India Books

Some books are like the best of cats, they end up in your lap whenever you have a spare moment; they seek your company even as you desire theirs. Stealing Karma will be that book that one gives to a dozen friends - and they will all be grateful for it. Amazing.

Aneesha Capur's novel, Stealing Karma, is a story brimming with characters and situations that feel fresh, unexplored, and compelling. The dynamics here may mirror others in contemporary fiction concerned with domestic complexities, however, Stealing Karma spins them on their head and uses the cultural milieu to show us human interaction as we have never seen it before. I want to be here, in this world, and get to know its characters and how they will ultimately resolve the issues they face. The writing is clear, lyrical, steeped in place and feeling, and makes you thirst for more. Capur offers a delightful antidote to the kinds of fiction we have seen so much of in the past few years. This is a book that many readers of all backgrounds will be sure to find satisfying.

A pity that one can only read a few pages of what promises to be a most interesting story! Capur catches the reader's imagination and holds it with tantalizing imagery and dialogue, moving the plot forward, leaving one wanting for more. What happens to Mira? How does she cope? I look forward to reading the novel in its entirety.

In a world where so many of us have been driven by a sense of adventure or desperation or opportunity to seek our fortunes abroad, Stealing Karma weaves the story of the expatriate into the life of Mira who loses nearly all connection to India after she leaves for Africa. Mira is suddenly widowed and the precariousness of her adopted world, her erstwhile world of choice, is stark. In her excerpt, Aneesha Capur skillfully sets the plot for the reader: karma will transform the comfortable, even opulent, lives of Mira and her young child. But Mira now belongs to neither the world she left nor the world that has left her.......

After reading the manuscript review by Publishers Weekly provided in the Editorial Reviews concerning the novel `Stealing Karma' by Aneesha Capur I couldn't wait to read the nine pages submitted to Amazon's ABNA contest. Here is a book containing a plethora of subject matter near and dear to my heart; prophetic dreams, Hindu deities, astrological omens, African tribal beliefs and Jungian psychology and reincarnation. It was almost too much to ask for.

With such high hopes in place I must admit that I was extremely disappointed after reading the excerpt. Not because the writing is bad or the story uninteresting. To the contrary, both writing and storyline are excellent. The disappointment experienced was due to the discovery that none of those tantalizing spiritual/occult matters already mentioned were included within the available nine pages.

Moving beyond my initial dismay, I did enjoy this excerpt and look forward to reading the novel at some later date. The characters are well developed and I found Mira an intriguing, beautiful and incredibly sympathetic figure. To create such an alluring and complex character in a short nine pages is a credit to the author and makes the reader hungry for more pages to explore.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, in fact the only other novel of that genre that immediately that comes to mind is Gone with the Wind, but I had heard only good things about this epic, the story of a young British boy who grows up in colonized India. Stretching over several decades and including many historical events (though with a few fictional locations) and a detailed portrayal of the culture and traditions of India, "The Far Pavilions" is certainly comparable to Margaret Mitchell's Civil War masterpiece.

Orphaned at a young age, Ashton Hilary Pelham-Martyn is born at the time of the Indian mutiny against the British Empire and the East India Company. As the son of an Englishman, six-year-old Ash is in terrible danger, and it is up to his Indian serving woman (who becomes his mother for all intents and purposes) to disguise his true nature, rename him Ashok, and raise him as an Indian. It would be wrong to give away too many of the wonderful twists and turns of this novel as Kaye recounts Ash's extraordinary life, but she manages to create a rich and vast experience without it ever seeming unrealistic or melodramatic. Although Ash's fortunes do hinge on a lucky turn of fate, he is very much the master of his own destiny, and the story itself never spirals into the realm of the silly (and I only say that because many historical-fiction-epics *do* tend to do this).

