Highlights of Reader’s Digest  August 2017, issue: The August issue, the Independence Day Special, celebrates 70 years of India’s Freedom. ‘50 Things To Know About Freedom in India’, the cover story, highlights key moments from India’s journey towards liberty, starting with the 1857 Revolt. Spanning over a century, this extensively-researched article is not just a reminder of our freedom saga, but also offers invaluable insights. There are also perspectives from historians, political commentators and human rights activists that are illuminating.  Our Soldiers Speak is a collection of amazing stories—of valour, selflessness, love and inspiration—about our men and women in uniform.  The Mark of An Alpha Male is an insightful, scientific foray into male behaviour, and what humans can learn from the animal kingdom.   Kindness of Strangers, our popular series, has two heart-warming tales of compassion and generosity.  The Bonus Read, The Untold Story of the Bastille Day Attacker, unravels the mystery of what seemed like an act of terror. The truth seems much stranger Keeping the Faith are nine stories of communal amity that are reassuring. This issue also has: The Case of the National Anthem, in the series You Be the Judge, Swami Vivekananda’s Words of Lasting Interest on harmony of religious faith, the very useful What To Ask Before Taking Antibiotics, and some solid advice of driving in the monsoons.    Happy reading!