Through a delightful series of slice-of-life vignettes spanning two continents, I Have No Earthly Idea explores the delicate balance between seeking security and following your heart. A refreshingly honest tale of love and heartbreak, S.K. Radhakrishnan’s novel is a must-read for anyone who loves romance and medicine.
S.K. Radhakrishnan trained and practiced as a physical therapist in India before coming to the United States in 1994. After 13 years of practice as a contract physical therapist in the Midwest, he attained physician assistant training at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI from 2002 to 2004. He was awarded the Physician Assistant Foundation Scholarship at the 2004 Donors & Scholars Luncheon. Also, the Wayne State University PA Program Faculty selected him as one “who is most likely to achieve clinical excellence while advancing the ethics & standards of the profession” and presented him with the “Professionalism Award” for the Class of 2004.
He came to Duke University Hospital in 2004 after being accepted into the Duke Postgraduate PA Surgical Residency Program. After successful completion of the residency program, he began his career as a surgical PA for Dr. Allan Friedman in the Department of Neurosurgery.
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Watch the trailer of the book to witness the suspense, thrill and plot twist in the story to engage everyone as being a part of the story. The perfect blend of long-lost love so close, yet so apart from each other.
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A heartfelt and bittersweet romance, S. K. Radhakrishnan’s I Have No Earthly Idea will make you rejoice and grieve with its earnest, charming hero, and leave you with a lingering smile. A novel filled with characters from professions seldom portrayed in novels and movies such as physician assistants, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists captures a sense of realism and adds authenticity to this romance in the medical setting. It is a captivating read and will keep you engaged and will broaden your cultural perspective. It will open your mind to love, romance, comedy, heartbreak, and diversity. S.K. Radhakrishnan does an excellent job of highlighting how cross-cultural semantics play into our daily lives. This is a must-read.
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A very romantic story with a great plot twist. I was not expecting it to turn out like this. Sad to see that even two souls can’t be together in this cruel world.
Beautiful piece of writing by the writer. Mr. S. K. Radhakrishnan, you deserve a lot of respect for this book. Looking forward to a sequel on a similar story.
You know, people tend to move on in life despite what had happened to them in the past. I guess this is exactly what we’re being told through the story of this book.
This story feels so real to me, I thought there was nothing fiction in this whole story. Amazing job and great write-up, keep up the good work.
I Have No Earthly Idea is a delightful story that follows the main character from his home and true love in India to a new life as a physical therapist in America. The book includes interesting insight into south Indian culture and traditions as well as many humorous stories as Senthil adapts to life in the U.S. A great story that weaves love and heartache with hope and change, I Have No Earthly Idea is definitely a must read book of 2019!
A tremendous story of a life that triumphs over seemingly insurmountable obstacles and obscurity to a life of greatness. In ‘Gentle’ Senthil’s story we find encouragement to mount the same resolve to rise above our difficulties and find a greater purpose in the experiences facing us in life even at those times when we have no earthly idea how to make sense of things. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens….
I Have No Earthly Idea is a delightful story that follows the main character from his home and true love in India to a new life as a physical therapist in America. The book includes interesting insight into south Indian culture and traditions as well as many humorous stories as Senthil adapts to life in the U.S. A great story that weaves love and heartache with hope and change, I Have No Earthly Idea is definitely a must read book of 2019!
While there are many sad and tragic parts in this memoir, that is not the feeling you are left with. You just didn’t dwell on them, because he didn’t, you are instead treated to a lesson in determination, persistence, hard work ethics, and kindness and humility. A look into the Indian culture that was certainly enlightening to me, and once again, you have to be impressed at all Senthil overcomes, yet never feels it is anything but his honor to sacrifice. A very fast read, read it all in a 24 hour period, I am a fast reader and that is the mark of a good book for me.
A charming and heart-warming book that encompasses a story of a unique and funny journey of a gifted immigrant from India finding a new home in America and an unexpected love. You’ll find yourself shocked as you learn the struggles and heartbreak the main character endured while trying to support his family. I found the book to have many hidden tones especially in the current time of anti-immigration policies this book reflects some of the hardships and decisions many immigrants face in America. Also highlighting few of the amazing professions in healthcare. Overall, this book is a great read and hope everyone thinks so as well!
This is such a sweet story that describes the ups, the downs, and the sacrifices that are made for love. It is a fun weekend read that will have you cheering for the Senthi’s success both personally and professionally as he navigates love and his career in a foreign country. SK Radhakrishnan’s humor will keep you laughing as he describes the protagonist’s quirky tales of adjusting to life in America while he seamlessly incorporates Indian culture and values into the story. I would definitely recommend reading this if you are looking for an entertaining book to keep you captivated!
S.K. Radhakrishnan’s novel I Have No Earthly Idea is a story about a man who spends his life seeking security, only to lose the one thing he holds most dear. The leisurely pace of the novel lends to S.K.Radhakrishnan’s meticulousness in character development and makes the novel an exciting read. Although it is filled with a subtle, bittersweet irony, I found the novel to be so warm and heartfelt that it left me feeling charmed, rather than melancholic.
What an intriguing, heartfelt book that left me wanting more! I Have No Earthly Idea gave us an insight into the Indian culture, the struggles of an immigrant, and the passion and heartbreak that comes with love. It reminds us to live each day to the fullest and to love wholeheartedly. S.K. Radhakrishnan’s novel was beautifully written, allowing us to imagine being right there with the lead character on his journey through life. It was hard for me to put this book down! Can’t wait for the movie to come out!
