What five books might you want to read today to help you understand India better today? I replied to a request by a friend on Twitter recently about a somewhat similar topic
Book Twitter, what are the best books you recommend to understand politics in India better?
— Sumedh Natu (@sumedhnatu) July 24, 2018
and while there will be some overlap with the list on that thread, here are my (very idiosyncratic) picks about understanding India better.
Please note:
This list is not exhaustive. I sincerely hope it changes next year; I would be sorely disappointed in myself and the world if it didn’t. It’s my way of looking at India – yours will and should be different (that’s what makes the world awesome). I recommending you read a book does NOT mean I agree with it, endorse it or agree with it’s world view. It does imply that your understanding of India will be richer for having read it, in my opinion.
All that being said, here’s my list of five books that will help you understand India better. Happy Independence Day!
- How the BJP Wins, by Prashant Jha
- India After Gandhi, by Ramchandra Guha
- English August, by Upamanyu Chatterjee
- Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katherine Boo
- India’s Long Road, by Vijay Joshi
EconForEverybody 