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Gandhi: A Memoir
At the beginning of the 1930s, historian William L. Shirer was sent to India by the Chicago Tribune to cover the rise of the Independence Movement. During this time Shirer was privileged to observe Mahatma Gandhi as he launched the Civil Disobedience Campaign and to enjoy his personal friendship and confidence.
In this fascinating memoir, Shirer writes perceptively and unforgettably about Gandhi's frailties as well as his accomplishments. Despite his greatness, Gandhi was the first to admit that he was a human being with his own prejudices and peculiarities: he could be stubborn and dictatorial, yet the magnificence of the man rose above all else.
"Gandhi: A Memoir" sheds a special light on the man who left such an indelible imprint on India and the world.
In this fascinating memoir, Shirer writes perceptively and unforgettably about Gandhi's frailties as well as his accomplishments. Despite his greatness, Gandhi was the first to admit that he was a human being with his own prejudices and peculiarities: he could be stubborn and dictatorial, yet the magnificence of the man rose above all else.
"Gandhi: A Memoir" sheds a special light on the man who left such an indelible imprint on India and the world.
255 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 1980
50 people are currently reading
1237 people want to read
About the author
William L. Shirer
92 books1,256 followersWilliam Lawrence Shirer was an American journalist and historian. He became known for his broadcasts on CBS from the German capital of Berlin through the first year of World War II.
Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, originally published by Simon & Schuster. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later, in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.
Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, originally published by Simon & Schuster. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later, in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 29, 2023
As an Indian grown-up in post-independence India, I learnt about the great man and his formidable aides (Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu et al.) only through history books, articles by other Indians of the post-independence India, through newspapers, talks - all forums where M. K. Gandhi is spoken of always as someone who along with other freedom fighters got it all correct, and sorted for India. Reading Shirer after such an experience makes for good reading of Gandhi. What one gets in the book is a the portrait of a less saintly (albeit greatly respected) person. Gandhi - the human, the politician, the shrewd strategist, a co-worker, a leader - an amalgamation of personality types that was needed to first understand the diversity of India before retreiving her from the hands of the British. Shirer makes us understand how Gandhi along with the other members of the Indian National Congress (but sometimes single-handedly) tried to acquire both India and what is today Pakistan from the British. The anecdotes about and the roles that Nehru, Patel, Naidu and Jinnah assumed are also well explicated and make good biographical sketches. A very interesting read.
For further reading on India and to know what happened, and is happening to the country that Gandhi aspired for, it is worth trying out Sunil Khilnani's 'The Idea of India' and Guha's 'India after Gandhi'.
For further reading on India and to know what happened, and is happening to the country that Gandhi aspired for, it is worth trying out Sunil Khilnani's 'The Idea of India' and Guha's 'India after Gandhi'.
January 11, 2013
I became very interested in Gandhi during high school. Revolution was in the air, had been in the air throughout the post-war period, since before my birth, but it had come home by the time I entered secondary school. The enormity of the unnecessary suffering in the world was staggering and my country was responsible for much of it. While I gave an ear to all revolutionary movements and radicals promoting solutions, Gandhi was especially appealing in that he had actually participated in leading one through nonviolent means.
William Shirer goes further back, to reading his Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in elementary school. I'd liked it then and when I found he'd written a memoir of Gandhi, the purchase was inescapable.
As it happened, Shirer had, in addition to his duties in Europe, been assigned for a time to cover the independence movement in the subcontinent. The youngest of the reporters covering the matter, Gandhi had taken him under his wing, giving him access denied others. This book is both a reminiscence of that association and a biography of Gandhi.
Shirer is critical of many of Gandhi's beliefs and practices, yet it is obvious that he was in awe of, even loved, the man. Indeed, towards the end of his book--and this towards the end of his life--he notes that despite his career of studying the prominent people of the world, Gandhi was the one he most respected.
One brief anecdote is worth recalling. In the twenties, on his way to the UK, Gandhi stopped in Italy for an audience with Mussolini. It was attended by the Duce and his sons, one of whom sniggered at the little old man in rags and sandals accompanied by a goat. Afterwards, Gandhi having departed Mussolini slapped the boy, saying, "This little man you laugh at has brought the British Empire to its knees!"
