This is a telling of history that is quite a bit different from what exists in Indian textbooks. While the author does have some bias as an English historian, it doesn’t take away from some fascinating perspectives of the heroes we have lionised. A little meandering, but if you like history, a must-read.
Melinda French Gates gets a lot of things right with the book. Starting with the acknowledgement that she shares from a position of privilege, she approaches the subjects with intellectual honesty. The book covers a lot of ground – maternal and newborn health, the importance of contraceptives and family planning, education for girls, the unpaid work that women do, and gender inequity in the workplace. It’s an excellent read that is full of anecdotes and insights without being prescriptive.
These days, we assume that a liberal democracy is the best form of government. But the world wasn’t always like this. How did we get here, and why did different countries get here at different times? From biological foundations of human behaviour to language and development of political systems, this is an enlightening read that helps us better understand the world we live in.
There was a time when I used to only read Indian fiction, because I found it more relatable. The only genre that was an exception was science fiction. And now, we have an Indian sci-fi anthology. From a walking Taj Mahal to zombies in Chennai, it has amazing diversity of context and actual storytelling.
The stories of ordinary citizens of the former USSR, who went through multiple political upheavals, which shaped their minds and lives. From idealism to just wishing to escape the system, people had different hopes. Quite a brutal read, but well worth it.