The Mystic Masseur – V. S. Naipaul

Enjoyable, humorous story about the remarkable life of a man, Ganesh, who lived in Trinidad and became one of its most famous inhabitants. Much of his success seems to occur haphazardly, although Ganesh continually pursues his dreams, which may be one secret of his or anyone's success, and eventually achieves what he desires.

Initially, driven by his curious passion for reading and a threat that he would one day write a book, Ganesh attempts to enter the working world as a masseur, following in the footsteps of his deceased father. As the years pass, his threat about writing a book seems to become just one of his silly utterances. Once, when challenged by his wife, he says:

A man may turn over half a library to make one book.

Unsuccessful as a masseur on an island overrun with them, he begins to market himself, along with the publication of his first book, 101 Questions and Answers on the Hindu Religion, as a mystic. His success is unprecedented and, as his fame as a mystic grows, he continues to write books with less difficulty and greater vision. Ganesh continues to meet success in all of his endeavors which finally lead him to embrace a larger political role.