- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks; Reprint edition (2 Feb 2012)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1444710168
- ISBN-13: 978-1444710168
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 187,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Geek Nation
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in Geek Nation: How Indian Science is Taking Over the World for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Those who want to understand how India is shaping up as a scientific superpower will find it a worthwhile and engaging read'. (New Scientist )
'Many entertaining and informative stories.' (Sunday Times )
'This is an engaging and eye-opening exploration of a subject that traditionally we rely on clichés to understand, providing a much more informed and effective understanding of the progress of Indian technology. Recommended.' (Popular Science )
'GEEK NATION's emphasis on personalities and places provides an engaging introduction for those who want deeper understanding than facts and figures alone can provide.' (New Scientist )
'With engaging first-hand accounts she explores gleaming technology hubs, visits space centres and labs researching GM crops...you do get a vivid impression of a nation emerging as a scientific contender.' (BBC Focus )
'Saini has a genuine talent for describing science'. (Sunday Times Culture )
'Saini's vivid portrait of hi-tech India reveals a country in a hurry'. (FT Weekend )
'Eye-opening, warmhearted and cliché-free, her book gives Indians' minds the respect so often and so easily given to their spirit'. (Wanderlust )
'Saini has produced an eye-opening survey of scientists in today's India...engagingly written and remarkably, GEEK NATION shatters many myths while not discouraging guarded optimism'. (Independent )
'Saini is well qualified to explain why Indians are "famous for being swots, nerds, dweebs, boffins and dorks", and whether India can become a scientific superpower...' (Guardian )
'Many entertaining and informative stories.' (Sunday Times )
'This is an engaging and eye-opening exploration of a subject that traditionally we rely on clichés to understand, providing a much more informed and effective understanding of the progress of Indian technology. Recommended.' (Popular Science )
'GEEK NATION's emphasis on personalities and places provides an engaging introduction for those who want deeper understanding than facts and figures alone can provide.' (New Scientist )
'With engaging first-hand accounts she explores gleaming technology hubs, visits space centres and labs researching GM crops...you do get a vivid impression of a nation emerging as a scientific contender.' (BBC Focus )
'Saini has a genuine talent for describing science'. (Sunday Times Culture )
'Saini's vivid portrait of hi-tech India reveals a country in a hurry'. (FT Weekend )
'Eye-opening, warmhearted and cliché-free, her book gives Indians' minds the respect so often and so easily given to their spirit'. (Wanderlust )
'Saini has produced an eye-opening survey of scientists in today's India...engagingly written and remarkably, GEEK NATION shatters many myths while not discouraging guarded optimism'. (Independent )
'Saini is well qualified to explain why Indians are "famous for being swots, nerds, dweebs, boffins and dorks", and whether India can become a scientific superpower...' (Guardian )
Product Description
India: it's a nation of geeks, swots and nerds. Almost one in five of all medical and dental staff in the UK is of Indian origin, and one in six employed scientists with science or engineering doctorates in the US is Asian. By the turn of the millennium, there were even claims that a third of all engineers in Silicon Valley were of Indian origin, with Indians running 750 of its tech companies.
At the dawn of this scientific revolution, Geek Nation is a journey to meet the inventors, engineers and young scientists helping to give birth to the world's next scientific superpower - a nation built not on conquest, oil or minerals, but on the scientific ingenuity of its people. Angela Saini explains how ancient science is giving way to new, and how the technology of the wealthy are passing on to the poor. Delving inside the psyche of India's science-hungry citizens, she explores the reason why the government of the most religious country on earth has put its faith in science and technology.
At the dawn of this scientific revolution, Geek Nation is a journey to meet the inventors, engineers and young scientists helping to give birth to the world's next scientific superpower - a nation built not on conquest, oil or minerals, but on the scientific ingenuity of its people. Angela Saini explains how ancient science is giving way to new, and how the technology of the wealthy are passing on to the poor. Delving inside the psyche of India's science-hungry citizens, she explores the reason why the government of the most religious country on earth has put its faith in science and technology.
Through witty first-hand reportage and penetrative analysis, Geek Nation explains what this means for the rest of the world, and how a spiritual nation squares its soul with hard rationality. Full of curious, colourful characters and gripping stories, it describes India through its people - a nation of geeks.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
One of the biggest offences that authors writing about India are guilty of is orientalism. So thank goodness Geek Nation steers clear of this, instead I got a clear insight into what's really going on in Indian research and development. Hippies might be upset - the "wellness" ashrams that seem to always be associated with India is mentioned but in context to the booming business that they've become. But it's not just all about cold hard figures, although the author never veers away from the facts, her empathy and at times sympathy for those she comes across gives a human texture to why these ventures are important. Neither does she shy away from the pressures, the dissapointments nor the frustrations that those individuals and companies experience in trying to reach their goals. Angela Saini's book is gripping and exciting - a difficult feat when it comes to science at the best of times. But most all the book opens the reader up to a world where Geeks really do rule.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Geeks or drones? Neither term is particularly flattering but they represent the central thesis of Angela Saini's fascinating and entertaining 'analysis' of modern-day India. She provides a vivid account of her travels across the country and uses interviews with a wide range of people to build and develop her argument. Perhaps the most telling observation comes early on when she compares India's current situation with that of Japan in the 1970s (I'll leave you to decide upon your own conclusion about the comparison). There has been a swathe of books about India, particularly in the field of economics and business. I have read several of these in the last year or so but they remain, fundamentally, more academic tomes. In contrast Angela Saini draws upon her experience and skills as a journalist to write an account that uses reportage to great effect. Basically, its a great read. Highly recommended.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reading the book right now, and picked it up a couple of weeks ago while I was in India. As a scientist of Indian origin, I was bit skeptical of this book initially and the exaggerated tone of its title. However, half-way through the book, I must say I am finding this book very enjoyable, objective and nice reading. I admire author's fortitude in taking on the myths and hypocrisies around Indian science especially the silly claims of our scientific superiority and innovations in vedas and mahabaratha, and yet acknowledging our historic contribution to science.
I believe that the publisher has put a wrong spin to this book. This book is not about Indian science taking over the world and it does not even attempt to look at it but an excellent attempt to analyze the current status of science and technology as it is impacting India's rise, and debunking of much myths in the Indian psyche on the role of science in spirituality and our history.
I believe that the publisher has put a wrong spin to this book. This book is not about Indian science taking over the world and it does not even attempt to look at it but an excellent attempt to analyze the current status of science and technology as it is impacting India's rise, and debunking of much myths in the Indian psyche on the role of science in spirituality and our history.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting book though the sub-title belies the contents
Angela Saini is not an uncritical Indophile. Her book reveals the frustrations of living and working in India as much as the interest in science in India. Read more
Published 4 months ago by mohan
informative and insightful
The book is an attempt by the author to understand the science and technology landscape in India, and she definitely manages this quite well. Read more
Published 9 months ago by nitin_williams
Geek Nation
Although the sub title is bombastic, the actual narrative is very readble and balanced. Those of us who left India several decades ago like the author's father would find this book... Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. Dani
Eye-opener
In a book that I finished in two days because I couldn't put it down I learnt about advances in India that I had no idea about from reading the news media in Europe. Read more
Published 14 months ago by RFN
Great insight into science in India
Highly entertaining account of one self-confessed geek's travels through India, and her view of the potential for the country to grow from a source of cheap outsourcing labour to a... Read more
Published 14 months ago by SS
Great debut!
Geek Nation has been a highly enjoyable and eye-opening read. It provides an excellent insight into a world not often seen, combining accuracy with humour and personal viewpoints... Read more
Published 14 months ago by FLN
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
