Dinesh Rai is a freelance writer and editor. He was educated at St Joseph’s (North Point), Darjeeling and graduated with a degree in BSc from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. In an interview with the Post’s Marissa Taylor, he shares some of his favourite reads and reading habits. Excerpts:

How did you first come to love books?

I started rather late, towards the end of my school days, but it caught on like a virus. Books took me to another world away from the daily grind. For me, reading books is like living in another world, while at the same time gaining invaluable knowledge.

What was the last book you read and how did you like it?

Sikkim: Requiem for a Himalayan Kingdom, by Andrew Duff. It’s a very well-researched book and did reveal to me a lot of facts that I wasn’t aware of before. It provides a perspective of history and encapsulates into its plot the themes of romance, politics, intrigue and tragedy, all rolled into one intriguing story. It’s a fantastic read.

Which book do you want to read next and why?

I will probably go for The Newars, by Gopal Singh Nepali. I haven’t read any reviews so I have no idea what it’s like. I also want to read The Long Road to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela, which I think I should have read long ago.

What is your favourite genre and why?

I love biographies as they have so much to teach you about life. There’s a big difference between someone telling you how you should live your life and someone telling you how he lived his life. It’s certainly a treat to learn from what and how people went through their lives. I have read from Gandhi to Richard Branson to Bob Dylan. I enjoyed them all.

Name a book that you would or would not recommend, and why?

I would recommend Tiger for Breakfast, a very interesting book by Michel Peissel. It’s a book about the great Boris Lissanevitch who single-handedly blazed a trail for tourism industry in Nepal way back in the 1950s, by convincing King Mahendra that western tourists would love to come to Nepal. He was a charismatic personality who lived life to the fullest and made a massive contribution to Nepal. The book also gives us a glimpse of Nepal in the 50s and 60s.

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction? Why?

I go for non-fiction like biographies because they are inspirational and you learn so much about life, people and other cultures. One of the reasons I don’t read much of fiction is because I find flaws, unless the author is very well-versed in the subject. I do enjoy reading authors like Amy Tan, Dan Brown and Khaled Hosseini, but just a select few.

What is good writing for you? What would you say makes a good writer?

Good writing is the ability to paint a clear picture using appropriate words that also sound nice. Writing sentences that flow naturally without the use of too many bombastic words is very important. A good writer is someone who can express clearly, has a clear vision of what he/she wants to convey to the reader and he is not trying to impress anyone. Style, substance and a good command of the language are also essential, of course.

How have books affected your life?

As a person, I don’t think anything can change me, but books have inspired me to do things I like to do and not what I’m supposed to be doing or what society expects of me. They’ve given me the courage to believe in myself. As for my profession, reading books has helped me as a writer and editor, so I would say they’ve given me a career as well.

One book that inspired you a lot and why?

Yes I Can, by Sammy Davis Junior. This is one of the most inspiring books I have read. The book is about an amazing talent who started a stage career at three. He was a dancer, singer, actor—both on stage and screen—musician, and comedian and could impersonate celebrities. He was black, short and converted to Judaism during the 60s. Despite the prejudices that prevailed, he made it to the top among stars like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin who considered him a close friend. To top it all he was a great human being.

Your advice for general readers?

There may be different reasons why a person reads a book. Some want entertainment while others want to improve their lives or just to learn more about different things in life. Fiction, I think, is for entertainment while there are books on everything under the sun. Go with your interests.

Are you planning on writing a book yourself?

It’s been on my mind for a long time but I can’t decide on a topic. I was hired by Jim Edwards, the owner of Tiger Tops, to write his biography but he died before we could really get started. I’d love to write about my own experiences but I don’t know if anyone would be interested in reading it.