I simply love Frederik Backman! I read The Answer is No just after the Beartown series and felt such a…
Under The Influence – How to Survive and Thrive Online by Malini Agarwal | Book Review
Posted by
–
Book Specifications
Title – Under The Influence
Author – Malini Agarwal
Language – English
Genre – Non-Fiction, Self Help, Memoirs
Price – INR 324 (paperback), kindle – INR 279.3 ( check the link below for latest pricing)
Publisher – Harper Collins
Book buying LINK – AMAZON.In
The author of ‘Under the Influence’ – Miss Malini
Malini Agarwal, better known by her more popular name Miss Malini, was born on May 26, 1977, in Allahabad, India. Besides writing a very popular Gossip column in Midday, a leading daily in Mumbai, she has been a popular TV host, digital influencer, an Indian novelist, and businesswoman. She worked as a radio host at Radio One in Mumbai, India, before moving on to Channel [V] India as head of digital content. She started her blog, MissMalini.com, in 2008 and writes about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, Bollywood, and Indian television. In addition to radio and her blog, she has guest anchored many television shows, including Miss Malini’s World, UTV Bindass, Inside Access on Vh1, Feet Up With the Stars on Voot, and Kya Scene Hai on Zoom.
Having seen the best and worst of print to social media, she is qualified for writing this book would be an understatement of sorts.
My Thoughts about the book ‘Under The Influence’
Catchy Title
The title of this book ‘Under the Influence- How to Survive and Thrive Online’ immediately attracted my attention.As Malini says in chapter 12 of her book , “Everyone’s an Influencer “, everyone posts on social media so the title seemed very relevant.I too am a blogger and an influencer so this book was just about up my alley.
Captivating Cover page
The sunny bright yellow background with Ms Malini herself as the cover page model is most suitable because she has been a successful influencer even before we knew the meaning of being an influencer. Also the colour scheme is bold and visually captivating much like her gossip columns.
Honest and Crisp Narration
Malini starts this book with ‘A note to the Reader” which includes introduction of herself and about the generation she represented.Here she also talks about how the different generations communicate with each other and the world.She admits to mistakes she committed as a novice influencer and that gives the book a very human feel instead of sounding preachy.
Her narration style is informative and lively and because I belong to her generation , quite relatable , but Zoomers or Gen-Z may probably skip the parts that talk about Gen-X (us).
Inputs from Other influencers
While Miss Malini give sus honest glimpses of her life and her challenges as a blogger , TV host , columnist and social media influencer, she also shares stage with famous influencers and social media stars like Sakshi Gupta from Curvy Wardrobe and famous performer Vir Das etc when she talks about how to tackle trolling and negative feedback , which not only adds value and weight to her writing but also adds variety.
This is a very honest account of Miss Malini’s life as an influencer,(mind you it is not an autobiography though).It’s basically a manual for dealing with being in the public eye, respecting your audience and how to keep your sanity and not lose perspective while growing as a brand.
She even gives us some valuable charts and activities to judge for yourself how you fare on various parameters as an Influencer, but I felt that slowed the pace of the book in some places.
On the Flip side
Firstly,while on the outside,the book cover is so attractive , on the inside, whenever Malini quotes another influencer , that part is highlighted in grey since the printing is black and white,which for me looked visually drab and less attractive.Maybe if the other influencer’s notes were put in just a box or if they added a bit of colour to those parts, that would have made it more appealing.
Secondly,”Under the Influence” tries to be a journal, memoir and also self help book which becomes a mish-mash in few places.I have often struggled with this getting carried away myself, whenever I try to be too correct and end up rambling on.It can take away from the flow of the writing.
Thirdly, there are no technical insights or tips about blogging or social media .The book purely deals with how to grab the limelight and then how to deal with the fame or pitfalls of being in the limelight.
Known for her sharp, crisp and witty style of writing in her nascent days, here we see a more mature, gentle and kind side of her.
To Conclude
‘Under The Influence’ by famous social media queen and columnist Miss Malini Agarwal, deals with the emotional side of being an influencer. Richly drawing from her own experiences , she makes this an engaging and helpful book for anyone who dabbles in social media.
My personal favourite was the section that dealt with trolling because trolling can badly affect an Influencer’s emotional wellness.
Overall, this book is a good read , I missed the wit and black humor of the OG Miss Malini, nevertheless it will be another feather in the cap for the ever evolving Miss Malini and a source of inspiration for a budding influencer in the rather bleak and often cruel online world.
“This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program“
Read more reviews on my GOODREADS profile
Check out My Instagram Handle – @Sinplypretty
his blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Growing with Nemit.
Before leaving , do share with us if you ever had a negative experience on the social media and how you dealt with it.
Blogchatter, Bookchatter, Memoirs, Non-fiction, Self help, self-improvement, Sinplyprettyreads, Social Media
31 responses
-
I liked your honest review. Being a blogger and influencer yourself, I am sure you must have found many things to relate. I liked the cover page. It has a glamorous feel to it.
-
I liked the theme of this book . this is completely relevant in this time, when social media is an integral part of most people’s life. will try to read it whenever get time. thanks for sharing your honest review with us preeti.
-
I remember reading about her journey sometime ago… it’s inspiring how she has built an empire through her blog and social media platforms, shaping the conversation around celebrity culture and fashion. The premise of her book is interesting… thanks for your honest review.
-
Seems like a decent book for someone who wants to be an influencer. Considering that millions of people want to influence, not necessarily for others good but anyway. Will check the book out.
-
I really like Miss Malini and so.much inspired by her and her work. Thanks for sharing this honest review, I will get my copy soon.
-
This book is on my TBR list, your review made me pick it up sooner 🙂 I too love the humor quotient of Miss Malini.
