India Books

I lost track of Thalassa Ali after reading the first book in this series, so I was surprised to find that two more were finished. Although perhaps more of the romance novel than the first book, the second is a satisfying sequel. It continues to provide interesting detail about the time and place, the customs, beliefs, and prejudices while delivering an interesting plot and an engaging, if flawed, heroine. Having just finished this book, I can't wait to plunge into the next one.

This was one of the most entertaining books I've read in a while. If you love Indian or Hindu culture, you will love this book. Ali provides a unique look at this culture from the European perspective, at first judgemental, later accepting, and finally, by the end, you fall in love with the beauty of India. Her characters are 3 dimensional and well rounded. I highly recommend this book!

But WHY does it HAVE to be a trilogy? WHY couldn't it have been a big thick juicy blockbuster? This parceling out of the story in parsimonious portions is driving me BANANAS! I waited for over two years for the rest of the story and now I find out that I get just the middle and have to wait another YEAR for the end. Oh dear.

By the time you get to this sequel of A SINGULAR HOSTAGE, you'll probably be as desperate as I was to find out what happens to the adventurous Mariana, her new husband Hassan (the marriage has yet to be consummated), her spiritually gifted stepson Saboor, and the other fascinating characters in this tale of Victorian India. I found it very hard to put the book down.

I adore the love story -- how delicately it grows out of almost teasingly brief encounters between two people culturally primed to misunderstand each other. I also love the way this trilogy takes you into a different world -- actually, many different worlds -- with part of the delight being the ironic juxtaposition of conflicting world views.

I'm not usually one for mystic plot turns, which do occur regularly in this trilogy, but Ali makes them work well, and along the way you gain an intriguing and sympathetic glimpse into Sufism and the history of what today is Pakistan.

My only complaint is that the final book in the trilogy isn't out yet. I can't wait to read it!

In 1838 India, Englishwoman Mariana Givens arrives to find herself a suitable husband amongst the British military. Many officers want her, but instead she falls in love with a native baby Saboor whose mother died from poison.. During her quest to return the allegedly mystical infant to his father, Mariana falls in love and marries Hassan Ali Khan over the objections of both their societies.

Two years later Mariana realizes she has no place in the Indian world and remains the pariah of English society. She knows it is time to return to Lahore where her spouse lives and do two acts that will destroy her soul. She must return her beloved Saboor so that he can obtain his rightful place as a person supposedly gifted with magical abilities and she must obtain a divorce from Hassan. A heartbroken Mariana must say goodbye to the two native males that she loves for the sake of peace between two cultures on the verge of deadly conflict.

The sequel to SINGULAR HOSTAGE, A BEGGAR AT THE GATE is a terrific insightful historical tale with a touch of romanticism that brings to live mid eighteenth century India. The story line moves rather quickly yet not only has full blooded key characters, but also provides a deep window into two peoples at a point of major strife seemingly ready to turn deadly. Still the center of the novel is Mariana and her relationships with the two males she loves and with Indian and English societies. Readers will beg for more sequels especially what happens to the fascinating Saboor as an adult.

Harriet Klausner

The natural beauty of an Indian village has been portrayed realistically in this novel even with the tiniest detail that the reader could view it as if in a movie in front.

Moncy Pothen's hero, Arjunan, is a typical village guy learns Hindu traditions and holy books like Bhagavad-Gita from his parents, in his childhood, and the ancient hero with his same name, Arjuna, inspires him. It is well explained how the unexpected events change his whole path of life when he decides to participate in the social reform. He involves in an extremist group by believing only an armed up rise of the common men would change the corrupt society. He is an educated man, with a respectable job, family and social status, sacrifices everything for the rescue of the exploited and the down trodden. When he returns from jail, regretful about his past, the society does not forgive him and allow him to socialise normally. His good deeds, importance and intention are being scrutinized for a long while.

A woman's helplessness when she looses all hopes in life; at the time of making difficult decisions; when she has to support others in distress and also when she has to choose between the right and the wrong: is shown clearly by the character Ahalya. How the power of woman can be rejuvenated by a node or a small support can be witnessed in the book at a later stage. The woman's role in the society is well explained with many woman characters and it proves without doubt that the woman is not a weaker section in the society and she can stand along side with man in every activity.

Human mind is described with expertise in this book. The way people think and react at life's different circumstances is highlighted realistically. Humour is also applied in various occasions as a part and parcel of the Kerala society. The countless characters in this book represents the cross section of a society, which includes members belong to the countless castes and creeds in India. Their life harmony and the way in which religious fanaticism tries to disrupt it are also explained well. It proves that extremism, whether it is political or religious, is harmful to the society and the common men always stand against that.

The Author shows that love is a combined feeling of security, courage, jealousy, possessiveness, oneness, sharing and caring. True love can face any obstacle when together. Even the smallest of things done for the other can make a big difference.

