In an Antique Land: History in the Guise of a Traveler’s Tale

this is one of my very favorite books, though i read it in a very particular time and place. after about a month of two of living in india, i found relief in going back to my room in the evenings to read, in some ways, about an indian living abroad. more specifically, in rural egypt, where people asked ghosh many of the same questions i was being asked on a regular basis. with its mix of ancient history and contemporary travelogue, i'd highly recommend it in general -- but especially if you are going on a trip to india!