William Shirer goes further back, to reading his Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in elementary school. I'd liked it then and when I found he'd written a memoir of Gandhi, the purchase was inescapable.
As it happened, Shirer had, in addition to his duties in Europe, been assigned for a time to cover the independence movement in the subcontinent. The youngest of the reporters covering the matter, Gandhi had taken him under his wing, giving him access denied others. This book is both a reminiscence of that association and a biography of Gandhi.
Shirer is critical of many of Gandhi's beliefs and practices, yet it is obvious that he was in awe of, even loved, the man. Indeed, towards the end of his book--and this towards the end of his life--he notes that despite his career of studying the prominent people of the world, Gandhi was the one he most respected.
One brief anecdote is worth recalling. In the twenties, on his way to the UK, Gandhi stopped in Italy for an audience with Mussolini. It was attended by the Duce and his sons, one of whom sniggered at the little old man in rags and sandals accompanied by a goat. Afterwards, Gandhi having departed Mussolini slapped the boy, saying, "This little man you laugh at has brought the British Empire to its knees!"
June 2, 2020
I've had this paperback for a while, not sure where I found it -- but I picked it up while recovering from covid-19 and was completely engrossed. In the early 1930s, William Shirer was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune who was covering the turbulent rise of fascism in Europe when he was dispatched to India, to report on something totally new to him -- Mahatma Gandhi's leadership of a political movement unlike any in history. As the inspirational leading light of India's Congress Party, Gandhi had remade the party, from an elite advocate for India's liberation into a nationwide movement that was uniting all of India's largely illiterate, poverty-strangled millions, using Gandhi's revolutionary tactic of nonviolent "soul force" to shame and alarm the country's British colonizers. This was the movement that would, just after World War II, bring about the nation's liberation, commence the ending of the colonial era around the world, and inspire the American civil rights movement to come.
Shirer was fascinated by Gandhi, and as the only American reporter on the scene, he grew close to this most unique and, in many ways, most effective leader of the whole 20th century. His on-the-ground account of his time covering Gandhi and his movement, capped by reflections on its final outcome and Gandhi's enigmatic last years and final legacy, are well worth reading for anyone who is searching for inspiration and hope in another time of violence and confusion.
Shirer was fascinated by Gandhi, and as the only American reporter on the scene, he grew close to this most unique and, in many ways, most effective leader of the whole 20th century. His on-the-ground account of his time covering Gandhi and his movement, capped by reflections on its final outcome and Gandhi's enigmatic last years and final legacy, are well worth reading for anyone who is searching for inspiration and hope in another time of violence and confusion.
February 21, 2022
William Shirer is today remembered as the author of the monumental book, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". However before he moved to Europe to cover the war looming in the horizon, he was the India correspondent of the Chicago Tribune. He came to cover the Gandhi Irwin talks of the early 30s and stayed on in India till the end of the 2nd Round Table Conference (1932) which was attended by Gandhi. He developed a close personal association with Gandhi and other leaders of the national movement. Even after his departure from India, Shirer continued to follow India affairs and to correspond with Gandhi. This book is mostly about the political developments of the early 30s. Shirer's account is impartial. Gandhi comes across as a shrewd politician who can be dictatorial when situation demands. We see a Gandhi struggling to keep the national movement together amidst challenges from minority groups like Dalits and Muslims. Shirer certainly admired Gandhi but his account remains objective. He is not afraid to discuss the less savoury aspects of Gandhi's personal life. This first person account of the National movement is certainly valuable . Surprisingly, this book is little known and even less read is India. It deserves a wider readership.
March 24, 2009
This book is an interesting introduction to Gandhi. It was written by the international news correspondent of the old school William Shirer who, apparently fairly open minded and liberal in nature, actually seemed to "get" Gandhi on a certain level and obviously admired and respected him greatly.
Though Shirer's actual personal contact with Gandhi was limited to a brief period of time during 1930-32, he remained in persoanl correspondence with him throughout the rest of his life and, of course, he followed the "news" of Gandhi and the Indian independence movement closely. That caveat aside the book is a good introduction to Gandhi and the people who were closest to him in his struggle.
