If you've ever heard that many Far Eastern Economic Review journalists were lousy writers (e.g., Nate Thayer), let me introduce you to Hamish McDonald.

The rise of the Ambani moguls--the father and his two rival sons--is a fascinating story with humble roots, scandals, and corruption on the way to multi-dollar billionaire status. I bought this years ago in India after reading a newspaper interview with the mother, Kokila Dhirubhai Ambani, who recalled taking a buffalo cart from her village on the way to her arranged marriage and life in Yemen.

McDonald turns it into a grey slog, so I soon gave up. I can see from an Amazon review that this is allegedly an update of "The Polyester Prince," which was banned in India. Updated in the sense the problematical sections had been omitted. So perhaps that's at the root of the dullness, but I have my doubts. There must be much better bio or two out there. Recommendations welcome. Meanwhile, there are plenty of articles about the brothers Mukesh and Anil.

As for FEER and its crappy male writers (there were all male; it just worked out that way!). Their work became readable because the magazine, although finally owned by Dow Jones at the end, operated like a British publication--that is, a whole tier of "sub-editors" was responsible for grammar, spelling and, in cases like McDonald, basic organization and "color." Actually, there was probably another layer of editors on top of the sub-editors who went back and forth with the writer trying to pull out a coherent story. Without such a net, you get a snooze like this. ( )

This book by Hamish McDonald is interesting. Books like this are tricky to review because the reviewer must review the book and not analyze the principal characters portrayed in the book.

Hamish McDonald has done an excellent job of describing the rise of Dhirubhai Ambani. One of the earliest anecdotes in the book tells of a person who described the three facets of Dhirubhai, including his dark side.

The book is an indictment of Indian politics, bureaucrats, and how the Indian government functions.

Hamish does an excellent job of portraying the three aspects of Dhirubhai Ambani’s character. Dhirubhai Ambani was a genial, dark genius. His personality comes through well.

The book appears to have been put together using available information, and information from some confidential interviews. I do not believe that this book was easy to write.

It is an enjoyable book, and I must compliment Hamish McDonald for staying true to the middle path. He does not praise or criticize, Dhirubhai Ambani. Hamish has left it to the reader to make his or her judgment.

The characters of the two brothers, but, do not come through clearly. ( )