-
This is incredibly pertinent today, as social media is an integral part of many people’s lives. I will surely read it whenever I find the time. Thank you for sharing your honest review with us, Preeti.
-
The theme is pretty appealing. In the modern world, where social media plays a major role in the lives of most people, this is absolutely pertinent. Nicely written review.
-
The books looks good from the cover, but when the book is in Hindi, why not the title and coverpage also in Hindi, this is a big turn off for me. Good to know your honest review in the blogpost.
-
No this book is not in Hindi , It is in English.
-
Thank you for bringing that blunder to my notice, I have corrected it. The book is in English.
-
-
The premise of her book is interesting… thanks for your honest review.One must buy book for all the influencers
-
I remember I used to read Miss Malini’s Monday column every week. So this book would definitely be a memoir for me to relish her writing style once again. The main interesting part is the plot of the book, which is apt for us, and that’s why I am keen to read the book.
-
I found the book more tailored to marketing than actual influencing. There’s more about being right, rather than find your mojo in the real sense on the web. And I have never been a Bollywood gossip fan, so I never followed her until I got the book for review. However, there is a lot of common sense in what she says.
-
I’ve been meaning to read this book, having read her earlier work. I love the way you’ve broken your review into sections and I especially look forward to reading about her take on the different generations
-
Your review seems bang on target. There are plusses but there are minuses too, I guess.Thank you for this candid review. I was in two minds of reading it but now I think I will skip it. I am a member of Miss Mălini’s Facebook group.
-
Malini Aggarwal has once again proven why she is an exceptional content creator and influencer of influencers. It is a must-read book for people to stay positive and mentally well while engaging in the somewhat gloomy online world. On my front, I had faced some painful incidents online but overlooked and moved on. Such books are a must-read for those who are, and who want to be a part of social media.
-
Seems like a helpful guide for budding influencers especially those in entertainment/Bollywood content. Your honest review will help them make a decision I’m sure
-
‘Under the Influence’ by Miss Malini is a go-to book for people who take social media seriously and want to make it big through these platforms. I’ve also reviewed the book. Liked that you pointed out the drab interior of the book!
-
Starting to be active on social media can be tough. Sometimes, it feels like there’s a lot to figure out, especially on Instagram. I find it hard to keep people interested and to understand how everything works. But finding a book full of tips from someone like Miss Malini is really great!
-
I just finished this book. I agree with you, the cover is really attractive and so is the author name, but it lacks major takeaways.
-
It looks like a book more targeted at influencers than content creators. Although content creators are influencers in a way. As always, thanks for sharing a balanced review, Preeti. Makes it easy to decide on picking the book and what to expect.
-
Yet another review. I m sure this one has definitely gain a spot on my tbr. Great review.
-
Thank you for sharing a balanced review. It looks like the book is more for influencers and a specific target audience. I am sure it would be a useful one.
-
I must appreciate you for your honest review about the book – It is good to know what the book is really about and so you can read it with the right expectations.
I see a lot of books go black and white and use courser paper in order to keep the price point low – perhaps, they are trying to reach more people, however, at this price point, you are right, they could have made it a little more appealing to the readers. -
I wouldn’t say it’s my type of book Preeti and I am also not the social media types but I like Miss Malini esp. for her humour n her Bollywood gossip too but since the book doesn’t have this… I don’t think I will be interested.
However, I m sure there are a lot of takeaways for active users of social media. -
Out of the reviews that I have seen about this book. I have to say that yours is the best. Its very detailed and thorough.
-
I loved the book cover and a firsthand account of a celebrity like her seems like something we can learn something from. Despite the flips I might give it a try for the honesty with which she shares her journey. Thanks for the review!
-
I was actually very dicey on whether to add this in my list or not. Your blog has helped me decide, I suppose. Looking forward to reading more from you.
-
Thanks for the balanced review. Many times what people write in books or present on social media can be different from how they actually are in real life. But Malini is totally genuine. Back in 2019, I was very fortunate to be one of 5 winners of a contest she conducted on her Facebook group ‘Girl Tribe’, as part of which I got to accompany her to a Harper’s Bazaar awards night, which was followed by a fabulous party. She was so cool! Right from inviting the winners to her room in the hotel where she was getting her makeup done, chatting with us, chilling, to the end of the night where she introduced us to every celebrity around – it was amazing. She really did make us feel like her friends, not her followers!
-
Thank you, Noor, that’s a great memory to share. I agree Malini comes across as a genuinely honest person and her tips can be helpful for anyone who wishes to have a social media presence.
-
Follow Us
Recent Posts
- ‘The Answer is No’ by Fredrik Backman – An Absurdly Quirky and Witty Novella
- Book Review: The Vegetarian by Han Kang – Exploring Identity,Obsession and Fragility
- 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing an Expensive Foundation
- The Health Benefits of Chocolate: A Sweet Treat for Your Heart #WorldChocolateDay
- Self-Care After Menopause: Diet, Exercise, Tests & Tips for Women Over 50
Tags
#TBRChallenge Blogchatter BlogchatterA2Z Bloghop Bookchatter Book discussion Book Recommendation books bookstagram Contemporary Fiction Diet Diet IN PCOS Dr Preeti Chauhan Emotional Journey Fiction HaleHeartyHealthy Health Healthy living Heal With Homeopathy Indian Author Mental Health Mystery PCOS PCOS awareness Sinplypretty Sinplyprettyreads sinplyprettywrites Thriller Well-being wellness
I liked Ove and I’m sure this won’t disappoint either.
I have read many reviews of this book but yours gives me a unique perspective. I’m keen to read the…
With perfumes and foundations I never buy immediately. I let it sit on my skin and wait for about 30…
My grandmother always said chocolate was the universal remedy to all problems!
Leave a Reply to Noor Anand Chawla Cancel reply