Shirer also presents a fairly anti-Colonialist view of the British in India and the picture we get of how India was colonized bears eerie resemblance to how we occupied and then privatized Iraq after the invasion. I would say, for me, this was the best part of the book. Reading about and then realizing how very like our own imperialist endeavours were these older imperialist schemes.
India was essentially "privatized" under Crown supervision and run by a private corporation with its own "private" army until the Mutiny of 1857 when Queen Vistoria stepped in and officially made Inida one of the "colonies". As Gandhi often pointed out - India had for centuries a fairly high standard of living and it was the Brtish occupation which ruined it and impoverished it for the benefit of goverment supported private companies.
You should read it if you wish to understand where the USA is now in terms of foreign policy.
July 18, 2024
Given the author’s other books and his work experience give him a qualified position to write about Ghandi.
I walk away from this book wishing that another person such as Ghandi existed in today’s world. We seem to be growing more divided and seeking shouting and even violent means to achieve the things we want in the world. We miss someone with Ghandi’s passive style of resistance to achieve their goals.
What I liked most was the portions that showed Ghandi’s character. His continual fight for equality for all people including women and Muslims. The humble way that Shirer describes his interactions. Providing him with a train ticket when journalists were banned. Ghandi not speaking at the meetings in the UK. The trek to make salt. I also find it healing to hear that such a great man, as we all do, had faults.
I look forward to my next book to learn about this wonderfully lived life.
I walk away from this book wishing that another person such as Ghandi existed in today’s world. We seem to be growing more divided and seeking shouting and even violent means to achieve the things we want in the world. We miss someone with Ghandi’s passive style of resistance to achieve their goals.
What I liked most was the portions that showed Ghandi’s character. His continual fight for equality for all people including women and Muslims. The humble way that Shirer describes his interactions. Providing him with a train ticket when journalists were banned. Ghandi not speaking at the meetings in the UK. The trek to make salt. I also find it healing to hear that such a great man, as we all do, had faults.
I look forward to my next book to learn about this wonderfully lived life.
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October 4, 2018AMAZING
August 14, 2023
So far as personal memoirs go, Shirer's 'Gandhi' is an honest appraisal of a man who had already achieved, in the eyes – and minds and hearts – of his countrymen, a god-like stature. The Shirer who himself achieved iconic levels of journalism in 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' saw Gandhi at a time when he was a much younger man, and may be forgiven much in his effusive admiration. The last time he saw Gandhi was at the end of the Round Table Conference in London, a distinctly sour note for Gandhi. He later kept in touch with Gandhi both personally and professionally by cable. More than once, Shirer makes a comparison between the crowd pulling powers of both Gandhi and his contemporary, Hitler. Gandhi might have enjoyed the joke, but Hitler certainly wouldn't have seen the comic side of the comparison. Still, apart from the note of hero-worship that creeps in now and then, a realistic picture of a great soul who had his own flaws as a man. A moving and sincere summing of the great events of the time.
I do agree with another reviewer that the sentences could have been broken into several shorter ones without losing any meaning or emotional value. As they stand, they have a Proustian complexity and length which most journalists would fly from.
I do agree with another reviewer that the sentences could have been broken into several shorter ones without losing any meaning or emotional value. As they stand, they have a Proustian complexity and length which most journalists would fly from.
March 12, 2012
Can't remember any book that I've read in the recent years that has touched me so deeply. Absolutely beautiful.
October 31, 2020
Really enjoyed this detailed and sometimes intimate account.
April 21, 2016
A short well-written memoir of a mighty man!
January 1, 2020
The book and author successfully delivers the experience of witnessing the journey of Gandhi’s cause in the light of a personal aide. The storytelling aspect, especially the cliffhangers were done moderately and harmoniously. The footnotes from the after creation editing presumably, delivers a greater context and insight towards the subject and presents a greater overview of the matter, incorporating various parties and their input. With all of these components in play, reading this is as if watching a documentary created by Martin Scorsese.
The downside for the book and the author however, is in the objectivity of the presentation. While disclaimers were given beforehand, the ratio of admiration versus the humanisation of Gandhi was unhealthily skewed towards the former. Understanding that the book set out to be a memoir, and if that’s the case, there should be more integration of matters that are outside of the cause, as to reflect who Gandhi truly is as a person, and the deeds performed both good and bad.
