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holly_ed_'s review
4.0
A gripping dive into the psyche of Delhi’s millennials, this is a fast-paced eye-opener that helped me to understand the what if not always the why of growing up in India today.
Poonam’s subjects (mostly impoverished men from northern India) seem imbued with a sense of destiny: ‘Everyone I followed knew exactly what I was doing; not one of them was surprised at the fact of being chosen. Long before I showed up with a notebook and pen, they had known that someday someone would’ and this self-confidence was fascinating to me as someone who’s had immeasurably more opportunities to fulfil my potential and has about half the self-belief. More than one interviewee thought they would end up ruling the nation, and I’m not sure whether to be impressed by the confidence or worried by the inevitable failure; even though these subjects have arguably come so far (moved away, set up a business, learned English) their expectations seem SO high there’s bound to be only disappointment and anger. Rage seemed to bubble through this book just under the surface, reminding me of how volatile northern India feels a lot of the time, and wondering if this disconnect between aspiration and reality is the reason. This fascinating book introduced me to the hopes and dreams of these teens, but hasn’t offered me much insight into what happens next.
Poonam’s subjects (mostly impoverished men from northern India) seem imbued with a sense of destiny: ‘Everyone I followed knew exactly what I was doing; not one of them was surprised at the fact of being chosen. Long before I showed up with a notebook and pen, they had known that someday someone would’ and this self-confidence was fascinating to me as someone who’s had immeasurably more opportunities to fulfil my potential and has about half the self-belief. More than one interviewee thought they would end up ruling the nation, and I’m not sure whether to be impressed by the confidence or worried by the inevitable failure; even though these subjects have arguably come so far (moved away, set up a business, learned English) their expectations seem SO high there’s bound to be only disappointment and anger. Rage seemed to bubble through this book just under the surface, reminding me of how volatile northern India feels a lot of the time, and wondering if this disconnect between aspiration and reality is the reason. This fascinating book introduced me to the hopes and dreams of these teens, but hasn’t offered me much insight into what happens next.
emilyhan0906's review
4.0
Fascinating stories of ordinary people in India who are in a lot of ways extraordinary. Most of the book focused on men struggling for upward mobility, but the most memorable/intense story has to be the one about the first woman to fight her way into being student president of a university.
sandyjhutti's review
3.0
I don’t think I would recommend this book to anyone. I found it quite difficult to get through, it would have done better as a blog. There were a bunch of grammatical errors and I didn’t learn anything new. I give it three stars for the authors ability to put together a somewhat comprehensive list of “Dreamers.”
premxs's review
4.0
Dreamers is a quick read that uncovers the anxieties and (a)moralities that drive the politics of India's hinterland. A land of testosterone, bottlerocket aspiration and failure. The narrative essay form Poonam employs allow a glimpse behind the dank curtains of these lives that doesn't hesitate to show us how much trouble the nation is in if we don't address these men's insecurities. Although some parts of the book could've used broader context, the overarching narrative of disillusioned young voters who will forge their way in the world, no matter the cost, is a chilling but necessary addition to the oeuvre of reporting on the future of our democracy.
meeranair_54's review
4.0
Snigdha Poonam’s Dreamers brings to light the struggles and aspirations of the Indian youth. In a society that is brimming with job seekers, the paucity of employment propels these young Indians into doing whatever it takes to make ends meet. Filled with political stances and the desire to break through the gateway of modernism, this book brings to us the stories of individuals who refuse to back down.
When I heard about this book, I had a slightly different picture in mind; one of a dramatized version of what the youth in India are upto, in order to achieve their dreams. As I began reading this book, I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to finish it because of the overwhelmingly detailed content. But the more I read, the more I wanted to know about where India was headed, in terms of the mentality of its youth, their actions. The author’s writing style is commendable. She writes very eloquently, in a non-judgmental manner. Themes of religion, bigotry, woman empowerment, violence, technology and modernism are highlighted throughout this tome.
Something that irked me about this book was that I felt it was not really inclusive. In the sense that it doesn’t draw a fair picture of the youth of India. A majority of the stories were about men (I don’t have a problem with men and neither is this about feminism. So don’t misconstrue my words.) and then, none of the stories covered the southern states of India, or even the East. I agree that it must have been extremely difficult to seek out youngsters from different parts of India. But for equal representation, it would have been nice to know about individuals from different backgrounds. Some of the stories and morals that come to our attention when reading this book concerned me a great deal, because it unearthed the face of a highly intolerable and prejudiced future. While it’s important to be aware of that, it doesn’t color my opinion of everyone below the age of 25 years. This book has just equipped me with the affirmation that we are a fierce bunch, ready to do whatever it takes to fulfill our goals. All in all, I would recommend Dreamers to those who enjoy nonfiction and are interested in the subject matter.
Ratings – 3.5 out of 5 stars
What do you get out of it? An indepth glance at some of the mindsets that are the future of our country.
Thank you Penguin India for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I heard about this book, I had a slightly different picture in mind; one of a dramatized version of what the youth in India are upto, in order to achieve their dreams. As I began reading this book, I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to finish it because of the overwhelmingly detailed content. But the more I read, the more I wanted to know about where India was headed, in terms of the mentality of its youth, their actions. The author’s writing style is commendable. She writes very eloquently, in a non-judgmental manner. Themes of religion, bigotry, woman empowerment, violence, technology and modernism are highlighted throughout this tome.
Something that irked me about this book was that I felt it was not really inclusive. In the sense that it doesn’t draw a fair picture of the youth of India. A majority of the stories were about men (I don’t have a problem with men and neither is this about feminism. So don’t misconstrue my words.) and then, none of the stories covered the southern states of India, or even the East. I agree that it must have been extremely difficult to seek out youngsters from different parts of India. But for equal representation, it would have been nice to know about individuals from different backgrounds. Some of the stories and morals that come to our attention when reading this book concerned me a great deal, because it unearthed the face of a highly intolerable and prejudiced future. While it’s important to be aware of that, it doesn’t color my opinion of everyone below the age of 25 years. This book has just equipped me with the affirmation that we are a fierce bunch, ready to do whatever it takes to fulfill our goals. All in all, I would recommend Dreamers to those who enjoy nonfiction and are interested in the subject matter.
Ratings – 3.5 out of 5 stars
What do you get out of it? An indepth glance at some of the mindsets that are the future of our country.
Thank you Penguin India for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
pocketfulofproses's review
5.0
i don't think i have words enough to explain what an important read this is.
the author has managed to track down several "young indians" (men mostly) and she uses each person's story to shed light on the state of contemporary india, the greyness of it, how 'success' is defined in a country so diverse and afflicted.
from scam call centres to the grave reality of showbiz in india to women trying to create a space for themselves in a male-dominated economy - the experiences are diverse, but not all-encompassing oBVIOUSLY.
it's an immersive, satisfying read. kinda leaves you dumbfounded and hopeful both at the same time.
the author has managed to track down several "young indians" (men mostly) and she uses each person's story to shed light on the state of contemporary india, the greyness of it, how 'success' is defined in a country so diverse and afflicted.
from scam call centres to the grave reality of showbiz in india to women trying to create a space for themselves in a male-dominated economy - the experiences are diverse, but not all-encompassing oBVIOUSLY.
it's an immersive, satisfying read. kinda leaves you dumbfounded and hopeful both at the same time.