India Books

I liked the Singapore Grip, but the Siege of Krishnapur stunned me. It was wry, light and devastatingly apt at developing each character. He took no prisoners as the clueless denizens of the Raj came to realize, or not, the depth of their ignorance and folly. Loved it.

The Indian mutiny of 1857 sees the cantoment of Krishnapur besieged by sepoys. For three months Mr Hopkins (the collector) galvanises the British community in resisting the onslaught...
This book is superbly written and often reminds one of the style of George Elliot. It is both witty and profound and wonderfully researched and charactorized.Like the best of Elliot,Farrell uses his narrative to inform on other topics-the great cholera debate;the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace- and questions the basis of what culture actually lends to civilisation.
Books like this just don't get written these days.

Paul Scott wrote in his RAJ QUARTET that it was in India during the last days of the Raj that the British came to the end of themselves as they were. In this superb Booker Prize-winning novel written concurrently with the QUARTET (and which casts a similar cold eye towards the British imperial ambitions in India), J. G. Farrell shows how the Raj itself was formed and how it already carried within it in embryo the seeds of the destruction for the entire Empire. The novel takes place in a city in Northeastern India during 1857, the year of the Great Sepoy Rebellion: the British stationed in Krishnapur hear vague rumors of what they will call "The Mutiny" from faraway towns but are mostly unwilling to take them seriously. The ensuing siege they endure carries on for months as they wait for help to relieve them; though slowly forced to an absolute subsistence level--and then to even less--, they refuse to relinquish the habits of social conditioning that have made them already who they are. Social snobbery, physical modesty, gender segregation: all remain firmly ensconced even as their physical conditions start deteriorating so greatly they start dying in large numbers.

The novel's subject would seem to suggest that the novel would make for almost unbearable reading: oddly it does not, because the characters of the novel (who are almost entirely British) maintain such a droll and uncomprehending attitude towards their conditions, no matter how desperate things seem. Thus, since Farrell focalizes his narrative mostly through his thoughts, everything seems unreal throughout the entire siege and not quite so nightmarish as it might have been had he used a more distanced narrator. The work is in part a parody of old-fashioned "Mutiny novels," so you should know that the ending is very much in keeping with those kinds of novels (which proliferated throughout the Empire during the latter half of the nineteenth century); characteristically, however, Farrell puts his own intelligent spin on things, so even if the ending you had been expecting does occur it doesn't in the way you had expected. This is the second, and perhaps most famous, of the three superb works of Farrell's "Empire" trilogy which beautifully illustrates the conditions of Empire described in another nearly coeval work, Jan Morris's famous PAX BRITTANICA trilogy. It's exciting, amusing, intelligent, and greatly worth reading.

This is an excellent novel about the Sepoy Mutiny in India in 1857. The focus of the story is the siege of the British Civil Service enclave at Krishanpur (historically this was the siege of Lucknow). A group of Sepoy soldiers was given new rifle cartridges that were wrapped in greased paper, and the paper was removed by biting it off with one's teeth. The word spread was that this grease was animal grease, which was an insult to religion. The sepoys mutinied, killed their superior British officers, and started marauding across India.

Hearing about the mutiny the (tax) Collector in Krishnapur had ramparts built around the British buildings in Krishnapur. Shortly afterwards the Sepoys attacked in waver after wave for a period of several months. Surprisingly author Farrell describes the sufferings of those besieged with a good deal of humor, humor that pricks holes in the pompous beliefs and attitudes of 19th century British colonizers. We bring them progress, a superior civilization, yet they turn on us marvels the Collector. The condescension doesn't stop with the Indians. At one point the Collector speaks to the British women in the enclave, and silently thinks that in reality women are really useless creatures. It is the men of the world that shoulder the responsibility of getting things done. The padre runs around telling everyone that God is punishing them for their sinful behavior. A new school and an old school doctor constantly disagree over medical treatment. In perhaps the funniest scene of the book the old doctor contracts cholera, and instructs his aides to cover him with mustard plasters. The young doctor, who is aware that cholera victims die from dehydration, initiates a saline IV every time the old doc sinks into a coma. The IV brings him around, and he immediately pulls out the IV and insists on getting his mustard plasters, following which he soon sinks back into a coma. Back goes the IV and the doc becomes conscious again. This cycle goes on and on and becomes hysterically funny.

The British thought they were doing wonderful things for the Indians, but the harsh reality of it is they were creating harsh lives for their colonial subjects. The sepoys, for example, were paid near starvation wages. This is an important novel about the misguided philosophy behind imperialism. Perhaps there is a lesson here for us Americans. Should we really be focused on bringing our way of life to other countries?

