The book is a collection of essays written originally for Udbodhan magazine by Swami Vivekananda as he toured the world. He felt that every nation is an expression of an idea, and that East and West have much to learn from each other, yet each must remain true to their own self. This was at a time when the British empire reigned supreme, and India was under its rule.

The articles themselves are part history, part travelogue, frank, full of humor, yet bold in his appraisal of Eastern and Western countries. He contrasts the customs and practices of East and West, again, with much humor yet sharply to the point. This book is one of our sleepers that deserves a much wider audience.