I like books that have a certain social or cultural perspective to them. Smart Mobs by Howard Rheingold is a cracker of a read. We all know how Texting and Bluetooth have changed our lives. Even wi-fi, which now has communities such as FONERS.

Smart Mobs is about this very convergence between communication, communities and technology. The book traces the origin of this amalgamation as well as its future. Recently, in Delhi, the Jessica Lal case was reopened courtesy the smart mobs that urged each other to text their outrage. Many years ago, Estrada’s Filipino government fell due to smart mobs. These smart mobs are connected to each other.

In fact, in Japan, there is a dating service called Lovegety that is based on this principle. Equally interestingly, hookers too are turning into these smart mobs by texting their services and prices for added discretion. It is even said that in the future, chips embedded in their shoes will put people in touch with each other. If you have a remote interest in how awe-inspiring our world is going to be, grab this book. It’s not geek babble. It’s a charming read.

This year’s Foreign Film nominations at the Oscars were quite formidable. Which is why, when Tsotsi won, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. The generous blokes at Amazon sent me a copy last week. Its win is now quite understandable.

The plot is stylishly simple. Set in Johannesburg, the film is about a gangster called Tsotsi who shoots a woman ostensibly to slink away with her car. That’s when he discovers that the woman’s almost newborn baby girl is in the car.

The hardened gangster is suddenly softened and the entire film is about him bringing up the baby. In his mind, caring for her is some form of redemption of his sins. Beautifully shot, Tsotsi brings a tear to the eye and the expected Academy Award to its talented director, Gavin Hood. Equally dramatic is the music in the film. Because the film is set in the ghettos of Joburg, the music is skewed towards a local hip-hop form called the Kwaito. Now, the undisputed King of Kwaito is a chap called Zola who is the main composer of the film’s music

While home nursing a broken rib in December last year, I happened to listen to the music of newcomer James Blunt. Early this year, Blunt no longer looked sharp. The mantle was passed on to Daniel Powter. Daniel Powter by Daniel Powter is simply an extraordinary album. This 35-year-old French-Canadian came from nowhere and his songs are at every street corner in the world. The comparisons with Blunt are obvious but the versatility in the voice and the power of the lyrics are uniquely his own.

The melodies too are magical. Jimmy Gets High is a personal favourite. Bad Day is another excellent song. Free Loop is also wonderful. Powter writes his own lyrics much like the new breed of singers. And his collaborator in this is Jeff Dawson. Powter, I am told is going to be in short supply like Blunt. But get this album and listen to it with a drink. Captivating!

(When he’s not reading books or listening to music or watching movies, Swapan Seth runs an advertising agency. Just about.)