Reviews
" Great Soul is that rare achievement: a book that says something new about one of the most familiar figures of modern times. George Orwell famously said that Gandhi might well be a saint, but all saints should be judged guilty until proven innocent. Joseph Lelyveld, on the other hand, insists upon Gandhi's humanity, with all the complexities and contradictions of human nature, which makes his greatness more understandable and more remarkable. Elegantly written, clear-eyed, and bracingly original, this is a magnificent biography of Gandhi's conscience." T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The First Tycoon "Gandhi's story is one of the most inspiring in history, and Joseph Lelyveld proves himself equally inspiring in telling the story. This book is a brilliant and glittering match, brimming with-well, soul." Nicholas D. Kristof, coauthor, Half the Sky. "A deeply insightful analysis of perhaps the most intriguing political leader of our time. A marvelous book." Amartya Sen, Pulitzer Prize winner in economics and author, The Idea of Justice "Written with graceful elegance, Lelyveld's intricate portrait of Gandhi's conflicted character invites us past the common illusions about one of the twentieth century's most momentous figures." David K. Shipler, author of The Working Poor "An esteemed, skeptical journalist lets us know that Gandhi, a great and greatly eccentric man, never solved the snarled enigmas at the heart of India. A life of triumph, failure, and greatness shines forth." -John Timpane, Philadelphia Inquirer "Thorough . . . The author painstakingly examines the primary sources in Gandhi's life to provide a rich, multilayered portrait of the evolution of his thought and action-no easy feat, since the Mahatma's philosophy changed constantly . . . An impassioned, carefully executed work of reseach." Starred review, Kirkus "Rigorous . . . Unexpected . . . Lelyveld pairs a sympathetic but critical analysis of Gandhi's politics with a vivid portrait of the Mahatma's charismatic strangeness . . . A stirring, evenhanded account that relates the failure of Gandhi's politics of saintliness while attesting to its enduring power." - Publishers Weekly "Reading about the 'great soul' that emerges here is a transformative and moving experience. Highly recommended." - Library Journal , " Great Soul is that rare achievement: a book that says something new about one of the most familiar figures of modern times. George Orwell famously said that Gandhi might well be a saint, but all saints should be judged guilty until proven innocent. Joseph Lelyveld, on the other hand, insists upon Gandhi's humanity, with all the complexities and contradictions of human nature, which makes his greatness more understandable and more remarkable. Elegantly written, clear-eyed, and bracingly original, this is a magnificent biography of Gandhi's conscience." T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The First Tycoon "Gandhi's story is one of the most inspiring in history, and Joseph Lelyveld proves himself equally inspiring in telling the story. This book is a brilliant and glittering match, brimming with-well, soul." Nicholas D. Kristof, coauthor, Half the Sky. "A deeply insightful analysis of perhaps the most intriguing political leader of our time. A marvelous book." Amartya Sen, Pulitzer Prize winner in economics and author, The Idea of Justice "Written with graceful elegance, Lelyveld's intricate portrait of Gandhi's conflicted character invites us past the common illusions about one of the twentieth century's most momentous figures." David K. Shipler, author of The Working Poor "Great Soul is a noteworthy book, vivid, nuanced and clear-eyed . . . Lelyveld brings to his subject a reporter's healthy skepticism and an old India hand's stubborn fascination with the subcontinent and its people." -Geoffrey C. Ward, The New York Times Book Review "An esteemed, skeptical journalist lets us know that Gandhi, a great and greatly eccentric man, never solved the snarled enigmas at the heart of India. A life of triumph, failure, and greatness shines forth." -John Timpane, Philadelphia Inquirer "Thorough . . . The author painstakingly examines the primary sources in Gandhi's life to provide a rich, multilayered portrait of the evolution of his thought and action-no easy feat, since the Mahatma's philosophy changed constantly . . . An impassioned, carefully executed work of reseach." Starred review, Kirkus "Rigorous . . . Unexpected . . . Lelyveld pairs a sympathetic but critical analysis of Gandhi's politics with a vivid portrait of the Mahatma's charismatic strangeness . . . A stirring, evenhanded account that relates the failure of Gandhi's politics of saintliness while attesting to its enduring power." -Publishers Weekly "Reading about the 'great soul' that emerges here is a transformative and moving experience. Highly recommended." -Library Journal