"The Siege of Krishnapur', the second of J.G. Farrell's now classic works on the British Empire, (see also Troubles (New York Review Books Classics) and The Singapore Grip (New York Review Books Classics)) is a fictionalized account of the Siege of Lucknow during the Great Mutiny of 1857-1858 (aka the Sepoy Rebellion). The mutiny or rebellion, depending on one's point of view, was ultimately defeated by the British and led to the replacement of East India Company rule by direct British governance under the Raj.

Farrell masterfully recreates the insular British upper-class life in India - and the siege only intensifies this insularity. As the siege drags on and on, the inhabitants strive to maintain expected standards of behavior and decorum. Farrell populates his book with interesting characters who debate and dispute morality, religion, progress, and civilization.

Excellent introductions are a hallmark of the New York Review of Books Classics and the introduction to this volume by Pankaj Mishra places the book in historical and cultural context and adds significant value.

Highest Recommendation.

Superb! An excellent story based on reality. You feel like if Dr. Sharma was at your side telling. Thinking....

I was born in Burma (post independence era) of Indian Descendants. I would love to read this book but at the same time I am concern that I might get too sad for it would remind me about the Japanese Occupation era in Burma that costed my grandfather's life (for no good reason). May be I will read it someday when I can handle the pain a little better.

This book caught my attention as one of the very few books written on the traumatic events in India/Burma/Pakistan during the post ww ii era. I did not expect a lot from the faded cover and even the beginning - a somewhat prosaic/english-composition like narrative that moved but was not particularly great language wise. But the characters developed as i went along, and the writer has an amazing knack of weaving together their story, although it goes down stereotyped lanes sometimes. The essence of this book is the basic message of tolerance and simplicity of narrative on a difficult/complex subject. That in itself keeps one absorbed in it until the very last page.

Prem Sharma's story had me mesmerized from the first paragragh. I felt as though I was sitting with him as he told the story of Devi Lal and his family. Prem Sharma is a modern day freedom fighter, using his intellect and the written word instead of the fists and lathis of his youth. The effect of Gandhi's teaching is evident throughout the story. Can't wait for the sequel!

It all started when I was assigned to write a Senior paper on the little known country of Burma. In search of literature, art, history and economics I found Mandalay's Child and Dr. Prem Sharma. This book is an amazing piece which inspired a theme that I worked through my paper: suffering and hope.

In November of 2000, I had to pleasure of meeting Dr. Prem Sharma when he was in my area and visited my class at school. He talked to us about having respect for all people and their personal/religous beliefs and how important it was to realize that fighting does not help situations. Dr. Sharma, who lived in Burma during World War II, was forced to leave with his family because of the Japanense threat to the Burmese people. He moved with his family to India, but here found himself amongst the battle between the Hindus and the Muslims for Pakistan and India.

This book is truly a magnificent piece of work and something that all people, whether interested in Burma or not, should read. It gives insight into the lives of the Burmese people, the struggle for their freedom through war, and things that Dr. Sharma has witnessed in his life since the piece is partially biographical. The story is composed in a way so that the reader truly becomes attached to the family in the story. The power that this novel has over the reader is amazing -- you will shed some tears at least twice!

Dr. Sharma was a wonderful man to meet in person. He appeared very open to comments and questions about his novel and his homeland of Burma. As I correspond with him in Wisconsin through letters, I find that he is one of the most amazing people I have met in my life because of his talent and what he has been through.

As I anxiously await the publication of Dr. Sharma's other parts to the trilogy I urge everyone to pick up this novel and read it for a true experience of Burma and wonderful writing!

What a beautiful and poignant, bittersweet romance.

I fell in love with Olivia and Jai. The history, description and writing drew me right into the author's world.

I first read Olivia and Jai years ago and I've read probably thousands of books since, but I have never forgotten this book or the dynamic main characters, Olivia and Jai. There are also a number of very well developed and interesting secondary characters. Rebecca Ryman is a master of characterization and rarely have I read a book where the characters and the setting come alive to this degree. There are so many layers to the characters and to the plot that each revelation throughout its perfectly paced plot is like a gift of literary brilliance. This book encompasses the themes of love, hate and the sacrifices and devastation of revenge. It will make you laugh and cry, and it will break your heart. In the end, it will restore your faith in true love overcoming all obstacles, all the while educating you about a fascinating time and place in history. My 19 year old daughter recently came home from college for the summer so I checked this book out of the library for her. She at first showed little interest in spending her summer reading, but ended up locking herself in her room and ignoring her family and friends until she finished this book - in 3 days! Young and old will enjoy this book and I can not recommend it enough. I would actually give Olivia and Jai 10 stars! (I'm less enthusiastic about the sequel.)

