Am I A Hindu?/the Hinduism Primer

Rating:
Summary: Am I a Hindu Review
Review: When I received the book Am I a Hindu? for free in the mail, I had no idea what it was all about. I remembered having seen it at a family friend's house, but beyond that, I had never read it and never really even heard of it. But after having received the book, I realized what a valuable resource it really is.
The book is written in the form of a dialogue between a father and son. The son is asking questions about various aspects of Hinduism and the father gives him answers. The book follows a natural progression, starting with the advent of Hinduism and an explanation of the scriptures, and moves on to the fundamental beliefs of the religion, and even addresses some of the finer points that are not generally even discussed. Overall, it is one of the most comprehensive and informative books on Hinduism that I have come across.
This book is especially valuable, I think, for people who don't know much about the Hindu tradition and who want to know more. The Sept. 11 tragedy and the after-effects and backlash of that day have shown us that there is danger in ignorance, and in that sense, it is vital for people to expand their knowledge, and explore a culture that they may not be familiar with. Am I a Hindu? also is useful for this purpose because it gives many comparisons to other major world religions.
Am I a Hindu? is a book that can be enjoyed and used by anyone, Hindu and non-Hindu, from any part of the world.

Rating:
Summary: The best in recent times.........
Review: Dear Book lovers all over the world,
I happened to read the book "Am I a Hindu ?" by Ed.Viswanathan recently.I was amazed at the way the author has dealt with various topics which even most Hindus do not know.It is written in a "question and answer" format and can be easily understood by everybody.
The book has emerged victorious on all grounds, be it the lucid style,the clarity of thought or the approach to handling delicate issues.
This book falls under the 'must be read' category and I wish readers all over the world have the pleasure of reading it.
As Addison has rightly said," Books are the legacies that genius leaves to mankind, to be delivered down from generation to generation, as presents, to those that are yet unborn",-So also this book, A GIFT FOR POSTERITY.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for beginners
Review: Viswanathan elaborates upon important aspects the Hindu faith, ones that are often misunderstood. If a little simplistic and (unavoidably) subjective, "Am I a Hindu?" is a good first book especially for western and/or diasporic audiences requiring both a "feel" for the religion or specific answers. However, that the book appears to be directed at a Hindu audience and is presented as a conversation between a father and a young child is somewhat awkward. This aside, "Am I a Hindu?" is a fine complement to any collection of authoritative texts on Hinduism.

Rating:
Summary: This the book I was always looking for
Review: I am a second generation Indian, in a way an "American Born Confused Desi", born and raised as a Hindu, but knows very little about Hinduism, beyond what my parents have taught me. Last year my father purchased this book, as a birthday present for me. I found this book to be the book, I was always looking for, to know about my mother culture. Am I Hindu? now sits on my book shelf, and I must confess, I might have read this book four or five times already. I have also loaned it out to many of my close friends who also really enjoyed the book.

Mr. Viswanathan has done a great job in presenting every aspect of Hinduism in vivid colors. He has not run away from controversial issues in Hinduism such as "Idol Worship" etc . Instead he has tackled them courageously. This book looks down upon things like "Caste system" quoting Mahathma Gandhi & Ambedkhar. Amazingly this book has also discusses about Hindu atheistic Philosophy known as Charvaka philosophy, according to which, "there is no God and there is no soul or reincarnation". This is the best book for Indian children like myself, born and raised in an American society where Hinduism is hardly ever portrayed correctly in the textbooks we learn from. This book should be used in every classroom that is teaching Hinduism and available in every library for others to know about the complex at the same time colorful culture of India. Mr. Viswanathan, thanks for a wonderful job done. Hope you will write more books just like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Transmits the fine points of a grand old religion
Review: Am I a Hindu? is the essential "everything you need to know about Hinduism" book that gives seekers the basics of this complex and ancient religion. It's an excellent book for outsiders looking in, but even more valuable for Hindus living in America (and other Western countries) who need to transmit the religion to their children. Growing up far away from India, many Hindu youths are unaware of the lovely traditions of their rich heritage. Ed Viswanathan dedicates a chapter to each fine point, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The book will also help Americans who are intrigued with Hinduism and tempted to join a Hindu-based group, such as the Hare Krishnas, the Rajneeshies, or any other number of Americanized versions of the faith. So often, these groups twist the philosophy to make it seem like you have to "join up" and move in. Not so: the religion is best practiced in one's own home and this book tells you how. Also, the Westernized Hindu groups often misinterpret the role of guru, so that the guru becomes more of a baby sitter than a source of wisdom and knowledge. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn what the Hindu religion is really all about.

