You know, I really tried to read this, but at well over one thousand small-print pages in two hefty hardback volumes, it was asking the impossible for a non-Hindu like me. I thought the title was intriguing and it would be fun reading, but if you dare to imagine it's anything like Neale Donald Walsch's book series, Conversations With God, you will be very disappointed. If you want to study Hinduism for what it expects of you in terms of behavior and attitude or worship, then you won't be.

I am not critcizing Hinduism like I will not criticize Christianity or other religions. They all have similarities and help different people understand God and how to live in a way compatible with their society. It defines their culture which is what these two volumes do. So it might be very interesting to look at this. I read some and skimmed more. You can get a general idea of what it's about just by reading the Table of Contents, being very helpful to those who just want to skim it. Normally I wouldn't suggest doing such a thing, but after reading some short chapters, you get an idea of the themes which are like Christianity's: praise/worship, morality, chastity, fighting sin...

How, you ask, is Hinduism different than Christianity? Well, I'm not going into details because a Hindu could answer that much better, but from skimming this book and having read the Bible, I find this much less story-like with no female characters. I probably wouldn't know if I read about a female spiritual character, though, not being familiar with the language. This is translated into English, though, and easy to read. It just became repetitive to me and not inspiring or inspired like God was talking as the title suggests. It may be to you, however. It depends on what you're used to and expect, I suppose.

Final Thoughts

I am glad I tried reading this just to learn that it's not for me. If you're at all interested in what Hinduism is about, this translation is probably the best. I know this because seeing the books on my desk impressed a computer expert who visited me, Roland Pinto, who travels all over the country. He had been reading it for a long time with great satisfaction, even though he's not Hindu, either.

So is it everything I wanted to know about Hinduism? Until I meet a Hindu or visit India, I think so. :-)







Recommended: Yes