The unexpected ending of this story also makes it unique.

First of all, as soon as I completed the last lines of the book, tears started rolling down my cheeks. I really wonder why it happened. I think the climax has such an effect on me because basically I am a traditional Indian girl and all Indian girls are same in their heart though some act as if they are not. Beneath the Clouds and Coconut Leaves is a realistic book which gives a good idea about the social and economic conditions of people in Kerala since independence and it wonderfully portraits the feelings of a female heart.

I assume that this book will be a wonderful literary experience to the readers around the world. Mr.Pothen is a kind and nice person. He really impressed me with his story and his excellent writing skills.

Mr. Moncy Pothen in his Novel, `Beneath the Clouds and Coconut Leaves,' narrates, with ease, the rhythms of uncared, stranded lives in bitterness since the dawn of independence.

In his entire story, he spotted the starving world for love with its human touch in real life. Through out the tale, the panoramic expressions are the aerial outcome of the true nature with the living world and the ecosystem.

We can see the pompous days of feudalism are ending and a new age of scarcity or humbleness awakening and it is the hero, an unexpected source that was instrumental to the fall, comes for the aid with attempts to rescue. In the book, we experience the success of humanity above all the ideologies. It also portrays the political, social and cultural scenario in Kerala, the tiny South Indian State, in its true state.

I wish the domain made by the Author be a great success.

Those who lived in Kerala in the Sixties/Seventies would know what it means to be a Naxal. How many young men/women have sacrificed their lives on the altar of this utopian cause! How many families have suffered, some violently and some in silence! All for a cause that just fizzled out within no time and vanished from people's memory without a trace.

It's not a hitherto unexplored theme, but to my knowledge past initiatives have been in Malayalam language. Here Moncy uniquely portrays the life in a typical Kerala village, its social structure, its pulses and the swings. I'm sure the reader will be overwhelmed by the sentiments Moncy has successfully depicted without losing its innocence and flavor.
Kurien V.
Saudi Arabia

This lucid little book draws on the Pali canon to retell the life of the Buddha and to recast his philosophy as a strategy for moral and psychological transformation. It succeeds in making Buddhism palatable to modern Western readers at the cost of playing down religious doctrines such as karma and rebirth. Given these omissions, I'm not sure whether it is faithful to the teachings of the historical Buddha or to Buddhism as practiced by the vast majority of Buddhists in Asia. However, I would strongly recommend the book to anyone who is curious about Buddhism but who would be put off by a "religious" book.

This work is in essence a reprint of the earlier Past Masters work 'The Buddha'. It provides a succinct, clear overviews of the historic Buddha, his teachings and the development and spread of these up to the present day.

Written by a British Anthropologist from an academic perspective - but accessible to general readers, this work is stripped of the enigmatic and ethereal detritus that presents a barrier to understanding in some Buddhist writing, especially for those of an empirical and sceptical bent. Despite the detached, academic style, it is nevertheless clear that Carrithers is deeply impressed with Buddhism.....as will many readers be after finishing this book.

This work is very short, only around 100 pages, and this adds to its power. I recommend it unreservedly as a concise introduction to Buddhism. Certainly the most succinct, lucid yet thougrough overview of Buddhism that I've yet read.

One major claim of this book is that in Buddha's case it is impossible to understand the thought without understanding the life. Thus Michael Carrithers tells us the story of Buddha's life, of his coming to meet with a sick person, an aged man and a corpse, his renunciation of the world and his wandering until he meditating calmly under a Bo tree comes to the enlightentment that is his liberation.For forty- five years afterwards he wanders and teaches but when he leaves the world the seed has been planted , there are followers who will spread his teachings throughout the world.
I write these words without understanding what ' enlightentment' means and without knowing why I should seek for it, and without having any sense of why it is right to be liberated from the pains and difficulties of our most intimate human connections. I write these words without knowing why it is better to be ' enlightened and kind' rather than to be ' just kind'. And I write too without really understanding how one can have detachment and peace without faith in a personal God.
It is not enough to read a book, and take in the meanings intellectually to truly understand it.
I do not understand the way of the Buddha, but my sense is that this work is a fine introduction to beginning to know it.

This is a recycled version of the same book by the same publisher in the Past Masters series. It is a pity there have been no changes if any made to the original work done in 1983 as a few things have changed in Buddhist studies since then. At least the pictures are better and the book looks shorter than the original transmission.

A sharp, highly critical approach with the most important elements highlighted. A coherent essay of depth and rigour. A joy to read and appreciate.

This is the 2nd book on Buddhism in the A Very Short Introduction series (VSI) by OUP. The book "Buddhism a VSI" by D. Keown is also excellent. In fact most of the books on the VSI series seem to be brilliant. To be recommended to anyone, cheap to buy, cheaper to read and the taste is very expensive.

