I loved this book. It covers the period of history that I am most interested in. In particular authors analysis of the first world war was my favorite part. Thinking about it as the machinations of colonialism turned inward add a whole new layer to the story of the conflict. The book offers critical snapshots of history in the building western hegemony. The sections examining the works of today's icons of the political right like Jordon Petersen are satisfying and well argued. The author's critical analysis is broad across the global political spectrum and anyone wanting a greater understanding of the challenges facing the modern world would benefit from reading this. ( )

Like Pankaj Mishra's other books, this one too is trenchant, bitter, and disturbing. It demolishes the basis of any lingering sentiment that British rule was in any way good for India. However, like other such works, it seems to be too one-sided and self-serving, as there is no attempt to relate the British rule to what went before, and indeed, what came after: much of the structures, institutions, and processes founded by the British were found to be indispensable when it came to forging a modern state, not the least being the final annihilation and absorption of the 'native' or 'princely' states. Mishra, and others of this genre, can also be suspected of a certain cynical opportunism, as they ensconce themselves in pockets of comfort in the Western academe, while at the same time trashing the achievements of Western enlightenment, rationalism, liberal humanism, individual rights, rule of law and due process, responsible governance, civilized behavior in international conventions, and so on. In beautiful English, they denounce the gifts of English rule as poisoned and deadly, but obviously they have not the slightest interest in resorting to 'native' idioms or reverting to the pre-modern era in the political or social sphere. Five stars on language, three for the fallacies in their analysis and assessment. ( )