What will I learn about: how Gandhi's world-changing philosophy of Truth and nonviolence evolved from his relatable early struggles as a shy, inexperienced lawyer and a rebellious teenager?

Discover how Gandhi's world-changing philosophy of Truth and nonviolence evolved from his relatable early struggles as a shy, inexperienced lawyer and a rebellious teenager.

What will I learn about: Learn how a humble upbringing steeped in religious tolerance and the early guiding principle of responding to evil with goodness forged Gandhi's incorruptible moral compass?

Learn how a humble upbringing steeped in religious tolerance and the early guiding principle of responding to evil with goodness forged Gandhi's incorruptible moral compass.

What will I learn about: why Gandhi viewed vegetarianism as the first critical step toward attaining Truth after overcoming a guilt-ridden teenage phase of meat-eating and rebellion?

Understand why Gandhi viewed vegetarianism as the first critical step toward attaining Truth after overcoming a guilt-ridden teenage phase of meat-eating and rebellion.

What will I learn about: how Gandhi's deep personal regrets over teenage lust, jealousy, and neglecting his dying father fueled his lifelong dedication to spiritual discipline?

Find out how Gandhi's deep personal regrets over teenage lust, jealousy, and neglecting his dying father fueled his lifelong dedication to spiritual discipline.

What will I learn about: Explore the remarkable resolve Gandhi demonstrated as a young man by defying his caste's threat of expulsion to study law in England while honoring strict personal vows?

Explore the remarkable resolve Gandhi demonstrated as a young man by defying his caste's threat of expulsion to study law in England while honoring strict personal vows.

An Autobiography

The Story of My Experiments with Truth

M. K. Gandhi

★ 4.3 / 5(89 ratings)

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Biography & Memoir

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💡Did you know that one of history’s most peaceful icons actually began his journey as a rebellious youth struggling with deep personal secrets and moral failures?
💡What is the secret behind a philosophy of 'truth' so powerful that it could challenge the world's greatest empire without firing a single shot?
💡Have you ever wondered how a shy, self-doubting lawyer transformed himself into a leader of millions through a series of radical personal experiments?

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Key Takeaways from An Autobiography

✓Discover how Gandhi's world-changing philosophy of Truth and nonviolence evolved from his relatable early struggles as a shy, inexperienced lawyer and a rebellious teenager.
✓Learn how a humble upbringing steeped in religious tolerance and the early guiding principle of responding to evil with goodness forged Gandhi's incorruptible moral compass.
✓Understand why Gandhi viewed vegetarianism as the first critical step toward attaining Truth after overcoming a guilt-ridden teenage phase of meat-eating and rebellion.
✓Find out how Gandhi's deep personal regrets over teenage lust, jealousy, and neglecting his dying father fueled his lifelong dedication to spiritual discipline.
✓Explore the remarkable resolve Gandhi demonstrated as a young man by defying his caste's threat of expulsion to study law in England while honoring strict personal vows.

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Mind Map

An Autobiography

Early Life & Foundations+

Teenage Rebellion+

Education in London+

Awakening in South Africa+

Core Philosophies+

Activism & Leadership+

The Indian Independence Movement+

Personal Habits for Success+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10

What important guiding principle did Gandhi adopt early in his life from his Gujarati community?

A. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.
B. If one receives evil from a person, one should respond with goodness.
C. Truth can only be found through strict fasting and prayer.
D. Wealth should be distributed equally among all castes.

Question 2 of 10

During his teenage years, why did Gandhi temporarily abandon his family's vegetarian practices to eat meat?

A. He believed it was required by his Hindu faith.
B. He was rebelling against his mother's strict religious rules.
C. A friend convinced him that eating meat was what made the British occupiers stronger than the native Indians.
D. He was starving and had no other source of food available in his town.

Question 3 of 10

How did Gandhi's caste react to his decision to travel to England to study law?

A. They sponsored his trip to ensure he maintained the family's esteemed status.
B. They expelled him because they claimed traveling abroad was against their religion.
C. They sent a monk with him to ensure he kept his vows of abstinence.
D. They demanded he marry before leaving to secure his ties to the community.

Question 4 of 10

What major obstacle did Gandhi face when he first tried to present a case in court as a young lawyer in Bombay?

A. He was paralyzed by severe shyness and handed the case to another lawyer.
B. The judge refused to hear him because he would not remove his turban.
C. He lacked the proper legal credentials to practice in Indian courts.
D. He was boycotted by other lawyers due to his caste expulsion.

