The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile, conversations with Arundhati Roy, interviews by David Barsamiam (pp 157). Roy is an Indian social commentator, journalist, and author. This book is a series of interviews of her thoughts about India, America, and the world. Rather than make what would be a pathetic attempt to summarize these wide-ranging conversations, I will quote several illustrative passages:

... all over the world, freedoms are being snatched away at a frightening pace. I think it’s not just important but urgent for us to become extremely troublesome citizens...

... we have to rescue democracy by being troublesome, by asking questions, by making a noise.

Every person who gets ahead gets ahead by stepping on his brother, or sister, or mother, or friend. ( )

I so love it when a persons writing (or in this case speaking) completely encapsulates what you think about a topic. And when they add to your knowledge so comprehensively and so convincingly, what can is there to complain about?

The topic of this book is neoliberal capitalism. It is also justice, human rights, politics, economics, the geography of power, literature, globalisation, environmentalism, colonialism, emperialism and about a hundred other "isms" that control people worldwide with or without them knowing it.

Three interviews that took place just post the September 11 World Trade Centre attacks are transcribed here. Roy speaks her mind to the interviewer in a frank and succinct manner. She maintains her right to take sides, get angry and make change. ( )

Author won Man Booker Prize for 'God of Small Things'. ( )