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Detangle with Shreya Punj
Manage episode 486320238 series 3518393
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What happens when our love for reading becomes a performance rather than a personal journey? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Kinjal Goyal sits down with Shreya Punj—publishing industry insider, head of e-commerce at HarperCollins Publishers India, and the mind behind the popular Instagram handle @theeditorrecommends.
Shreya brings refreshing candor to the discussion as she challenges the literary elitism that pervades both publishing houses and reader communities. "When a book becomes too popular, there's this undercurrent of dismissal—“Oh, it's selling well, but is it literature?” she notes. This prejudice creates artificial barriers that keep potential readers from discovering the joy books can bring. The good news? Fiction sales in India are rising 20-30% annually, with readers exploring everything from science fiction to literary masterpieces.
For parents wondering how to raise readers in a digital age, Shreya offers counterintuitive wisdom: let children choose their own reading material without judgment. "Forcing good literature on children is the fastest way to kill their love for reading," she explains, sharing how her own gateway to passionate reading came through a slightly forbidden Sidney Sheldon novel. The conversation takes fascinating turns through discussions of format preferences (physical books vs. digital), the psychological impact of casual "therapy speak" in modern language, and what makes a perfect mental first aid box for Shreya.
Whether you're a lifelong bibliophile or someone who hasn't picked up a book in years, this conversation invites you to reconsider your relationship with reading. Books aren't meant to be status symbols—they're portals to empathy, entertainment, and expanded horizons. Ready to reclaim the pure joy of reading without pretense? Listen now, and maybe pick up that "chatpata" masala read you've been secretly eyeing.
Chapters
1. Meeting Shreya Punj, Editor & Booklover (00:00:00)
2. Journey into Publishing & Career Path (00:04:15)
3. The Editor Recommends & Reading Culture (00:11:20)
4. Fiction on the Rise & Reading Formats (00:17:50)
5. Breaking Reading Barriers & Elitism (00:23:45)
6. Getting Children to Love Reading (00:32:05)
7. Mental First Aid Box & Rapid Fire (00:42:05)
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