This epic tale of love and revenge, set in India in 1848, chronicles the story of American Olivia O'Rourke's obsession with half-Indian Jai Raventhorpe and (as she believes) his betrayal, and her eventual revenge. All of this takes place against a backdrop Raventhorpe's shady background, interwoven with a multitude of family secrets.

It's quite clear that Ms Ryman is familiar with India. However, what she appears less familiar with are the language, mores and customs of the 19th Century. So the freedoms permitted Olivia and her cousin were a little overdone; and neither the thought of a woman being accepted in business in Colonial India, nor of the heir to a title being dirtying his hands in "trade", rang true. And the language used by the characters is far too twentieth century for credibility. That said, whilst for the first third of the book, I was somewhat irritated by these inconsistencies, I did become swept up by the story and just enjoyed it. Ms. Ryman certainly does know how to spin an absorbing tale. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot, and the escalating "war of attrition" played out between Jai and Olivia was very cleverly developed. Additionally, Ryman's skill in drawing out her characters ensures that no matter how terribly Jai behaves, the reader is still able to retain some sympathy for him.

So is it a great book? I didn't think so, but it's a gripping read, and provided you can get past the issues of language and incursions of 20th century freedoms, then I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I eventually did.

This story is set in India some 20 or so years before the Sepoy rebellion. Olivia is an American who is in India for an extended visit with her Aunt, who is married to a British tea merchant. One day while trying to escape a boring ball she goes outside for some air and privacy. Ending up down by the river, she crosses paths with Jai Raventhorne, a dark, brooding, and mysterious Eurasian. For reasons unknown to them they are drawn to each other with an intensity that is both exhilarating and frightening. Despite Jai's repeated warnings that he is no good and will ultimately end up hurting Olivia her runaway emotions have a mind of thier own. Jai, knowing he will eventually hurt her, is unable to resist his own attraction to Olivia as well.

Eventually Jai's disturbing warning proves true...in the form of an unimaginable betrayal that shatters not only Olivia but her entire family. For some reason Jai is set on destroying Olivia's family. After the betrayal Olivia's love turns to an intense all consuming hatred. Her life spirals downward and she puts all her efforts into destroying Jai...and discovering the reasons and motives behind his intense hatred for her family.

As Olivia and Jai's hatred for each other increases they do all they can to hurt and destroy each other. However, the vigor and passion that they throw into hurting each other matches the one they once loved each other with. And as we all know...the opposite of love is indifference, not hate!

This story started out much like a typical well written Historical Romance, after the first 100 pages though it quickly turned into anything but. This is an emotional rollercoaster ride and I found myself cheering for Olivia and hating Jai with an intensity that I'm sure would make the author proud. It was absolutely impossible for me to tear myself away from this book at times. The plot is complex and the elements of mystery, romance, and revenge are absolutely genious. The last 20 pages had me in tears!

This is a great book, one of those rare books that envelopes you and you live, sleep, eat, and breathe it while you are reading it. When you finish you will wish there was still more to read. I find myself thinking about this book weeks after I've finished it. Lucky for me there is a sequal!

5/5 stars

The story begins in Calcutta in 1848 as Olivia O'Rourke arrives from California to spend time with her mother's sister, Lady Bridget Templewood. Used to the freer life she shared with her father, Olivia chafes under the rigid morals of British Society, but then she accidentally meets a man reviled by her family, Jai Ravenstone. Jai is a Eurasian with a mysterious past who against all odds built up a successful shipping empire.

Despite her family's hatred of Jai and his attempts at destroying her uncle's competing shipping business, Olivia cannot overcome her overwhelming attraction to Jai and sees him at every opportunity, even though Jai himself warns her of the dangers of involvement with him. Just when it seems Olivia and Jai may be able to surmount the problems of his past and find love, Jai's obsession with destroying the Templeton's takes him on a path that utterly destroys Olivia's love for him and sends her on a path of building her own business ventures to enact her revenge against Jai.

This was a wonderful tale of love and revenge that will have you reading well into the wee hours of the morning, by page 250 or so I literally didn't come up for air until I finished it. There are many twists and turns and quite shocking surprises that will have you guessing and turning the pages until the very end. It's not quite up to the standards of The Far Pavilions, but for those seeking a well spun yarn set in 19C India during the British Raj this is one worth checking out. Five Stars.

This was an interesting introduction to the subject and gave me some sense of what vedic astrology is about. Like most of these books, it doesn't give you a guide to star gazing, which I think would add to the experience. It also made it obvious to me that the subject is far too involved for one quick book reading. I don't have the time or inclination to learn it in depth, but I would consider getting a software program that did most of the dirty work for me.

I've found this book most useful when I read it with a notebook handy and make outlines of important information. One of the things I very much like about this book is its emphasis on the cultural contexts of jyotish.

There are many books for Beginners in Vedic Astrology which are written more like a cook-book, and where essentially you just take a look at the placement of the planet on your chart and then read what it's supposed to mean. This is not that kind of a book. This book assumes that you are seriously interested in grasping Vedic Astrology and it guides you step-by-step toward developing a solid level of understanding and competence.

The book contains countless correspondencies of planetary influences (grahas), constellations (rashis) and houses (bhavas). These correspondencies go way beyond just interpreting the natal chart, and enable the skilled jyotishi to get insight into the individual, question or particular situation sometimes even without looking at the chart. Understanding of these numerous correspondencies can enable jyotishi to assist the individual in successfully dealing with challenging situation.

Even though this book is "an introduction" to Vedic astrology, it may not be the best choice as the very first book on astrology. For absolute beginners, perhaps a book like Beneath a Vedic Sky may be a better choice to start with.

I wish this was the first book I had read on Astrology. The authors start with a broad overview, touch on the various schools of astrology, and cover the specifics. Highly recommended if you are a beginner, or Just trying to understand Astology for your own personal purouse.You can use this to refer back to again and agin since it has a lot of factual information. There are many insights not found eslewhere in introductory books. After having dabbled quite a bit in Jyotish, I had never come across the beautiful explanation of the Grahas as the "Seizers". There are detailed chapters on Panchanga, nakshatras,Yogas.

For the Really Really Beginner -- I also suggest getting a copy of 'Vedic Astrology Simply Put' - By William Levacy (Available on Amazon).

I am familiar with Robert Svobodas Aghora Books, so, I am able to understand why his insigts are so profound.

As a practitioner and teacher of Vedic astrology, I have a huge collection of Vedic astrology books. If I were to take only one to a desert island, this would be it. For both beginners and advanced astrologers, this book is a treasure trove of both information and guidance on how to approach a Vedic chart. I strongly disagree with the person who thought that this book departed, in any meaningful way, from classical Vedic astrology. This book, in my estimation, is truer to classical Vedic astrology by far than any other book written by an English-speaking author. Bravo!

Paramahansa Yogananda does his usual wonderful work in this "how to turn your life into one big sadhana" masterpiece. Sri Yogananda does a magnificent job exploring and explaining his views and the necessary steps to lead a righteous (not self-righteous, mind you) life. His intelligence, sincerity, wit and compassion are ever present. I found his views on Jesus and Christ to be particularly fascinating and illuminating. Be forewarned: Master Yogananda plays spiritual hardball; that is, from his perspective, if one wants to attain God/Liberation there is much work to be done!!

This book, to me, is worth 10 stars...it has been a catalyst for me during my spiritual journey, it's as if Paramahansa Yogananda himself is holding my hand while I read his books. His words make my soul sing.

Can you imagine if you would of had Yogananda as your Sunday School teacher?
I'm in question of some of the eastern beliefs, whether I'm to close minded
that maybe. I do know he is very loving and sincere. He does have a way to help you feel and bring alive the presence of God. This book is like it's speaking to me. Just like all of us we may not have all of the knowledge correct. His radiant heart shines and blesses others. Isn't that what we are suppose to do is to pray and help uplift others. We are searching for truth and how to live here on earth. A wonderful book enjoy!!!

I'm sure many people would like to know the answer to this question .
There is a short chapter with this title. The author,Yogananda, gives a plausible answer to this question. Understanding the answer is a challenge; but it certainly is worth it, particulary for those who are on a conscious spiritual path.

If everyone read and followed this book, this world would take a 180 degree turn. It's insightful, enlightening, captivating and motivating. Paramhansa's Yogananda's writing style is just fabulous.

A comprehensive story of a less well known battlefield of World War II. Some confusion over the repetition of numerical regiments, but all-in-all good reading.

Field Marshall Slim was ordered from Iraq to Burma to take command of the front in the upcoming Burma debacle. Under Wavell first, and Auchinlek later, he retreated with the Commonwealth armies into India, and later on led the allied armies into victory against the Japanese forces.
His writing is clear, concise, and he does not spare himself from criticism, Often after describing an order he gave, or wished he had given, he will go on to explain how his plan was a mistake, and how he should have done it instead. This is precious insight on the mind of the commander. In many first person war stories, we are told what happened, but not why, and when errors are committed, there is always a lot of blame sharing. Here it is different. Slim tells you what he did wrong, when, and why. This is refreshing.
He shows great respect for his enemy, and describes the enemy's gallant attacks and heroic defenses with respect and appreciation for the heroism of the Japanese soldier. He does not fail to condemm the Japanese war crimes.
He exhibits great wit in describing the different attitudes of the Indian, Sikh and Gurkha soldiers. In one instance, after a Japanese attack in Inphal, some Gurkhas had been ordered to bury the enemy bodies. One of these wasn't dead yet, so the Gurkha trooper gets ready to cut the enemy's head off with his Kukri knife; a British officer tells him "Don't kill him!", and the Gurkha answers "But sir, we can't bury him alive!" Episodes like this give a great sense of realism and "being there" to the whole story.
The best book I've read to date on the Burma front.

I have always heard that Defeat into Victory - Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945 by William Slim was an excellent book for military leaders and planners. Despite this, I was resistant to reading this book for several years. Field-Marshal Slim, after all, was a failure. He failed to stop the Japanese advance in Burma and took a shockingly long time to retake Burma.

After finally reading this book, I must admit I was wrong. This book is useful on at least four levels. First, it is a good read on a little known part of World War II. Even if one is knowledgeable about General Stilwell's experience in the China Burma India (CBI) Theater, this highly focused work will provides new and interesting insights on that theater of war. Second, Field-Marshal Slim was forced by circumstances to be very creative is his tactics, techniques, and procedures. It is useful to see how many of these ideas were adopted in modern militaries and how many still might have value. Third, Field-Marshal Slim has some very specific and interesting "lessons learned" spelled out in the last section of his book. Fourth, leadership as applied in combat, in a bizarre multi-cultural environment, and in the disease ridden tropics might be useful for both current military folks and those in business.

It was a surprise to learn about the relatively large number of troops involved in the Burma campaign. Like most Americans, my image is of a few aviation and engineering units and that the bulk of the fighting, to the extent there was any, was done by Chinese units and a handful of "special forces/commando" units. It was insightful to read about the difficulties in mixing the militaries of different nations. The British attempt, largely successful, at outsourcing the fighting to Indian and West African units was meaningful as well.

The use of helicopters and air mobile brigades was one of the many innovations that Field Marshal Slim implemented. The development of riverine forces was also interesting and potentially worth study since the U S Navy has decided to reintroduce such forces based on lessons learned from Iraq.

From page 535 - 551, Field Marshal Slim offers some specific lessons learned based on the Burma campaign. The only area where I think he is less than intellectually honest is his discussion on "Special Forces". Field Marshal Slim rejects the usefulness of special forces, but if one reviews his actual campaign, he seems to be inclined to argue the usefulness of small groups of elite forces that act as enablers of larger amounts of indigenous troops. Likewise, he is adamantly against commando and amphibious troops as "special". His argument is that all troops should be trained to do these types of things though perhaps not to the level that so called special forces are trained to.

Finally, Field Marshal Slim managed to survive in a complex and bizarre multinational environment. It seems as if the United States might be in such situations in the future. Indeed, NATO forces in Afghanistan and Multi-National Forces in Iraq are - while different in detail - much the same in terms of the diplomatic and relationship building that is required of senior military officers.

This is a solid book for a variety of reasons. I highly recommend it.

Field Marshall Slim, Viscount of Burma, never lets us forget that it is the soldiers in the field that win battles: not politicians in their ivory towers, or generals in their bunkers far behind the action. Slim's theory is that politicians give guidelines for the campaign, and generals provide the training and backup so that the soldiers can get on with their business. He should, when possible, not get in the soldiers way.
This is a marvellous account of how the Commonwealth managed to stem the Japanese tide in South-East Asia. The main part of the book describes how he managed to restore morale and discipline in the army that was so humiliatingly defeated in 1943. That part should be compulsory reading at any management school. His solution was simple: he accepted that the defeat was due to faulty planning of the general staff. He then set out to provide training and equipment to the front-line troops. Since he commanded a multi-ethnic international army, he saw that every unit was supplied according to its own special needs. He even put his own staff on half-rations if any field unit lacked provisions - which usually quickly solved the problem!
As few generals and politicians he understood that war is about individuals and small units - they just add up to something bigger.
Slim could really write, the book is full of small anecdotes and self-ironic humour. When he writes about the actions it is af we were really there in the midst of it.
Finally, and most importantly: the book is totally devoid of any racism or demeaning of the enemy, it is incredibly respectful of his own native soldiers and of the Japanese enemy.

