India Books

This book, like the one on Saris of Madhia Pradesh, gives excellent insight into Indian textile cottage industry and its interdependence between dealers and producers.Rta Kapur is definitely one of the most knowledgable persons in the field. She knows the rich Indian tradition in textiles and has travelled to the most remote places to gather information. Each chapter starts with "a weaver's journey". Here we get a feeling of what life in rural India can be.An excellent book with beautiful pictures.

This book, like the one on Saris of Madhia Pradesh, gives excellent insight into Indian textile cottage industry and its interdependence between dealers and producers.Rta Kapur is definitely one of the most knowledgable persons in the field. She knows the rich Indian tradition in textiles and has travelled to the most remote places to gather information. Each chapter starts with "a weaver's journey". Here we get a feeling of what life in rural India can be.An excellent book with beautiful pictures.

This book, like the one on Saris of Madhia Pradesh, gives excellent insight into Indian textile cottage industry and its interdependence between dealers and producers.Rta Kapur is definitely one of the most knowledgable persons in the field. She knows the rich Indian tradition in textiles and has travelled to the most remote places to gather information. Each chapter starts with "a weaver's journey". Here we get a feeling of what life in rural India can be.An excellent book with beautiful pictures.

Long before I ever ventured into the Southwest (I did, eventually, to live & work), I brought this little cookbook home to add to my collection. Over the years I cooked it ragged, then loaned it to a friend. It has never come home, so I am absolutely delighted to find a replacement.

This book is full of gorgeous photos and easy, tasty recipes for authentic Southwestern foods. You'll find good food and enjoyment here for years to come.

Marcia Keegan's Southwest Indian Cookbook wonderfully showcases Pueblo and Navajo recipes enhanced with beautiful photographic images and thematically appropriate quotes. From Potato and Tomato Cream Soup; Skillet Squash; and Taos Rabbit; to Pueblo Venison Stew; Indian Fry Bread; and Navajo Cake, the Southwest Indian Cookbook is a fitting culinary tribute to Native American cuisine and would grace any multicultural kitchen cookbook collection.

This my favorite cookbook covering Pueblo and Navaho foods. Not only are the recipies delicious and authentic, but the many photographs of the people and the landscape of the southwest, along with their words, has produced a small but beautiful book that displays the recipies within the context of the land and cultures.

A stunning integration of photography, biography, history, and spiritual teachings, this book touches readers on many levels. The images, from the expansive landscapes of Tibet, to the intimate features of Tibetan faces, are inspiring and telling. The biography, of one of the great spiritual teachers of the past century, is fascinating. (What actually transforms in a human being who spends decades in solitary meditation?) The history of what happened when China invaded Tibet and proceeded to decimate its culture is necessary, dramatic, harrowing. The spiritual teachings are sublime, yet accessible to those of all faiths. A rare book: beautiful, compelling, liberating....

Do not purchase the two books about Khyentse Rinpoche (listed above at a special price if both are bought together). They are the same book. One is hard cover, and the other paperback. The titles are slightly different, but the books are the same. It is a wonderful book, but you probably don't need two of them!

Matthieu Ricard, a French scientist who left a lucrative and prestigious research job in Paris to explore the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and ended up becoming a monk and spending most of his life there, provides us with a remarkable book of photographs and memorable quotes chronicling the life of his teacher, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, to whom he dedicates this worthy tribute.

Although little known outside of the world of Tibetan Buddhism, Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991) has been called "one of the twentieth century's greatest spiritual figures and a teacher of many of the Tibetan masters of today, including HH the Dalai Lama" (Snow Lion Press). Indeed, this book features a good-length preface by the Dalai Lama, in which His Holiness names Khyentse Rinpoche as one of his teachers (gurus), especially in the Dzogchen teachings and "rigpa" (the awareness of mind). Just reading a few of the excellent quotes provided in this volume from this remarkable teacher will convince all but the most hard-hearted of skeptics that this was a truly great spiritual master who embodied the teachings of Buddhism in a remarkable way.

Even for the non-practitioners, the book is filled with so many stunning photographs of Tibet, Bhutan, the rituals, the people, and of course, the master himself, that it would bless and honor any coffee table in any home. Indeed, I cannot but feel that any home would benefit from having a copy of this book. For those who follow the path, it is, of course, much more than that.

I was amazed when I saw this book -- it is lovely in every sense. I hope you will also enjoy it as much as I have. May all beings enjoy peace and happiness!

Really enjoyed this. Surprised it hasn't done better

As an astrologer myself I found this an excellent book for telling one about the history of astrology and how it originated in India. There are an incredible number of different types of predicition written about here, and it all makes run of the mill Western astrology look mighty tame.

A very enjoyable read this. Holt interviews endless different kinds of experts in prediction, as well as asking about his own future. The Rajastani shadow reader is fascinating, as is the author's account of the Asta Mangela, a South Indian astrological ceremony to discover what is going wrong with a family or a temple. Highly recommended.

Great book. Conrad and his wife Leela were two very different and dynamic characters. Definitely some great dark humor in the story and a nice twist at the end. I thought there were some great ironies that people could definitely relate to. I highly recommend to my friends.

