Product Description

Gandhi's non-violent struggles against racism, violence, and colonialism in South Africa and India had brought him to such a level of notoriety, adulation that when asked to write an autobiography midway through his career, he took it as an opportunity to explain himself. He feared the enthusiasm for his ideas tended to exceed a deeper understanding of his quest for truth rooted in devotion to God. His attempts to get closer to this divine power led him to seek purity through simple living, dietary practices, celibacy, and a life without violence. This is not a straightforward narrative biography, in The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Gandhi offers his life story as a reference for those who would follow in his footsteps.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34176 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-06
• Original language: Gujarati
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

About the Author
Mohandas K Gandhi was born in 1869 to Hindu parents. He studied law in London and was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1891. He worked to improve the rights of immigrant Indians in South Africa, returning to India in 1915 to take up the struggle for independence from Britain. Gandhi never wavered in his belief in non-violent protest and Independence, in 1947, was not a military victory but a triumph of human will. In January 1948 Gandhi assassinated as he walked to take evening prayers.

Customer Reviews

Everyone should read this book
In his own words, Gandhi takes us through some of the experiences in his life, with each chapter forming at least one important learning lesson to him. All experiences, whether good or bad, had a positive learning lesson on him and contributed to his goal of seeking the truth.

One of his main beliefs was using non-violence as a means of protesting against acts of oppression and using international law to seek justice. This meant he never raised his fists or lowered himself to barbarism however much he was provoked, violated or attacked. In fact this seems to be the opposite attitude demonstrated by all terrorists and most countries (West, Middle East and East) where the belief is that violence and war works. It never has and never will. As Gandhi says "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind".

As we have now entered the third of the world wars, where the weapons are horrific and the consequences unimaginable, Gandhi's words have never been more important. All politicians and world leaders should read this book. In fact everyone should read this book.

Truth Be Told
I am yet to finish reading this book and I have to say it is an amazing book to read. The man is what he says he is and the truth he does tell. He has so far told us things I would expect the normal person who was in his position not to say a word about a few things, however he is very open with what he is about and why. He's an open book. I have read his Bio before and this is hands down much better as it's 1st hand information.

a different view of Gandhi - from himself
This is a fantastic book. Like most everyone I knew the basic facts of the great man, mostly based I guess on the Ben Kingsley film.

This book is autobiographical articles that MK Gandhi wrote in the 1920s to be published as installments in newspaper publications. The beauty of that for me was the fact that although the book is quite long it was broken into 170 chapters of a few pages each. This also allowed time for reflection.

It is the story of his personal walk from childhood and married at 13, through studies in the UK, difficulties as he started work in India and his movement to South Africa to find work, his time in South Africa and his return to India and his early years back in India. It misses most of the famous things about his life and focuses more on his personal and spiritual search for Truth. I liked that it that way.

It gave a very different perspective on his life. Although some parts were hard to understand without a more detailed knowledge of his life, India and Hindu religious belief I did not find that detracted very much at all from my enjoyment or reflection on this book.

It also shows his struggles as he is trying to perfect his search for Truth/God and where he feels disappointed with his efforts. There is a lot of information on his experiments with dietetics.

Gave me a very different view on some cores of his belief in Hinduism, without being a treatise for any particular religion.

It probably wasn't easy being his wife!