Field Marshal Slim's excellent memoire of the fighting against the Japanese in Burma and India during 1942-1945 is remarkable on at least two counts. First, the Allied armies were badly beaten and hustled unceremoniously out of Burma in 1942, yet reorganized in time to defend India and went on to liberate Burma in 1945. This feat was all the more remarkable for being fought over some of the most rugged jungle and mountain terrain in the world, under often horrendous weather conditions, at the distant end of the Allied supply lines. Second, Slim's account is exceptionally candid with respect to his leadership, to include mistakes made (his and others), to his opinions of his allies and opponents, and to the political wrangling that goes on in any coalition military effort.

The China-Burma-India Theater of World War II did not include large numbers of American ground forces, and has therefore been left largely in the shadows of the fighting in Europe and the Pacific theater. However, the Allied forces inflicted a massive military defeat on the Japanese Army under extraordinarily difficult conditions; there is much to learn from the common sense, improvisational approach employed by Slim in planning and organizing his campaigns.

Slim arrived in the theater as a brand new corps commander just at the start of the Japanese invasion. His efforts to cobble together a defense were repeatedly overturned by the relentless Japanese attack and by the scarcity of resources. Slim managed to extract his forces and in successive positions as corps and army commander, rebuilt them into the force that went back into Burma. Slim's account is comprehensive, even exhaustive, describing both the operational-level planning and administrative support and much of the tactical level fighting in the jungles. His high regard for his multi-national army, composed of British, Gurkha, Indian, Chinese, and American forces, and his care for their morale is evident throughout his account.

"Defeat Into Victory" is a long read at over 550 pages; the casual reader may be overwhelmed by the length and level of detail. The student of military art without prior background in the China-Burma-India theater may have some challenge putting Slim's account into proper context. The limited selection of maps are a bit difficult to read but enable the reader to follow the course of the campaigns.

This book is very highly recommended to the student of the military art looking for a very readable account of the Allied campaigns in Burma. Those who persist to the end will be rewarded by Slim's retrospective on the fighting in Burma and the surprisingly modern conclusions he draws from the experience.

Here is a wonderful book that transcends the categories of history and biography to rise to the level of the truly remarkable. As a jaded reader, rarely do I find a book like this one that demands reading because of the fascination of the narrative and the prose style of the author. The story is grounded in an immense wealth of detail sourced from several languages. This scholarly apparatus is deployed in such an artful manner by the author that it never obstructs the story-telling. And, finally, many of the footnotes are delightful!

Another great book from William Dalrymple. Still reading it and find it very engrossing (wish the font size was a bit bigger)

Received it in perfect condition and it arrived in record time too.

This is a fine book set in the period when India came under threat from Napoleon until Nelson intervened at the battle of The Nile. When young English boys were taken out to India for education prior to their careers there it is hadly surprising that some went native. But it was one thing to take a local mistress, quite another to marry a princess. A tragic love story results. The author is clearly more in sympathy with the old policy of The East India Company which banned Christian missionary activity. He regrets the changes brought about by Wilberforce and his Clapham Sect friends which changed official policy towards religion.

This is a beautiful book. A fascinating love story, a forgotten angle on the British in India, a human and historical tragedy. It's scholarly but warm, thoroughly researched but very readable, broad but not diffuse.
And in one sense it's also very much about the early 21st Century: with respect and good humour, cultures and religions can co-exist and complement each other. So much for the "clash of civilisations" theory.
The "moral of the story" right at the end could have been better placed in an author's preface, and I trust a second edition would pick up the small number of editing mistakes.
Read it.

This book is a complex many-faceted marvel! It is carefully researched history transformed into the story of an ultimately tragic romance. With its portrayal of Europeans astride two cultures, it offers a wonderful, and probably unintentional, counterpoint to the Clash of Civilizations. It is a swarm of all-seeing flies on the walls and writing desks of Hyderabad's elite, both British and Indian, two centuries ago - with their city, dress, festivals and habits brought vividly to life. It is a fascinating description of British and Mughal political intrigue in and around the Deccan as imperial control tightened. It is a sensitive reflection on the rapacious, self-indulgent and precarious lives lived by the British in insalubrious coastal cities like Calcutta and Madras. And as result of the unbelievably painstaking process of meticulous documentation we are convinced that we are seeing events exactly as participants did. It is a mind-blowing accomplishment.

This book for me gives a complete summary of spirituality and health. It explains in great detail what is involved in spiritual advancement and gives simple prescriptions for healthy spiritual living.

