Book · 2004 · Criminals
Shantaram
- mentions
- 3
- people
- 3
- podcasts
- 2
- episodes
- 3
- recommendations
- 2
Why people recommend it
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is a sweeping, voluminous novel that follows an Australian fugitive's intense adventures, redemption, and deep personal transformations in the slums and underworld of Bombay. On a 2024 episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Kevin Kelly named Shantaram as his absolute favorite fiction book, explaining to listeners why the sprawling narrative resonated so deeply with him despite taking considerable time to unpack. Similarly, Sam Parr recommended Shantaram on a 2023 episode of How I Write. Parr admitted that he almost never reads fiction, making his enthusiastic endorsement of this particular novel especially notable for his audience. Additionally, David Perell discussed the book on a 2024 episode of How I Write during a conversation about massive, immersive literary works recommended to him by colleagues and mentors, noting its immense length of roughly a thousand pages. Across these podcast appearances, speakers highlighted the book's unique ability to captivate readers who typically avoid fiction, pointing to its vivid world-building, high-stakes narrative arcs, and profound exploration of human resilience, cultural immersion, and moral redemption within a uniquely vibrant and turbulent urban setting.
Every mention
Kevin Kelly do you have a favorite fiction book yes oh fantastic this i usually don't get one answer this is great yeah… 1
“do you have a favorite fiction book yes oh fantastic this i usually don't get one answer this is great yeah shanton ah shantam it might take me a way to explain this”
Sam Parr have you ever read Shan ton uh endurance Shan ton oh what shant Trum okay so shant Trump fiction book and I… 1
“have you ever read Shan ton uh endurance Shan ton oh what shant Trum okay so shant Trump fiction book and I read no fiction so recommending a fiction book”
David Perell go Sean trom and I go okay tell me about it he goes like it's a thousand pages 1
“go Sean trom and I go okay tell me about it he goes like it's a thousand pages”