Land of the Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India's Geography

Reading "Land of the Seven Rivers" is like having a personal guide on an eclectic journey through millions of years and across thousands of miles of the Indian subcontinent. Sanjeev Sanyal effectively brings to light the ways in which India's physical and human geography have influenced its history, and conversely, deepens our appreciation for its landforms by associating them with interesting incidents from the past. The author's extensive personal experience with the breadth of the country shines throughout the pages, adding a real sense of place to the historical descriptions.

While this book covers many thousands of years of history, one of its significant strengths is its insightful discussion of the rapid and dramatic changes occurring today in India. Accelerating prosperity and urbanization are changing the face of the subcontinent at least as much as the geographical and political upheavals of the past, and the author weaves together economic, political, and demographic analysis to explain the evolving structure of Indian cities and the fortunes of their inhabitants.

One small quibble: I would expect to see more than just a handful of maps and diagrams in a book involving geography. Though perhaps today a reader might do better to search online for maps and pictures of interest… especially if reading an e-book!

This is not the book for someone who needs an encyclopedic reference of invasions, dynasties, names, and dates. It is instead a fresh, witty, intelligent, and entertaining exploration of the way that India's geography has made it the country it is today. Highly recommended.