This book, perhaps better than any other I've read, brings to light the unique philosophical position of the Buddha. Carrithers clearly explains how the Buddha stood out from the intellectual background of his time and helps one understand how and why the Buddha arrived at his views. A brilliant account of the Buddha's life and teachings not only for its scholarship but also for its refreshing lucidity.

We cook out of this cook book allot and each page is scented with the spices from YEARs of serious use. I have a great cook book collection and this is the BEST book of the lot. The recipes are detailed and specific. This book is worth whatever you have to pay for it. Enjoy and cook.

I purchased this book in the early 90's, being an englishman with a taste for Indian food and a flair for cooking. This has travelled with me ever since. I have used this book as a source for all of my indian meals and the recipes (and I have prepared man of them) are the most authentic dishes you will create. I cooked for an Indian friend a couple of years ago and after I had served him some of my onion bhajis, he paid me the compliment of telling me that they tasted exactly as his mom had prepared back in calcutta. The recipes can be daunting, with endless lists of ingredients - but find yourself a good asion food store and go to task - it's worth it!!!

This book is excellent, I cannot recommend it highly enough
The recipes are clear and easy to follow.
Every recipe ALWAYS turns out very well
Very Highly recommended

This is the best cook book I have come across. Everything is just right, except I cannot get a copy of it. Most libraries have it.

I have tried many of the recipes in this book and I've never been disappointed. Some of the recipes look overwhelming because of many ingredients but the author has kept the instructions simple and to the point. This book is perfect for newcomers to Asian cooking but it is also good for those that are more experienced. My only complaint is that the index could be expanded to make it easier to look things up.

These are recipes you won't find anywhere else. This is a cookbook you will take down again and again. Malvi Doshi writes concisely and in an easy to follow manner from the novice to the expert. I had the good fortune to frequent her restaurant, "The Ganges" when she had it. Alais, there are only two ways to get her cullinary expertise now, live in the Berkley area and attend a class, or this cookbook. Her original cookbook, "The Ganges" while out of print remains a well loved (if not food smeared) classic.
I personally stopped "collecting" cookbooks with the advent of web based recipe searches, but this book, this book, is more than something to hold a distinguished place on any fine cooks shelf. This book is one to be used and treasured for a lifetime.
Thank you, Mrs. Doshi for your wisdom and guidance. I have waited along time for more of your wonderful, mouth-watering recipes!

I have been using this book for over 2 months and I can't express in words how much I've enjoyed it. A good friend of mine, who used to live in San Francisco and was a regular customer at The Ganges restaurant, recommended purchasing any cookbook written by Malvi Doshi. I'm new to Indian cooking so I was a bit intimidated by Indian cooking with all its spices. However, this book is very easy to followed and detailed so that I felt at ease, even as a beginner, in preparing these meals. There are tons of recipes, many of which I have never heard of or tasted at any Indian restaurant. Evertime I have cooked meals from this book for a dinner party, my dinner guests have been very impressed by the tastiness and uniqueness of the meals. I consider this cookbook one of the best I have ever owned.

A vegetarian who grew up in India, but who never really mastered Indian cooking (I was what Americans would call a "military brat") I find this book to be absolutely essential. The recipes I've tried thus far -- my favorites being the Biryani (spicy rice with yogurt) and the 'Gulab Jaman' dessert (rose-flavored dumplings) -- have yielded dishes that remind me of the best meals that I enjoyed in India, when I last lived there.

In addition to the hundreds of scrumptuous, majority low-fat recipes in this book, I particularly appreciate Chef Doshi's attention to detail in explaining procedures and ingredients. Chef's Doshi's knowledge is vast, and the wonderful stories with which she embellishes her text are an added delight.
Highly recommended for novice and advanced cooks alike!

I consider myself a very experienced amateur cook, with special interest in Asian and Indian cooking. Although I'm not a vegetarian (too many tasty meat dishes to give up), I bought this book based on friends and acquaintences ravings about Ms. Doshi's former restaurant in San Francisco.

I have not been disappointed. Unlike most other Indian cookbooks, this one specializes in a relatively unknown regional cuisine of Gujurat. There are many recipes I have not found in other books. Despite the relative obscurity of these recipes, the book manages to describe them very thoroughly and all the recipes I have tried thus far have been fairly easy to follow. An added plus is that minimal oil is used so this book would be very good for the health conscious.

In summary, the strengths of this book are the great number diversity of recipes, excellant writing, thoroughness of descriptions, and inclusion of relatively hard to find recipes. The only major weakness is the paucity of illustrations. I would highly recommend this cookbook to Indian cuisine afficianados who want to learn more about Indian cooking beyond the usual curries and tandoori dishes.

