Tesco
In Spite of the Gods
Book

In Spite of the Gods

The Rise of Modern India

Edward Luce
Doubleday Broadway, 2007

Read offline

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Eye Opening
  • Background
  • Engaging

Recommendation

getAbstract recommends this excellent, well-written work of reportage on India. Edward Luce provides a colorful, striking picture of the country and its unconventional path to development. Within the past several years, numerous books have been published about so-called “Chindia,” the phenomenon of the economic emergence of the two most populous nations on earth. Luce makes it very clear that categorizing India with any other place, including the ever-intriguing China, is probably analytical and intellectual sloth. India presents such overwhelming, bewildering complexity that onlookers must take it on its own unique terms.

Take-Aways

  • Westerners see India as a land of enchanted spirituality – but some aspects of this spirituality have helped keep it impoverished.
  • Government jobs confer high pay, good benefits and personal profits based on widespread, evasive corruption.
  • Hindu nationalism is inspired by European fascism, from premeditated murder to hatred of religious minorities. Its power is waning.

About the Author

Edward Luce, Washington bureau chief for The Financial Times, was its South Asia bureau chief from 2000 to 2006. From 1999 to 2000, he was a Clinton-administration speechwriter.

Comment on this summary or Diskussion beginnen