The School of Life by Dr. K. Vasuki IAS Honest Review & Summary

πŸ“š The School of Life by Dr. K. Vasuki IAS β€” Honest Review & Summary

The School of Life by Dr. K. Vasuki IAS

πŸ“Œ Quick Book Details

  • Book Title: The School of Life
  • Author: Dr. K. Vasuki IAS
  • Genre: Memoir β€’ Personal Development
  • Publisher: DC Books (2025 edition)
  • Pages: ~438 pages
  • My Rating: β­β­β­β­β˜† (4.5/5)

πŸ“– A Memoir That Teaches How to Live

The School of Life is not your typical motivational book β€” it’s more like a deeply reflective conversation about what it means to truly live, learn, and lead.

Written by Dr. K. Vasuki IAS, an Indian Administrative Service officer who transitioned from medicine to public service, this book goes beyond career advice and plunges into what it takes to be human β€” with vulnerability, rigor, and honesty.

πŸ“– About the Author

Dr. K. Vasuki IAS started as a medical student and later became an IAS officer (UPSC Rank 97). She served in various administrative roles β€” including during the devastating 2018 Kerala floods β€” and brings both personal and professional insight to this book.

Her perspective is uniquely shaped by her experiences with leadership, crisis management, social systems, and internal reflection β€” which makes this memoir feel like a life manual rather than a textbook.


πŸ“– Book Summary (Spoiler-Free)

The School of Life is structured not as a linear autobiography but as a series of life lessons drawn from personal experience β€” from childhood memories and adolescent questions about purpose to the ethical dilemmas and emotional challenges she faced as an administrator.

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The book is divided into major themes:

🌱 Part I: Self-Discovery

A young woman’s inner world β€” ambitions, vulnerabilities, anxiety β€” and how she learned to negotiate with her own mind.

🌍 Part II: Life as Teacher

Lessons learned from society, culture, public service, and community interactions β€” especially during crisis moments.

🧘 Part III: Inner Revolution

Philosophical reflections on happiness, ego, rest, consciousness, and true productivity.

🌎 Part IV: Reimagining the World

Thoughtful exploration of collective life, compassion, sustainability, and social harmony.

Instead of offering easy answers, The School of Life invites the reader to question assumptions, embrace discomfort, and build internal resilience β€” which is how true learning happens.


🌟 What I Loved About This Book

πŸ’¬ Honest & Vulnerable Writing

Dr. Vasuki writes about her fears, doubts, and emotional struggles β€” making her lessons feel relatable rather than preachy.

🌍 Life Beyond Achievement

The book isn’t focused on success formulas; it focuses on meaningful living, ethical inquiry, and self-awareness.

πŸ“˜ Deep Themes Made Accessible

Complex ideas about consciousness, happiness, and human behaviour are presented clearly, without jargon.

🚨 Real World & Reflective

Stories from her administrative career (like managing disaster relief) are woven with philosophical insight.

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πŸ€” What Could Be Better

  • Pacing: Some philosophical sections are dense and may feel long to readers expecting a conventional memoir.
  • Expectations: This isn’t a self-help book with quick takeaways β€” it’s reflective and demands thoughtful reading.

✍ Writing Style & Themes

πŸ–‹ Style

  • Reflective
  • Narrative-driven
  • Introspective

πŸ“Œ Key Themes

  • Inner awareness
  • Responsibility
  • Resilience
  • Purpose
  • Ethical leadership

These elements give the book depth and a lasting impact.

🎯 Who Should Read This Book?

This memoir will resonate with:

  • πŸ“˜ Students and young adults searching for direction
  • πŸ’Ό Professionals feeling burnt-out or looking for meaning
  • 🧠 Anyone interested in philosophy, resilience, and life lessons
  • 🌱 People navigating challenging transitions

If you’re asking, β€œIs The School of Life worth reading?” β€” the answer is a resounding yes, especially if you want deep insight rather than superficial motivation.

πŸ† My Recommendation

The School of Life by Dr. K. Vasuki IAS stands out as a thoughtful, grounded, and deeply human exploration of life’s big questions. It doesn’t promise instant transformation β€” but it does offer tools to build the clarity and courage to transform yourself over time.

Whether you’re at a crossroads in life or simply curious about what it means to live with purpose, this book rewards patience and reflection.

πŸ›’ Buy The School of Life by Dr. K. Vasuki IAS

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