Lant Pritchett, reviewing the book In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India, writes that, while India has had impressive growth and has some world-class institutions, several other indicators are puzzlingly poor.
It doesn't stay true to the book: "In spite of surface similarities," says Chris Knight in National Post, "the film has little in common with the novel of old".
Angelou has stated that she wrote the book, in spite of potentially harming the reputation she gained after writing Caged Bird, because she wanted to show how she was able to survive in a world where "every door is not only locked, but there are no doorknobs .
Finally, there's an intangible quality missing that makes it hard to warm to this book, in spite of its dazzling prose.
"The Gay Science," begun the following year, is a jubilant book, in spite of the ferocious accusation of the madman in the marketplace, who tells a laughing, careless crowd that he has been looking everywhere for God: "Where has God gone?" he cried.
(Sheff decided to write the book, which in spite of the title is generally admiring, after watching his young son Nic get hooked on Super Mario; Nic's addiction, years later, to methamphetamine became fodder for another book).
Another event of note described in the book was, in spite of "the strangest audition", her short stint dancing and studying dance with her partner, R. L. Poole, who became her lover until he reunited with his previous partner, ending Rita's show business career for the time being.
The Indian government is famously corrupt; according to Edward Luce, in his 2007 book, "In Spite of the Gods: The Rise of Modern India," nearly a fifth of parliament members have been indicted for at least one crime.
In HRC's choices and execution, the book reveals, in spite of itself, why Mrs Clinton continually generates bad press in the media, alienates her natural constituencies, and depresses, rather than inspires, with her leadership.
There are many narrative devices that won't be fully appreciable until you delve into the book yourself, in spite of spoilers.
This is an important book, in spite of those rough edges.
