This new collection brings together Khushwant Singh's essays and articles on themes as varied as God, the afterlife, the banning of books, caste, prostitution, crank calls and pets. His skills as a raconteur and journalist are used to brilliant effect in his sketches of Gandhi, Raj Kapoor, Vajpayee, Phoolan Devi, Zia-ul-Haq and the Dalai Lama, as also in his travel pieces on Nagaland and France, among other places. It ends with a frank and introspective autobiographical piece. Khushwant Singh's distinctive candour, wit and insight make this an engaging and sparkling collection.