The story is quite episodic in form, with the events of Ash's life told in reasonably structured segments: his childhood, his time as a servant in a rajah's palace, his romantic youth, his great love story with Anjuli, and his time as a spy working at the time of the Afghanistan war. Naturally, some of these are more interesting than others: I loved reading about Ashok's time in the Indian court of the spoilt and pitiful Lalji, a young rajah who is surrounded by friends and foes - but has trouble differentiating between the two. It is here Ash befriends a young Indian princess named Anjuli who is an outcast in the court, despised by her stepmother and ignored by most of the court.

Years later, Ash and Anjuli are to cross paths again, but in the most impossible of circumstances: Anjuli, along with her little sister Shishula, are being sent as brides to a dangerous and loathsome rajah. As they attempt to keep their passion for one another secret, Ash desperately tries to find a way to help her escape from her arranged marriage, whilst Anjuli is torn between her love for Ash and her devotion to her little sister, whom she feels she cannot abandon to a loveless marriage. It's heartbreaking stuff, as these two lovers - who are obviously meant for one another - fight within themselves between their duty and their love for one another, in which you're not entirely sure what is the best course of action for them both. As in all epics, there are some sluggish parts and I must say that after the romance between Ash and Anjuli comes to its conclusion, the novel slows down a bit.

Since I've never studied Indian history or culture, I have no idea how accurate it all is - all I can say is that it certainly *seems* accurate. Kaye writes with a confidence and genuine interest in the historical workings of India during this time, and provides enough detail to bring India to life in the reader's mind. However, the real spirit of this novel lies in the rendering of the culture clash between two great countries, and within the protagonist himself. As an English boy who has been raised to believe he is Indian, and then returned to England to complete an English education (and returning to India as part of the military), he stands with one foot in both camps, empathizing with both, but belonging to neither.

This conceit provides a wonderful look into the inevitably tragic occupation of India by the British Empire, and the seemingly-impossible historical situation that this creates. On the one hand, only natural that the Empire would want to control India for the sake of Progress and Trading - and in the meanwhile, they did outlaw the terrible custom of the suttee (the burning of widows alive). On the other hand, it is absurd to suppose that any country or individual has the right to take over another country for the reason that they cannot be expected to run it properly themselves. In one of her best passages, Kaye has Ash wonder if his imperialist uncle would enjoy his household (which is full of corruption and tyranny in the servant's quarters) being taken over by an Indian man who could run it better than himself.

It is for this reason that Ash and Anjuli are perfect for one another, as Anjuli too is half-caste and so fated to belong nowhere. Throughout the story the couple make many friends from many different faiths, but in all cases in which they are shown kindness, there is also the sense that they are not given acceptance. Amongst Muslim friends, they are aware that they are considered infidels, among Hindu friends, they are aware that they cannot share the same food utensils, among British friends, there is the sense of social snobbery and bemusement. This sad sense of separation among the members of the human race permeate the entire book, and linger long after it's been finished.

It's a pretty hefty volume, but I definitely think it's worth the time it'll take to read it.

After being banned from watching the mini series as a child of 10years
I was captivated by the images of Anjulie and Ashook based on the previews of the mini series, I decided that I would eventually watch it and was convinced at the time that my parents were being unfair since I had watched Chariots of Fire with Ben Cross. At that time I had watched every single Ben Cross mini series, so what was different about this mini series? Forbidden fruit?

Imagine my wonderful surprise when I found this book 4 years later at a neighbour who was planning a garage sale and needed help "SORTING" things for such sale. I immediately claimed it and felt as if I had come upon pirate's treasure.

I finally had my hands on the book and it was a treasure indeed! This was a major challenge for me at the time because of the volume of the text itself and the theme however I have read it several times since then and have come to list this novel as one of my favourites of all times.

The journeys that MM Kaye took me through the Himalayas and through the cultures of both Britain and India really ignited my imagination. A truly great book where the characters develop and you live their experiences with each chapter.

I have to say that this was the book that turned me into an avid reader who learnt not to judge a book by the cover.