The downside for the book and the author however, is in the objectivity of the presentation. While disclaimers were given beforehand, the ratio of admiration versus the humanisation of Gandhi was unhealthily skewed towards the former. Understanding that the book set out to be a memoir, and if that’s the case, there should be more integration of matters that are outside of the cause, as to reflect who Gandhi truly is as a person, and the deeds performed both good and bad.
July 15, 2025
An interesting memoir that provides a personal snapshot of Gandhi in the ‘30s during his pursuit for Indian independence through the failed Round Table Conference. These years coincide with Shirer’s time reporting in India on Gandhi for the Chicago Tribune.
Shirer travels with Gandhi, witnesses the leader’s impact on people firsthand, and captures the personality of the most famous Indian firsthand. The result is an image of a contradictory man who is intelligent, humble, and at times strange.
This is very much a memoir, not a biography. The focus is almost solely on Shirer’s time in India. The author slaps on a summary of what happened in India following his departure in the last 20 pages or so.
Still, this serves as a good primer on Gandhi and as an interesting reflection of a westerner observing Indian politics.
Shirer travels with Gandhi, witnesses the leader’s impact on people firsthand, and captures the personality of the most famous Indian firsthand. The result is an image of a contradictory man who is intelligent, humble, and at times strange.
This is very much a memoir, not a biography. The focus is almost solely on Shirer’s time in India. The author slaps on a summary of what happened in India following his departure in the last 20 pages or so.
Still, this serves as a good primer on Gandhi and as an interesting reflection of a westerner observing Indian politics.
March 8, 2025
This book is not a memoir of Gandhi. This book is a memoir of a reporter who traveled to India, and was fortunate to be near Gahdhi during much of his work to develop independence from England. However, while Gandhi is a character in this book, the book is far from being about him. We learn next to nothing about how Gandhi came to his beliefs, his upbringing, his early life, practically nothing at all. We do, unfortunately, become subject to an absurdly long section toward the end all about Gandhis sexual philosophy.
March 14, 2025
I thought it was really interesting to learn about gandhi from a guy who spent one year with him. I plan on reading gandhi's autobiography, but for such a prominent figure in the history of the world to be able to hear a firsthand experience in a year-long encounter with him was fascinating.
I thought the author did a great job describing gandhi and his life and their interactions and his importance to his people and their struggle for independence. He also did a good job discussing Gandhi's shortcomings without taking away from the incredible character that he was.
I thought the author did a great job describing gandhi and his life and their interactions and his importance to his people and their struggle for independence. He also did a good job discussing Gandhi's shortcomings without taking away from the incredible character that he was.
May 31, 2020
William L. Shirer mentions Gandhi slept with naked women to test his will power. I don’t recall reading this in Gandhi’s autobiography. Even based on other accounts, it seems that Gandhi was at worst a fetishist. Though it is unlikely that Gandhi would have deliberately pursued the girls against their will, he seems to have taken advantage of them. Everything else that Gandhi preached and did was right – from ahimsa to village economy to letting Jinnah get lost with Pakistan.
January 8, 2024
This was quite an interesting read for me. Let's just say Gandhi was not the man I thought he was. He was so much more and unfortunately so much less and I now understand the divide among people and their harsh opinions of him. This is a great read for anyone wanting to know about this iconic man in history. Read and form your own opinions, I was once a parrot copying others opinions that I had been fed but this has helped paint a better picture of the man we all know by name.
September 7, 2023
I learned a lot from this book, which is why I picked it up. However it was very difficult for me to get through some parts because I could not stay focused. I am grateful for my newfound knowledge of Gandhi and the libertarian of India but I wish I had of chosen a different book, there are so many about him!
December 4, 2024
A lame hagiography. I was excited about the historical part, but Shirer has damaged his credibility as a journalist because he openly admitted to making up stuff in his personal memoirs. When Gandhi would make questionable moral decisions, Shirer bowed down in submission (because he has no objective morality to even reference), so this was meh.
January 29, 2022
This was a great read a look at the life if an amazing man. Though not without faults he was tenacious in his pursuit of his life goal. It was interesting to read the perspective of someone who met him and ultimately was changed by his affiliation with Ghandi.
May 3, 2023
The author is a unique contributor to our knowledge of the twentieth century, combining the acute insights of a accomplished reporter and thoughtful analysis of historian.