Compared to most Indian cook books, I would rate this very highly. I've been waiting to purchase this book based on reviews I've read of Ms. Doshi's other cookbook, which is no longer available. This new book is quite long, with many recipes so I haven't been able to try many of them yet. However, the recipes that I have attempted thus far have been great. Much of the recipes are unique and cooking instructions are very easy to follow. The only criticisms I would have is that, because of its size and dimensions, it does not easily lend itself to cooking while following the instructions--it's hard to keep the pages open--and the book could have benefited from more illustrations. Otherwise, this is a first rate cookbook.

I am not quite sure why I bought this book!

Maybe it was to make sure that the authors (Terry Collins and Derek Bacon) get at least some royalties for their efforts or perhaps the more likely excuse is that I needed to see whether my experiences were the same or similar to others. Then again maybe I bought the book because I just wanted to criticize the characterization or stereotyping of what it is like for us white folk living in Indonesia and particularly Jakarta!

The book set me back some IDR 163,000 from Kinokuniya in Plaza Indonesia. I was in Kinokuniya to buy a cross-stitch magazine for my better half and I happened to see the book and thought, why not? So, I whacked it on the counter and I now have my very own copy!

You might be wondering why a bloke who has spent so long in Jakarta wants to read anything to do with Culture Shock. Well, even after all this time living in Indonesia I am still "hey Mister" and perhaps this is both the beauty and the beast that is Jakarta; no matter how long you might have lived here and no matter how much you have integrated into society, you will never get away from being "Hey Mister!"

The book is well written (at least for my mind) and I found myself smiling and chuckling to myself as I read through it. It is surprising how much of the experience is common and how much we tend to forget of what has happened. It was nice to read and remember some of those long forgotten experiences that were jogged back into the more conscious memory!

I know one of the authors (Terry Collins) and perhaps I should make this as a disclaimer. Nevertheless, those of you that know me would know that I pull no punches. If I thought the book was garbage I would say so in not such an eloquent way! Yet, the book, I have found has been worth the money I outlaid for it, if for no other reason than it reminded me of moments that I have enjoyed during my stay.

Funnily enough most people are reporting that they are not finding this book in the arrival halls to Jakarta but rather in the departure shopping areas. I guess this might afford those on their way out of Jakarta a chance to buy the book for the purposes of answering this question: "what the hell just happened to me?"

I would have thought though that the best spot for this would be in the departure lounges of foreign locales and the arrival lounges of points of entry into Indonesia...but I guess this is why I studied law and not marketing!

But for anyone interested in learning the "ins and outs" of the Jakarta experience then this is perhaps the book for you. The book contains sections on the history and politics of Jakarta, settling in for those of you who might want to be more than tourists, visa and immigration information, business information, food and entertaining, fitting in, and communicating, among a number of others.

I think the most valuable learning tools in the book are the short glossary at the end, the culture quiz, and the "do's and don'ts" section.

So, go out and buy the book as it might just help you understand the experience you are about to have or the experience that you have just had!

I loved the book! I'm going to go live in Indonesia, possibly Jakarta, and the book gives all the tips you would want to know. I would buy this series for any new place that I want to live. It goes over everything from how to pick a house to weather patterns. It give a great description of what the people are like and how they think. A must buy for anyone moving to Indonesia. Priceless information that would take years to learn on your own.

Culture Shock! is the only must-read book on how to survive the confusing "monster" named Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Being born and raised there, Jakarta hasn't stopped surprising me to this very day, especially since I no longer reside there in the last decade.

This revised version is more comprehensive and up-to-date, as the co-author Terry Collins is, undoubtedly, superbly skillful in describing and explaining how Jakarta has evolved and will continue to evolve as one of the most unique places on the planet. Overall, it is a great book to read and keep on your bookshelf. Suitable for those who intend to visit Jakarta for pleasure or business for a few days, weeks, months, or even years.

I have been waiting for this book to come out for a few months!

I wish it was available when we first arrived in Jakarta.

This book is a very comprehensive guide to life in Jakarta, it should be compulsory for all new expatriates as it makes life so much easier when you understand whats going on around you. Even after living here for nearly 12 months I learnt a lot.

The book was originally authored by Derek Bacon nearly 10 years ago and has just been thoroughly revised and updated by a renown Jakarta Blogger, Jakartass.

Some of the topics covered:-

* First impressions
* History, Geography and Politics
* Fitting into society
* Settling in
* Food and entertainment
* Culture and travel
* Communicating in Jakarta
* Doing business
* Fast facts

I was very impressed with this book and hope you will be too.

Viewed from a safe distance, it's easy to assume that these days it's just one bad thing after another in Indonesia. How terrible must this place be to actually live in? How on earth do people manage to live there?

It's easy for the outside world to get a distorted view of life somewhere, when all that seems to come from there is bad news. But these are just events, little blips that get reported along the way. It's in the moments between these events where the real picture lies, where day-to-day life goes on, apparently as normal.

