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重新想像印度：亞洲下一個超級強國的潛力解碼
Reimagining India brings together leading thinkers from around the world to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by one of the most important and least understood nations on earth. India’s abundance of life—vibrant, chaotic, and tumultuous—has long been its foremost asset. The nation’s rising economy and burgeoning middle class have earned India a place alongside China as one of the world’s two indispensable emerging markets. At the same time, India’s tech-savvy entrepreneurs and rapidly globalizing firms are upending key sectors of the world economy. But what is India’s true potential? And what can be done to unlock it? McKinsey & Company has pulled in wisdom from many corners—social and cultural as well as economic and political—to launch a feisty debate about the future of Asia’s “other superpower.”
Reimagining India features an all-star cast of contributors, including CNN’s Fareed Zakaria; Mukesh Ambani, CEO of India’s largest private conglomerate; Microsoft founder Bill Gates; Google chairman Eric Schmidt; Harvard Business School dean Nitin Nohria; award-winning authors Suketu Mehta ( Maximum City ), Edward Luce ( In Spite of the Gods ), and Patrick French ( A Portrait ); Nandan Nilekani, Infosys cofounder and chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India; and a host of other leading executives, entrepreneurs, economists, foreign policy experts, journalists, historians, and cultural luminaries. These essays explore topics like the strengths and weaknesses of India’s political system, growth prospects for India’s economy, the competitiveness of Indian firms, India’s rising international profile, and the rapid evolution of India’s culture.
Over the next decade India has the opportunity to show the rest of the developing world how open, democratic societies can achieve high growth and shared prosperity. Contributors offer creative strategies for seizing that opportunity. But they also offer a frank assessment of the risks that India’s social and political fractures will instead thwart progress, condemning hundreds of millions of people to enduring poverty. Reimagining India is a critical resource for readers seeking to understand how this vast and vital nation is changing—and how it promises to change the world around us.
Reimagining India features an all-star cast of contributors, including CNN’s Fareed Zakaria; Mukesh Ambani, CEO of India’s largest private conglomerate; Microsoft founder Bill Gates; Google chairman Eric Schmidt; Harvard Business School dean Nitin Nohria; award-winning authors Suketu Mehta ( Maximum City ), Edward Luce ( In Spite of the Gods ), and Patrick French ( A Portrait ); Nandan Nilekani, Infosys cofounder and chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India; and a host of other leading executives, entrepreneurs, economists, foreign policy experts, journalists, historians, and cultural luminaries. These essays explore topics like the strengths and weaknesses of India’s political system, growth prospects for India’s economy, the competitiveness of Indian firms, India’s rising international profile, and the rapid evolution of India’s culture.
Over the next decade India has the opportunity to show the rest of the developing world how open, democratic societies can achieve high growth and shared prosperity. Contributors offer creative strategies for seizing that opportunity. But they also offer a frank assessment of the risks that India’s social and political fractures will instead thwart progress, condemning hundreds of millions of people to enduring poverty. Reimagining India is a critical resource for readers seeking to understand how this vast and vital nation is changing—and how it promises to change the world around us.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 26, 2015
This book manages unravel the stories of everyone part of one of the oldest economies on earth. I found this book very interesting because of mainly four reasons:
a) Facts, Facts and Facts - a book based on facts lures me more. Facts justify reasons.
b)Neutrality - one article in this book talks about why india is an inspiration, you have a complementary article that gives you downright facts about "panchayat pati" concept in rural india about the whale-size lag in the indian and Chinese economy.
c) This book is indeed a "Jack of All Trades" - You have journalists, economists, authors, businessmen, politicians, policymakers all unwrapping a single point of discussion.
d) MOST IMPORTANT - This book is meant for the youth to read. Authors keep in mind the upcoming 10-15 years if the indian economy in mind. So I would definitely suggest this read to someone between 20-26.
a) Facts, Facts and Facts - a book based on facts lures me more. Facts justify reasons.
b)Neutrality - one article in this book talks about why india is an inspiration, you have a complementary article that gives you downright facts about "panchayat pati" concept in rural india about the whale-size lag in the indian and Chinese economy.
c) This book is indeed a "Jack of All Trades" - You have journalists, economists, authors, businessmen, politicians, policymakers all unwrapping a single point of discussion.
d) MOST IMPORTANT - This book is meant for the youth to read. Authors keep in mind the upcoming 10-15 years if the indian economy in mind. So I would definitely suggest this read to someone between 20-26.
