08 November,2010 09:31 AM IST | | Fiona Fernandez
From Lessing to Shakespeare, Emerson to Graham Greene, US President Barack Obama seems to have read every genre. THE GUIDE went a step further and invited some of India's well-known names from the literary world to suggest what Mr Obama should pick from India's bookshelves
He loves Toni Morisson, digs Shakespeare and Hemmingway, and believes in the philosophies of Philip Nietzsche. That the US President is a bookworm is common knowledge.
US President Barack Obama holds up former President George W Bush
advisor Karl Rove's book at the Prairie Lights Bookstore during an
unscheduled stop in Iowa City, Iowa on March 25, 2010. PIC / AFP
That audio versions of his best-selling books -- Dreams From My Father and Audacity of Hope won Grammies is part of liberal American folklore. No stranger to the world of hardbounds and paperbacks, he's devoured the entire Harry Potter series, as a devoted bedtime reader to daughters, Malia and Sasha.
His visit to India might be one of the most packed presidential itineraries in recent times. Yet, we couldn't help but slip in this must-read list, in case he decided to hit a Mumbai bookstore for a quick dekko.
Jerry Pinto, author, poet
The President should read Everybody Loves a Good Drought: Stories from India's Poorest Districts, because
P Sainath wrote it with compassion and passion about an India we all want to erase from our national
self-image.was terrific.
Ravi Subramanian, author
I would suggest he read
If God Was A Banker because it's the story of the clash of Indian and Western value systems in an American bank. It will help him understand what everyone means when they say that the rock solid, intrinsically moral and ethically balanced Indian work culture will enable India to nudge USA as the economic powerhouse of the world. India is ready to rule the world -- and we do it our way. was terrific.
Kapish Mehra, MD,u00a0 Rupa & Co
I'd suggest that the President read Dr Veerappa Moily's Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam, which is written in poetry format, but is a terrific way to introduce him to our culture. Also, the Mahabharata by Ramesh Menon is written in phrase, but is an interesting modern rendering of the epic, which might interest him. These titles have similar themes but the stylisation of content is interesting. Another book would be Anurag Mathur's The Inscrutable Americans.
Obama's team has several Indian-Americans and some of them probably went through the same motions to reach their present standing. The book is a well-documented, lighthearted look at this band of Indians who are not a liability but an asset to the US. Michelle Obama shouldn't be left behind here ufffd she should pick up a copy of Camellia Punjabi's 50 Great Curries of India.
William Dalrymple, author
I'd suggest that President Obama read the complete set of my seven books. I'd also recommend Ed Luce's book, In Spite of the Gods as the best book on New India, and The Mahabharata (Clay Library Translation) as the best book from the old.
Advaita Kala, author
As one reader to another, I would suggest Aravind Adiga's White Tiger. It's one of my recent favourites. President Obama's literary tastes are well documented and I have a felling that he would enjoy this book for its intelligence and literary style.
Though, I would honestly prefer that he stay focused on his visit and on getting things done, to bring the two countries closer together.
We should leave the reading to his Martha's Vineyards visits! Although, I appreciate his literary tastes, as I too thought Jonathan Franzen's Freedom was terrific.
