Impressing the Whites Authors Disclaimer and Reviews

AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER (applies more or less to all of Richard Crasta's books): Any resemblance to real persons or books living or murdered is purely coincidental. Void where fatwahed, and fatwahed almost everywhere. Some assembly of facts and intelligence required. Batteries not included. Contents may settle during reading or as a result of heavy drinking. Use only as directed; misuse permitted only to critics who have made up their minds before reading this book. Do not read while operating a motor vehicle or a vibrator. Little Ayatollahs not yet proven to be blood relations of the original Ayatollah.
This is a book that combines satire with truthful, passionate, sincere, and idealistic observations. It is a unique mix that has been a trademark of the author’s writing (though more so in some books than in others), and its intention is to oppose hypocrisy, racism, oppression of any kind, and all forms of injustice. The book must be read in that spirit, and in the context of the satirical tradition of Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, and Ambrose Bierce; and anyone quoting individual lines out of context with an intention to mislead others should have his or her height and head examined, or, failing which, be shot for intellectual cowardice and moral leprosy. [end of Disclaimer]

Author's post-publication commentary: If you wished to test the IQ, humanity, and non-racism of a white person, or the intellectual honesty of an Indian (let's say, prior to getting married to them), give them this book to read, and then ask them how they liked it.

BLURB AND PRAISE FOR THE NEW 2011 E-BOOK EDITION, which contains sections not available anywhere else, including commentary on Aravind Adiga's Booker Win, on Barack Obama, and the New Commandments, plus an inclusion of David Davidar in a case study.
•    How did Salman Rushdie become a Western sacred cow (i.e. a true Moo-Salman?)
•    What happens to literary bad boys from East and from Africa?
•    How can East and West live together with greater authenticity, mutual recognition, and respect?
•    Who uttered the immortal the words, “If you want to succeed in the West, impress the whites!”
•    What is the New Spiritual Colonialism?
•    How do the French keep the African ex-colonies happy?
•    What are the rules for Asian and African writers wishing to win the Booker Prize?
•    What is the Occidental Cow and how many billion teats does it have?

These are a few of the questions answered in “Impressing the Whites”, of which one reviewer wrote: "The reader laughs, squirms, recognizes his/her own hypocrisy and the blatant absurdity of most unquestioned social conventions. In this, Crasta succeeds in ways not unlike Sasha Baron Cohen's Borat character or Chris Rock race routines succeed, i.e., brilliantly."

This controversial, provocative book was mentioned on BBC World News and, the author interviewed on BBC World Service and three top national programs.
Though the case studies are mostly focus on India, America, and Britain, the rules (also called The Commandments) often apply to black people (among those quoted are James Baldwin and Richard Wright) and nonwhite people everywhere. This book has been called a hipper, more readable, and livelier version Edward Said’s landmark book, “Orientalism.”

Satirical and passionate, this book is re-issued for the first time after 2000, and this 2011 e-book edition of a 2002 edition that was never published has new Appendixes and new Commandments, and some rewriting, and includes certain comments on the phenomenon of Barack Obama.

REVIEWS:

“This book is not intended to change the world, but rather to reflect it in such a way that the reader laughs, squirms, recognizes his/her own hypocrisy and the blatant absurdity of most unquestioned social conventions. In this, Crasta succeeds in ways not unlike Sasha Baron Cohen's Borat character or Chris Rock race routines succeed, i.e., brilliantly. As social criticism the book is potent enough, but the sheer zany exuberance of it all make it far more than that—
a delicious and mischievous pleasure. Highly recommended.”—Frank Feldman, Amazon 5-star review
“A thoughtful and very interesting book. A must for everyone who wants to have a better understanding of "The Other" in this case Indians. This is a book for those looking for an authentic Indian voice, unlike the usual brown sahibs paraded by the Western publishing Industry.”—Mallika Patlola, Amazon 5-star review.

“I think that your books are important works for their frankness and insight; and most eloquently told. I never hesitate to recommend your works to other readers. I look forward to reading anything that you write. I think that one of the best books about race that I've ever read was yours. It should be mandatory reading in every school.”—Russ Rowley, Marine Engineer

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