Shantaram
by Gregory David Roberts · first published 2004
72% recommend24% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
An escaped convict flees to India, living in a Mumbai slum and getting drawn into gangster life. Readers praise its vivid characters and beautiful writing, and say it is worth the length.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Un prófugo de una prisión de alta seguridad en Australia y llega a Bombay dejando tras de sí toda su vida anterior: una ex - esposa y una hija de la cual ha perdido su custodia. Su nombre es Lin, pero pronto será conocido como Shantaram, el hombre de la paz de Dios. En Bombay conoce a Prabaker, su guía hindú, poseedor de una eterna sonrisa que le hace ganarse a todo el mundo. Prabaker le enseña a hablar hindú y marathi y lo sumerge en el Bombay turística y en el desconocido Bombay de los bajos fondos. Durantes este viaje conocerá a la hermosa y peligrosa, Karla, que ocultará un oscuro pasado y
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…books that I made a while ago by looking at the top recommended books from various places. http://niyazpk.tadalist.com/lists/1629487/public The list contains fiction as well as non-fiction. My pick: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts - One of the best books I read last year (fiction).
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗_Shantaram_ by Greg Roberts Violent criminal escapes from prison in Australia, travels to Mumbai on a forged passport, learns Hindi and Marathi, lives for years in a slum, fights with the mujahideen in Afghanistan,…
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why” ↗Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
on “Ask HN: What are some good inspirational and uplifting books?” ↗Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (bit of a beast, but well worth it).
on “Ask YC: favorite books” ↗1. Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts): So good that mom stayed up until 3AM to finish it. 2. Mistborn trilogy (brandon sanderson): Gripping storytelling and by far one of the best fantasy books i've ever read. 3.…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗Read Shantaram if you haven't. http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/...
on “Ask HN: Summer Reading Recommendations?” ↗Shantaram by Gregory Roberts. Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow. That's Me in the Middle by Donald Jack.
on “Ask HN: What are some Good Books you have read in past one year or so..” ↗…beautifully written, and is a hypnotic read. Larger than life characters centered around one enigmatic protagonist, Jude. It's about pain, friendship, love, and the brutality of memory and experience. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33600.Shantaram) An Australian gangster escaping his home country and falling in love with India (Mumbai). Lots of philosophy. A moral tale.…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗Shantaram http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/...
on “Ask HN: What is the greatest book you've ever read?” ↗Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
on “Ask HN: What were your "life-changing" books?” ↗I recommend reading "Shantaram" if you want to get a written sense (not that I can confirm its accuracy) of the total hell that is cold turkey off heroin. Both may be tough and painful to quit, but in "Shantaram" the turn off heroin…
on “A year without caffeine (part 2)” ↗This is something I’ve been interested in for ages. I recently went to India and the first thing I Googled was “best books set in India” (answers: Shantaram, A Fine Balance, Midnight’s Children, God of Small Things). So definitely something I would use. Some comments from me: 1. Needs to be much bigger. You currently have four books recommended for London,…
on “Show HN: Destination Reads – Find the best books set in cities around the world” ↗Shantaram is incredible, I can only think of the original Dune novels by Frank Herbert as comparable in depth, scope and revelation of what it is to be human. Shantaram's author claims use of artistic license…
on “A man who posted himself to Australia (2015)” ↗…fiction books available in the jail libraries, so that was the bulk of my reading. In fiction my favourites were probably the Southern Reach trilogy and the 3 Body Problem trilogy. I also really liked Shantaram. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantaram_(novel) In non-fiction some of my favourites were several biographies of people who had conquered Everest. Superhuman by Dave Asprey. And this one: https://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Addictive-Technology-Bus...…
on “Japanese game developer hasn't left the house in 10 years” ↗Interesting/Recommended: The Snowball, Alice Schroeder Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts The Art of Happiness, HH Dalai Lama Getting Things Done (I know I'm late to the party...) Shop Class as Soulcraft, Matthew Crawford (I heard about that one here, thank-you HN)…
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