India [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

Just 60 years after winning independence from British rule, India's economy is booming and the nation is fast becoming a leading global power. With a population of a billion people, India's society is as varied as its awe-inspiring landscape. Home to a dizzying array of languages, ethnic groups, beliefs, and lifestyles, India can seem overwhelming in its complexity. India takes the lid off this cultural melting pot, showing how past events have shaped this diverse but unified nation, where tradition and modernity successfully coexist. Through stunning photography and insightful text, India offers an eye-opening, thought-provoking, and authoritative visual guide to one of the world's most exciting and vibrant nations.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

India is a land of extraordinary beauty, a perpetually metamorphosing place with a dramatic 5,000-year history and a population of more than one billion people belonging to diverse ethnicities and traditions. What better means to gain a fix on the country than a concisely yet informatively narrated and gorgeously colorful pictorial survey? The tour begins with the subcontinent’s grand and mysterious vistas––the Himalayas, the immense Thar Desert of Rajasthan, the Deccan Plateau, sacred rivers, and magnificent beaches. A parade of artifacts and artworks, quotes from sacred texts and literary works, and photographs of historic places, people, and architectural treasures follows, tracking successive waves of migration, invasion, and conquest that enriched and complicated the cultural matrix as religions blossomed, empires rose and fell, and India became a modern global power. To provide a more personal perspective, 14 individuals (a Hindu priest, a schoolchild, a tribeswoman, a train driver, among them) are portrayed, each a portal into a fascinating, many-faceted world. --Donna Seaman

Review

"...a concisely yet informatively narrated and gorgeously colorful pictorial survey..." -- Booklist, September 15, 2008

"Sumptuously illustrated [and] containing an engaging and detailed text, this beautiful volume presents a thorough overview of the culture, history, people and places of India." --Book News (Reference & Research Edition), November 1, 2008

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756639778
• ISBN-13: 978-0756639778
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 10.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #773,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, sweeping overview, October 23, 2008

By 

AA (SF) - See all my reviews

This review is from: India (Hardcover)

This is not a travel guide, but rather a beautiful, sweeping overview of a country with a rich heritage. A great introduction to the many aspects of the Indian culture, covering various regions, landscapes and practices.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pictorially stunning, January 26, 2009

By 

Aredee (Marlton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: India (Hardcover)

Without being overwhelming with lots of text, this book presents 5000+ years of Indian history with excellent photographs, charts and quickly digestible background guides.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Luscious book, December 23, 2008

By 

Dancing D (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: India (Hardcover)

This is not meant to be a light, carry it with you travel guide - but it is truly a beautiful book (both the pictures and the binding). It is a large, heavy book, so be aware that it might not fit on many bookshelves. For us, it was worth making room for!