This book reaches the same high standards of his other writings.
This book reaches the same high standards of his other writings.
June 7, 2017
Very readable. Complete but with personal touch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2018
A memoir of Gandhi by a journalist who greatly admired him -- William Shirer, the author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and other books about the horrors of Nazi Germany.
March 29, 2020
What a funny, witty, charming, passionate, amazing,intelligent human being .......always believing in TRUTH
July 29, 2020
A close personal look at Gandhi's struggle to gain freedom for India. The book loses something in last chapter,just an opinion
October 13, 2020
Shirer, the American journalist, covered Gandhi's life from 1930 to 1932. It is an intriguing read because the book unveils a few stories of the Mahatma which are not often told.
December 4, 2020
An amazing book by the author.. A first hand insight into the thoughts of the great leader.
March 3, 2025
Shirer’s German books are excellent. This was a surprise as I had no idea he spent so much time around Gandhi. It always feels like I’m transported to the time and moment when Shirer was alive.
September 14, 2025
An interesting and engaging read, written by an author who spent significant time with Gandhi in the time leading up to independence. Recommended to anyone interested in modern history
February 8, 2010
Let me qualify the 3 stars. This subject of Gandhi's life is the most incredible cake served in the styrofoam cup of this book. The cake proved a bit difficult to eat. Why? Well, major lack of sentence fluency. AND major overabundance of words per sentence. (I give two sentences at the bottom of my review as examples.) I wonder if Shirer was a bit ADD. Or perhaps I don't understand his journalism style of writing. Either is possible. However, the content must have overcome the distracting writing style for me--I did finish the book.
Now on to Gandhi. The film inspired me to learn more about him. I appreciate the more comprehensive explanation of Gandhi's religious views I got from reading this book. I also enjoyed knowing more particulars of his political work. I especially liked the conversations the author included. I was surprised (and rather shocked) at the presented opinion of Winston Churchill on Gandhi. Now I mean to learn more about Churchill.
Oh, and the Goodreads summary of this book needs to be rewritten. It seems to be summarizing another book.
Writing that's like a long commute home in 5 o'clock traffic with a teenager driving a stick-shift:
Example #1:
"In a harsh, cynical, violent and materialist world he taught and showed that love and truth and non-violence, ideas and ideals, could be of tremendous force---greater sometimes than guns bombs and bayonets--in achieving a little justice, decency, peace and freedom for the vast masses of suffering, downtrodden men and women who eke out an existence on this inhospitable planet."
Distracting?? I think so.
Example #2
"For those of us who glimpsed, however briefly, Gandhi's use of it [non-violent action and love:], who had the luck, for however short a time, to be in his radiant presence and to feel his greatness--and not many of us are still alive, as I write--it was an experience that enriched and deepened our lives as no other did."
A few sentences in the book were shorter than this, but not many. There were even a few twice the length and double the commas of these passages. Ah!
Now on to Gandhi. The film inspired me to learn more about him. I appreciate the more comprehensive explanation of Gandhi's religious views I got from reading this book. I also enjoyed knowing more particulars of his political work. I especially liked the conversations the author included. I was surprised (and rather shocked) at the presented opinion of Winston Churchill on Gandhi. Now I mean to learn more about Churchill.
Oh, and the Goodreads summary of this book needs to be rewritten. It seems to be summarizing another book.
Writing that's like a long commute home in 5 o'clock traffic with a teenager driving a stick-shift:
Example #1:
"In a harsh, cynical, violent and materialist world he taught and showed that love and truth and non-violence, ideas and ideals, could be of tremendous force---greater sometimes than guns bombs and bayonets--in achieving a little justice, decency, peace and freedom for the vast masses of suffering, downtrodden men and women who eke out an existence on this inhospitable planet."
Distracting?? I think so.
Example #2
"For those of us who glimpsed, however briefly, Gandhi's use of it [non-violent action and love:], who had the luck, for however short a time, to be in his radiant presence and to feel his greatness--and not many of us are still alive, as I write--it was an experience that enriched and deepened our lives as no other did."
A few sentences in the book were shorter than this, but not many. There were even a few twice the length and double the commas of these passages. Ah!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews