9.14 Being “Nice” Is Getting You Nowhere ft. Ankur Warikoo

Are you one of those who cancel plans because you’re tired, then spend the next two hours feeling guilty about it? Let’s talk.

In the latest episode of Books & Beyond, Tara chats with Ankur Warikoo about his new book Winning People Without Losing Yourself, and what it actually looks like to keep everyone happy all the time.

Ankur talks about spending years trying to be the person everyone liked, and why that never really works out the way you think it will. They get into boundaries (especially with family), that turns into resentment when you don’t set them, and how often we end up breaking our own boundaries before anyone else does.

They also talk about the idea that the right relationships in your 20s shouldn’t be a distraction, but an enabler, what really happens when you expect someone else to make you happy, and how most conversations fall apart when you’re only trying to get your point across.

The episode touches on comparison in the age of the internet, and how easy it is to measure your life against what you see online.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing a lot for people but still feeling off about it, this one is just for you.

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Do Epic Shit by Ankur Warikoo
2. Get Epic Shit Done by Ankur Warikoo
3. Beyond the Syllabus by Ankur Warikoo
4. Make Epic Money by Ankur Warikoo
5. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
6. Rework by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried
7. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
8. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Applications for The Bound Publishing Course 2026 are now open.

The Bound Publishing Course is a 3-month intensive course on book, magazine, and digital publishing. Through live sessions, workshops, and industry-facing projects, participants gain practical publishing skills and exposure to careers across the industry.

• Cohort size: 50 seats
• First round of acceptances: 15th June 2026
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling bas

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.