Gandhi: How He Transformed the World in 34 Years (1914-1948)

Sunil: Nice book

India on Jan 15, 2024

Sonee Singh: A detailed and thoroughly researched account of Gandhi when he created the most impact and during the formative years of India before independence.

United States on Jul 04, 2023

ivo: Mooi en goed boek. Vlot geleverd

Germany on Feb 14, 2023

Hugo B.: everything ok with my ship and the book. Will enjoy the reading

United States on Feb 13, 2023

Harvey Ellis: This book explores a comprehensive picture of the man, who brought down an empire through nonviolent peaceful agitation. The author expresses an objective outline into his life. A book worth reading.

Canada on Jul 17, 2021

Deep Reader: Definitive, and probably that is the point. It’s all there. Against that, it takes a long to read and fir me was a job of work. Comprehensiveness is worth five stars. Readability perhaps four. I’ve gone for four.

United Kingdom on Mar 14, 2021

Carlos: It is very well written and, despite its length, it is difficult to put it down. If you like the character, which I love, you will enjoy the book to the point of missing another 1.000 more pages.

Spain on Jan 04, 2019

dmiguer: I can't compare this book to the multitude of other biographies written on Gandhi, as this is my first. At almost 900 pages of text and over 200 pages of ancillary material this is a monument for the ages. Ramachandra Guha is arguably one of the more important Indian historians of his generation in the estimation of many. He has combed through the massive volumes of Gandhi's writings, endless archives and newly available papers. His aim was nothing less than to document all of Gandhi's public and private life from his return to India in 1914 to his death in 1948.

Gandhi's four objectives were to gain Indian independence, promote Hindu-Muslim unity, end untouchability, and achieve economic self reliance. To reach these goals Gandhi staged highly effective forms of political protest such as his march to the sea (in defiance of the British salt tax) and famed fasts (to stop interfaith violence). In the end foreign rule was overcome, but he was unable to prevent mass killings and partition of the subcontinent. His assassination by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse would foretell of future troubles.

Guha is an unabashed admirer of Gandhi, if not entirely uncritical of all...

United States on Dec 27, 2018

Jijnasu Forever: In this much-anticipated second part of the biography, Guha provides a balanced, well-researched and thorough narrative of one of modern worlds greatest leaders. The sheer clarity with which Guha pens this narrative makes this 1000+ page (including almost 100 pages of index and another 90 pages on notes) tome read like a fast-paced novel.

The book, however, is not a glorification - in fact, the balanced approach (clearly detailing the evolution of moral, religious and what now seems as completely strange beliefs) amplifies a reader's admiration of Gandhi's pursuit of self-improvement while simultaneously engaged in leading millions to self-rule.

Perhaps the biggest contribution of this biography is 2 chapters in the first third of the book that provides a more detailed look at the personal evolution of Gandhi - particularly his views on religion and what one can glean from his own reactions to his serialized autobiography. The sections that discuss the environment leading to the independence, particularly the deepening sense of separatism and selfishness of leaders arguing for Pakistan will sadden anyone aware of the millions of lives lost and displaced in the...

United States on Nov 28, 2018

Ronald Brown: It was fine.

United States on Nov 18, 2018