"The Stone Cabin" is a hilarious indictment of our post secondary educational system. Conrad Miller, the novel's main character, is a bumbling, officious oaf with Tourette's who winds up sleeping with one of his students with hysterical results. It is a dark comedy to be sure, but the second installment from a talented young writer, who is witty and pithy and uses the written word like a razor.

Once I started reading The Stone Cabin, I couldn't stop. I had to find out what was going to happen to Conrad and his wife Leela. The ending knocked me out, it was a total surprise that I never saw coming. The main character, Conrad, is a literature professor and I loved all his descriptions of his favorite books. A real plus for any book person. I highly recommend it!

I read the book with great interest and found many inetresting details. The referencing is superb and the bibliography is perfect. A must for all students and researchers of Mughal history.

I am a professor of Mogal history and bought this book on recommendation of a colleague. I am glad that i bought this book as it was very informative, precise and in simple yet impressive text. One thing that I ,though, missed was photographs. I think the book would had been better with more pictures. But going by the broader picture i think that it is a really nice book. The book shows that Dr. Misra has an indepth knowledge of the subject.A must-read for all mughal history enthusiasts.

I always thought of history as a boring subject but after reading this book my viewpoint has undergone a drastic change. I saw the book at my local bookstore and decided to give the Mughal history one last chance. And am I happy I gave it one last chance. This book is wonderful! Its a must buy for all history lovers, especially the Mughal period. The language is simple yet educative, the topics are precise yet accurate and the book covers all topics of the Mughal dynasty without going into useless details. A million congrats Dr. Misra from my side.

Of the many books available on Yoga in book stores today, very few deal with the subject in any real depth. Most cater to the popular image of Yoga as yoga postures for physical well-being. Few challenge the reader to a deeper vision of Yoga or of their own inner nature. The Synthesis of Yoga stands apart from the available literature on Yoga, expressing the soul of Yoga to the deepest intelligence within us.
In fact, there are few works of such magnitude and comprehensiveness about Yoga ever written, and probably nothing comparable in the English language. Yet more importantly, this profound compendium on Yoga was not written from an academic or scholarly perspective, or from the view of those who work primarily with the physical yoga. It is a study of Yoga written by one of the greatest yogis of modern India, Sri Aurobindo, who has a reputation of spiritual greatness in India that exceeds Mahatma Gandhi, Tagore and other more well known figures in the West. There is probably no work of such scope and grandeur on Yoga available, and none by an author who was speaking from his own direct experience and realization.
The Synthesis of Yoga deals with Yoga as a means of Self-realization, God-realization and the transformation of humanity. It addresses all the classical yogic paths of knowledge, devotion, works and meditation, including Raja Yoga in all of its aspects. In this book, the term "Integral Yoga," first arises, combining all aspects of Yoga into a comprehensive system for the full development of all of our potentials on all levels of our being. The book shows the relevance of Yoga to all that we are, do, or are meant to become.
As a student, teacher and writer on Yoga and related teachings for more than thirty years, I cannot emphasize enough the importance at looking at Yoga the deeper and integral manner that is so eloquently expressed in the Synthesis of Yoga. It is recommended reading to all those who want to approach deeper or inner aspects of Yoga. The book will transform your idea of Yoga and open many new dimensions of practice and realization for you that you had not previously considered possible. I don't think anyone can seriously read the book and not come away without a sense of the vastness of real Yoga practice. The book will provide you with a deep understanding of the essence of Yoga, far beyond the common stereotypes of yoga as a physical or psychological practice for personal enhancement. The Synthesis of Yoga contains the keys for restoring Yoga as a deep spiritual practice with both an ancient and a futuristic vision.
In these days in which Yoga has largely been reduced to an exercise or fitness system, it is important to remember the spiritual orientation and purpose that classical Yoga was all about. The Synthesis of Yoga does this and much more, not from the ancient past or a poorly translated foreign language, but from a master teacher of the modern world, an eloquent poet and profound philosopher.

In this monumental work, Sri Aurobindo explains in depth how the different aspects of the ancient practice of yoga combine to enhance and promote our spiritual evolution. Speaking from a knowledge that is clearly the product of experience, Aurobindo explores and explains every facet of our human journey as we move toward conscious unification with our Source. One can get the most from this definitive work by moving through it slowly, giving oneself the time needed to understand and absorb its contents, for its scope is both broad and deep, thus making it a perennial reference for the serious seeker.

Sri Aurobindo provides an overview of the field of yoga. This is not a series of physical exercises, but the practices that allow an individual to understand the complex inner psychology and begin to move it toward union with the Divine. After a brief overview, Sri Aurobindo goes into great depth on the paths of knowledge, love and works, and concludes with his own unique contribution to the yoga of self perfection, where he reveals the evolutionary purpose of our human existence and puts the entire struggle we face into context.

An excellent and well researched study with extraordinary photographs by a well known scholar of Indian art. 430 interesting pages that are very well presented to the reader. You'll find possibly more detail than you may need, but you can return later for the items you missed.