I have to agree with the others that this book is one of the best of its kind. I purchased it after reading the great reviews (thanks Amazon - found M.M. Kaye after Ordinary Princess recommended for my daughter - wonderful story). I had no particular interest in India but have much more so after reading this book. I just saw a picture of one of the regions where this takes place at the Afgan/India border on the cover of Newsweek - fascinating. I also recommend her other books (so far haven't read even a mediocre one). I'd also recommend BUYING her books so you can loan them to people. And lastly I'd save this for vacation or sometime when you know you'll be able to read it in chunks because you can just loose yourself in it and it's painful to put down (and end which I'm going to do today).

This review is purely a little tribute to my Mom, who would have been 76 today (9/21/2007).
My folks loved to read, and that rubbed off on me. I was surrounded by books in every room of the house, and I can't think of a better, more long-lasting gift for a parent to give a child. Books have made my life so beautiful in so many ways. I will always love and thank my parents both so much for that.
My Mom loved historical fiction above all other genres, especially Victorian and Raj tales. M.M. Kaye was one of her most cherished authors. The Far Pavilions must have been her favorite, because she had every book Kaye ever wrote, and The Far Pavilions was the one that seemed to show up now and then on the coffee table and on her nightstand, year after year. I guess she read it a number of times. I think she savored it like a fine wine, pulling it out every few years to see how the vintage was moving along. I saw her reading thousands of books when I was a kid, and this was one of the only ones that showed up repeatedly.
To be honest, it's not a genre I know much about, and I haven't read any Kaye at all (might be time!). But I know that if Mom were alive and was asked about her favorite books, The Far Pavilions would be at or near the top of the list. So, I just thought I'd share these thoughts, and maybe, if they have a good broadband connection in heaven, she'll read this and remember how much I loved her.
Happy Birthday, Mom.

This is a book that I have been recommended countless times and always declined reading. I can no longer really remember why, except that the first page always seemed a stiff and confusing. But this year, upon seeing the number of pages the book was (1200 pages in mass market paperback) and being recommended it one more time I decided to give it a shot.

All I can say is wow! This is one of those historical epics that ranks right up there with Gone With the Wind in terms of scope, romance, and underlying issues. It's just an amazing novel.

This is the story of Ashton, who is raised from birth by a Hindu foster mother while his father treks around Indian on linguistic missions. When his father dies and the sephoy mutiny happens, his foster mother Sita (a women with real courage) discuses the already dark skinned Ash as her own son and takes him to a remote state where the violence against the British has yet to spread. Here he becomes the servant/playmate of the heir to the throne and the boy's half-sister, Juli. But the heir is in danger from his wicked stepmother who wants him dead so her own son will be heir and when Ash prevents this one to many times he and Sita must flee for their lives. It is then that Sita revels Ash is really British and sends him off to find his own "people."

Of course later Ash will find Juli again-when he is assigned to escort her and thousands of others to her wedding in a far away state. You can guess what kind of turmoil this turns up.

While a great deal of this book is a romance, an adventure, a war story and a exploration of a culture, it is also about the search for identity for poor Ash, who is really neither British no Indian but "two men in one skin-which is an uncomfortable thing to be."

There's also fantastic (and quite sensitive towards Indian considering it was written by a Brit) descriptions of the imperialism of the British and the stupidly of them in some situations (like the Afghan wars.) and a truly touching sentiment about finding a place in the world free or prejudice or danger where you can just be whatever you turn out to be.

Anyway, this is an amazing book. The absolute only thing I didn't love was the ending, which seemed a little out of place with the main plot, but the last few pages tied it back in and then it was just perfect.

Five stars. I should have read this long ago, and look forward to reading others by the author.

I have very much enjoyed my book on how to read tarot. There is so much valuable infomation and I am learning so much.

