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Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh
In an essay in this anthology, Khushwant Singh claims that he is not a nice man to know. Whatever the truth of that assertion, there is little question about his skill as a witty, eloquent and entertaining writer. This book collects the best of over three decades of the author s prose including his finest journalistic pieces, short stories, translations, jokes, plays as well as excerpts from his non-fiction books and novels. Taken together, the pieces in this selection (some of which have never been published before) show just why Khushwant Singh is the country s most widely read columnist and one of its most celebrated authors.
464 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1992
30 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Khushwant Singh
298 books1,419 followersKhushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 12, 2019
i love this Indian writer. funny, clever, honest and he is talking right to the reader.
May 16, 2014
While I had read similar profiles in "Death at my Doorstep", the columns were new for me. Giving a glimpse into his life, Khushwant Singh also teaches readers about few basics. How to avoid great talkers, how to be happy and the best "Prepare for Death while Alive". I must admit that I did take some pointers while reading and hope to implement them. It is funny to think that as a child, I have often thought of why I was born as an Indian. And in "Why I am an Indian", Singh explains that very simply by saying "I did not have any choice: I was born one. If the good Lord had consulted me on the subject, I might have chosen a country more affluent, less crowded, less censorious in matters of food and drink, unconcerned with personal equations and free of religious bigotry."
Read my full review at http://anaroiterbookreviews.blogspot....
Read my full review at http://anaroiterbookreviews.blogspot....
November 3, 2010
an ode to the scotch drinking sardar of delhi "
A collection of articles, columns, short fiction and jokes by Khushwant Singh. Some good, some bad and some inexcusably boring !.
Khushwant is at his best when taking on Indian holy men nee charlatans. His articles on Bhutto, Phoolan Devi & Nirad Chaudhuri are worth a read, everything else is mediocre in comparison
A collection of articles, columns, short fiction and jokes by Khushwant Singh. Some good, some bad and some inexcusably boring !.
Khushwant is at his best when taking on Indian holy men nee charlatans. His articles on Bhutto, Phoolan Devi & Nirad Chaudhuri are worth a read, everything else is mediocre in comparison
January 11, 2022
Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh
Rating 5/5
For me the writing of Khushwant Singh resembles a time machine. It takes you back in time, lets you to re-live events, people and their actions. All amidst a garden of information coming from the master florist (read master of humor and sarcasm).
This book has what not. Writings of Khushwant Singh, couple of translations, a brilliant play and a collection of jokes.
Along with these, you have Khushwant Singh's tributes to his grand mother and couple of other people.
I particularly enjoyed the play Tyger Tyger burning bright. The healthy exchange of sarcasm between the Maharaja, Conan Smith and Mr Mathur, is something which I enjoyed the most. In order to think of such a script (of wit and sarcasm), you can imagine what a brilliant mind Khushwant Singh might be having and how well read and aware he should be, of the British Raj.
People say loads of things about Khushwant Singh, but for me, he shall always be a person who produced gems. He was very well read. Khushwant Singh was blessed to be in the right place at the right time. One more thing which I find very interesting is, he mixed fiction with his routine factual writing. (and believe me the disguise is hard to decode).
After having read his brilliant autobiography, I did want to read more of him. So I ended up with this. There are few things which I disagree about what he has said in his writings, but that doesn't stop me from liking him or his writings.
Khushwant Singh was of the opinion that Indians should spend less time on prayers and festivities instead make time towards work. But my opinion is different. May be it held relevance for the previous 30 years. What would one do by over working? Produce another social networking site, a mobile app to send text messages. For me overworking leads to over utilizing natural resources. One way to conserve earth is to conserve resources at the same time ensure everyone has a fair livelihood instead of crony capitalism.
One more thing which I did not like was Khushwant Singh calling RSS a kind of ... organization. I have seen the RSS and the work they do, the help they offer. Nothing can bring down my respect for RSS. I respect his opinion, but cannot agree!
Few years down the line, I sure would wish to read this book again.
Cheers.
Rating 5/5
For me the writing of Khushwant Singh resembles a time machine. It takes you back in time, lets you to re-live events, people and their actions. All amidst a garden of information coming from the master florist (read master of humor and sarcasm).
This book has what not. Writings of Khushwant Singh, couple of translations, a brilliant play and a collection of jokes.
Along with these, you have Khushwant Singh's tributes to his grand mother and couple of other people.
I particularly enjoyed the play Tyger Tyger burning bright. The healthy exchange of sarcasm between the Maharaja, Conan Smith and Mr Mathur, is something which I enjoyed the most. In order to think of such a script (of wit and sarcasm), you can imagine what a brilliant mind Khushwant Singh might be having and how well read and aware he should be, of the British Raj.
