Sameer Gudhate Presents the Book Review of Why Not? by Ankitha Rajendaran

There are books you pick up for information, and then there are books that take you somewhere you didn’t even know you needed to go. Ankitha Rajendaran’s Why Not? is one of those rare ones. I’ll be honest — when I first heard it was a travel memoir, I expected the usual checklist: countries ticked off, exotic food tasted, a string of pretty sunsets. But within a few pages, I realized this wasn’t that kind of book. This wasn’t about the postcard version of travel. This was about stepping into places the world tells you to avoid and finding the heartbeat of humanity there.

The premise itself is striking: an Indian woman with a passport stamped over a hundred times, choosing not Paris or New York, but Iraq, Syria, and other places most of us only encounter through news headlines. It sounds reckless at first, doesn’t it? But as Ankitha gently unravels her experiences, you see it’s not recklessness — it’s curiosity, courage, and a deep belief that people are more than the narratives built around them. And in telling us her stories, she ends up holding a mirror to our own fears.

Her writing is deceptively simple — fluid, conversational, like she’s telling you stories over tea. At times, it’s lyrical, painting entire landscapes in a few strokes, and then suddenly it pulls back into something raw and unguarded. I noticed how she balances the intimate with the informative: you’ll get a description of a war-scarred street, but also a quiet moment of connection with a stranger offering her food. The pacing is just right; it never feels hurried, but it doesn’t linger too long either.

And here’s what I loved most: vulnerability is her compass. She doesn’t write like the fearless, invincible traveller — she writes as a woman who doubts, who feels afraid, who missteps. That honesty makes her voice not just authentic but deeply relatable. There’s a moment when she describes entering a region she had been warned against, her heart racing, her senses on edge — and then a local welcomes her with warmth. That tension, that shift, stays with you.

Structurally, the book is elegant. Each chapter is its own doorway into a misunderstood country, but they’re all tied together by a thread of questioning: what if we’ve been wrong about what’s dangerous, about what’s safe? Instead of neat conclusions, she offers insights that linger, nudging you to rethink not just travel, but how you view the world.

The themes go beyond geography. It’s about borders — the ones drawn on maps, but also the invisible ones we carry inside our minds. It’s about choosing curiosity over fear, and empathy over prejudice. And honestly, in today’s world of quick judgments and amplified divisions, this feels urgent.

Emotionally, the book got to me. I caught myself pausing mid-page to think about my own assumptions — the places I’ve written off without a second thought, the people I’ve judged from afar. It made me reflect on how often we let headlines decide our truths. There were passages that felt like quiet rebellions against cynicism, and others that read like gentle reminders that kindness often shows up in the unlikeliest corners.

If I had to point out a weakness, it would be that sometimes the reflective tone slows the momentum. A couple of chapters dip into philosophy when I was itching for more story. But then again, maybe that’s the point — travel isn’t just movement, it’s also stillness.

Personally, this book felt like a conversation I didn’t know I needed. As someone who’s always been fascinated by stories beyond the mainstream, I found Ankitha’s journey both validating and inspiring. I’d especially recommend it to readers who love travel memoirs with heart — if you’ve enjoyed Pico Iyer’s meditations or Elizabeth Gilbert’s honest wanderings, this will resonate. But even if you’ve never left your city, there’s something here: a reminder that the scariest borders are often the ones inside us.

By the time I closed the book, one thought lingered: maybe the next time I hesitate, the next time I let fear dictate my choices, I should ask myself Ankitha’s question — why not?

A brave, heartfelt, and deeply human read. For me, a solid 4.5/5.

And if you’re looking for a book that doesn’t just take you across countries, but across your own mental fences, this is it. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself quietly planning your own “why not” moment after.

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