Maximum City
by Suketu Mehta · first published 2004
71% recommend29% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Vivid nonfiction portrait of Mumbai built from the lives of police officers, dancers, criminals and the very poor; suits readers planning a visit or wanting a feel for the city.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A native of Bombay, Suketu Mehta gives us an insider's view of this stunning metropolis. He approaches the city from unexpected angles, taking us into the criminal underworld of rival Muslim and Hindu gangs; following the life of a bar dancer raised amid poverty and abuse; opening the door into the inner sanctums of Bollywood; and delving into the stories of the countless villagers who come in search of a better life and end up living on the sidewalks.From the Trade Paperback edition.
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A few years ago I read a book called Maximum City. The premise is "let's look at the lives of several people [including a powerful police officer, a dancer, low-level criminals, high-level criminals, very poor people just getting by and, remarkably,…
on “Crypto-Anarchism” ↗…often are jerks....(6/10) Extreme Ownership: Jocko Willink - entertaining listening in the car, perhaps no so much if you tried to read it. An impressive balance of storytelling and principles. (6/10) Maximum City: Suketu Mehta - as someone who has lived in Mumbai for nearly five years, this book captured the pulse of the supercity as no other has. Able to describe the inherent beauty of modern India without resorting…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗1. Delhi: A novel 2. The modern architecture of New Delhi 3. Train to Pakistan 4. Maximum City: Bombay Lost & Found 5. City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi 6. Bauhaus 7. Making of the Atomic Bomb
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2018?” ↗I highly recommend the book Maximum City for a portrayal of Mumbai. I lived there in 2007-8 and loved the city. Great people. Multiple times rickshaw drivers would chase after me because I didn't get take my change back after passing them some…
on “Mumbai’s Iconic Art Deco Buildings Were Made to Conquer Disease” ↗Maximum City, a nonfiction book about Mumbai. A good companion to a first time visitor. I believe that an update is coming out soon. Project Hail Mary, a book about space for engineering nerds. The Body and At Home.…
on “Ask HN: Best books read in 2022” ↗Read a lot of books from Indian Authors or books about India - 1. Delhi: A novel 2. The modern architecture of New Delhi 3. Train to Pakistan 4. Maximum City: Bombay Lost & Found 5. City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi Currently reading - 1. Bauhas 2. Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb (Though, I think I should read Making of the Atomic Bomb first)
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗I think your explanation is missing a competitive element that drives the $500 price. Two similar examples: 1) Maximum City is a book about various people in Mumbai around ~2000. One of them is a sort of stripper (she dances and sometimes dates in a transactional way; I don't remember how explicit it all is). Her analysis…
on “The Stripper Index: An unorthodox recession measurement” ↗Maximum City - Suketu Mehta Shantharam - Gregory David Roberts
on “What are you reading?” ↗