I love this tarot book, I have been doing the tarot for years and own a ton of books on said subject, Mrs Bunning is by far the best tarot teacher, I took her on line course and have her site bookmarked and decided to purchase her book, all I can say is I wished I had run across her book and course years ago would have saved me a ton of money on tarot books that try too hard to be mysterious and bogs the reader down with too many technical and confusing terms. her book brought the tarot experience together for me in a way no other book has been able to do. the book simplifies and demystifies the tarot and allows the readers own intuitive powers to kick in. I find myself going back over my tarot journal years ago and saying ahhhhhhh its much clearer now. by far one of the best tarot book on the market also her course is a must for any serious student of the tarot, Mrs Bunning is a true teacher in that she teaches the student to use a common sense approach to allow the cards to tell the story.

I love this book. It is easy to understand and it certainly helps me interpret the cards when I do my readings. It is very self explanatory.

My daughter loves this particular book. It was not only very attractive to look at but the information was much better than alot of the other books we looked at in Barnes&Nobles.

Pay no mind to the "reviewer" behind the curtain who complains about only one layout and no reversal meanings. If you're a beginner, or like me, have tried for years without finding out how to read the cards, this is the only book you should buy, and is the only one you'll really ever need to explain the cards. When you're ready for other layouts and reversals, buy her other books! With Ms. Bunning's guidance, you will learn how to become one with the cards and develop your own style of communicating with them. Most of us try to memorize meanings, then while staring blankly at the cards, our minds lock up on us. What we need to realize is that the cards are the archtypes of humanity, and as we use them to understand their characteristics within ourselves, they actually "speak" to us about where we're been, where we're headed, how we feel, and what we have and haven't learned from our mistakes. They also tell us what we have yet to learn to reach our fullest potential. The focus of these lessons is on finding ourselves in the cards. Once we realize who we are, then we can read for others, as the archtypes that appear in our lives, also guide the lives of those around us. Don't rush. Take your time. Enjoy the adventure. You'll be amazed at how things come together for you. And, if you want a preview of her work, check out her website.

This book is a page-turner right from the beginning. I loved reading in this time period when men spoke to women like this (from page 23):

"See the two meadow flowers, the yellow and the violet? One is as different from the other as day from night. Yet who will say that one is more beautiful? Oh, a fool might. But only a fool... But do you know what may determine the desirability of one over the other?... The fragrance!"

Be still my heart! If you love that kind of subtle romance, you will love this book.

Anna shows such strength despite the overwhelming tragedies (one after the other) she faces in her young life. And even though she is a Countess, she is very down-to-earth and sensitive to those "under her" although it was a no-no for those of such high society. Her tenderness and innocense makes her so very likable.

The book goes back and forth between family life and what's politically going on in Poland during the late 1700s with the underlying romance throughout. You're always wondering about what will finally happen with Jan Stelnicki. At no point was this book boring!!!

I loved it.

I loved this book. There are so few novels on the market about Poland and Polish history (I don't know of any others!). This is indeed a rare find. The characters are well developed, the descriptions of locations and activities are wonderfully detailed and passionately written. The setting and content about the significant historical moments are woven in expertly. It really is a history lesson embedded in a very fast-moving and dramatic story. Yes, sometimes it may be a bit overly dramatic, but I really enjoy that rich, gossipy style. So cool that it is based on REAL journal entries. These characters come alive and will stay with you well after you are done reading. Great ending, too.

Looking forward to reading Chrimson Sky.

I found this historical fiction text to be absolutely enthralling! It has not only provided me with hours of enjoyable, page-turning reading, but has also given me great insight into my Polish ancestry and heritage. The strength, spirit, and heart of the Polish people--MY people--is wonderfully portrayed within the pages of this book. I'm so looking forward to receiving Mr. Martin's sequel, Against a Crimson Sky. I'm sure I'll not be disappointed!

I found the book very engaging. I loved the characters and can't wait to find out what happens next.

This is the best book I've read in a long time. Martin's vivid descriptions and the depth of his characters made this book an incredibly interesting and fulfilling read. I could not put it down. I love "Push Not the River."

This book, read first when I was 14 years old, and since added to my adult library, read and re-read again, has stayed with me like so very few other books in my life.