I first read this book as a young student perhaps forty years ago and I just loved it. I recently sent it to one of my best friends who is a spiritually advanced psychotherapist. She just couldn't put it down and ecstaticly engulfed it in one sitting. It is packed with explosive spiritual insight that will bring you to new depths and horizons in spirituality. Hold onto your hat! Wow!!!!
I had to buy a copy for myself to reread. This great soul is just .....(no words). I simply revere him. What a beautiful small packaged gift he left us by preserving his knowledge in this way. Yukteahwar is amazing. We are all blessed by his dedication to us.

After reading this book I wish I had met Sri Yukteshwar personally.
While the energy as true as it is of Yogananda, it did not resonate to me like that of Sri Yukteshwar. I consider him a guru and a true source of God experience. This book is short but I still treasure it in my library.
Jai Gurudev,

ESL

Swami Yukteswar is a great philosopher whose life is uniquely divine. He brings an unprecedented truth that we are not in Kali Yuga (the "dark" age). It is interesting to read his hypothesis on four ages of human civilization. His knowledge on "sanatan" scriptures is remarkable. Although a thin book, The Holy Science requires hours of reiteration to understand his intrinsic message. It is interesting to realize that Sri Yukteswar was not only advanced in spiritual world but also he was superior in numerical interpretations and logical analysis.

Sri Yukteswar, teacher of Paramhansa Yogananda of India, does a great service to the West. In this treatise he clearly shows how all religions essentially reveal the same truths. Using Biblical as well as Hindu sacred scriptures he compares the essence of these beliefs and binds them togther. A must read for any serious student of Mahayoga.

After i tried the first recipe, it went so well I started trying 3-4 a day (a DAY!), and each one came out fabulous. The main dishes in particular were most excellent. Friends are asking to borrow the book after sharing dishes I've made. SO MUCH EASIER than I ever thought! The writing is excellent, historical background fascinating. My favorite cookbook!

This is the best, most authentic cookbook I've seen for Kerala cuisine. Maya's love for the region and the food really shows. Also, the recipes are very easy to follow. I commend the author on figuring out appropriate quantities, because most Keralites cook with amounts like "some of this" and "some of that" that aren't exactly quantified! Anyway, I recommend this to anyone who enjoys South Indian cuisine. There are both vegetarian and non-veg recipes. The book is not exhaustive, but there are plenty of recipes in many categories of meal courses.

I absolutely love this cookbook. I was shopping around for indian cookbooks and this one interested me because I have not really tried anything from the Kerala region in India. I was pleasantly surprised that the book was so well organized, the pictures are as wonderfully delicious as the recipes. The author begins this book with an introduction to Kerala, and her family. She then gives you a list of ingredients, and spices that you will likely use in her recipes and she even has some websites listed for hardder to find ingredients (i.e. curry leaves). Luckily there is an Indian market near where I live and was able to locate the hard to find curry leaves. I have tried around 9 recipes from this book so far: the chicken kurma, potatoes with cabbage, and even the noodle pudding. All of the recipes won rave reviews. Best of all I now have an excellent Chai recipe, not to sweet not too strong, so i won't be paying the ridiculous $3.80 for it anymore at the coffee shops. I discovered that the recipes once you have a well stocked pantry are easy and inexpensive to make. This is great since i am on a student's budget!

Appearance of the cookbook, not the food to be cooked. I used to have a rule never to buy a cookbook with color pictures in it. I find it hard to take a cookbook seriously if it looks like a travel brochure. This cookbook has that look to me.

But, the content of the cookbook seems just fine. My rule about color photographs has adapted over the years since there are some well written cookbooks with pictures if you search around enough. I've only made one recipe out of this cookbook so far, a spicy beef curry. I like the cookbook, I just wish it was a little less gaudy.

"The spice coast, a fertile stretch of shoreline running along the southern and western reaches of the Indian peninsula, has drawn traders since antiquity. The vast array of peoples that came in search of its natural abundance of black pepper and other spices have given the region a tolerance and openness towards outsiders that continues to be at the core of this unusually harmonious society." ~ pg. 6

Cooking from Maya Kaimal's cookbook is a comforting experience. Your kitchen will be filled with the warm scents of exotic spices as you try many of these delicious recipes. To start I tried the Spice Tea (Masala Chai) which uses cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, cardamom pods and tea. You can use a rooibos teabag (no caffeine) in place of the black tea if you are making it at night and I also used soymilk in place of the whole milk.