If you want to stand any chance of knowing Indonesia at all, you'll need to be there at ground level, with it whizzing all around you.Towering well over 1.83m tall, my co-authoring friend Terry Collins is definitely at ground level. In this reworked version of CultureShock! Jakarta, Terry brings our picture of Jakarta bang up to date.

With 20 years of Jakarta living under his belt, he is well qualified in shifting the story forward. And, crucially, he still has enthusiaism for the Jakarta life. He may of course completely deny this, but it's this very enthusiasm that has helped paint this much fuller picture of the city, and one too that helps guide us through the often confusing decade of change (or non-change) since President Suharto made his dramatic exit in 1998.

So here then is Jakarta today. It's big. It's frustrating. It really is a monster. Don't say we didn't warn you.

I originally bought this book as another of my spontaneous crazy cook book purchase. But then I made this first dish....and it was so good. So I made another, an so on..... All the dishes that come out of this cook are wonderful. The pictures are inspiring. This is a fantastic first Indian cookbook to get.

This book is so wonderful. It is beautifully photographed, designed and well thought out. This might make you think that the recipies were an afterthought; however, they were given just as much if not more attention. This book is a GEM!

With so many Indian cookbooks already on the market, why should the interested home cook look at yet another? It's simple: The Food Of India: A Journey For Food Lovers by Priya Wickramasinghe and Carol Selva Rajah is quite a cut above most of its similar-sounding competitors. In the first place, a team of traveler/food fans join forces to offer exquisite color photos of both Indian foods and culinary scenes across the country, pairing these photos with clear discussions of the seven Indian states and the local foods they're noted for. Secondly, The Food Of India includes a healthy dose of local history and ingredients research, as well as interviews with chefs and food producers. And if this isn't enough, it needs to be noted that the recipes selected for The Food Of India are anything but ordinary: from a Fried Beef Kerala to the Northern Indian traditional Chole Chaat, many regional specialty dishes aren't to be found in competing guides. All these features combined assure a visual treat packed with dishes all levels of Indian cook will relish.

Even though i was from India I amnow in the US where sometimes finding Indian ingredients could be a long lengthy process. This book not only retains the origian taste but also incorporates ingredients easily found in a non Indian environment. I absolutely love the andhra style chicken pulao and the chicken tikka masala. This book has made my mom proud (since she loves to take credit for training me with regards to cooking), little does she know i owe it all to this book.

This is the ultimate Indian cookbook to own.

This book explains in detail the delicacies of various parts of India. As many people know, India has culture, language and practices that differ vastly from one state to another. This book encompasses dishes from almost all the states of India. This book also explains when a meal is eaten (e.g. breakfast, special occassion etc). The photos of people, places, and dishes add good value to the book. I have tried many recipes and are quite authentic. (Since India is a large country, the meaning of authenticity of a particular dish varies from place to place). The ingredients are easily available in any specialty grocery store. If not, you can safely substitute/omit some of the ingredients.

A must have for all Indian food cooks out there.

The first advice I would give to anyone interested in Bamber Gascoigne's THE GREAT MOGHULS would be, "Buy it in the hardcover edition, even if you have to buy it used." I once owned a brand-new hardcover edition and was foolish enough to sell it. Later I found that it was no longer in print. Reading a paperback library edition, I could really see the difference. There was the same excellent text by Bamber Gascoigne, but the gorgeous photographs by his wife, Christina-- many in full color-- were missing. This is a great defect for any book on the Great Moghuls, because this dynasty was particularly rich in art and architecture. Moghul miniatures combine the vivid hues, attention to detail and exotic flavor of both Hindu Indian and Persian miniatures with the realism of sixteenth-century Western art. As for Moghul architecture-- well of course everyone knows about the Taj Mahal, one of the world's great wonders, and the culmination of a long tradition of excellence.

Equally interesting is the personalities of the Moghuls. One is led through the founder of the dynasty, Babur, who transformed his family from mere descendants of the merciless Jhengiz Khan and Tamerlane (the word "Moghul" is a corruption of "Mongol") to a leading agent of civilization in central Asia and later India. One thing Babur kept from his background was a love for the outdoors: thus he preferred to sleep in tents rather than palaces, and this led to the design of gardens which set a beautiful precedent for later Moghul achievements. More surprising for a man of such background was his love of the written word, for he wrote (or to be more precise, dictated) his own biography and thus set another precendent to be followed by his heirs. It is fortunate that he came under the influence of Persian culture, for it above all others had thrown off the ban on the depiction of human and animal forms which limited Islamic art elsewhere. The result was to be stunning. He was succeeded in power by his son, Humayun, to whom he left his greatest conquest, Hindustan. Humayun was a dissolute fellow who is best remembered as the father of the greatest Moghul, Akbar, of whom more later. As it strengthened its hold upon India, the Moghul Dynasty grew more cultivated until it reached its aesthetic height in the reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, whose love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal inspired the Taj. Sadly, the dynasty was to end with a dour bigot, Aurangzeb, but his reign only represented a reaction to the tolerance and flowering of culture that his predecessors had presided over.

