A Miscellany of Thoughts

For over a decade, Carol Goyal’s columns in The Economic Times Brand Equity, Campaign, Businessworld and other leading publications have offered readers a window into the worlds of marketing, media, art, and popular culture. A Miscellany of Thoughts is a curated collection of these writings, which move effortlessly across subjects and daily occurings, as varied as JCB ki khudai, Bengal’s celebrated painters, and cultural icons like Kim Kardashian and MS Dhoni.

A Miscellany of Thoughts is thoughtfully organised into seven sections, each reflecting a different facet of Carol’s wide-ranging curiosity. Here are stories of brands and their making, from Lakmé’s iconic advertising to the gradual fading of the Zoozoos. There are essays on cricket, exploring its intersections with commerce, identity, and nationalism. There are meditations on art, its masters, its markets, and its meaning. And there are keen observations on the seemingly small things, like emojis, fonts, and even the etiquette of tipping, that quietly shape our everyday lives.

What ties this diverse collection together is a voice that is both perceptive and accessible. Whether examining the royal warrants of King Charles III or tracing the evolution of Barbie, Carol brings a sharp eye for detail and a natural storytelling flair that makes every subject compelling.

Engaging, insightful, and effortlessly readable, this is a book for curious minds.