- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Abacus; New edition edition (5 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0349118744
- ISBN-13: 978-0349118741
- Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 3.2 x 19.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 148,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
'Engrossing... A wonderfully engaging portrait of India' DAILY TELEGRAPH **'Thoughtful and thorough... The research here is formidable' OBSERVER ** 'An unalloyed treat, rich in information, stimulation and humour. Believe the blurb' IRISH EXAMINER ** 'Without question the best book yet written on New India' William Dalrymple ** 'Luce presents a compelling case ... a perceptive, witty and readable book' THE ECONOMIST 'In Spite of the Gods is some way ahead of the game. Luce is a highly perceptive and intelligent writer and, unusually, he understands how India works.' Sunday Times 'Luce delivers genuine insight and revealing observations among the exhaustive facts
Daily Telegraph
`Engrossing . . . A wonderfully engaging portrait of India'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Edward Luce's style is clear and concise, producing a readable and informative book based on his personal experience of living in India and working as a journalist for the FT. He offers his insight into how modern India has evolved out of the policies of Gandhi and Nehru; its relationship to the rest of the world and its uneasy connection with Pakistan.
He describes how British rule introduced a bureaucracy which has developed into one with considerable power within the country; frequently to the disadvantage of the poorest in society who are unable to benefit from government interventions aimed at supporting them as funds are invariably diverted into the pockets of the burra sahibs.
He gives an illuminating account of the rise of the BJP and its influence on the Hindu-Muslim relationship. All is not quite as it seems, however, and he also describes the inter relationship of various Muslim groups and the complicated political manoeuvring between the parties that this produces.
Whether you agree with everything he writes, it is a great insight into how India is developing into a super power along with China, which will alter the balance of world power in the 21st century. If you have an interest in India and its status in today's world, this is an excellent book to invest time with.
He describes how British rule introduced a bureaucracy which has developed into one with considerable power within the country; frequently to the disadvantage of the poorest in society who are unable to benefit from government interventions aimed at supporting them as funds are invariably diverted into the pockets of the burra sahibs.
He gives an illuminating account of the rise of the BJP and its influence on the Hindu-Muslim relationship. All is not quite as it seems, however, and he also describes the inter relationship of various Muslim groups and the complicated political manoeuvring between the parties that this produces.
Whether you agree with everything he writes, it is a great insight into how India is developing into a super power along with China, which will alter the balance of world power in the 21st century. If you have an interest in India and its status in today's world, this is an excellent book to invest time with.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whatever your views on his perspective, this is a well researched and, most of the time, a superbly written book. I add the clause because I felt that sometimes the detail got in the way of the flow of the prose. Some reviews have criticized Luce's use of interviews but these feel truthful; and writing from experience gives a book a depth that 'facts' along cannot.
When the book takes off in chapters 4 and 5 it is amongst the most lucid accounts I have read about India. It chimes with my experience and explains some of the progress I have seen in Delhi and how individual politicians can make a difference.
If there is any chance of a paperback version perhaps some thought should be given to some judicious editing because I feel that amidst the detail there is an absolute classic, admittedly more personal, account of modern India trying to get out.
When the book takes off in chapters 4 and 5 it is amongst the most lucid accounts I have read about India. It chimes with my experience and explains some of the progress I have seen in Delhi and how individual politicians can make a difference.
If there is any chance of a paperback version perhaps some thought should be given to some judicious editing because I feel that amidst the detail there is an absolute classic, admittedly more personal, account of modern India trying to get out.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Edward Luce has written a very readable uptodate account. He has done his research and sometimes produces some interesting analysis, although he sometimes goes alarmingly far back in history to make some points. However I get the feeling he spent too much time interviewing the political and business elites, and did not really see the rise of the middle class in the towns. Hence he does not understand the true India and what makes it ticks. He makes the point that its not `the economy, stupid' that matters in India, but the politics. Actually, its not `the politics, stupid' it is the society, and he has little insight into this.
Luce makes some interesting comparisons with China and has an illuminating chapter on foreign affairs but his shopping-list of recommendations on how to put India on the right track domestically are simply laughable, and even downright arrogant, displaying a complete disregard for how the electorate might perceive any of his recommendations, eg. increasing the price of electricity and water. The now defunct and discredited Enron went bellyup in India under just such a delusion, and he, as a Financial Times journalist should know this.
Luce makes some interesting comparisons with China and has an illuminating chapter on foreign affairs but his shopping-list of recommendations on how to put India on the right track domestically are simply laughable, and even downright arrogant, displaying a complete disregard for how the electorate might perceive any of his recommendations, eg. increasing the price of electricity and water. The now defunct and discredited Enron went bellyup in India under just such a delusion, and he, as a Financial Times journalist should know this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A well-written synthesis; not the usual "cut and paste"...
Edward Luce is a noted journalist for the "Financial Times" (of London). He completed this timely and authoritative work in 2006. Read more
Published 7 months ago by John P. Jones III
Readable Account on Modern India
In Spite of the Gods is an excellent, readable book on India. It will provide insights for even those who know the country reasonably well already.
Published 14 months ago by J. S. Seehra
excellent
Every Indian should read this book....it discusses a lot about our own land, the truth!!But the language and pace is not easy to follow..
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by A Divyarani
in spite of the gods
A very informative book about modern India,also helpful in understanding new Indian literature ie Slumdog Millionare,White Tiger,The God of small things. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2009 by Robin Burrows
To spite the Gods?
I picked up this book when I was on a trip, mainly because of the intriguing title. I thought, well, here is someone who will tell us how our Gods hold us back economically. Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2007 by Aditya
Shallow and biased
The book starts out well, and offers a smattering of statistics that intrigue, as well as some background into India's history and its founding fathers so to say, including Nehru,... Read more
Published on 10 July 2007 by Abhinav Agarwal
Great Book about Indian Culture
I found this book really interesting and I wholly recommend it to anyone who wants to know how Indian culture, economic growth and religion intertwine. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2007 by Jay
A little basic
This is a readable work by somebody who's comfortable of competently discussing both economics and sociology at a fairly knowledgeable level, though for old hand with India there's... Read more
Published on 9 April 2007 by Ibrahim Ali
Excellent introduction to contemporary Indian politics and society
Edward Luce portrays a picture of modern India primarily in an anecdotal manner. While such an approach usually has certain limitations, Luce substantiates it up with well... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2007 by N. Nevatia
Very disappointing ....trite and shallow!
This book is disappointing . Having read it immediately after reading "Being Indian" by Pavan Varma ,the contrast is sharp. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2007 by A. Gupta
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