Book excerpt: For thousands of people, the automobile has been, andyet remains an object of pleasure, pride, status, sports, excitement, emotion and passion. The automobile has been the most important invention of the twentieth century. Not only has it given the hoi polloi freedom, mobility and liberty, it has changed our lifestyle, the way we live and interact, the way we work, the kind of jobs that we do, and has led to an evolution of our cultures. It has changed the cities, the countryside, the way they are conceived, designed and constructed, the way our houses and apartment blocks are configured, as well as the technology involved therein. Post-independence, the automobile played a very important role in India's industrial growth, as well as a hero in many Bollywood movies. The automobile is yet transforming India, as it connects the remotest corners of our vast nation, providing mobility, freedom and jobs to millions. It has acted as an emancipator for women in many parts of the nation, allowing them to go to school and university, commute to work and to the marketplace. With the help of this book, Gautam Sen has traced the history of the automobile in India and the way it has shaped the economy and society here. He has also talked about the evolution of races and bikes in Asia. The riveting story told in the most fascinating anecdotal tone, this book is filled with well-researched facts and details for the lovers of automobiles. The pictures in the book, too, are gorgeous and rare.