If the Gascoignes' book has a defect, it is its tendency to slight the greatest Moghul, Akbar. Unfortunately, they provide little information about or pictures of him, although such exist, and even give the wrong birthdate for him, October 15, which is the date officially assigned by courtiers fearful of hostile astrologers, not the real one which was a month later. This neglect of the dynasty's most memorable character is no doubt due to Bamber Gascoigne's own preference for Akbar's son, Salim, who assumed the name Jahangir or "Seizer of the World" on his ascension to the Peacock Throne. Jahangir is indeed a fascinating character, possessing an almost Western scientific curiosity and keenly interested in every detail of the natural world, which he recorded, often with illustrations by court painters, in his diary. Unfortunately he was also a sadist. Cruel punishments were standard practice in those times, and not only in the East-- as Queen Elizabeth herself had people drawn and quartered, one can hardly expect a 16th Century execution to end in mere beheading or a quick hanging. But the pleasure Janhangir took in devising and watching punishments in which people were tortured to death makes him repugnant to this reader.

How different was his father, who, as the biographer Vincent Smith says, never took pleasure in cruelty. Akbar was a contradictory ruler, athletic and warlike, with a fierce temper, yet also an unusual degree of compassion for his time, sensitivity to beauty, and a deeply mystical nature. He is above all remarkable for his religious toleration. Gascoigne notes Akbar's increasing hostility to the tyranny of the mullahs, who alone had the right to determine the correct way of doing everything in a medieval Islamic state. In place of their authority Akbar asserted his own. This may seem to us to violate the principle of "division of church and state", but we must remember that Akbar knew no such principle-- he only knew that under the mullahs his non-Muslim subjects-- Hindus, Parsis, Jains, and Christians-- were being oppressed. The author touches briefly upon Akbar's adoption of his own religion, the din-il-Ilahi, which he did not however attempt to force upon his subjects. He notes that Akbar was too much of a Hindu for the Muslims, and too much of a Muslim for the Hindus, without recognizing, as Smith does, that he was neither. In fact he had embraced Parsiism, perhaps the oldest scriptural religion in the world, which had first been annunciated by Zoroaster (Zarathustra) in the 12th century BCE, whose influence in the era of Mani (from whose name "Manicheanism" is taken) stretched from China to Rome, even influencing Christianity through Gnosticism, until it was suppressed as a heresy in the cruelty of the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229 CE). Akbar worshipped the sun and fire, keeping an eternal flame as Parsis do in their fire temples. But ironically, he would have been rejected by the Parsi community of today, which, influenced by the particularism which flourishes so fatally on the Indian subcontinent and which Akbar tried to rise above, no longer accepts into their religion anyone whose father was not a Parsi.

In sum, one can say that THE GREAT MOGHULS serves up a lavish feast of fascinating history and elegant art, but for an understanding of its greatest subject, one must go elsewhere.

Provides a very readable yet comprehensive view of the great Indian rulers. Provides many rich facts but does not burden the reader with too much detail. Must read.

Mr. Gascoigne's work is simply the best one can have. He gives an insight into the lives of the Moghul rulers. Being someone who's not from the subcontinent, he is not overawed by the Moghul dynasty. The potrial of the figures is intimate and one can almost feel the human beings inside those great rulers. The collection and presentation of facts is so beautifully done that one has to remind himself from time to time that this is a chronicle of history, not a racy fiction novel. The facts are so well connected and documented that the real persons can almost be seen by us. Their vices and virtues are laid out and the author just places it before the readers in sequence so that they are not overwhelmed by the wealth of details this work contain. He also manages to give a very impartial and practical account of the daily lives of the rulers, their court, courtesans, wives and the administration too. It is difficult to imagine that he himself was not overawed by the grandeur and magnificence of the Moghuls. But in true professional style, he kept himself aloof and presented to the world the life of he Great Moghuls. He laid bare their wealth, gradndeur, decadence, virtues and vices. Such a great work can hardly be duplicated or surpassed. It is simply the greatest work on arguably the greatest dynasty of Indian rulers.

