Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs is not a biography but a work-o-graphy. It details the life of one of the most renowned sociologists in India and maps his professional journey. The author started his career at Delhi University and shifted to JNU in 1971 when the university started. In JNU, he was stigmatized because of his neutral political position. He was elected as the president of International Sociological Association, the only sociologist to occupy this position so far from Asia and Africa. The narratives regarding this metamorphosis of the author could be inspirational to peers and subsequent generations. Similarly, the account of ‘travails of publishing’ graphically unfolds the challenges to be faced by emerging as well as veteran authors.

Anecdotal in nature, the book provides insights into the functioning of the academic world through the discipline of sociology not only nationally but even globally. A world in which knowledge production and dissemination are becoming increasingly critical, the book also discusses the larger social and political context in which these activities are undertaken. It also brings out the lack of professionalism among Indian sociologists.

Written in a very lucid way, this book will be of interest to social scientists, scholars of media studies and general readers.