PanMacmillan India has launched a new imprint called Macmillan Business. As the name suggests, its focus will be books tackling business, wealth, money management etc. There is already a vast number of such books in the market but when a publishing company that has been around since 1843 makes this announcement, it is worth noticing. They quite literally mean business. This is a company that has published notable authors such as Lewis Carroll, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Kingsley, T.H. Huxley, Tom Hughes, and Christina Rossetti. Sure, these are not business writers but the long tail of their books that spans centuries makes for excellent business. It is in the DNA of the company to commission/publish books with a long shelf life. Presumably, this is the context for the inaugural title being Mango Millionaire: Smart Money Management for a Sweeter Life. It has been co-authored by Radhika Gupta, Managing Director & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund and Niranjan Avasthi, who is known for his deep insights on mutual funds, investor behaviour and market trends.

The current practice amongst business management books across the spectrum are to analyse and dissect one, maximum two principles. These inevitably also contribute to the title of the book, and slowly, if word-of-mouth popularity confirms the value of the book, in the wisdom it imparts, then the title/phrase synonymous with the book enters modern language. Providing examples will merely narrow it down to a few but think of some books in this genre and you will know what I mean. Perhaps “mango millionaire” will also follow suit? Who knows.

For now, the details provided in the book pertaining to personal finance are interesting to read. They range from your relationship with money, debt, saving versus investing, taxes, real estate, gold, fixed income, equities, mutual funds, money hygiene, portfolio building, money and the family etc. Very basic headers but those that will appeal to the middle class. These are thoughts that are constantly plaguing the common wo/man on how to secure their future. Given the hype in the media regarding markets, mutual funds, bank interests and the general shrill noise that exists in this ecosystem, it is hard to discern the difference between a valuable personal finance product vs a dud sold by an overenthusiastic sales person eager to meet their KRAs.

Mango Millionaire offers advice interpsersed with anecdotes/case studies of people whom the authors have encountered in their work. It sort of straddles the space between offering a broad picture of the personal finance sector and that of a handy manual. Given the low price point of Rs 399, it will appeal to the mass market and may even find its way into being adopted by specialist courses. It could become a prescribed textbook too. This will definitely ensure that the ROI on the book will prove to be lucrative. Only time will tell!

The book blurb reads:

An easy and straightforward guide to mastering your money – from two trusted experts

How much should you spend and how much should you save? Should you rent or buy? How much debt is too much? Which insurance policy is right for you? How do you choose the best investment product?

If you’ve ever found yourself grappling with these questions, you’re not alone. As India’s financial landscape has evolved, the sheer number of choices have grown, but so have the myths and misinformation. Managing money isn’t just for the privileged few; it’s for everyone – especially the aam janta, or the mango people.

Radhika Gupta and Niranjan Avasthi draw from their extensive experience at Edelweiss Mutual Fund – one of India’s leading and fastest-growing asset management companies – to bring you Mango Millionaire – a crisp, reliable and no-nonsense guide to smart financial planning.

From budgeting and saving to investing, debt management, risk and taxes, it lays down practical advice in bite-sized, easy-to-read chapters. Packed with insightful stories from real investors and easy-to-follow steps, Mango Millionaire slices through the jargon and serves up practical answers to empower you to take control of your financial future.

Meanwhile, there is one detail that I am unable to wrap my head around. If both the authors are veterans in the field and can dispense with sound advice regarding money, then why is it that Radhika Gupta’s name is in a larger and bolder font than that of Niranjan Avasthi. Is it an ego clash? It begins with the design of the book cover. Then it spills into the text itself. Truth be told, the introduction is pleasant enough with Radhika Gupta acknowledging the efforts of her co-author but largely talking about her own encounters. These may be random strangers at the airport who recognise her or even an uncle at a wedding, who will tap her on the shoulder for advice. Nevertheless, the ellision between objectivity and the use of the first person is slippery. It carries on through the text. For many readers it may not matter but to me it does. It bothers me that people who are meant to be dispensing advice about finance, a very personal and sensitive matter, are not sufficiently objective. Thus, making for an unstable and a volatile mix. The trust factor is built knowing that the personal finance advice being dispensed is provided objectively and with the best interests of the consumer/client at hand. For now there is a gap. While it is understandable that a business/personal finance/self help book can only speak in general terms, and perhaps that is why the reliance on the first person, to establish credentials via firsthand experience. Nevertheless, it does come across a little rough around the edges.

Business books published overseas use the first person as well. But the structure of the book is clearly spelt out. There is a range of ways in which this can be tackled but most often than not, the case studies are distinctively highlighted and the author(s) do not shy away from using the first person. But when they do, they do it with conviction. Even books that have more than one author make it a point to duly acknowledge each other throughout the book, making it clear to the reader, which topic is an author’s strength.

Despite my reservations about the book, I have been recommending it to various folks. It offers sound advice. Use it as a guide, not necessarily as the gospel truth.

The launch of Macmillan Business is a good effort and it should be lauded. Let’s see what the future holds. If the firm’s DNA exists in this imprint, then it will be a success. Time will tell.

24 July 2025