Author and researcher John Zubrzycki condenses five millennia of Indian history into an accessible overview of the nation's rich and complex past.

India is both the world's oldest civilization and the world's largest democracy.

John Zubrzycki, an Australian author and researcher, has spent the majority of his career researching India and spent time in the country as a diplomat.

Zubrzycki's 2022 book, The Shortest History of India, tackles the long history of this great nation, from the Harappān Civilization to the exploitations of British colonialism.

Key figures such as the Buddha, Gandhi, and Nehru are introduced, alongside lesser-known individuals who shaped India's destiny.

Bringing us up to the present day, Zubrzycki gives an account of the current state of India as the world's most populous nation and one of its largest economies.

Highlighting the resilience and multiplicity of India's past, Zubrzycki expresses optimism for India's future.