Summary: In "Essays in National Idealism" by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, the author argues that nations are shaped by artists and poets, not by traders and politicians. The book emphasizes the importance of art as a reflection of deep principles of life and a guide to the art of living. Coomaraswamy asserts that Indian culture's true ideal is rooted in a desire to realize a spiritual inheritance, with a focus on self-sacrifice and self-realization. The essays highlight the significance of Indian nationalism as essentially religious in its foundation, advocating for a return to the passion for self-realization through art and poetry. Through a unity of the spiritual and national ideal, the author suggests that Indians can achieve the highest form of nationality, characterized by the will and power to give back to society.