I wont over-egg the review - Corbett wouldn't have liked that kind of lionising (good pun!) and he doesn't need it. Suffice to say I respect Corbett deeply, and often think of him. Unabashed admiration for this man is easy. All his books are worth your money, but start with this one.

Jim Corbett put together his experiences in the forests of the Himalayan foothills. The details are truly amazing. It does also provide a great ammount of details about wildlife. In a nutshell an epic collection. Does not get any better than this.

Probably the best big game hunting book ever written. Will keep you on the edge of your seat and I do not recommend reading it while camping in the woods (especially if the woods happen to be in India). Corbett describes stalking man-eating tigers and often they stalk him. These are not made-up stories nor are they self justifying. Corbett ONLY hunted tigers that the local population asked him to, after dozens or sometimes hundreds of people had been killed. His descriptions are beautiful and picture an era (India in 1900-1930) that has long since gone. I have read it many times, the first when I was about 11 years old.

This book was written by not only a very brave man but a man that possessed great character and class. His only reason for hunting these Man-Eaters was to rescue the villagers from this ever present terror. He took no money for his efforts. Very exciting reading without ever a hint of bragging about his extraordinary gift of successfully hunting the most dangerous animals on earth.

I can't speak highly enough about the book. His discription of his journeys made you feel as if you with right there with he and his men. If you like the outdoors and adventure, you simply must read this classic.

This was a good story about people with an entirely different lifestyle on the other side of the world. Makes me feel very grateful for having the good fortune to be boen in the good U.S.A.!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was really amazing. I'm 13 and a boy and i love learning about new cultures and this is what the book gives you. It tells about the harsh treatment towards women in small villages then talks about the sex-trade in India. I would certainly encourage other readers to enjoy this one. I hope Patrica McCormick makes a sequel to this OUTSTAnDInG NOVEL!

This book was revolutionary. It was probably one of the best books I've ever read.

As i was reading this book i experienced a range of emotions. It is amazing that things like this still occure. The subject of this book is intence, probably to graphic for younger teen readers. As i was reading this book, i could not help but feel that the poetic form that the author chose to used added nothing to the story. The subject matter alone is enough to add emotional impact. the poetic form acted to break up an otherwise strong narrative voice. Over all, i really liked the book. I only wish that the author would have told what happened to the girl.

I read the book. I read the afterword in which Patricia McCormick briefly explains her travels and findings in conjunction with the story. OK. Now what? That is what I am left with--now what?

Should I sell all and go to India to help these girls? Seems implausible, although another reviewer intends to do just that, or perhaps she finally cannot. Send money? Nope, don't trust the imploring for money. Write my own book? No time, no talent. Pray for more Mother Teresas? Seems the most likely choice, but how many women are willing to renounce world and go help the girls in the brothel districts in India? What am I supposed to do for those pitiful, trusting girls, who are treated like nothing more than trash and offal?

Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old who follows with her eyes a boy in the village, who does likewise with her, is sold by her wicked stepfather into prostitution. His gambling habit is more important than the value of the life of his wife's child. By her own calculations, she learns early on that she will NEVER make enough money to buy her freedom.

I think the one unnerving point of the story is that Lakshmi is delivered from this life. An American missionary rescues her and takes her to learn a trade and a respectable way to live. Why unnerving? That only one at a time, only one, is rescued. Just one. How many, how many live in brothels across the world and are forced to submit without any choices or decisions?

The book is excellent. Period. There are no weaknesses in plot, character, theme. The fact (in the novel) that Lakshmi is one of uncounted thousands (millions?) explains why her story is so desperate. Because it is simple and brief, description of what happens to her can be read by 9-year-olds as long as they understand the ramifications of this kind of slavery. The worst fact is the number of times she must participate--a hundred and a hundred more. Police stories on television inform me that this kind of slavery even takes place in the United States. Buy 'em, catch 'em, take 'em to another country for prostitution.