Rating:
Summary: A very good bet for beginners interested in Hinduism
Review: Ed Viswanathan has explained the complex religion of Hinduism in a very simplified and easy-to-understand manner. I thoroughly enjoyed re-discovering my religion and all its myriad aspects.
I feel like a born again Hindu!!

Thank you for providing me a fantastic resource whose wisdom I shall try and imbibe. I'm so darned proud to be a Hindu because not only is it the world's oldest religion, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu. He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine.

One of the great things about Hinduism is that muslims, christians and others can all practice it freely however they choose to. It doesn't preach, breed or feed fanatics-though yes, it does have its fair share of hard-core believers.

There are no strict rules here, a lot of hindus in America
and young women in Indian cities do wear jeans to the temples, it's totally okay. No priest is going to condemn and insult you for that.

So my point is, Hinduism accepts and respects each and every individual regardless of his/her ethnicity and relgious beliefs.

This book is a treasure trove for all hindus and non-hindus alike; it will surely broaden your horizons and provide u with a fasinating voyage into one of the greatest religions of our time.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and Insightful Overview
Review: I have read this book several times since I got it 2 years ago. I keep refering to it also. I have been a Hindu for five years and this book helped me to learn more. I think it is good for those seeking what is Hinduism and also those who have been Hindu for a long time. Many of my Hindu Indian born friends are also having this book to refer to. It is nice to see such books because we don't see these types of books in a faith which is non-proseltyzing. I recommend this book as it is easy to read, understand and remember. I have learned a lot from this book. Thanks for writing it, Ed.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful introduction
Review: This is among the best books I have read about Hinduism. The author addresses most frequently ask questions about Hinduism, plus much more not covered in many other writings. Many myths and misunderstanding are also adressed in this book. Written simply, easy to understand. Explores Hindu history, culture, dance, texts, deities, worship, etc... very informative.

Rating:
Summary: Gandhi would approve.
Review: This is an easy-reading primer on all aspects of Hindu tradition and thought. The author appears to have been deeply influenced by the thinking of Gandhi. Like Gandhi, he is often up-front about what he doesn't like in Hinduism, and they are the same things -- "Don't you think (Manu's) statements about women are outright nonsense?" (the son asks, the father does not dispute it); "the caste system is a disgrace to Hinduism." He tries to be open-minded and relate his ideas to science. He puts a lot of emphasis on the Bhagavad Gita. He tries to assimilate or at least acknowledge the good points in other religions within his understanding of Hinduism. (He actually proposes that Jesus' death on the cross cleansed his immediate followers of karma.) At the same time, he also makes some major mistakes about Christianity; nor am I sure I agree with his understanding of the Dao Dejing. In all these regards, his approach resembles that of Gandhi, whom he also refers to quite often.

The book is broken into managable but rather disordered topic-bites, giving a pointalistic portrait of the subject. It's well-written, though the editing could be improved. The "Father-Son" format is hard to swallow, since the author seems to assume that his audience knows a lot about other religions and nothing about Hinduism. (Is this the first time the subject has come up?) But it allows the author to cover the subjects that he thinks will be of interest to most readers.

As a Christian who studies comparative religion I found this book helpful as a popular and thoughtful modern defense of Hinduism. I just read an even better book on the same subject, however, called the Crown of Hinduism. The author, a missionary in India about ninety years ago, granted many of Viswanathan's main premises -- that the communal search for truth is progressive, that there is something worthwhile in all religions, that you catch more flies with honey. And he explained the various aspects of Hinduism extremely well. But in the search for a modern integration of Indian traditions, he came to a radically different, and powerfully argued, though controversial, conclusion. (Hint: the title refers to Jesus.) If you are open to considering the relationship between Hinduism and other religions from a wise and informed Christian perspective, I recommend that book as well.

author, Jesus and the Religions of Man

[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: ChennaiReader
Review: This is a very informative and useful book. It clears all the misconceptions associated with hinduism. This book also helps to understand Hinduism in a scientific manner which was the orginal purpose.