People say loads of things about Khushwant Singh, but for me, he shall always be a person who produced gems. He was very well read. Khushwant Singh was blessed to be in the right place at the right time. One more thing which I find very interesting is, he mixed fiction with his routine factual writing. (and believe me the disguise is hard to decode).
After having read his brilliant autobiography, I did want to read more of him. So I ended up with this. There are few things which I disagree about what he has said in his writings, but that doesn't stop me from liking him or his writings.
Khushwant Singh was of the opinion that Indians should spend less time on prayers and festivities instead make time towards work. But my opinion is different. May be it held relevance for the previous 30 years. What would one do by over working? Produce another social networking site, a mobile app to send text messages. For me overworking leads to over utilizing natural resources. One way to conserve earth is to conserve resources at the same time ensure everyone has a fair livelihood instead of crony capitalism.
One more thing which I did not like was Khushwant Singh calling RSS a kind of ... organization. I have seen the RSS and the work they do, the help they offer. Nothing can bring down my respect for RSS. I respect his opinion, but cannot agree!
Few years down the line, I sure would wish to read this book again.
Cheers.
November 20, 2010
The editorials and letters are particularly interesting. The rest I was not too keen about.
June 1, 2011
Neat writing. As usual, Khushwant's candid and perverse views
August 18, 2012
The Best collection of Khushwant Singh's short stories and novel. Depicting his candid way of writing.
Amongst which Portrait Of a lady is remarkably awesome.
Amongst which Portrait Of a lady is remarkably awesome.
August 9, 2016
Rating : 2 stars
April 27, 2020
Storytelling is the forte of Khushwant Singh. He may have worked as a journalist and editor in the drab political sphere but he brings his own flavour to each article/ essay he writes. The book is a collection assorted into sections like Columns, Profiles, Articles and essays, Translations and some fiction. The book also has a small add-on section with a collection of Jokes.
Most of the excerpts are truly enjoyable, the 'Profiles' section paints some beautiful character sketches of his acquaintances and famous figures. The selected columns are well chosen. In some of the columns, you feel the author has contemplated on the subject with such vitality and the prose he writes comes out strong. The stories he tells imprint in your minds. And for a man who lived almost for a century, he has lived quite an extra share of experiences. His profession as journalist obliged him to travel, collect stories and bring it out to the readers in the most entertaining way and he did that exquisitely.
Overall the book being a collection of article, keeps refreshing its pace and interest with each story and keeps you engaged throughout. Singh's articulate writings, bold opinions, perverse views and a hint of Punjabi flavour will keep you looking forward to the next story!
PS - Thanks to Sanay Shah for accidentally picking up this book from a bookstore, enjoying the read and recommending it to me. Hope I come across more such books.
Most of the excerpts are truly enjoyable, the 'Profiles' section paints some beautiful character sketches of his acquaintances and famous figures. The selected columns are well chosen. In some of the columns, you feel the author has contemplated on the subject with such vitality and the prose he writes comes out strong. The stories he tells imprint in your minds. And for a man who lived almost for a century, he has lived quite an extra share of experiences. His profession as journalist obliged him to travel, collect stories and bring it out to the readers in the most entertaining way and he did that exquisitely.
Overall the book being a collection of article, keeps refreshing its pace and interest with each story and keeps you engaged throughout. Singh's articulate writings, bold opinions, perverse views and a hint of Punjabi flavour will keep you looking forward to the next story!
PS - Thanks to Sanay Shah for accidentally picking up this book from a bookstore, enjoying the read and recommending it to me. Hope I come across more such books.
October 6, 2020
A collection of Singh’s articles, columns, short stories as well as excerpts from his novels and non-fiction work, Not a Nice Man to Know falls short not because of the author’s work but because of the shoddy editing that went into putting this anthology together. The highlight, without doubt, is the play Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright that inexplicably had never been published elsewhere prior to this collection. Singh’s mastery comes through easily as we get to see an Indian bureaucrat, an erstwhile Maharaja, two American tourists and an irreverent British citizen gather together in a forest bungalow hotel in rural India with a man-eater on the loose.
Khushwant Singh’s earthy English laced with Indianness is easy to consume like a nice chilled pint of beer on a warm summer evening.
Khushwant Singh’s earthy English laced with Indianness is easy to consume like a nice chilled pint of beer on a warm summer evening.
April 13, 2018
An unputdownable autobiography from one of South Asia's finest writers
October 21, 2019
Light interesting read. Topics that fascinated the writer and give a glimpse into his life and thoughts.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews