Title: Beyond The Syllabus
Author: Ankur Warikoo
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Length: 240 pages
Age Recommendation: 13-18/19 years
Genre: Self Help
This review is written by my son Medhansh Dwivedi, a 14 year old, who is an avid reader however his favorite genre is History.
Beyond The Syllabus by Ankur Warikoo is a thoughtful, practical, and relatable guide targeted at students and young professionals seeking to prepare for life’s real challenges—those lessons that formal education rarely address.
Ankur Warikoo is a prominent Indian entrepreneur, bestselling author, motivational speaker and online educator known for blending practical wisdom with personal anecdotes. With over 15 years’ experience in the tech and startup world, the author is a trusted mentor for millions.
The central themes explored in ‘Beyond The Syllabus’ revolve around preparing young people—especially teenagers—for the real world by focusing on the vital life skills and experiences that traditional education often overlooks. This book focuses on the concepts of mindset, money, relationships, ambition, and how can I forget, life skills beyond academics.
The writing style is very engaging and draws the reader in to read more. This book doesn’t bore the reader with a bunch of words; it is straight to the point. The tone remains inspiring without becoming overly instructive. The advice is concrete, with an emphasis on habit-building and reflection over theory alone.
To me, the book was very appealing and gave me a glimpse of the world through a different lens. I loved every page of this book, and it was truly a memorable experience. In the future, I am going to read some more books written by the author.
The book is specifically designed to help teens navigate the challenges of growing up, self-discovery, relationships, and real-world skills beyond traditional academics. Older readers, like parents, educators and young adults, may also find its lessons useful.
In conclusion, ‘Beyond The Syllabus’ stands out for bridging the gap between academic achievement and real-world readiness. It’s highly recommended for those who want to move past rote learning and build life skills that truly matter.
****
I thought I’d share my perspective as well.
As a parent and a reader, at times I do judge a book by its cover. And I must say that this one did catch my attention. In fact, if I put myself into a Gen Z kid’s shoes, I consider it like a compact handbook which one would love to keep at the bedside and read one or two pages every day.
Another interesting part is that the book has limited text, in fact more quotes but those few words speak volumes. Now when I read them and relate them to my 40+ years of lens they do make a lot of sense. However, for a 14-year-old, it surely can act as a guideline to look at daily problems from a different lens.
In particular, I loved where author explains how kindness to self is so important and that makes me reflect at times how harsh we are with our own expectations. It makes me ponder how this realization some 25 years back would have changed my life’s course.
So yes, I would say this book has takeaways for anyone who is open for new experiences or someone who loves self reflection. Whichever way, if you have a teen at home, this book should be part of your home library too.
If you enjoyed this review and wish to buy the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
CLICK & BUY NOW!Disclaimer: Medhansh and his parents are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
