Khushwant singh does not believe in god. Yet he wakes up before dawn to listen to sikh hymns, recites the gayatri mantra, and knows a large parts of the bible and the quran by heart. In this eclectic and deeply personal collection, india’s grand old man of letters brings together prayers and precepts by prophets, poets, and philosophers, and his favourite passages from the seminal texts of the world’s major faiths.

The songs of mystics and saits like kabir, rumi and Teresa of avila mix with the verse of poets like ghalib, tagore, and keats. In the final section, khushwant singh shares some of his own life codes and those of the rebels and mavericks he most admires.

Full of spirit, wit and good sense- and as free of humbug as the man himself- this is a book of inspiration, comfort and entertainment for every discerning reader.