Ordinary Person's Guide To Empire

‘In her Ordinary Person’s Guide, Roy’s perfect pitch and sharp scalpel are, once again, a wonder and a joy to behold. No less remarkable is the range of material subjected to her sure and easy touch, and the surprising information she reveals at every turn’—Noam Chomsky

This second volume of Arundhati Roy’s collected non-fiction writing brings together fourteen essays written between June 2002 and November 2004. In these essays she draws the thread of empire through seemingly unconnected arenas, uncovering the links between America’s War on Terror, the growing threat of corporate power, the response of nation states to resistance movements, the role of NGOs, caste and communal politics in India, and the perverse machinery of an increasingly corporatized mass media.

Meticulously researched and carefully argued, this is a necessary work for our times.

‘The scale of what Roy surveys is staggering. Her pointed indictment is devastating’—New York Times Book Review

‘She raises many vital questions [in this book], which we can ignore only at our peril’—Statesman

‘With fierce erudition and brilliant reasoning, Roy dwells on Western hypocrisy and propaganda, vehemently questioning the basis of biased international politics’—Asian Age

‘Whether you agree with her or disagree with her, adore her or despise her, you’ll want to read her’—Today

‘Reading Arundhati Roy is how the peace movement arms itself. She turns our grief and rage into courage’—Naomi Klein

‘‘ ‘Unlike dreary, inaccessible political essays these passionate critiques against imperialism, the Bush administrations policies, globalization in India, corporate fascism and parochial nationalism, are incisive and articulate’ —Sunday Midday