Oppi's thoroughness and attention to the detail in this book is amazing. Pictures and illustrations are just magnificent. Oppi covers the jewelry of maharajas to jewelry of tribal people. The jewelry descriptions in this book include every region and every style there is in India. I bought this book when I was asked to talk about India's jewelry at an art museum. This book definitely improved my knowledge about the subject.

Oppi's book is magnificent. It is a culmination of over thirty years of Oppi's research. His book covers more than just Indian jewelry, but forehead marks and henna mendhi.

Inspired by trips to New York's museums when he was young, Oppi crafts a anthropological journey through a fascinating history of human ornamentation, beginning with wood ash and mud. Oppi traveled extensively to personally research his subject in association with scholarships he won, including a Fulbright scholarship and funding from John D Rockefeller III.

He shows the use of natural items in jewelry, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, vines and wood. Unusual jewelry materials like anteater claws are pictured. Of course, gemstones and precious metals are included. There are photos of elegant gold filigree and fist-sized gemstones.

My favorite part of the book is called "Typology from Head to Toe" in which Oppi takes you on a journey in pictures of people wearing ornaments in their hair to those worn on the toes. The book includes an extensive index and bibliography. It is a very human book, showing how ornaments are worn by people, not just showing photos of the ornaments alone as many other ethnic jewelry books do.

Although you might think the subject of Indian jewelry is narrow before you see the book, a glance through the book will make you want to own it even though the sticker price is high.

I agree with the above reviews. There is such a variety of subject matter and types of writing collected in this book and I found myself saving so many pages with great information about places in India that I had not yet heard about but wanted to make sure I visited now when I plan my own trip!

I'm giving this book five stars not because the individual travel stories comprising this are five star stories (though many of them are), but because the breadth of subject matter and perspectives this book offers are remarkable. From the frosty passes of the Himalayas to the bustling streets of Calcutta, from the Ganges to shores of Goa, from the rarely-visited tribal interior to the even more desolate Rann of Kutch, this book portrays a country with a topography perhaps as diverse as Europe's. From the barriers of caste to the oppression of women, this book portrays a social evolution still in progress but with roots in ancient times.

Highlights for me included Rory Nugent's eccentric search for the supposedly extinct pink-headed duck, and David Yeadon's brilliant portrayal of character interactions (including an Indian interrupting his narrative digression in real time "Sir, are you hearing me, sir?"). For every traveler that timidly scratched the surface of India without real discovery (such as a particularly uptight and sheltered Oxford Fellow's first trip) there was one so recklessly bold that you're glad you could relive the experience from the safety of your own home (including one author's visit to a tribal island where past visitors had been killed). Somewhere in the middle there's bound to be powerful inspiration for a trip of one's own.

Reading this book was not only satisfying, but served as a launching point for future reading of the complete works from which these tales were excerpted (David Yeadon's Back of the Beyond and Jonah Blank's Arrow of the Blue Skinned God seemed particularly interesting to me).

I read this book after reading the DK guide to India and Leila Hadley?s A Journey with Elsa Cloud (the latter is about a tour of parts of India in the 70s). This excellent collection of true stories really made all the places come alive and gave me a much richer and fuller sense of India than I could get from just Hadley?s book. The poverty, sexism, and daily encounters with excrement that are a part of life in India are compellingly conveyed at the same time as we come to feel the vast heavy weight of so many centuries of history, so much spiritual questing, so much diminished glory. Since I finished the book, I have found myself repeating stories to friends from the excerpts from Rory Nugent?s The Search for the Pink-Headed Duck and from Mark Shand?s Travels on My Elephant, which were particularly vivid and fascinating to me. There are a suprising number of tales featuring cyclists--evidently India is a popular place to tour by bike.

This is a record of a bright and energetic reporter with a real "nose for news." For anyone who wishes to understand the new and dynamic India, this brilliant insight into the formative cauldron of the area sorts out the players and problems, with the personal touch only Mr. Hlavacek could portray.

Hlucky Hlavacek, as he calls himself, presents a detailed and illuminating chronicle of his time as a correspondent for United Press International. Starting as a rookie reporter and then working his way up to Bureau Chief for this independent news service, "Hlucky" or "Check" was in a unique position to report the news from India - later Pakistan - Afghanistan, Nepal and Ceylon - India's independence, the partition forming the new country of Pakistan; interviews with Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others. Getting the story by any means necessary on foot, horseback, donkey, train, plane, boats, and in a series of automobiles always running on empty, to this reader that's not just luck that's dogged determination and hard work. For those who love to travel, and those who want to go "after the story" this is a must read. Victoria Maxwell

I started reading this book expecting to learn about the historical events that Mr. Hlavacek had covered in his years as a United Press Foreign Correspondent. What I didn't expect was the romance, the intrique, the adventure of getting to be there when the most important events are taking place in history. I didn't expect to be enthralled with the swashbuckling nature a newsman must have to get the story and then deliver it! It was exciting, fun, entertaining and, yes, even educational at times. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read his other books.