Last year, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy) and Midnight's Children (Salman Rushdie). Although these are technically fictional works, there are always so many historical events and elements intertwined in the pages of Indian literature. Wanting to learn more about Indian political history and the 1947 partition, I decided to read a non-fiction account, and Tharoor's book was perfect.

The book has six sections (Ideas of Indianness, India at Work and at Play, Ind More...

Variations on a Theme of "Three Cheers for India!"

Shashi Tharoor's book reads like a long and often repetitive series of newspaper columns – which, in fact, is precisely what it is. The copyright page notes that "Earlier versions of the essays in this book have appeared, in somewhat different forms, in the author’s columns in the Hindu, the India Express, the Times of India, and in the following publications: the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the International Hera More...

What one of the other reviewers said was spot on; the author writes, and his prose reads--as though he really likes to hear his own voice. Granted, in a series of editorials where opining is what the author is there to do, some talking for talking's sake may be unavoidable as the author ruminates on what being Indian means to him. Sometimes he mixes in statistics and endeavors to give his favorite numbers context with a little history lesson (which I personally found the best aspect of the book, More...

The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cellphone: Reflections on India – The Emerging 21st-Century Power is a collection of 69 essays authored by Shashi Tharoor, which have previously appeared in his own columns in The Hindu, The Indian Express & the Times of India, & in many other publications which include the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the International Herald Tribune, India Today Plus, Time & Global Asia.

The book consists of 6 sections:

1. The Transforma More...

This book by Shashi Tharoor is not an exposition or analysis of India in the 21st century. Nor is it a book detailing India's long and varied history. What it is, however, is a collection of his articles and essays about India and what its rising global position means for the world. He starts the book by detailing the concept of "Indianness" and then delves into its culture, history, achievements and problems, all in the context of the 21st century. He writes eloquently about a variety of topics More...

The best parts were the sections about Indianness and the transformation of India. In the first section on the idea of Indianness he makes a strong case for a secular India in the face of pressure from the Hindu right. Tharorr's position at the UN gives him a great insight on how India is viewed from the outside. Overall, a good, quick read from a really good author - but not his best.

This is an excellent collection of essays and columns about the changing Indian sub-continent, and what the future holds for the largest democracy in the world. [I was torn between 4 and 5 stars only because I don't COMPLETELY agree with him on some points. But thats my opinion]

Tharoor's essays talk about India's flags of pride - the software hubs, the call centers, the coveted IITs and IIT-ians, largest number of millionaires, etc. But he also takes a critical look at issues that most have brus More...

After going through India Unbound and the half of India After Gandhi, it does not really appeal much to me personally. But the book is not a bad narrative at all. From someone who has been to places and has a wonderful perspective on things, it was a fun read. More of the sort you would read on vaccation- lying back on arm chair, and not really on study table sitting up.

This book is like a compilation of thoughts more in the form of a blog.
A good easy read . His thoughts and opinions can be biased at times. Overall i would suggest this book to anybody who has been in india , but would like to refresh his indianness..Jai Hind.

Since I recently visited India I wanted a good guide giving a history of Indian culture. I know that English is taught in a very old fashioned way in India but I'm afraid I couldn't get through the terribly long winded sentences of this book. Good content but presented like someone suffering from verbal diarrhoea:
Nehru was a moody, idealist intellectual who felt an almost mystical empathy with the toiling peasant masses; an aristocrat, accustomed to privilege, who had passionate socialist convic More...

a nice set of insightful brief pieces about modern India from a very good writer - also under Sec Gen of the UN - should have been the next Sec Gen - most are really good pieces - nice book to keep for a short read.

Sections of the Book include
1. Ideas of Indianness
2. India at Work and at Play
3. Indians who made my India
4. Experiences of India
5. The Transformation of India

Amazing. Tharoor is viewed as "Pro-Indian" but that doesn't necessarily make this a biased view. By acknowledging India's shortcomings (especially, in religious tolerance, birth control, the caste system, and women's rights), he is able to present options and solutions for India's growing future. Clearly, he was a worthy choice for the UN Secretary General. I did find the repeated references annoying at times; he continuously references the game of cricket to draw similarities with it and India' More...

This book is simply a collection of short op ed pieces which do not delve into any explored topic with serious research or thought. Definitely not an important book covering modern India but an entertaining and humorous read at times. Reading India After Gandhi and In Spite of the Gods is time better spent.

Good commentary on present day India. A lot of 'desi' insights, the finer points of which an outsider may not appreciate.

India is more than the sum of its contradictions.

I met Shashi Tharoor in 2007- he certainly left an impression.

Ground-level look at contemporary Indian politics and culture. Very well-written and thoughtful.

I enjoyed it cover to cover. great read for an Indian to understand India better

Poignant illustrations and suggestions abound as Shashi Tharoor writes about India and his idea of Indianness. A collection of his essays, the book shows early signs of being repetitive and ratifies the feeling!

There are some ideas that do pique the curiosity as one reads and sparks off wonderful debates in one's head about religion, prosperity, the Indian economy, the glorious and pressing past but ultimately its a book of diplomacy and thats about it!

The portion where he spews praise for Ash More...

simple, short articles on Indian scenes. Should read one article at a time.

Shashi is a wordly Indian with deep insights from his own country.

a little redundant at times but the author warns you of that/ glorifies India to the max...

Really interesting stuff in some essays, but just a bit too boring.

An excellent read. Great analysis and eye opening

good but supportive to congress so one side opinion

bla bla bla..

A collection of his essays and newspaper pieces. Some obviously good insight, but a bit of a self promoter. Seemed like more of a need to fulfill a book contract obligation. But if you are interested in learning about the nuances of India from a person who has lived there but spent much of his adult life viewing it from a neutral standpoint in NYC as a member of the UN, read it.

Highly informative and incisive, this book --- a collection of Shashi Tharoor's writings over a decade--is an absolute must read.


Here's a review from my blog; http://sandyi.blogspot.com/2008/02/el...

Practically unreadable dense in some parts and repetitive in others, but has interesting insight into Indian culture, history, people, and politics