March 30, 2014
A mix of engrossing and purposeful essays on the one hand and quite pedestrian on the other. Not very surprisingly the better ones are from those that have walked the talk. There are those that have just indulged in talking and writing. These essays appear vacuous that carry no conviction. There are a few admissions as well as in the context of Aadhaar : "The Aadhaar project is not a panacea". Ironically in practice it was positioned as a panacea. That is what the problem is with imagining or even reimagining. More than imagination future of the country lies in "doing". Those, like Kumar Birla, have done it. Hence, what they say and suggest make a lot of sense. He has the humility to accept "If you can get your point across, if you are adding value, if you are competent, then bloody hell to English". Not all authors are so courageous. However, one of the essays that stand out is the one by Vinod Khosla, another practitioner as he suggests use of technology and to marry leapfrogging mindset to a better policy framework that can spark innovation and experimentation.
It would have been a publication if those at McKinsey had refrained from an indulgence that should have been left to practitioners
It would have been a publication if those at McKinsey had refrained from an indulgence that should have been left to practitioners
June 3, 2014
A book of essays. Usually I am not a fan of books like this but this has many good essays. I was reading it in India just after Modi won the election, it was quite interesting in how prescient many of the essays were. There are certainly some clunkers, CEOs just talking about their companies but at least half the essays are definitely worth reading. If you deal with India, definitely worth reading.
November 15, 2020
Reading this book in 2020, in the COVID era makes this book feel almost anachronistic. With a large number of essays focusing on a vision of what India would become by 2020 and where we are at presently, makes me believe that there is definitely a poverty in only theory. With that context, some of the problems identified in the book and the solutions offered by the various experts remain relevant even today. This could be viewed as a failure of implementation for the last seven years and as the strength of the thought leadership to stay relevant.
As a book by itself, the collectors of writers is as all-star as it can get. There is almost no relevant issue which has not been covered by the leading luminary in that field. Some of the essays by themselves stand out over the rest. As noted by Mr. Anil Swarup, Kumar Mangalam Birla's take on a the usage of English in business communication is the memorable high point of the book. I was personally impressed by the essays by Madhav Chavan and Vinod Khosla on their audacious thinking of what India should do and challenge the norms of structures set by the Western world. Manu Joseph's satirical on life of the middle class in urban India is more than an honorable mention. I could see a clear connection between the portrayed characters and some of the people I have met.
Overall I took away food for thought from the sections on India's soft power and India and the world. Reimagining India will pander to a general audience looking to wet their feet with a plethora of issues but will surely face brickbats from a seasoned expert who would feel that the essays don't even scratch the surface. Depending on where you fall, would advice you to pick this one up or give it a miss.
As a book by itself, the collectors of writers is as all-star as it can get. There is almost no relevant issue which has not been covered by the leading luminary in that field. Some of the essays by themselves stand out over the rest. As noted by Mr. Anil Swarup, Kumar Mangalam Birla's take on a the usage of English in business communication is the memorable high point of the book. I was personally impressed by the essays by Madhav Chavan and Vinod Khosla on their audacious thinking of what India should do and challenge the norms of structures set by the Western world. Manu Joseph's satirical on life of the middle class in urban India is more than an honorable mention. I could see a clear connection between the portrayed characters and some of the people I have met.
Overall I took away food for thought from the sections on India's soft power and India and the world. Reimagining India will pander to a general audience looking to wet their feet with a plethora of issues but will surely face brickbats from a seasoned expert who would feel that the essays don't even scratch the surface. Depending on where you fall, would advice you to pick this one up or give it a miss.
October 11, 2022
This is almost a decade old book which includes short but well written essays from various leading thinkers about opportunities and challenges faced by India.
Post Independence India grew at a very slow growth because of India’s leaders decision to embrace socialism. Indian politicians came out with schemes after schemes and a vision to uplift the poor. While those schemes did nothing to uplift the poor, it but also kept middle class back.
