The veteran poet, lyricist, and screenwriter Javed Akhtar is known for his work in the Hindi cinema. The Padma Shri awardee has written many books including ‘Jadunama’ and ‘Tarkash’.

His eloquent poetry and thought-provoking lyrics have earned him widespread acclaim in the bibliophile community. Here are eight books that the author recommends:

Blaze: A Son’s Trial by Fire Written by Nidhi Poddar and Sushil Poddar, the book traces the family’s journey as they fight their son Divyansh’s disease and travel to different countries for his treatment.

Changemakers Written by authors Almas Virani and Sweta Samota, the book documents the stories of 11 women whose petitions translated into laws and policy.

Me, Mia, Multiple Written by Debashish Irengbam, the book shows the love story of a man, who tried to take his life several times, and a girl who has a multiple personality disorder.

So What In her book, Sonal Sonkavde emphasises women’s rights and advocates for empowering Indian women in all aspects of life.

Pigeons on the Dome Rakhshanda Jalil’s book is a collection of 19 stories, offering glimpses of various aspects of communalism and how people come to terms with the harsh realities.

The Hawa Mahal Murders A book by N J Kulkarni, it is a mystery crime thriller that revolves around the murder of an elite in a building resembling Hawa Mahal, located in a plush area of Mumbai.

The Stars in My Sky Written by Divya Dutta, the book documents the experiences of the award-winning actor with Bollywood stars like Irfan Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, who played a significant role in her career.

Mein Kampf An autobiographical manifesto written by Adolf Hitler, the book outlines his ideologies and political ambitions. It reveals Hitler’s extreme nationalist and anti-Semitic beliefs, which shaped the course of history during the 20th century.