Mr. Gascoigne's work is simply the best one can have. He gives an insight into the lives of the Moghul rulers. Being someone who's not from the subcontinent, he is not overawed by the Moghul dynasty. The potrial of the figures is intimate and one can almost feel the human beings inside those great rulers. The collection and presentation of facts is so beautifully done that one has to remind himself from time to time that this is a chronicle of history, not a racy fiction novel. The facts are so well connected and documented that the real persons can almost be seen by us. Their vices and virtues are laid out and the author just places it before the readers in sequence so that they are not overwhelmed by the wealth of details this work contain. He also manages to give a very impartial and practical account of the daily lives of the rulers, their court, courtesans, wives and the administration too. It is difficult to imagine that he himself was not overawed by the grandeur and magnificence of the Moghuls. But in true professional style, he kept himself aloof and presented to the world the life of he Great Moghuls. He laid bare their wealth, gradndeur, decadence, virtues and vices. Such a great work can hardly be duplicated or surpassed. It is simply the greatest work on arguably the greatest dynasty of Indian rulers.

This is a unique book of its kind, with the history of the Indian subcontinent stretching from Timur's attack of Delhi in 1398 to the banishment and subsequent death of Bahadur Shah in 1862. But the focus is on the glorious history of 181 years of the six great Moghuls like Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangazeb. The book is very detailed with their expansionist adventures and exploits, their ruthless family struggles and sporty pass-times, their patronization of arts and architecture, their devotional practices along with their virtues and vices. Over and above all that, their strategies of governance and approach to religion are in focus. Their acts of tolerance and benevolence are given due credit and their cruelties are graphically portrayed. In short the great Moghul era comes alive with the descriptive and substantially accurate account, accompanied by illustrations of 56 pages of color and 94 monochromes. Anyone interested in the history of the Indian subcontinent cannot bypass this book.

This novel has emerged, from the ruins of the purges, like a pure, unspoiled and immaculate gem. As an autobiographical novel, one cannot deny the importance of this work to provide for insights into Bukharin's private life, given that most biographies of Bukharin are about his political and intellectual life.

Not only is this work important in this regard, Bukharin's stunning literary ability comes to the forefront in this work, which details, with a humanistic empathy, the plight of the peasants, family relations and the psychology of a middle class family from the late 19th century Russian society. The novel begins with the birth of "Kolya" and is seen through the boy's eyes as he grows up. It ends, poignantly, (Bukharin did not live to finish the work) with the death of his brother.

Of particular note is the rich texture of his narrative; it powerfully invokes a child-like sense of wonder that is intrinsic to children of that age. There are indeed very few works out there that parallel the vivid evocation of imagery which Bukharin is capable of. Bukharin's description of the Russian landscape was beautifully detailed, as was the heartfelt revelations about life which slipped through.

It is through this work that we come to realize that the interior life of this man was not only brilliant, but that his political stance was chosen fundamentally because of his humanistic understanding of Russian peasants and the impoverished.

This edition comes with very lovely pictures, too.

Set in the pre-revolutionary Russia, Bukharin's novel attempts to demonstrate, through the eyes of a youth named Nikolai Petrov, how the revolutionary spirit fermented and grew among the youth and intelligentsia. While this novel could be read with an eye toward the abuses of the Soviet Union and dismissed as political propaganda, in doing so the reader would miss the wealth of historical detail with which Bukharin writes. Every page is bursting with succulent fruit for anyone interested in the social, economic, and cultural world of the peasants and the working class at the turn of the century in pre-revolutionary Russia. Part of that fruit is socialism, communism, atheism, and the raging underground debates taking place during that period; seen as history, however, Bukharin gives us an invaluable insider's view, recalling his youth in all its variety and discussing the situations that led him down the path his life had taken.

The story revolves around Nikolai, who is obviously a cipher for Bukharin himself. Young Kolya (Nikolai) is full of energy, wit, and curiosity. As he grows and excels in school, his thinking begins to grow as well, from that of an innocent child to that of a young man on the verge of becoming a revolutionary himself. Unfortunately, the saddest part about this novel is that it ends in the middle of a chapter; Stalin finally had Bukharin executed, making it very difficult to continue writing. The writing is so well done it is hard to believe Bukharin never had a chance to re-write it; we are reading essentially his first draft, written in prison. His astounding intellect is obvious, quoting from German, French, English, and Russian poets and authors, occasionally making references to Latin or Greek jokes the children learned in high school, and discussing the variety of birds and other animals Kolya collects with amazing clarity.

Before reading this book, I knew Bukharin was a political genius that few have matched. However, I did not realize his brilliance as a writer: he appeals wonderfully to all the visual and emotional senses as a great novelist. He occasionally discusses his growing political awareness, but that is not the focus of this work. His love of life, nature, and family show the incredible depth of his mind. Much credit must also be given to the translator for making the language so effusive in English.

It's a wonderful miracle that this book was not destroyed by Stalin; it's just a shame that it's incomplete, cutting off in mid-thought. Nevertheless, what Bukharin was able to complete gives provides an enthralling look into life in late Tsarist Russia, as well as putting us a bit closer with one of the most tragic victims of the purges.

