BOOKLESS IN BAGHDAD: Reflections on Writing and Writers by SHASHI THAR00R Arcade, dist. by Little, Brown. July 2005 c.288p ISBN 1-55970-757-7 $25

UN undersecretary and prize-winning writer Tharoor has assembled a superb and provocative collection of essays. The book's five sections - "Inspirations," "Reconsiderations," "The Literary Life," "Appropriations," and "Interrogations" - encompass a range of previously published essays. Some read like memoirs, others offer literary criticism, while still others reflect on India's history and Tharoor's previous novels (e.g., The Great Indian Novel, Show Business). His essays on novel writing-the attention to language, detail, themes, characters, and settings-add depth to those books while bringing nuances to the surface. Most essays show Tharoor's vision of and for India and its people, but he also addresses American culture, literature, and illiteracy. Particularly insightful is his speech delivered in Berlin at the International Festival of Literature in 2003, titled "Globalization and the Human Imagination," which ties all these themes together. Tharoor's work resonates with readers of any nationality, helping them understand the global purpose of literature, feel the inherent responsibility, and hear a call to action. Recommended for public and academic libraries.