like Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and many other such big brand firms.

Sidin Vadukut states in his blog: “Dork is about offices, office culture, naive employees, one love life, two YouTube videos, thousands of ball bearings, some dogs… But most of all it is about Robin ‘Einstein’ Varghese. And ball bearings.” If one wishes, the book can be summarized in just 200 words.

In his blog Sidin has stated that the book is not just for MBAs: To the question “Do I need to be an MBA to read the book?” Sidin has replied “No. Not at all. I’ve checked. High school education is sufficient ,but not necessary!”.

MBAUniverse.com presents to you a short excerpt from the book:

…Okay, now let me describe everything that happened after I updated you last week and told you I’d been shortlisted for interviews by Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co., JP Morgan and Dufresne Partners. I know I haven’t written entries since then, but you know how it is with placements and the pressure to get a job on Day Zero.

Oh! My fingertips tingle with earnestness.

At the time, I may have told everyone that I was all set to join Goldman Sachs, the greatest bank in the world. I may also have suggested that Dufresne Partners was my ‘safety application’ and I had no intention of joining a ‘second-grade consulting firm of questionable pedigree’.

Diary, I was deeply mistaken. Little did I know that Dufresne Partners, despite the lower revenues, lower profile, and near global bankruptcy in 2001, stood shoulders and head above the others when you considered the job in a holistic fashion. Especially with that exciting and sensible ‘performance and global marketplace dependent variable bonus payout scheme’ that was introduced earlier this year.

My impression of firms was corrupted by the likes of Rahul Gupta.

By the way, that pig made it into Goldman Sachs. His work–life balance is so screwed. Does he even know how many more hours bankers have to put in compared to consultants? In a way I feel sorry for him, my arch-nemesis. I look forward to hearing from him soon with a request to refer him for a vacancy at Dufresne. I will first promise to help him. Assure him that I hold no grudge.

And then I will ignore him and dash his hopes. Awesome.

Now, onward I go with my tales of triumphant employment.

My first interview for the day was with JP Morgan…

(Excerpt Courtesy: Penguin Books India)