Gandhiji used to read books on philosophy, religion, sociology, etc. These books greatly influenced Gandhiji economic, social and political ideology. Gandhiji’s approach towards people and his deeds were also a result of these readings.

• For example, Gandhiji was greatly influenced by the American thinker Thoreau. Gandhiji adopted the idea of ‘Simple living and high thinking’ from Thoreau’s works.
• Gandhiji’s idea of ‘Sarvodaya’ was an inspiration from British writer John Ruskin’s book ‘Unto the last’. From this book, he derived the importance of labor work and ways to eradicate poverty from India.
• Gandhiji was also influenced by Leo Tolstoy’s works, ‘What shall we do then?’ and The Kingdom -of God is within you .
• Based on the theory of ‘bread labour’ given by Ruskin Gandhiji gave the ‘Bread labour’ theory and the motto that people should work and earn their bread and those who do not work have no right to eat.
• Gandhiji’s belief of ‘labouring for one’s own bread’ also exists in one of the shlok’as in the 3rd chapter of Hindu Scripture, the ‘Bhagwad Gita’.
• The play ‘Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra’ taught him the importance of truth and made him a ‘Satyagrahi’.
• Thus we can say that Gandhiji’s persona, character and deeds were the outcome of being an avid reader.