Customer Reviews

Gandhi the Man: The Story of His Transformation

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Gandhi is one of my key personal heroes, and I expect he will continue to be for the duration of my life. One of the primary reasons for this is that I draw such inspiration from someone who transformed his life from the mire of confusion and failure that many of us experience, to become a beacon of inspiration, accomplishment and near-flawless integrity. Gandhi's life also identifies the exact ways, means and principles surrounding how integrating and extending spiritual energy can help us in achieving any goal, no matter how daunting it may seem. I have read several books on Gandhi, including "My Experiments with Truth" -- which I recommend with the caveat that it is very laborious reading. "Gandhi the Man" on the other hand, cuts to the chase -- and helps readers to see the essence of the greatness of Gandhi, while also pointing us to the tools that will help us achieve greatness in our own lives (integration of thought, word and deed, meditation, focus on service, etc.). Highly recommended!

My church used this book as a weekly study of Gandhi's spiritual legacy. It was wonderful. It is full of penetrating quotes and delightful pictures. It's a short read and immensely inspiring. It reminds me that we all have the potential to be a Gandhi. Note that the publisher of this book has a free study guide on their site as a companion for the book. Go to www.nilgiri.org and then click to the page where you would buy the book. I've also found other books from this publisher to be very good.

In October, which is his birth month, everyone who has ever been affected by the teachings of the Mahatma turns to refresh themselves about who he was & what he gave to us. Because of my parents' antipathy toward this rabble rouser, I naturally wanted to know more about him. It was the Mahatma's tenets that I learnt as a volunteer during the early anti-apartheid marches in London after Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, & which stood me in good stead in Chicago during the Civil Rights Movement.

In GANDHI THE MAN, Eknath Easwaran offers a simply read primer, with lots of photographs, into who the man was & how he came to his way of life. Definitely for those who have ever wondered about this great soul & about how to transform the quality of their lives.

A perennial Rebeccasreads recommendation. Then explore all the other offerings from Nilgiri Press & the Blue Mountain Center for Meditation.

This book is light reading, and succeeds in capturing some of the essential quotes of Gandhi, including his beliefs in non-violence, and his dedication to satyagraha. It is beautifully presented and rich with photos and quotes from Gandhi. Readers who are looking for a wealth of biographical details should look elsewhere - to Louis Fischer's Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World, for example. Advanced readers will also find this to be a light (but fairly accurate) summary of his book. For the new initiate, or the first-time reader, however, this book would serve as a good, short, stepping-stone to more detailed works about Gandhi.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who teaches English at the local college. What a great book! It's not a hefty read - but you feel you get a complete overview of the man and his life's contributions. Highly recommend this book at anyone whether they are a long time Gandhi fan, or someone who just wants to know more about this amazing world leader.

Gandhi, in my opinion, is one person we must not forget to get acquaited with if we are searching for the truth about ourselves. He became known for his contributions to the independence of India through his philosophy of non-violence. There have been many books written about the historical events comprising that journey. But, as he himself had said, the more significant journey that he took was one that was internal. The real "war" he was fighting was the spiritual war inside him. This book by Eknath Easwaran is a rare book that focuses entirely on that aspect of the great man. I would highly recommend this book if one is trying to find one's way to the heart of the "great soul".

The outstanding story of Gandhi's life shows us how a shy, insecure young man could transform himself into a political, social and spiritual giant. Gandhi, as a supreme representative of a very old culture, understood the momentum of the age he lived in and was able to translate his wisdom into practical solutions using the power of non-violence. Amongst others, he convinced the British to leave India, and was the living example of the power of love, respect and non-violence. Illustrating the power of universal truths common to all religions I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in human values and our future.

Gandhi was extremely shy as a youth, running home from school to avoid talking to anyone. He later became a lawyer, but found it too difficult to speak well in court. In his own words, he was a coward. His early life was characterized by mediocrity and a lack of focus. He married at age thirteen, "preposterously early." While madly in love with his wife, the early years of their marriage were conflicted, with Gandhi attempting to enforce his will on his wife. Gandhi's transformation had its beginning in the realization that his wife had patiently loved him despite his chauvinistic and overbearing ways. Gandhi had experienced the power of love and its ability to transform people and relationships.

Gandhi's dedication to unselfishly work for the good of humanity came from a galvanizing incident. He was in South Africa and had a train ticket for first class. He was told (due to the color of his skin) that it didn't matter that he had a ticket. He was to sit in third class. He refused and was removed from the train. From that moment forward, Gandhi had to learn why people inflict pain on others and how that process could be frustrated, transformed.

As the subtitle indicates, the book is about his life and "The Story of His Transformation." It contains a nice balance of biography, photos and quotes from Gandhi. I think the power of this book rests in its ability to show that human transformation is possible, desirable and unbelievably powerful. An easy, but worthy read.

--Jack H. Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace through Deep Respect and Courage

I know it certainly moved me. If you are unfamiliar with the story of Gandhi, start here. The serious student of history may criticize this volume because it's actually readable and interesting.

I'm trying to figure out how to explain this book. It is the story of a revolutionary. It is the story of a man who sought freedom and justice. It is the story of a poor scared young man who found the strength to say no to those in power. He became a new man. He became Mahatma "the great soul."

The author, Eknath Easwaran is one of the greatest scholars of meditation and spirituality you will ever encounter. I highly recommend this book.

I found this book one of the most thought provoking I have ever read. The life of non-violence Gandhi led was so extraordinary it almost defies description. In a world bent on violence in it many many forms, the reader will be moved to a deeper level of empathy and perhaps action than ever expected. Gandhi was a simple man with a belief that consumed all those about him; were he alive today our world would be a different place.

This book is a must read for any and all who seek a different path in their life...