A scholarly work of great beauty, humanism and self-reflection.

For anyone who wants to understand the beauty and complexity of India as a nation and as a culture, there is no better place to start her/his quest than THE DISCOVERY OF INDIA.

Pandit Nehru's love for India was always evident. What comes out in grand relief is the depth and breadth of his knowledge, his capacity for honest self-reflection and his unwavering humanism.

The book can be read/heard, not only for its content and great sweep of history, but also for the lyrical and bracing quality of its prose. That Pandit Nehru could not pen any other book after The Discovery of India, because he was busy building a nation, is literature's loss.

I request AUDIBLE and Smt. Sonia Gandhi to bring out other writings of Pandit Nehru's including his many speeches and letters on to the AUDIBLE platform. There is a need for young Indians to listen to the wise words of Jawaharlal Nehru and realise what a towering intellectual and statesman he was. 🙏

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A great book ruined by a poor narration.

Horrible narration. Shame on you Penguin. You ruined a classic book by your choice of the narrator.

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6 people found this helpful

Potent dose on INDIA

After reading this book my respect for Nehru and knowledge about my own country grew significantly.
The man was way ahead of his contemporaries, truly visionary with a burning desire for independent state based on equality, liberty and fraternity.
Highly recommend

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3 people found this helpful

A must read to understand India and Nehru

This is more like a collection of multiple books. Nehru propounds on Indian history, philosophy, the freedom movement, international events, and lays down a vision for free India. Both admirers and detractors might find some of their beliefs about Nehru shaken. Read to understand modern India.

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3 people found this helpful

Worst narration so far

discovery of India is one of most interesting books written by ex prime minister, freedom fighter late shree jawaharlal nehru and it became difficult to tolerate because of bad narration.

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In the era of calamities, it is this book which acted as a moment of peace.

It was during the Covid pandemic that I first encountered this book. As I began to turn the pages, I found myself completing six chapters in just a few hours. The book is easy to read, and its beauty lies in its reflection of Prime Minister Nehru's own "Discovery" of India, supported by ancient scriptures and aligned with the broader "idea of India." It provides a clear outline for any Indian seeking to understand the "Indian-ness" inherently present within themselves, and how the modern Indian thought process is still shaped by the complex yet enriching history of our nation.

I often wonder how someone could create such an enlightening work while confined within the walls of a jail. Perhaps this exemplifies the adage that while you can confine someone's physical body, you cannot restrict their thoughts, especially when those thoughts are driven by ideas of freedom.

The extensive collection of books on a myriad of subjects visible at his residence in Teen Murti Bhawan (the building before PM Sangrahalaya), along with page markings and book dividers, clearly reflects how he was able to build such a vast knowledge base. His understanding was not limited to bookish knowledge; his active involvement in leading the UP Kisan Sabha, the Provincial Government in Allahabad, and his regular interactions with the peasant class during his frequent village visits to share the vision of independence and the "idea of Bharat Mata" left a profound imprint, evident throughout this book.

Initially, I started reading this book out of curiosity—to learn about the very country I have lived in for the past 24 years. Now that I have finished it, I find myself returning to it time and again. This has further encouraged me to explore some of his other works as well. I also enjoyed "Glimpses of World History," primarily because of Nehru's evident paternal love and his remarkable ability to explain complex world events to a 10-year-old [Indira Gandhi]. This seems like a Herculean task, yet he navigates through global events with such grace, narrating them in a playful manner that preserves the innocence of childhood while achieving the larger objective of educating the child about the good and evil present in the world. "Glimpses" has indeed become my go-to gift whenever I need to present a book to a relative's child on their birthday or other family occasions.

I highly recommend these two books by Pt. Nehru to both parents and children, as they exemplify healthy conversation—the first necessary to know about our roots and the second necessary to break the deafening silence between parents and children. It would be beneficial if the void between parents and children were filled with enriching discussions. This could solve many problems of the younger generation and foster a wave of energy among the elderly!

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2 people found this helpful

Very bad Audio. Do Not buy

Impossible to follow due to very low volume. Terrible shame. You could raise the volume but then google maps would burst your eardrums.

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1 person found this helpful

Needed a better narrator

While the present narrator has a neutral accent, the pronunciation and intonation make it hard to follow every word. Also bad audio production because there is no gap between chapter headings and content. This ruins the listening experience.

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17 people found this helpful

A great autobiography

A very thought provoking, illuminating and philosophical account of Nehru ji's life. Definitely worth reading.

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2 people found this helpful

A must read for every Indian & those who want to understand India post WW2

A must read for every Indian & those who want to understand India post WW2

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3 people found this helpful