It wasn’t until 1991 that India was forced to open its economy to foreign investors so the majority of India’s growth has been in the last 30 years. More than half of India’s GDP comes from the service sector yet more than half of the population continues to work on farms. The soul of India lives in its villages," declared M. K. Gandhi at the beginning of 20th century. However, he could not be more wrong about it as India’s burgeoning middle class continues to demand more or dare I use the 90s Pepsi slogan “Yeh Dil Maange More”.
Despite the progress, India remains a chaotic place: largely divided by religion, cultural differences and even linguistic preferences. India is saddled with bureaucracy, resistant to change and yet the non urban populace continues to hold socialist views. It should not come as a surprise that in India politicians enjoy a carte blanche and justice system is a mere farce. While the transition to a more market based economy led to soaring growth, India remains hamstrung by socialist views that had plagued the country since its independence. Hopefully at some point Indians will shed their parochial instincts and rise above the divisiveness.
A good read for someone trying to learn more about the country which focuses on both the positives and negatives.
Post Independence India grew at a very slow growth because of India’s leaders decision to embrace socialism. Indian politicians came out with schemes after schemes and a vision to uplift the poor. While those schemes did nothing to uplift the poor, it but also kept middle class back.
It wasn’t until 1991 that India was forced to open its economy to foreign investors so the majority of India’s growth has been in the last 30 years. More than half of India’s GDP comes from the service sector yet more than half of the population continues to work on farms. The soul of India lives in its villages," declared M. K. Gandhi at the beginning of 20th century. However, he could not be more wrong about it as India’s burgeoning middle class continues to demand more or dare I use the 90s Pepsi slogan “Yeh Dil Maange More”.
Despite the progress, India remains a chaotic place: largely divided by religion, cultural differences and even linguistic preferences. India is saddled with bureaucracy, resistant to change and yet the non urban populace continues to hold socialist views. It should not come as a surprise that in India politicians enjoy a carte blanche and justice system is a mere farce. While the transition to a more market based economy led to soaring growth, India remains hamstrung by socialist views that had plagued the country since its independence. Hopefully at some point Indians will shed their parochial instincts and rise above the divisiveness.
A good read for someone trying to learn more about the country which focuses on both the positives and negatives.
April 25, 2014
Reimagining India is not a lesson for how to change India, but a discussion by eminent scholars explaining the complexities of the polity and the country’s social structure. You get to read both, the good and the bad about India. The book does not have any singular agenda.
I would mind recommending it as a must read if you want to shape your thinking on India, its potential and challenges. It is not a usual one author's view book,
but 60 odd different views which make this book almost an intellectual debate and idea generation platform.
Great contributions, some essays just can't be missed. Excellent collection of articles that give an unparalleled overview of the state of India today. A must read for anyone who wants to know more about the world's largest democracy
I would mind recommending it as a must read if you want to shape your thinking on India, its potential and challenges. It is not a usual one author's view book,
but 60 odd different views which make this book almost an intellectual debate and idea generation platform.
Great contributions, some essays just can't be missed. Excellent collection of articles that give an unparalleled overview of the state of India today. A must read for anyone who wants to know more about the world's largest democracy
March 19, 2017
Was really excited about this book after reading a review of this book in a newspaper. It was a great read with some amazing essays by prominent personalities of India. The book touches different aspects of India from history to what lies ahead making it a nice read. The essays are small and crisp making them a smooth read.
Read if you want to know how these dignitaries think about India. But what might disappoint you is the fact that it is now little outdated with BJP govt at the center. What will be exciting to read are follow up essays by the same individuals in today's context.
Read if you want to know how these dignitaries think about India. But what might disappoint you is the fact that it is now little outdated with BJP govt at the center. What will be exciting to read are follow up essays by the same individuals in today's context.
March 9, 2015
This book is a wonderful collection of articles on India by the top tier of India Inc. So, obviously it has the inherent capitalist bias. It gives you the CEO's view of what he thinks is wrong with India and what he thinks should be done. So, again the book tends to sometimes miss out on delicate, niche but critical points. It gives you a broad overview, skims over the surface of the issue and its solution. Not academic but still very enlightening.
October 14, 2017
Re-Imagining India – Unlocking The Potential Of Asia’s Next Superpower is a collection of essays by an eclectic mix of writers from various fields, Indian as well as foreign, edited by McKinsey & Company. It is subdivided into 6 sections : Reimagining, Politics & Policy, Business & Technology, Challenges, Culture & Soft Power, and India In The World. The authors of the essays range from Foreign Policy experts, to businessmen, to eminent Indian sportspersons, to journalists – listing some pretty famous and accomplished individuals from the various fields. Out of a total of approximately 63 essays, approximately 21-22 are by foreign authors; this gives a nice gives, while also being revealing
THE NEGATIVES
First, for a book on Reimagining India, I got the distinct impression that the focus on agriculture was woefully inadequate, underrepresented – and in some ways questionable. Agriculture & Rural India comprises the majority of the people, of employment; by contrast, there were few essays on this topic. The few that were present did not deal with the issues by and large. In fact, only one dealt with the relevant issues directly – India’s Farms, Harvesting The Future on Pg 247. Agreed that Energy, for example, is an issue – but when you give more real space that as opposed to Agriculture / Rural Sector, then it becomes hard for me to see how you can re-imagine India!
THE POSITIVES
There were many top essays that provoke thought – all of them by Indians, bar one. Next time, kindly use more of Indian Authors – people who understand India, not look at it through either rose-tinted, partially informed, uninformed or through biased lenses! And that one is the Polio essay by Bill Gates, which was stupendous to put it mildly. Moving on, I recommend the thought provoking essays by Ruchir Sharma, Anand Mahindra in the first section; topping it with the classy Gurcharan Das essay dealing with hard reform, dealing with citizens and institutions.
Read More at : https://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/20...
THE NEGATIVES
First, for a book on Reimagining India, I got the distinct impression that the focus on agriculture was woefully inadequate, underrepresented – and in some ways questionable. Agriculture & Rural India comprises the majority of the people, of employment; by contrast, there were few essays on this topic. The few that were present did not deal with the issues by and large. In fact, only one dealt with the relevant issues directly – India’s Farms, Harvesting The Future on Pg 247. Agreed that Energy, for example, is an issue – but when you give more real space that as opposed to Agriculture / Rural Sector, then it becomes hard for me to see how you can re-imagine India!
THE POSITIVES
There were many top essays that provoke thought – all of them by Indians, bar one. Next time, kindly use more of Indian Authors – people who understand India, not look at it through either rose-tinted, partially informed, uninformed or through biased lenses! And that one is the Polio essay by Bill Gates, which was stupendous to put it mildly. Moving on, I recommend the thought provoking essays by Ruchir Sharma, Anand Mahindra in the first section; topping it with the classy Gurcharan Das essay dealing with hard reform, dealing with citizens and institutions.
Read More at : https://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/20...
December 13, 2018
Great Collaboration
If you are interested in emerging nations' economic growth, and particularly interested in the challenges they face, and the way they adjust solutions to meet local requirements, you will find this book very interesting. It gives the reader an overview of India's potential and improvement opportunities. Recommended if you are looking for inspiration on how to "Fix the World" 😉
If you are interested in emerging nations' economic growth, and particularly interested in the challenges they face, and the way they adjust solutions to meet local requirements, you will find this book very interesting. It gives the reader an overview of India's potential and improvement opportunities. Recommended if you are looking for inspiration on how to "Fix the World" 😉
May 4, 2017
To sum up: it envisions the potential of India in the three dimensions: social, political and economic. Many of the visions and suggestions and policy changes discussed in the book are already a reality thanks to the Modi Govt's bold and visionary initiatives.
May 14, 2018
Some good essays, but a lot of info is outdated with the pace of change happening in India since 2013. Good reflection on how far the country has come as well.
December 10, 2024
It’s a Hit and a Miss in current time. Most of the chapters are pretty decent in conveying the message but it fails to sell you a point or takeaway as a book in the end!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2025
bought this year's ago but finished it in 2025. Most of the essays have not aged well 😂. and doubt McKinsey would dare release an update edition
October 30, 2016
When a big management consulting firm tries to answer few questions about India, it hits right at the spot. Brilliantly written articles and an innovative method of brewed articles that relate so much into each other, the book is must read. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to see the challenges and opportunities that face India of today. Written in 2013 it actually captures everything. Right from the dying stories of the Nehru Gandhi dynasty and rise of Narendra Modi to Radia tapes, right from aceman Vishwanathan Anand to the story of Indian cricket as told by Harsha Bhogle. THis book is a journey more than a collection and you get to live every article of it.
Needless to say the authors are trendsetters in their own fields. THough 3 years down the line some the stories would help think how much the country might have changed in a mere splash of 3 years but on the broad parameters the book is an insight and a vision that which we must follow. Claiming that we are not CHina, we are a democracy will not help us. Every country has a different model of growth it is all about finding about your own. As Indians we only blame the government and the governments over the years have only been good in a good pitch to the people. This has to change, this is where there is a need to reform. It is more of a mindset problem that the problem of lack of opportunities and resources.
When leaders like Mukesh Ambani, SUnil MIttal or ANil Agarwal tell you this you definitely listen to them. One of the articles which was really interesting was by Vinod KHosla, he talks about leapfrogging and understanding how technology is changing rather than investing infrastructure on old technologies. I think he has talked correctly when he says why did we even set up million of km of telephone lines when the technology was moving towards mobile phones. This was a phase we could have easily skipped have we paid attention to the changing technology around. Being a \n open globalized nation it is important going further we should look at models which we can skip because technology and time are so dynamic there are no rules they follow and faster development is just how soon you can adapt learn, unlearn or relearn.
Needless to say the authors are trendsetters in their own fields. THough 3 years down the line some the stories would help think how much the country might have changed in a mere splash of 3 years but on the broad parameters the book is an insight and a vision that which we must follow. Claiming that we are not CHina, we are a democracy will not help us. Every country has a different model of growth it is all about finding about your own. As Indians we only blame the government and the governments over the years have only been good in a good pitch to the people. This has to change, this is where there is a need to reform. It is more of a mindset problem that the problem of lack of opportunities and resources.
When leaders like Mukesh Ambani, SUnil MIttal or ANil Agarwal tell you this you definitely listen to them. One of the articles which was really interesting was by Vinod KHosla, he talks about leapfrogging and understanding how technology is changing rather than investing infrastructure on old technologies. I think he has talked correctly when he says why did we even set up million of km of telephone lines when the technology was moving towards mobile phones. This was a phase we could have easily skipped have we paid attention to the changing technology around. Being a \n open globalized nation it is important going further we should look at models which we can skip because technology and time are so dynamic there are no rules they follow and faster development is just how soon you can adapt learn, unlearn or relearn.
April 28, 2014
When I began reading this book, I was expecting to read some of the strategic visions and thoughts leaders and experts had for India, a thought experiment on where we were, where we are and, based on these observations, what should be done to take India to the next level in the global stage, while empowering its people and advancing their socioeconomic state. And this book satisfied most of that expectation. The first two chapters, "Reimagining" and "Politics & Policy" have very interesting commentary on India as a nation and how its democracy compares to other nations around the world, the advantages it holds when compared to other political models, notably China, and how its political model is evolving from a centralized to a decentralized one with the passage of time. But for a couple of essays, these two chapters are arguably the best in the book.
Unfortunately, I found quite a few essays after the first two chapters to be self serving and at times irrelevant to the broader theme of the book. There were some essays which discussed the past and the present as a list of events while a few others discussed what they (and the organization they represent) have accomplished in India in the past, without offering a vision of (or "Reimagining") the future as they see it or a proposed plan/theory to achieve it, making them somewhat tedious and pointless to read.
McKinsey's objective to not influence or censor any essay, while noble, offers the narrative a chance to veer off-course in many places within the book. And it does. Maybe some editorial oversight to keep the subject and content of the essays aligned with the broader goal of the book would have made this book more interesting and relevant.
Overall, a good collection of essays but there is quite a bit of room for improvement to make the narrative taut and engaging. I wanted to rate it 3.5 stars but there are no half stars so going with 4 instead of 3.
Unfortunately, I found quite a few essays after the first two chapters to be self serving and at times irrelevant to the broader theme of the book. There were some essays which discussed the past and the present as a list of events while a few others discussed what they (and the organization they represent) have accomplished in India in the past, without offering a vision of (or "Reimagining") the future as they see it or a proposed plan/theory to achieve it, making them somewhat tedious and pointless to read.
McKinsey's objective to not influence or censor any essay, while noble, offers the narrative a chance to veer off-course in many places within the book. And it does. Maybe some editorial oversight to keep the subject and content of the essays aligned with the broader goal of the book would have made this book more interesting and relevant.
Overall, a good collection of essays but there is quite a bit of room for improvement to make the narrative taut and engaging. I wanted to rate it 3.5 stars but there are no half stars so going with 4 instead of 3.
March 3, 2014
I received this book as part of a GoodReads First Reads giveaway. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Its ambition is very large, to try and tackle the myriad issues that India faces as it comes into its own economically, culturally, and politically. The way the book goes about addressing these concerns is admirable, collecting essays from various sources, all experts in their respective fields, to discuss the specific issues upon which they can best expound. A common criticism that I read among other reviews was that a lot of facts and specific concerns seem to be repeated across several essays. While this is true, I don't necessarily view this as a negative. If anything, it emphasizes the degree to which the rising middle class, the encroachment of urbanization, and the struggles toward competitive globalization effect all other issues with which that India as a nation continue to battle.
I liked that there was special chapter dedicated to cultural issues, such as Bollywood, cuisine, cricket, and the arts; I feel like no exploration of such a diverse culture could be successful without delving into these concerns.
If I were to offer any criticism, it would only be that several essays praise the economic policies of Narendra Modi in his governance of Gujarat. However, none of the essays contrast his positive policies with his abhorrent human rights record, specifically his role in condoning (encouraging?) the genocides of 2002. On the other hand, this omission is further proof that no discussion of the growth and potential of "Asia's next superpower" can ever be completely exhaustive.
I liked that there was special chapter dedicated to cultural issues, such as Bollywood, cuisine, cricket, and the arts; I feel like no exploration of such a diverse culture could be successful without delving into these concerns.
If I were to offer any criticism, it would only be that several essays praise the economic policies of Narendra Modi in his governance of Gujarat. However, none of the essays contrast his positive policies with his abhorrent human rights record, specifically his role in condoning (encouraging?) the genocides of 2002. On the other hand, this omission is further proof that no discussion of the growth and potential of "Asia's next superpower" can ever be completely exhaustive.
May 25, 2015
A consulting group's report on a country may not sound like exciting reading but in this case it is - due in part to authors of the book and due in large part to the exciting nature of the nation of India. Incredible India has been captured beautifully in this volume. It doesn't shy away from the negativities and neither does it dwell on them - preferring to look at India's promise and potential. This was a book that got left behind when I started reading other things but it has always been easy to pick up again. The structure makes it very easy to digest - a number of famous and not-so-famous but always influential people write small essays about India with regards to their own expertise. It is very effective and even I came away with more knowledge about my home country than when I started the book. It's interesting to read this book from 2013 that mentions Prime Minister Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujurat. Many of the trends described in this book (such as Modi's rise to power) have started to take shape and continue along their way. Anyone who is interested in India, one of the biggest cultural influencers in the global village, should give this book a try. It's interesting and important.
February 25, 2016
This book is in the form of several essays authored by renowned journalists, CEOs and experts in various fields. Although the book contains some very good essays, many of them contain repetitive information(which is understandable given the authors wouldn't have known about each others essays)but that makes it a bit monotonous. Also the section on business is just filled with CEO's praising and marketing their own companies. I particularly enjoyed the sections on politics,policies and challenges as it gave some good insight into the things we are doing wrong. Overall I would say its a good read for someone looking to read about different aspects of India in general, but I would still consider Imagining IndiaImagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation by Nandan Nilekani a better book in this regard.
January 15, 2014
Reimagining India is not a point-by-point prescription for how to change India, but a discussion by social scientists, scholars, and businesspersons explaining the various complexities of the political situation and the country’s social structure. You will get to read both the good and the bad about India and need to keep an open mind. You should read the book because it does not have any singular agenda and does not exalt India to something it is not. Nor does it paint a completely grim picture by highlighting only the failures of the young republic. Get more info on essays at NonFiction Book Reviews.
August 1, 2014
Got this book because I kept reading excerpts of chapters in newspapers or magazines, and the book was cited online too (as are most books nowadays).
