Sameer Gudhate Presents the Book Review of Lady, You’re Not a Man! by Apoorva Purohit

It began with a chuckle. A friend had once told me, “Women don’t juggle—they perform a circus act with grace.” I didn’t quite get it until I read Lady, You’re Not a Man! by Apoorva Purohit. Somewhere between her witty anecdotes about lazy husbands, sulky interns, and those sacred office coffee breaks that save one’s sanity, I found myself nodding, smiling, and occasionally sighing at the mirror she held up — not just to women, but to the world that expects them to be superheroes in sarees and suits alike.

Apoorva Purohit, the CEO of Radio City 91.1 FM, isn’t merely a business leader writing a self-help manual. She’s a storyteller disguised as a strategist. She doesn’t preach; she confides. Her book reads like a long, heartfelt conversation with that one wise friend who tells you the truth with a wink and a nudge. Through three broad sections — Accept, Adapt, and Achieve — she explores the rollercoaster that is a woman’s professional and personal life, weaving in her own corporate escapades and sharp, self-aware humor.

The premise is deceptively simple. Today’s woman, she argues, doesn’t want to choose between boardrooms and bedrooms, between ambition and affection. She wants both — and why shouldn’t she? But this “have it all” ideal comes with its own paradoxes. Apoorva’s genius lies in showing that balance isn’t a tightrope; it’s a dance. You sway, stumble, sometimes spin, but the rhythm is yours to create.

Her writing style is what makes this book a delight. Conversational yet crisp, it feels as if she’s sitting across from you with a cappuccino, rolling her eyes at yet another “mansplaining” episode, and reminding you to laugh before you lose your cool. She writes in the second person — a rare, intimate choice — and it works beautifully. You’re not just reading about someone’s experiences; you’re part of them. Her humour sparkles, her insights cut through the noise, and her tone carries that blend of empathy and authority only someone who has truly “been there” can achieve.

What I found most refreshing was her honesty about the small, unglamorous battles — the late-night guilt trips, the networking fatigue, the double standards that lurk in even the most progressive offices. Her chapters about “training husbands” and “managing male subordinates” could’ve easily turned into clichés, but she sidesteps that trap with elegance. Her wit is never caustic; it’s compassionate. She doesn’t mock — she understands.

Some sections, particularly in Adapt, veer slightly toward the instructive, but even then, there’s warmth in her words. She calls out women who misuse privileges or play the victim card, but not with judgment — with the gentleness of someone who genuinely wants her reader to grow. Her message isn’t just about breaking glass ceilings; it’s about cleaning up the shards so others can walk through without bleeding.

There’s a moment that stayed with me — her reflection on why women approaching forty often feel the pressure to appear younger, to “compete” with their own past selves. Apoorva quips that every age has its own beauty, its own flavor, and that chasing youth is like reheating yesterday’s coffee — you lose both warmth and taste. It’s such a simple thought, yet so liberating.

As I turned the last page, I realized this wasn’t just a book — it was a mirror, a toolkit, and a friend. It reminded me of all the incredible women I’ve seen navigating chaos with calm, blending grace with grit. And it reminded me of the men who could stand to read this too — not to “understand women” (as if that’s a solvable puzzle) but to appreciate the unseen labor, emotional and otherwise, that goes into every success story.

Lady, You’re Not a Man! isn’t merely a guidebook for working women; it’s a manifesto for balance — witty, wise, and wonderfully real. If you’ve ever found yourself spinning between ambition and expectation, this book won’t just make you laugh — it’ll make you pause, reflect, and perhaps, forgive yourself for not being perfect. Because as Apoorva gently reminds us, you don’t have to be “a man” to succeed — you just have to be fully, fearlessly, and unapologetically you.

☕ Pick this one up, ladies (and curious gentlemen). It’s not just a read — it’s a conversation you’ll want to keep going.

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