for her, every happening is wrong...

This was such a powerful book, it gave me really important insight and an incredible introduction to these issues that I’ve never really educated myself on before. And this was written almost 20 years ago too, so SO much has changed since then in the word of politics and war and it’s just spurring me on to find more about it all. A must read.

Written in the Bush era, still has some transferrable lessons and hope.

"At a time when opportunism is everything, when hope seems lost, when everything boils down to a cynical business deal, we must find the courage to dream. To reclaim romance. The romance of believing in justice, in freedom, and in dignity. For everybody. We have to make common cause, and to do this we need to understand how this big old machine works--who it works for and who it works against. Who pays, who profits."

Perfect for these times

Roy's observations and analyses are maddening and inspiring. Leveling Iraq for corporate profits - maddening. But tens of thousands of Americans demonstrating opposition - inspiring. She covers both. For me the most interesting parts are about India, a gigantic, multiethnic country I know little about except that it is yet another country that has suffered from the 19th-20th century colonialist playbook of divide, skedaddle, and then hope for the best. Does that even ever work? So I liked How Deep Shall We Dig? with her discussion of what's under the mosque - a temple - but then what's under that? It's so Middle East. But what to do, as she questions the politics of vengeance that targets only the vulnerable. "Fearlessly, but nonviolently, we must disable the working parts of this machine that is consuming us."

A book which is a collection of political essays and lectures such as this is a treat to your mind. A book so profound and vast in its scope, so urgent in its application and so wide in its thoughts needs to be read by every individual.
One of the best qualities of this book is that it is not a country or a issue specific book, well there's one central issue which is the issue of very existence of a free human being, oh, why only a human being, every living specie actually. I, in particular, would like to suggest that it is easy to rub any and every resistance movement as anti-development movement but a close observation of any learned and concerned citizen would be looking for the cause of the movement and to my mind, there are one of the few causes: food, shelter, and employment.
We need to introspect our idea of development, our idea of a multilateral institute, our idea of living, our idea of democracy and our very idea of dissent. And this book is practicing dissension without which the idea of a democracy is futile. Strongly recommended.

I disagree with her on some opinions however this book has been eye-opening on a lot of subjects. Written in 2003, it's surprising a work of political non-fiction still proves true for the current atmosphere of Indian Democracy.

It makes one uncomfortable about the inaction in the face of injustices being done in our society.

Still worth a read if you have courage to have your opinions challenged.

appreciated learning about the perspective of the left from 2002-2004 in what must have been a similarly bleak time to today

Arundhati had been one of my favorite writers and I have read all of her popular fiction and non fiction work, but it the latter that stands out for me. It is too evident why she has many haters. She does not mince words and calls spade a spade. Many of us are niether brave enough nor mature enough to understand and appreciate her point of view. But her compelling style of writing backed with facts and notes ensure that neither her admirers nor her haters can ignore her. This book is another testimony of her great work and I hope you will read her even if you do not necessarily agree with her

Possibly my favourite book of all time simply because this book gave me my political basis and is essentially a comprehensive overview of 21st century imperial capitalism. Although it centres on conflicts in the Middle East, specifically the Iraq war (because that was when it was written) it's so relevant now especially with the recent withdrawal in Afghanistan. Arundhati Roy always manages to keep a sense of irony and a comedic flair throughout the book which doesn't reject you as a reader if you're not that politically minded or literate at the moment that you read it. It's a book everyone needs to read no matter their political inclinations because it's so human - it's not a book based on an idea or an ideology or a generalisation, it's a book about human beings and what human beings are doing right now. How they are thinking, how they're acting, and how the world is going as a result. That being said, personally, it was like finding my anti-capitalist bible and wrapping myself in pages of information that will undoubtedly have an effect on your political mindset - what that effect is, I can't tell you, it depends on the kind of person you are. It's a fun read, it's not a pamphlet of statistics and blame and "the end is near!!" doomsday signs - it's just a person sharing their world view with another person. Read it now, you won't regret it.

Sin lugar a dudas, este libro se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos. Es una lectura obligada para todos los ciudadanos del mundo pues nos habla de las consecuencias del imperialismo. No sólo hace una crítica al imperialismo de Estados Unidos, sino que hace un análisis de cómo las políticas implementadas gracias al modelo neoliberal capitalista han influenciado en India. La autora nos invita a buscar maneras de combatir al sistema. Afirma que los ciudadanos en cualquier momento pueden derrocar a los Estados, sólo es cuestión de decisión, organización y acción colectiva. Para finalizar, la autora dice que un cambio se acerca, éste puede ser sangriento o hermoso pero eso depende de nosotros.

Continuing with her tradition of pin pointed attack on the neo-liberal economic order, communalism, rise of Hindu right and the big brother hegemony (USA), Arundhati Roy delivers yet another punch.This work as her previous works is remarkable for its prudence in identifying the nexus of corporate-war-state, reimagining the notions of democracy in present context, justice, human rights and exposing the ugly side or the only side of corporate media.

Her tools in this endeavour are logical and fact based reasoning which are hard to refute.She manages to uncover the brazenness with which modern states are subverting the have-nots.She manages to expose the truth of nation-States which are hand in glove with the neo-liberal project and at the same time run the risk of being toppled at the slightest hint of non-compliance as there is always a willing partner present to carry on the unholy nexus.