A Short ClassicOctober 9, 2008 This is one of the best, short books about Gandhi in existence. A classic that deserves to be published again and again, it is also a book that should be read again and again. If you want a good, authoritative book about Gandhi, but this book without hesitation.
From Gandhi's own mouthJune 18, 2008 I read this book while in college and was so impressed that the editors allow Gandhi's own words to represent his philosophy of non-violence and peace. It's very well organized by chapters and has good commentary throughout. This is a great introduction to Gandhi and his impact in Asia and the world.
"BLESSED ARE THE MEEK"June 11, 2008 Gandhi; His Life and Message for the World by Louis Fischer was a well formulated and relatively comprehensive biography on the life, and times of Mahatma Gandhi. The book also explained a great deal of the political turmoil that Gandhi found himself ...forever foundering in.
A great and spiritual man no doubt. Shades of a contemporary Jesus, Buddha, and Mother Teresa all rolled into one. A great spiritual icon but one who struggled to overcome those nasty little demons (i.e.: jealousy, anger, lust etc.), that affect all of mankind.
He trained the "Tiger" to overcome the "Lion" by non-violent civil disobedience. Ironically, "non-violence" spawns "real violence" and the results are...sadly the same.
It was not England that killed Gandhi, but the same "Tiger" (India) that he had nurtured from it's captivity to it's independence.
A very good and informative book for anyone trying to understand India and those who lived it's history.
The true saintAugust 26, 2005 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I grew up in India but never really got to know Gandhi until I read this book. It is the story of a man and how he grows into a saint - the force that got India its freedom. But Gandhi wanted more than just the freedom of India from the British. He wanted each man to be free of all evils. His aspirations were greater than any other Indian freedom fighter - and so were his ways. In the struggle for freedom, he did not want to corrupt the individuals. Gandhi proved that you could wrestle with a pig and yet remain clean. Louis Fischer has done a great job describing Gandhi and his life. He writes without any bias. It is an easy read and is truly inspiring.
enlightening, but convolutedJune 11, 2005 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Fischer's recount of Gandhi's life does a satisfactory job of providing facts and commentary on the Father of Modern India. Though this book may seem more approachable, however, because it is considerably shorter than several other biographies (and indeed Gandhi's autobiography), the facts of Gandhi's life and the Indian Nationalism movement are presented anachronistically and often without sufficient context. Thus it is often difficult to have a complete understanding of where, when, how, and to whom Gandhi was applying his peaceful resistance techniques.
Notwithstanding Fischer does an excellent job of elucidating Gandhi's worldview and the religious implications behind Gandhi's contrubitions to the shaping of 20th-century world history.
