Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948), political and spiritual leader of India. Location Sevagram.

Today is the 144th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence. Gandhi was a man whose pursuit of justice and peace through non-violent action changed the course of history, inspiring generations of activists, thinkers and leaders to follow in his footsteps. Great men like Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein and the Dalai Lama credited Gandhi as an inspiration and role model.

Like all heroes, Gandhi was not perfect, and sometimes failed to live up to his own ideals. Still, Gandhi rose above his own limitations, and is justly remembered for his bravery in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

Gandhi was an unparalleled statesman, humanitarian and strategist who won freedom for India from the British Empire not by guns and bombs, but through a combination of diplomacy, spirituality, economic pressure, civil disobedience, non-violent action and personal integrity. It is for no small reason that he is celebrated as the father of a nation and an icon of peace.

Readers looking for an overview of Gandhi’s life, philosophies and political activism will appreciate The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas. Editor Louis Fischer selected the best of Gandhi’s writings to create this approachable look at the man and his work.

Those interested in Gandhi’s spirituality might also enjoy The Way to God, a collection of his writings on the topic, edited by M.S. Deshpande. Initially published in India in 1971 under the title Pathway to God, this book will illuminate the role that Gandhi’s deeply held spiritual beliefs played in his political activity and campaigns for social justice.

As a voluminous writer, it will likely come as no surprise that he wrote an autobiography. Titled An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments With Truth, this is a great resource for those looking to learn more about the man and his life. Gandhi recounts the story of his life from early childhood and the events that led to the development of his philosophy of non-violence.

Finally, admirers of Gandhi new and old will probably want to make a note to check out Ramachandra Guha’s Gandhi Before India, set to release on May 6, 2014. This book is the first volume in what is thought will be the man’s definitive biography. Gandhi Before India takes the reader from his birth and early education to his later years as an attorney and community organizer in South Africa. Guha drew from a multitude of previously unpublished private documents in researching this pivotal era in Gandhi’s life, many of which have never been used before.