And I ask, Now what?

I bought this book for my girlfriend and I found myself reading it and was very involved into the story. I think this is a book for everyone. I would recamend this book to everyone.

Amidst all of the calamity, lust, sex, & promiscuity that is in the world, this is a book that can bring about change. Thank you Shellie for keepin' it real. It took strength that truly had to come from God to tell your story.

Having had some of the same experiences of the author Shellie Warren, all I could say is WOW and that I must MOVE in sharing this word. Her book has prompted me to start planning on speaking with young adults and late teens at my place of worship and at the local H.S.'s to get the word out. We must equip our young people with information to make better choices in life. That's the very reason that God allowed her to write this book!



I am firm, when I say "This Book Will Bring About Change !!!"

Kudos to Shellie R. Warren on writing such a powerful message filled book. The author of this book could be anyone of us because in some form or fashion we all have been a victim of poor decision making that led to unhealthy relationships etc.
"Inside of Me" is just another example of not being able to have a testimony without the test. It's a must read for all ages and genders.

This is an awesome book for all to read. The experiences that Shellie shares are as real as it gets. It should be shared with young men and women to let them know that they will have choices to make and their decisions will have an impact on thier lives as well as others around them. I am proud of Shellie for being brave enough to share with us her experiences so that hopefully we can avoid some of the things that she endured. To all thinking about purchasing the book----Just Do It--It is priceless!! God Bless you Shellie and continue to share your awesome gift !!

Its not by accident that after about 35 reviews, nearly all have given this book 5 stars. What is there to say that hasn't already been said? I have seen alot of comments that say "this is a must read for women"... just to clarify, this is a book "for everyone- men and women." I am a 24 year old guy and read this book in 2 days. God has certainly blessed Shellie with tremendous writing ability. You will not be dissapointed with this book...

This book has been Good for my soul. It presents examples of daily trials we face and offers ways that we can respond in peaceful ways. There is balance in this book.

I was raised Baptist. This book was recommended by a Catholic friend who had been given the book by a Catholic priest.

The reading of this book takes me to a place where I am in my best spiritual state.

This is early Thich Nhat Hanh at his freshest. Compelling stories of coming to see the world from a more awakened perspective are mixed with very accessible instructions for mindfulness meditations. Anyone of Buddhist inclination will profit from visiting or revisiting this book, and if you want to introduce someone else (or yourself) to Buddhist thought and practice in an inviting way, you could scarcely do better than this. (The other "best first book" which stands up to repeated readings is Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. Both are likely to become your lifetime companions.)

The demands of a job and daily life seem to keep us from spirituality and peace. The Book: Being Peace, offers that pause in life to reflect and renew. This is a very good read.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a beautiful being, writing in very simple words and from the heart, and showing us how to be at Peace, in Peace, so as to create Peace in our World. Good book. Likely to be re-red many times.

I like this authors books that is why I bought this one on a friends recommendation. I struggled through it but dont find it easy to read or understand and I usually like this guys books. I found it choppy, hard to follow and I didnt find it peaceful reading. A few nuggets here but didnt work for me this time.

This book has been Good for my soul. It presents examples of daily trials we face and offers ways that we can respond in peaceful ways. There is balance in this book.

I was raised Baptist. This book was recommended by a Catholic friend who had been given the book by a Catholic priest.

The reading of this book takes me to a place where I am in my best spiritual state.

This is early Thich Nhat Hanh at his freshest. Compelling stories of coming to see the world from a more awakened perspective are mixed with very accessible instructions for mindfulness meditations. Anyone of Buddhist inclination will profit from visiting or revisiting this book, and if you want to introduce someone else (or yourself) to Buddhist thought and practice in an inviting way, you could scarcely do better than this. (The other "best first book" which stands up to repeated readings is Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. Both are likely to become your lifetime companions.)

