Have Pen, Will Travel: Observations of a Globetrotter

by M.J. Akbar

Have Pen, Will Travel is a highly engaging collection of reportage and travel pieces that appeared originally in leading journalist and author M.J. Akbar's column, Byline. The intrepid author ambles or sometimes jogs through Africa, America, Asia and of course the innumerable corners of India to record an engrossing mix of piquant observation, geography and history. With a keen eye, deft insight and wit, Akbar assembles a rich mosaic of a world that enlightens and entertains.

282 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

About the author

Mobashar Jawed "M.J." Akbar (born 11 January 1951) is a leading Indian journalist and author. He was the Editorial Director of India Today, India's leading weekly English news magazine published by the Living Media group till his resignation in October 2012. He also had an additional responsibility of overseeing the media conglomerate's English news channel, Headlines Today.
He launched "The Sunday Guardian", a weekly newspaper in 2010, and continues to serve as Editor-in-Chief. He is also the founder and former editor-in-chief and managing director of The Asian Age, a daily multi-edition Indian newspaper with a global perspective.
He has written several non-fiction books, including Byline (New Delhi: Chronicle Books, 2003), a biography of Jawaharlal Nehru titled Nehru: The Making of India, a book on Kashmir titled Kashmir: Behind the Vale, Riot After Riot and India: The Siege Within. He also authored The Shade of Swords, a cohesive history of jihad. Akbar's recent published book is Blood Brothers, a skillfully crafted family saga covering three generations and packed with information of events in India and the world, particularly the changing Hindu-Muslim relations.
His book Blood Brothers has been translated into Italian as Fratelli di Sangue. It was released in Rome at the headquarters of Adnkronos on 15 January 2008.
He published his latest book "Tinderbox: The past and future of Pakistan" in January 2012 discussing the themes of identity crisis and class struggles in Pakistan.
Akbar was also the editor-in-chief of The Deccan Chronicle, a Hyderabad-based news daily.

Reviews

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 I remember a Brazilian forward missing an easy goal in a World Cup and the commentator remarked - "Perhaps the goal was too easy. Brazilians cant resist going for the stylish and spectacular."
Or may I say that reading M.J. Akbar sometimes feels like listening to commentary by Siddhu. There seems to be a laborious attempt at style and wit. Thankfully, Akbar handles it much better than Siddhu.
This travelogue is quite different from all others I have read so far - USA, Canada, Europe, Africa, Middle East, South-East Asia, Far East Asia, New Zealand have all been covered in this one book. The observations are sharp along with trademark Akbar wit and history. Worth a read, if u like the author's writing style, otherwise may skip.

[Tariq Mahmood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akbar sahib has managed to put all of his extensive travelling into one book somehow. The book is filled with interesting experiences but unfortunately lacks a certain continuity in the narrative. The best bit was when Niagra falls was imagined on the border of India and Pakistan, bereft of any water and with dhobis working hard on rocks under the falls!

[Tiru Arasu · Rating 2 out of 5]

uninteresting narration of events and places. could have improved in style and substance.