It's a collection of essays written by people from various fields such as education, business, politics, art, etc - talking about how a new India can be imagined, what its current drawbacks are, what history did to us, and how things could change...
And as collections go, some essays are poor, most are mediocre and a few are outstanding - like the ones by Vishwanathan Anand, Manu Joseph, Zia Mody, Howard Schultz, Khosla, Bill Gates and others.
I loved the book only because of these few essays.
It's a simple easy read that one can breeze through quickly, and slow down on the more interesting chapters.
It's a collection of essays written by people from various fields such as education, business, politics, art, etc - talking about how a new India can be imagined, what its current drawbacks are, what history did to us, and how things could change...
And as collections go, some essays are poor, most are mediocre and a few are outstanding - like the ones by Vishwanathan Anand, Manu Joseph, Zia Mody, Howard Schultz, Khosla, Bill Gates and others.
I loved the book only because of these few essays.
It's a simple easy read that one can breeze through quickly, and slow down on the more interesting chapters.
January 13, 2014
If You take each essay in isolation , all of them give great insights . But if you take book in totality,i would say some of the essays are repetitive . There are multiple essays dealing with the growth story of India in general, which gave me a feeling of eating the same chocolate again and again .Sector specific growth stories are very good. I didn't see even one essay written from a socialist point of view which may be counted as a negative remark.All in all i am satisfied.Its worth investing your time.
August 4, 2014
Worth a read to realise what the world is imagining for India. Some good insights about corporate mindset. Being a vision for the future, every young Indian with the ambition to make India a great country should read this once.
Just one year down the line from its publishing, a lot of things are on a verge of change with the change in reign. It will be interesting to see how this dream unfolds in this supportive environment (a good number of dreams focus on capitalist and materialist goals.)
Just one year down the line from its publishing, a lot of things are on a verge of change with the change in reign. It will be interesting to see how this dream unfolds in this supportive environment (a good number of dreams focus on capitalist and materialist goals.)
July 15, 2014
A great collection of great articles.... The book has a lot of good thoughts from writers, businessmen, educationists etc. on where our country should be and a very high level way of reaching there.... Where it fails is it doesn't have enough inputs from people in the system and thus fails to cover the issues of administrative system.... But this book can certainly help you create a imagination of yours for your own country....
September 19, 2016
I liked certain points in the book and disliked others. I liked it for the reason that it comprises of essays on Indian economical issues from notable personalities of industry. I disliked it because this book seems like a set of problems in the country. No solutions have been proposed.
All the essays have discussed different issues ranging from infrastructure to education. Many of them are really thought provoking. This book is a total call to re-imagine India from different angles.
All the essays have discussed different issues ranging from infrastructure to education. Many of them are really thought provoking. This book is a total call to re-imagine India from different angles.
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December 29, 2013A very comprehensive collection of thoughts of great thought leaders... I wish all lead politicians also read and study this. We need not only the incremental improvents, but major transformational changes to really unwind huge potential of India. Since its by McKinsey, an interesting visual anaysis towards the end would have been also interesting to see ;)
August 12, 2016
This book is a collection of essays about India from distinguished personalities around the world. The topics range from the competitiveness of Indian firms; Indian foreign policy; strengths and weaknesses of India’s political system; and the power of new technologies to transform healthcare and education.
Some opinions are repeated which may become bothersome
Some opinions are repeated which may become bothersome
February 23, 2014
I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in learning about India as an economic power, future competitor and an ever growing market - or markets in this sense.
The read was quite easy, enjoyable and informative to a novice. I definitely will follow-up on some aspects with former/current citizens of the Country.
The read was quite easy, enjoyable and informative to a novice. I definitely will follow-up on some aspects with former/current citizens of the Country.
January 4, 2014
Some good perspective on India. Bollywood, Cricket, Middle Class, Infrastructure woes, Poverty, China, USA, Pakistan, Education, Politics... much of contemporary India is well covered.
Essays by prominent Indian CEOs are the worst part of the book.
Essays by prominent Indian CEOs are the worst part of the book.
January 21, 2014
Essays on India by industry leaders. Some are pompous about their contributions to the growth of the country and their efforts in philantrophy. After reading the well compiled book it gives you a balanced view of the country and is encouraging.
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