Question 5 of 10

According to Gandhi's belief in ahimsa (nonviolence), why is it acceptable to attack a system but never a person?

A. Because individuals are powerless to change the system on their own.
B. Because people are a reflection of Truth, or God, and deserve compassion and empathy.
C. Because attacking individuals leads to immediate imprisonment under British law.
D. Because personal attacks distract from the political goals of the movement.

Question 6 of 10

In 1906, Gandhi took the vow of brahmacharya, or celibacy. What was his primary motivation for this decision?

A. He believed it was the only way to repent for leaving his dying father's bedside.
B. He wanted to protest the British laws regarding Indian marriages.
C. He felt freed from the distractions of lust and wanted to focus fully on serving the public.
D. His wife Kasturbai demanded it after his continuous bouts of jealousy.

Question 7 of 10

What discriminatory legislation in South Africa prompted Gandhi to launch his new method of nonviolent resistance known as satyagraha?

A. The Salt Tax, which made salt unusually expensive for Indians.
B. The Tinkathia system, which forced tenants to plant indigo.
C. The Rowlatt Act, which allowed arrests without evidence.
D. The Asiatic Registration Act, which threatened Indians with deportation if they didn't carry registration papers.

Question 8 of 10

What was the tinkathia system that Gandhi successfully fought against upon returning to India?

A. A tax system that required Indians to pay the British for homespun cloth.
B. An exploitative system that forced tenants to plant indigo on behalf of their landlords.
C. A segregation law that prevented Indians from riding in first-class train compartments.
D. A legal mandate that required all Indian workers to pay an annual tax of £25.

Question 9 of 10

Why did Gandhi suspend the satyagraha protest against the Rowlatt Act and go on a five-day fast?

A. The protest turned deadly when police clashed with protestors, making Gandhi realize the public hadn't properly learned nonviolence.
B. The British government agreed to repeal the Rowlatt Act immediately.
C. He contracted pleurisy and was physically unable to lead the movement.
D. The Indian National Congress voted unanimously to stop the protests.

Question 10 of 10

As part of the noncooperation movement and boycott of British institutions and products, what did Gandhi advocate that Indians do?

A. Refuse to pay any taxes to the colonial government until independence was granted.
B. Use khadi, or homespun cloth, and spin their own cloth instead of buying British textiles.
C. Move to communal farms like the Phoenix Settlement to avoid British taxation.
D. Write letters to the Secretary of State for the Colonies demanding constitutional rule.

An Autobiography — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Born into India’s merchant caste in Porbandar, Gandhi entered a child marriage at age 13.
32 — As a teenager, Gandhi went through a rebellious phase marked by jealousy and lust.
43 — Despite his caste’s disapproval, Gandhi traveled to England to study law.
54 — Seeking professional experience, Gandhi went to South Africa and witnessed racism firsthand.
65 — Alongside his legal work, Gandhi devoted himself to public service and religious study.
76 — Before bringing his message of equality to India, Gandhi continued his work in Natal, southern Africa.
87 — After aiding the wounded in the Boer War, Gandhi remained humble and well-informed in India.
98 — Gandhi dedicated himself to both nonviolence and celibacy.
109 — Gandhi kept fighting for Indians in South Africa and introduced a new form of nonviolent resistance.
1110 — At the start of World War I, Gandhi returned to India and continued battling injustice.
1211 — Gandhi paused satyagraha when it sparked violence, but his noncooperation resolution eventually passed.
1312 — Final summary

An Autobiography Summary & Overview

An Autobiography (First published in two volumes; Volume 1, 1927, and Volume 2, 1929) is the autobiography of one of the world’s most famous political icons – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The book traverses his rebellious childhood, his early activism in South Africa and his work for the Indian Independence Movement up until 1920, and gives insight into Gandhi’s personal philosophy and his lifelong quest for Truth.

Who Should Listen to An Autobiography?

Anyone interested in Gandhi’s life and personal philosophy
Students of history and political science
People cultivating leadership skills

About the Author: M. K. Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Oct 2, 1869-Jan 30, 1948) was an early twentieth-century Indian activist. After working to improve Indian immigrant rights in South Africa, Gandhi returned to India in 1915 to lead the Indian Independence Movement against British rule with his unwavering belief in nonviolent protest until he was assassinated in 1948 during his evening prayers.

An Autobiography

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to An Autobiography — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from An Autobiography

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

An Autobiography — Full Chapter Overview

An Autobiography Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to An Autobiography?

About the Author: M. K. Gandhi

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