I decided to make an Indian lunch so I made the Seasoned Dhal. If you can't find Ghee then you can just use some butter or make Ghee by following a recipe in this book. The dhal recipe calls for 2 ½ cups of water but I found I needed 3 ½ cups. It was fairly easy to make so next on my list was the Spicy Beef Curry. The recipe calls for "curry leaves" which can be difficult to locate unless you order them online. Fortunately they are optional so you don't have to worry about ordering them. The addition of lemon juice to a curry was new to me but it has a surprising result. The way the beef was boiled before the curry is made is also something new I'd never tried before. This tenderized the beef quite nicely and the result was quite delicious.

Some of the other recipes you may want to try include:

Coconut Rice Pancakes
Banana Fritters
Pumpkin with Toasted Coconut
Tamarind Shrimp (you need to order tamarind concentrate)
Lamb Vindaloo
Cardamom Coffee

Maya Kaimal has created a beautiful cookbook filled with traditions and cooking from Kerala. She made many visits to India to obtain many of the recipes in this book. She includes recipes made by Christians and Hindus so that is why you find recipes for meat and vegetarian fare.

~The Rebecca Review

This book was an inpiration in my spiritual journey.
-The Big Glow

This is a book which can easily change the way you see (observe) world. It is a book which requires meditation.
Krishnamurti's talks on various topic and his insight to know yourself is life changing.
While reading it, I used to go deep into thought and observed myself. During this period you realize and know a lot about yourself. One of the biggest thing which I learned was that you know the truth when you know what is not true. Making yourself aware of yourself (including anger, jealousy, prejudice) and not forcing it to go away is the the true observation. Just watch yourself as you watch the the sky and the birds without trying to do any change. This is just a small part of things which changed my life. It is not a book that will change your life but definitely one can change his own life after reading his book. At some points in the book you will be lost as there is nothing wrong or right but constant meditation on the topic will help one out.

If you are ready to challenge your believes and habits, this is a must read book.

One the MOST influential book I have ever read! It is very easy to follow, and I would recommend it to every one.

If you're interested in actually practicing Buddhism, not just reading or conceptualizing it, I feel like this book may help, because it's like having a teacher in your pocket. He guides you in a way that is productive, yet you have to truly see what he talks about for yourself in order to appreciate it. Otherwise, as JK would say, it's just more dead words.

"Some of you believe in the idea of reincarnation. You come and ask me what I believe, whether reincarnation is a fact or not, whether I remember my past lives, and so on. Now, why do you ask me? Why do you want to know what I think about it? You want a further confirmation of your own belief, which you call a fact, a law, because it gives you a hope, a purpose in life. Thus, belief becomes to you a fact, a law, and you go about seeking confirmation of your hope. Even though I may confirm it, it cannot be of vital importance to you. Whatever it may be to me, real or false, what is important for you is that you should discern for yourself these conceptions through action, through living, and not accept any assertions." - krishnamurti

I cannot recommend this book high enough. This book is one of the most comprehensive and accessible of Krishnamurti's work. It is a collection of talks given at various parts of the world. In each series of talk Krishnamurti leads the listener to look into serious topics like Operation of thought, conflict , The art of seeing, freedom, the energy needed for freedom, do we need a teacher, etc. There is a huge difference between looking into an issue and "thinking" about an issue. Thinking involves thought, and simply looking is mere observation. And krishnamurti says that if this observation, the seeing is done with total attention without the interference of thought, then the intelligence operates.

Many a times while reading this book, my mind will come to a complete stop and I would be taken to deep and spontaneous meditation. Krishnamurti is highly skillful in sparking our insights and allows us to see what he sees. He never says "This is right or this is wrong", he doesn't even want us to agree or disagree to what is being said, because he doesn't offer any theories. He just tells us to look without judment, prejudice or opinions. He asks us to listen "completely". He says that people ask questions for two reasons, one is to confirm what they already beleive in, and the other is to "really" find out the truth. The first way of asking will never lead to an answer, because we are unwilling to listen to the "truth"; We only want a confirmation for the false, and only the false needs confirmations. This book is for sincere seekers of truth who really want to know the truth. He says that when we look at the false as false, what remains is truth. Health is the absence of diseases, and so it truth the total negation of false. The ability to discern the true from the false is what intelligence is. I have observed that reading one talk per session in regular periods helps tremondously in awakening "intellingence", not "my" intelligence but just intelligence.

"As I was saying, the importance in asking a question is not to find the answer but to understand the problem because there is only the problem and not the answer. To ask a question is easy; but to go into the problem is extremely difficult because once you know what the problem is, the very seeing of the problem is the understanding of the problem. The moment I can state the problem very clearly, simply, the answer is there, I do not have to look beyond. But most of us do not know what the problem is. We are confused about the problem and so naturally we look, in our confusion, for answers; and that will only produce further confusion. " -krishnamurti