The demands of a job and daily life seem to keep us from spirituality and peace. The Book: Being Peace, offers that pause in life to reflect and renew. This is a very good read.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a beautiful being, writing in very simple words and from the heart, and showing us how to be at Peace, in Peace, so as to create Peace in our World. Good book. Likely to be re-red many times.

I like this authors books that is why I bought this one on a friends recommendation. I struggled through it but dont find it easy to read or understand and I usually like this guys books. I found it choppy, hard to follow and I didnt find it peaceful reading. A few nuggets here but didnt work for me this time.

I had purchased the book after reading a few reviews which were very positive. If you want to know more about the person, Mani Bhaumick, this book is a good one. If the topic of Quantum Physics and its journey towards explaning the universal truth in the same manner as old religions interests you, this book offers a good start. Unfortunately, I got bored reading the past of the author (which is no doubt interesting but why spend money to know this!!!). Further,the portions relating to developments of Physics went over my head - I guess this may be because I am a normal Accounting person or I am not be very intelligent. And then, there are photographs of the author with various celebreties (why was this necessary?). And I felt the end of the book was also very abrupt. The book could have been more simple and focused on the subject. I guess persons of normal intellect may avoid this book. It will be useful if someone can recommend books that are more simple (with illustrations, where possible) and where the focus of the book is purely Quantum Physics rather than spice this up with avoidable diversions.

I think this book is wonderful approach to the science of God's existence. If you've ever seen the "Elegant Universe" (I think it is called) on PBS where they delve into String Theory and explain quantum physics to the layman, this book is a perfect follow-up. I think that because I had seen this show, I absorbed much of the physics he presented very quickly. I remember stopping at one point and thinking, "this is some scientific stuff."

Even if you've never heard of String Theory or Quantum Mechanics, it is worth reading this book. Dr. Bhaumik's book presents complicated physics theories in simple terms, and then ties those principles into his statement that everything from human consciousness, to the farthest stars, to the smallest particles are all interrelated and have a single name: God.

When I got to certain points in the book, I could hear my brain frying ;-) These were some increbile points he was making and I was blown away.

The only reason I gave it four stars is because he spends a little too much time in my opinion on his upbringing in India. Yes, it helps set the stage for the life eventually goes onto, and underscores several of his ideas, but it should have been cut shorter.

Dr. Bhaumik nails this most difficult task of wedding his personal story as a beautiful metaphor, to the greatest story ever told - the unfurling of our universe. He pursues the question that his father refused to answer and aren't we lucky for it. His formidable intellect and acquired rags-to-riches wealth gives way to a humility and innocent passion that can only reflect what he is and always will be: pure unadulterated spirit. I flat out love the way he presents meditation as the sacred portal of entry to our birthing ground, the unified field. The description of our holograhic universe by using the analogy of the human genome replicating whole humans brought tears to my eyes. The implication that we ARE the united field brings me to my knees because it resonates with every fiber of my being. By celebrating the similarities rather than the differences, Dr. Bhaumik honors what we all know at some level: What we're looking for is looking for us. His is an invitation to step up to and behold an idea of God that we can all live and die with. What a wonderful additional gift for more of us to get and live the Big Idea. Thank you Dr. Bhaumik for your remarkable contributions to our little parenthesis in eternity. - Dr. Herby Bell

We live today in a world so divided by disparate religious ideas that there is a very real possibility that we as humans won't survive these differences.

The spectrum of this divde is great and varied. Extreme Christian fundamentalists longing for a biblical Armageddon promote political choices that could bring on an ultimate nuclear holocaust. More moderate Christians eschew science in favor of a literal reading of the Bible and turn a blind eye to scientific "theories" as varied as global warming, the evolution of our species or the age of the universe.

Extreme Islamic fundamentalists scoff at earthly political goals altogether and wish only to live in a world governed entirely by the Koran. Unfortunately, like the Judeo/Christian Bible, interpretation of these sacred scriptures is subject to whoever perceives that he/she has been selected by his or her god to do so. This has resulted, in many instances, in the wide-scale destruction of people by those convinced by these chosen spokesmen that they will achieve heavenly rewards by their own and their victims' deaths.

