The book is about what India needs to do to claim world-power status. It analyses where India as come from, how far it has declined, where it is today (still an emerging power, but full of natural advantages), and what it must do to claim its rightful place in the world. It is a frank critique of the national passivity displayed by India in the conduct of its affairs, and a call-to-action for a more assertive India in every sphere: fostering innovation at home, instead of building intellectual property for other nations; exponentially increasing military strength, instead of waiting for China to dominate Asia. The book weaves together analyses of history, economics, foreign policy, and social policy, to chart the past, present, and future of its rise to global-power status. It concludes by arguing that US and Indian policy makers should aim to make the bilateral relationship a twenty-first century version of the US-British special relationship.