"French mingles historical analysis with on-the-spot reportage, aiming to capture the country in all its teeming, volatile complexity. The result is rich, engaging and indeed multi-hued."
--Los Angeles Times

"A well-informed and well-crafted portrait. . . . [French is] a skilled interviewer who writes with a descriptive flair."
--The Boston Globe

"Perceptive. . . . French goes beyond the obvious. . . . India is a burgeoning nation with an inspiring message to the struggling people of the world: It gets better."
--The Christian Science Monitor

"Sharply observed. . . . An accomplished portrait of momentous times in a remarkable country. . . . French is a fine reporter, with an appealing fascination for all things Indian, as his book makes clear."
--The Economist

"It is a funny, witty book; also dense, gripping, thrilling. What blazes through from each page is French's absolute and uncondescending engagement with India, Indians and the mindboggling plurality of practices."
--The Times (London)

"Fizzing with wit, insight and infectious curiosity. . . . A riveting read. . . . One suspects that French could not pen a boring passage if he tried. . . . A thoroughly enjoyable romp through six momentous decades."
--The Wall Street Journal Asia

"Vivid. . . . An impressive study of India since independence."
--The Telegraph (London)

"Admirable. . . . There are many Indias, and French sets out, with enthusiasm and empathy, to encounter as many as he can find."
--The Spectator

"Complex. . . . Stirringly accurate. . . . French offers a fascinating analysis, revealing a deeper truth."
--The Independent (London)

"Lives up to its promise. . . . It's not just readable; it's gripping. . . . French's writing is touchingly evocative at times . . . and hilarious at others. . . . If you're Indian, reading the book is like learning the history of your country in four days."
--New Indian Express

"French is the brilliant enfant terrible who can get away with heresies because they are embedded in his deep affection for and intimate knowledge of India."
--Business Standard