Obviously, examples like these can be found everywhere in the world and in many other religions as well.

In a fervent desire to get beyond religious misconceptions of basic spiritual concepts, many thoughtful people have followed one of two divergent philosophical paths of inquiry concerning the universe and our place in it.

Science and spirituality (as opposed to religion) both seek the answers to this most fundamental question. While never quite at physical odds with each other, proponents look askance at each other for the others' naive understandings of reality. Yet a few individuals in both camps have been able to take a "quantum leap" of understanding and realize that science and spirituality should not just "agree to disagree".

For some scientists, David Bohm, Rupert Sheldrake, Karl Pribram and others, the deeper science goes towards discovering the most fundamental nature of Matter and Energy, the more the paths of science and spirituality merge into one.

On the spiritual side, a person such as the Dalai Lama honors the discoveries being made by science; to the extent that he says that if science proves a concept that is counter to his own Buddhist tradition, then the Buddhist idea must succumb to science! Truly a remarkable statement in view of most religious orthodoxies.

Mani Bhaumik is one of these "leapers", whose early life happened to be suffused in mystical Hindu traditions. Yet, the talents for science and mathematics he displayed at a young age allowed him to escape the poverty and ignorance epidemic in his community.

Finding his way to the West and his subsequent invention of the Exemer Laser (known commercially as Lasek) culminated in his enjoying a fabled lifestyle of the rich and famous; coincidentally the name of a popular television show of the day in which he displayed his wealth. His Hollywood star-studded life of parties and luxury in Beverly Hills is the stuff of dreams.

But somewhere along the way, the dream ended. Like many others throughout history, he finally had to ask himself, is this all there is?

Even while climbing the ladder of success, however, he never forgot the ground below from where he began. His political and spiritual grounding as an acquaintance of the "living saint" Mahatma Ghandi (in the political struggle for independence by the Indians against Great Britain) demonstrated to him how true spirituality can be manifested in the everyday world.

Throughout his early life in America he used his practice of Hindu meditation as primarily a method of remaining calm and centered in the high-flying academic and business worlds he was increasingly a part of.

But when he began to ask whether "this is all there is", he wanted to explore the deeper realms of reality found through mediation; those spoken of in the Gitas, the sacred writings of his religious tradition.

As a man with one foot in Western science and one foot in mystical Hinduism, he came to realize that it was perhaps his dharma to create a bridge between the two.

The result is the narrative of a wonderful, poetic journey through his own life before he begins the even more fantastic journey into the realms of quantum theory and sublime mystical states.

In the process, he does a truly amazing thing. He makes the underlying scientific field of all physical reality--which is, in fact, non-reality--move so closely towards the highest mystical states that it makes the a non-belief in "god" the most non-rational and least plausible conclusion one could make for a human being.

As a formerly agnostic seeker of knowledge, I've spent the past few years, trying to reconcile the remarkable scientific discoveries of DNA, quantum theory and consciousness with the fantastic realms of mind explored and written about by mystics, shamans, artists, users of entheogenic plants and others throughout the ages.

Mani Bhaumik's journey is a wonderful stepping stone on our own journey through a life that offers so many unanswerable questions. I've found that the most wonderful thing about our journey is that once a stepping stone is reached, another one appears almost magically.

And it's only one step away.

Dr. Bhaumik's book should be required reading for all religions! Using the discoveries of Quantum Physics and other areas of science, he proves how the universe we know all comes from one source, Code Name God, beginning with the Big Bang. He explains the seemingly conscious evolution of elements and the universal laws that permeate and guide our universe. Then he shows that we are all made of the same material (a nucleus consisting of one up quark and one down quark and electrons). In proving the oneness and interconnectedness of all, he shows how we are truly brothers and sisters. Perhaps if we all got that, we would stop our senseless fighting revere this beautiful home we have been given and live in peace.