" The story is an inspiring tribute to the power of human beings to shape their own destiny, and a warning of the dangers of self-delusion and pride" - Arthur Herman
The above line summarizes the entire book in a concise manner. This is the exact feeling I got when I turned the last pages of the book. Although the book is a little long, there is not a single section which I can say is unnecessary or too elaborate. Most of us know about Gandhi, but still will gain a deeper insight on the man he was.
His triumphs, his failures and maybe his obsessions are very clearly defined by the author. The unique thing about the book is the parallel lives of Gandhi and Winston Churchill drawn by the author. Two great men who were rivals all their lives but still somewhere were driven by the same kind of passion that makes them revered in their respective countries.
The book ranges from the year 1857 till the death of Winston Churchill in 1965. Ranging from the birth of Gandhi and Churchill to the events that actually framed them into the people they were, the author takes us through small but significant events that shaped lives of these leaders, They were loved by millions and hated by millions too, Probably they were even used as a means to selfish ends. Despite being strong personalities who believed in their vision, they both reached their end disillusioned -looking at the way their country had shaped itself.
The best thing about the book is the underlying humor with which the author writes, He keeps you glued to the book and makes you laugh in the most serious of moments, It is a kind of humor that is not straight in your face but rather his way of writing brings a smile on your face when you picturize the whole sequence,
I would recommend this book as a must read for people who are interested in history and also for people who are not good at history but want to start. It describes the political situation of both the countries in a phased manner which makes it easy to follow for people who are not well-versed with the background also,