three books you could / should read after your mains

This is actually the perfect time to read these books, because you have exam fatigue. You don’t need to read them like UPSC books. Read them as leisure reading, and just try to pick up one or two ideas from each book.

These books will help you develop a better understanding of society and humanity, and perhaps even of economics—of how things actually work.

The first book on the list is Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. I believe most of you would have already read it. In a way, it has almost become a Bible of sorts. Not having read it would be an exception; reading it, therefore, is not necessarily a bonus. But if you haven’t read it, do give it a shot.

If you have already read Sapiens, you can instead read Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. It is also a very accessible and thought-provoking book.

The second book is Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo. It is a little dated now, but you can get through it fairly quickly. Both authors went on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics, and the book gives you several very good ideas to ponder. It will help you understand how economics actually works for the poor and how economic policies and interventions affect people on the ground.

The third book is Why the Poor Don’t Kill Us by Manu Joseph. It is a good, relatively quick read, and I think you will be able to relate to it. More importantly, it will help you understand society and the world around you a little better, particularly the India that is emerging during your times.

As a bonus read, you could pick up The India Way by S. Jaishankar. You don’t necessarily have to read the entire book—even a few chapters would be useful. It will give you some perspective on India’s foreign policy and the thinking behind the government’s approach to the world today.

All of these are fairly easy-to-read books, written in simple language. So, if you’re done with your Mains, use this period to step away from conventional UPSC preparation and read something simply because it is interesting.

At least finish one or two of these. I think you’ll genuinely enjoy them.