Really enjoyed this book. Flowed really well.
Once I started reading this book I didn’t want to put it down. The contrasts and similarities between Indian and American cultures were entertaining to contemplate. I laughed out loud many times and also wanted to eat the delicious Indian dishes described throughout the book. The hard work and devotion of the medical profession was conveyed well and the romances were sweet and heartbreaking. I highly recommend this book!
A beautiful story of Senthil’s 16-year journey from practicing physical therapy in India, to transitioning as a travelling physical therapist in the United States, ending with his career transition to a physician assistant in neurosurgery in Durham, NC. Along the way, Senthil’s heartbreak from losing his first true love in India to an arranged marriage shapes his relationships, and ultimately his character. Filled with delightful anecdotes centered around the cultural transition from India to the United States, I Have No Earthly Idea will leave you with a smile and a sense of hope for Senthil.
The book was a very easy read. I was immersed in the life of a medical professional and thoroughly enjoyed the journey. I could not put it down once I started reading it. I recommend this book to everyone. It was very well written.
Very easy and enjoyable read that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster! You come to love Senthil very quickly for his genuine character and feel everything that affects him throughout the novel. So many feelings and emotions are wrapped up in this lovely tale. At any given point, it can leave you experiencing joy, sadness, anger, anxiety, laughter…
Made me want to be a better healthcare provider and better human. A beautiful and heartbreaking story. Made me laugh, cry and I could not put it down, rooting for the main character. I am a healthcare provider myself and this has inspired me to do better, be better and continue to learn medicine to improve patient outcomes. It has also humbled me and taught me the challenges of other cultures—and what true sacrifice means. Thank you for the brilliant read!
A brilliant cultural immersion where we learn the true meaning of love, heartbreak, and resiliency. This book represents a tenderhearted “coming of age” theme albeit our protagonist is an adult trying to find his way. Our main character Senthil is someone who, I think, we would all love to be friends with and have in our lives. He is a romantic (not a hopeless one at all) because his wishes are to marry Sumathi, and he will do everything his culture dictates to make this reality happen. Here we witness such a selfless young man who displays total respect for his elders, complete responsibility for his siblings’ future, and his inner strength to come to America to “get the ball rolling” so he can marry his true love. The reader will evoke so many emotions as they travel with Senthil through his journey of love and loss. With his detailed rhetoric, I imagined being Sumathi riding with him on his motorcycle to their quiet destinations where all they wanted was to be together. I felt like one of the family when he used such colorful explanations of his culture, his food (I have the recipe for chicken biryani as we speak), and I laughed aloud many times at his humorous stories of his innocent transitions to life here in America. This book has all the elements of a successful story line and is a must read for all who hope for a beautiful, happy ending. Although there is one—it’s not what you’d expect. S.K. Radhakrishnan has the ability as a talented writer to keep us engaged and wanting more. I hope there is a sequel on the horizon and maybe a movie in the making. No matter what, S.K. Radhakrishnan will not disappoint.
Bittersweet romance and enlightening view of an immigrant’s journey. From the first few pages, S.K. Radhakrishnan envelopes you in a sweet-natured romance and makes you adore the main character. An immigrant from India, he is deeply rooted in family-oriented values, including sacrifice and respect. The author paints a beautiful perspective of this foundation that makes you reassess your own biases and assumptions of the culture. This story evokes a multitude of emotions – love, sadness, joy, even frustration at the times when bad things happen to good people. I cried, I laughed, I lived vicariously through the characters’ struggles, successes, and moments of innocence and vulnerability. As a medical student myself, I appreciated going through the medical journey in the main character’s life – from PT to PA – and seeing the hard work represented as well as the important roles that come together to make medicine the great environment that it is. Overall, there were many relatable elements to accompany the fresh perspective from which the story is told. I recommend this beautiful story – there’s so much more to it than just a man and a woman in love.
Living the dream? Amazing story written by someone who obviously lived it. Going to be the next House of God. Can’t wait for his next book.
You won’t want it to end. If you are looking for a page-turner, this is it. I read it in a weekend, while on vacation. It kept me so engaged, the flight was over in no time. The story is emotionally evocative and inspires introspection all the while providing a glimpse into the ways and traditions of India. I hope the author is working on a sequel!
Great summer read. A fun, easy read, I had a hard time putting the book down! I enjoyed every page!
What a great read! I could not put this book down! An exciting story that keeps you on a roller coaster of emotions.
A Page Turner! This book is an emotional roller coaster that you won’t be able to put down. Senthil’s journey is both heartwarming and heartbreaking all in the name of love, friendship, and family. His determination, positive attitude, and resiliency through it all is very inspirational.
Heartwarming, suspenseful, eye-opening, an all-around great read!! Loved this book because it had a little bit of everything – it had me laughing at times, crying at times, and pensive at times. It is written in a way that keeps you wanting to know what happens. Extremely eye-opening to what it means to follow your dreams across the ocean while also keeping your heart close to home. The main character describes with great detail the thoughts, feelings and emotions he experiences as he tries to stay true to who he is while being open to growing in new and different ways. It is so hard to write more without giving away the whole story – you will just have to pick it up for yourselves! It is worth every minute!
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