Superfast, Primetime, Ultimate Nation: The Relentless Invention of Modern India

Roberts (The Wonga Coup) makes an intriguing but not altogether persuasive case that India, soon to surpass China as the world’s most populous nation with more than 1.7 billion people, could become a powerhouse in the next few decades. Part history, part travelogue, Roberts’s book offers a wealth of facts, insights, firsthand accounts, and anecdotes about colorful characters that add up to an enjoyable read about India’s economy, politics, culture, and world influence. The weakness at the book’s core is the seeming unlikeliness that Roberts’s high expectations will be realized. He details dramatic deficits in such areas as education, employment (a 2016 study found that only 30 million people hold formal jobs), gender equality, and sanitation. In a typical example of giving with one hand and snatching back with the other, Roberts says that India’s democratic government, headed since 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is “potentially a huge advantage,” but then laments that the country’s legal system is “sputtering, often overwhelmed and sometimes corrupt” and that its political system is controlled by powerful dynasties. Much of Roberts’s argument adds up to a slew of what-ifs, but that doesn’t detract from the appeal of his deep, detailed dive into India’s past, present, and possible future. [em](Apr.) [/em]