Bibliography of books read by Mahatma Gandhi PDF | How many books did Mahatma Gandhi read

Bibliography of books read by Mahatma Gandhi. This book was created by Kirti K Bhavsar, Mark Lindley & Poornima Upadhyay in 2011. 

This book consists of the titles of books that were read by Mahatma Gandhi. Not only does this book contain the titles of the books read by Mahatma Gandhi, but it also has those books that were not read by Mahatma Gandhi, but they were there in his library. Meaning that Mahatma Gandhi intended to read those books. 

What is the evidence that Mahatma Gandhi has read these books?

The evidence is also presented by the writers of this book. The writers have gone through the letters of Mahatma Gandhi and collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, and quoted the text that Mahatma Gandhi wrote about these books. Mahatma Gandhi used to write in his diary what books he had read. 

Also, in some letters to his colleagues, Gandhi would refer to a book, or quote something from the book, or he would simply write that he had completed reading this book. Thus we can conclude that Mahatma Gandhi has read these books. 

How many books did Mahatma Gandhi read?

It can be shown by this book that Mahatma Gandhi has read more than 454 books in his entire lifetime. Mahatma Gandhi has also donated around 4500 books to the municipal library of Ahmedabad. The facts about this are also presented in this book: a bibliography of books read by Mahatma Gandhi.

Overview of the book: a bibliography of books read by Mahatma Gandhi 

In its preface section, it is mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi must have read about 454 books in his lifetime. 

Mahatma Gandhi considered Leo Tolstoy as one of his mentors. Hence, Mahatma Gandhi relished the books written by Leo Tolstoy. From the kingdom of God is within you to Ivan the Fool, Gandhi read them all. The list of the books that were written by Leo Tolstoy and were read by Mahatma Gandhi is as follows: 

1. The kingdom of God is within you
2. A Confession 
3. My Confession 
4. How much land does a man need? 
5. Ivan the fool 
6. The slavery of our Times 
7. What to do?
8. What is art? 
9. God sees the truth but waits etc.
   

are the books that Mahatma Gandhi read, and these books were written by the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. 

Mahatma Gandhi considered John Ruskin as his other mentor. Hence he relished reading "Unto this last," written by John Ruskin. 

Mahatma Gandhi is also paraphrased Unto this Last in Gujarati language, it is titled Sarvodaya.

Many of these books are appended to the appendix of Hind Swaraj. Therefore it is easily evident that Mahatma Gandhi has read each of these books.

Yet, another mentor Shrimad Rajchandra. Mahatma Gandhi has read his books too, Atmasiddhi Shastra which Gandhiji read in 1922 is one of Raichand Bhai's creations.

How many times did Mahatma Gandhi use to read a single book?

Mahatma Gandhi usually used to read a book once. This is evident in his remarks about Ram Charcha by Munshi Premchand. In a letter, Gandhi wrote that "it is not wrong to read a book twice". Hence it can be noted that Mahatma Gandhi did not often revise what he read.

Did Mahatma Gandhi read any children's books?

It can be proven that Mahatma Gandhi used to read children's books too. As it is mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi has read Aesop's fables. Mahatma Gandhi read those children's books from which he could draw morals.

"The list of titles..." chapter of bibliography of books read by Mahatma Gandhi, repeats many books from the chronological list's chapters.

"Appendix 2" shares the books that Mahatma Gandhi had in his library to read. Mahatma Gandhi owned these books.

The surprising thing about this list is that this list excludes all the books that were mentioned previously in the "chronological lists" and "the list of titles" etc. in the book. So these are the new books that are different from the previous lists of books. 

Gandhi did not have an extra Dhoti to wear but had innumerable numbers of books in his collection. What a voracious reader he was!

Amidst these innumerable books, I found a book named Hand Weaving by Luther Hooper in Gandhi's reading list. And, I am going to read that.

PDF of the book: Bibliography of books read by Mahatma Gandhi, is given below.

My search for other books that Mahatma Gandhi read

Universe in the atom by Jeans

 

Other books can also be shown to be read by Gandhi. On closely examining one such magazine, issued by Charkha Sangh in 1941. In the August issue, on page number 37, I found this book that Gandhiji talks about: Universe in the atom by Jeans.

 

I went back to check if this book is mentioned in "the bibliography of the books read by Mahatma Gandhi", and I could not find the title. Who knows what other books Gandhiji might have read. 

 

I will try to update you if I further come across other such hidden books that Gandhi ji might have read.