An Enjoyable Read

Talat Rahim is a prolific Pakistani writer and has authored many books, including ‘Down Bureaucracy Lane -- An expose’ of a Pakistani bureaucrat,’ ‘Down Matrimonial Lane: 30 Resilient Women,’ ‘Down Hypocrisy Lane---With an Apology to All Hypocrites in Our society,’ and ‘If Born Again’ as well as the book under review here.

Talat Rahim completed her Masters in Mass Communication with a gold medal from the University of Karachi and joined the civil services in the early 1980s. As a bureaucrat, she entered the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and worked there for more than two decades. She then moved on to the Export Promotion Bureau (now known as Trade Development Authority of Pakistan or TDAP). Other writing column and opinion pieces for many leading publications, she is currently associated with the Paramount Books as its Literary Ambassador. I am always fascinated by the stories of independent women who tend to live by their values and make a place for themselves on their own. In a similar vein, the title of Talat Rahim’s new book “I Did it My Way – My Life Uncensored” reminded me of Saeeda Bano Ahmed’s delightful memoir titled “Dagar Se Hat Ke” (Off the Beaten Path).

The author recounts many episodes from her life with honesty and candor, cleverly omitting names but leaving readers to speculate about the identities of the celebrated individuals mentioned.

In her recent memoir, Talat Rahim shares personal stories and encounters with the rich and famous and in doing she captivates readers with her candid and witty writing style. Rather than following a traditional autobiography format, Talat interweaves these bittersweet experiences with her own personal journey, revealing herself to be a brutally honest, yet sensitive woman who equally values her family and cultural heritage.

Throughout the book, the author recounts many episodes from her life with honesty and candor, cleverly omitting names but leaving readers to speculate about the identities of the celebrated individuals mentioned. However, the book is more than just these social and personal encounters - it also speaks of the struggles and triumphs of a single, independent woman, who approaches life with grace, gratitude and good spirits.
Talat Rahim’s strong faith and deep commitments to her family and the country are reflected in the way she has faced both difficulties and triumphs with equal grace. Her infectious positivity and attitude of gratitude make her story an enjoyable read. With this book, her intent is not to seek endorsement, but rather to share her experiences and learnings, which she does admirably.