7 books recommended by Dr Shashi Tharoor

Dr Shashi Tharoor

Politician and Sahitya Akademi-winning author Dr Shashi Tharoor was born on March 9, 1956. On his birthday today, here we list down eight books recommended by him.

The Mahabharat

“There’s nothing like it. It’s full of stories, ideas, anecdotes, philosophies, digressions of various sorts, and at the same time, a really interesting plot to keep you going. I am a huge fan of the ‘Mahabharata’,” Dr Tharoor told Tweak India.

‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Dr Tharoor recommends people to read Nobel Literature laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’. It is an “Extraordinary magical reinvention of a Latin-American experience,” Dr Tharoor said in a video earlier.

‘The Legends of Khasak’ by O V Vijayan

O V Vijayan’s ‘The Legends of Khasak’ is set in the beautiful countryside of Kerala, which is also Dr Tharoor’s home state. This Indian classic is a treat for book lovers.

‘The Books of Laughter & Forgetting’ by Milan Kundera

This is a “moving evocative experience of Eastern European history under the communist era, informed under the rare insight of humanity,” Dr Tharoor said in praise of the book, in a video posted by Oxford Bookstore.

‘Discovery of India’ by Jawaharlal Nehru

History lovers would like to read Nehru’s ‘Discovery of India’. “It’s now written more than 75 years ago, but, the thing about that book is that it gives one a humane view of what has made India and what it’s all about – culturally, historically, and politically. It gives you a great sense of not only Nehru’s mind, but of the heritage that he wanted to pass on to all of us,” Dr Tharoor told Tweak India.

Kautilya’s Arthashastra​

Dr Tharoor also recommends one to read Kautilya’s Arthashastra, an Ancient Indian text on state-craft, politics, economic policies, and military strategy.

Books by PG Wodehouse

“For sheer escapism and literary delight” read any book by PG Wodehouse, Dr Tharoor said in a video earlier. Wodehouse is also one of Dr Tharoor’s favourite writers from his childhood.

Have you read any of these books?

If not, then do add these to your reading list!

Thanks For Reading!

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