Bukharin's autobiographical work is a lyrical, moving, story of the life of a young boy in pre-Soviet russia. Unlike Leon Trotsky's autobiography, which is a similar work in content, this is a novel. And a grand one. When you read the touching descriptions of Kolya's then idyllic, then tragic domestic life, you feel helpless, sad, for you know that this boy will eventually be dead, the New World he helped to create corrupted and turned against him. The very existence of this novel is a message of hope, that even under the most tragic and ironic circumstances there can something joyous (Bukharin wrote the novel while in Lubyanka prison). The poignancy of all this is further increased by the included letter by Bukharin, written to his wife Anna Larina and not given to her for 50+ years. This book also stands as a monument (in a medium I belief he would have perhaps preferred) to Nikolai Bukharin, a brilliant scholar, writer, and Revolutionary

This is a remarkable book. It combines three forms in a single work: 1) a detailed and evocative story of a boy growing up in late 19th century Russia, 2) an informative and moving autobiography of one of the most important Bolshevik leaders, and 3) commentary on the social and economic developments leading up to the 1905 and 1917 revolutions, including (in the tradition of Russian novels) imagined descriptions of important meetings of leaders of state. Most remarkable, though, is that the entire book was written in the nights of Bukharin's confinement in Moscow's Lubyanka Prison while he awaited almost certain execution following his notorious "show trial". The idea of a man who knows he could be shot at any moment writing such detailed, even leisurely descriptions of his childhood in Moscow and Bessarabia is almost beyond comprehension. Indeed, the novel breaks off in mid-sentence. This book should not be missed by anyone interested in 19th and 20th century Russian history, and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in a good coming-of-age novel as well.

Dewey's "How We Think" is the first book of his I have read. What a joy! I am in the "thick" of my doctoral dissertation, and am struggling to present and unfold my research work in a way that is clear to my audience (in this case, the members of my dissertation committee). Dewey's analysis of thought has helped me to consider important elements of thinking (and writing) such as: (1) the iterative "ebb and flow" between inductive and deductive thinking; (2) what is necessary to train my own mind to think "better"; etc.

Following my reading of "How We Think," I am now reading Dewey's "The Quest for Certainty" and "Knowing and the Known."

Reading "How We Think" is not difficult; however, it does require one to pay attention to what Dewey is saying to his reader audience. Now that I've read through it once, I will likely read through it again (fairly soon), as I work to tighten up my Ph.D. dissertation.

In conclusion, whether you are a student, teacher, or just plain interested in analyzing the world around you, then reading this book is very worthwhile.

As a professional educator, it's always great to review and reread works by the great theorists such as Dewey. Great information for business and educators alike!

It is very good to see this book appearing in new editions. This is a classic book about thinking. Dewey studies thought from the psychological and philosophical points of view and derives practical ideas for education.

Reading this book, I was surprised to see the applicability of its contents to my main activity field, which is business management. Today's main effort in business research is toward innovation and learning. Thus, thinking skill is probably the most important resource of any organization.

Dewey's view of thinking is surprisingly consistent and as fresh as any of the new management theories. Just to mention one aspect, he warns about the confusion of mental analysis (looking for the general aspects of an object) with physical analysis (dissection into parts), which leads to study living objects as if they were dead. This is the essence of systems thinking, which is so fashionable today!

The ideas Dewey presents about education are very useful for today's business environment. Business leaders, consultants and scholars should look carefully at his advices! His study of work and play is a great lesson of wisdom.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone seriosly aiming at world class business performance.

I had never heard of John Dewey until I took a philosophy class. When I first received the book, I read through it relatively fast. Much of the material went over my head. However, on the second reading it was as if the pages were illuminated. In this book, Mr. Dewey gives his opinion on how we humans learn. It takes every day simple actions, breakes them up into their smallest unit and discusses why we did it that way.

What have I gained from this book? Everytime I do something, I attempt to break it down into its simples being, and determining how this breakdown fosters greater intelligence within myself.

As a text book or a book one wants to learn something from, I give it five stars. For just general reading it will garner 1/2 of a star.

John Dewey book "How We Think" concludes that we can be taught to "think well". Ways to do just that are discussed. He starts with beliefs and then considers the consequences they bring about. He suggests that knowledge is relative to its interaction with the world. He seems to conclude that real freedom is intellectual and then defines that as the ability to just turn things over in ones mind which he calls the power of thought. Thinking is according to much of what he says more important than what is being thought about.

Thinking is about cause and the effects that follow. A process is implied and likewise a connection is made to influences that have a negative influence on the process. Thoughtful conclusions are less likely when influences from unbalanced appetites, caprice or the circumstances of the moment.

The book concentrates on the influences to thought. In addition to beliefs it looks at logic, language, and simple observation.

This book is a good foundation for digging deeper into literary cannon and its interpretation.

An easy book to read. Well worth it.