Age Group: Adults

Description:

In this sharply observed work of non-fiction, diplomat and writer Pavan K. Varma sets out to examine what truly makes Indians tick. Cutting through both Western stereotypes and the myths Indians tell about themselves, he turns a candid, unsentimental gaze on his fellow citizens, probing the paradoxes that run through Indian attitudes to power, wealth and spirituality. Drawing on sources as varied as ancient Sanskrit treatises and Bollywood lyrics, and threading his argument with telling anecdotes, Varma builds a vivid portrait of a complex nation and reflects on what it has to offer the world in the twenty-first century. Thought-provoking and often provocative, it's an essential read for anyone seeking to understand modern India.