Customer Reviews

Hinduism : A Very Short Introduction

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Hinduism has a special place among the world's major religions, being of great antiquity and being, until recent times, an ethnic or racial religion, like Judaism, Sikhism or Shinto. In the last century it has spread its teachings to the West and in doing so has fragmented and branched into an even more complex variety, so that, as the author of this book says, we must now talk of 'Hinduisms', in the plural. So the writing of a very short introduction that will do justice to this subject is a tall order. Kim Knott succeeds splendidly.

She does not shirk problematic topics, such as the evils of the caste system or the burning of widows. In fact, she devotes a fair amount of space to the particular difficulties faced by Hindu women.

Knott being a British academic, and a Quaker, this is an outsider's view, a learned, sympathetic and interested outsider's view. It is none the worse for that. Including a map, a timeline, a glossary, excellent illustrations and suggestions for further reading, it is packed with a surprising amount of information in such a small space.

If you have only a passing interest in Hinduism, this book may tell you all you want to know. If you wish to pursue the study, this is the perfect introduction. A good next step would be an annotated edition of the Bhagavad Gita.

This was a well-written book about Hinduism and serves to help orient people who know nothing about it. It not only discussed some of the basic beliefs of Hindus, but it also addressed some of the problems that they face in modern society.

Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction is indeed very short, perhaps too short to do more than scratch to surface of a topic as complex and varied as the religion of Hinduism. This book is a very good introduction for someone who knows little about the subject and would like to learn more, however for someone who does know a something about Hinduism and would like to learn more it is a little unsatisfying. One is left wanting more.

This is a wonderfully careful and thorough introduction to 'Hinduism.' I italicize because, as the author carefully notes, that is a term of some controversy. Knott is more than happy to carefully unravel every contestable aspect of Indic studies. Moreover, she writes with a strong voice--the sort that I rarely encounter in academic writing, particularly in works published recently. This work was a pleasure of read, and far more informative than it's approachability might suggest.

I really enjoyed this nice introduction to Hinduism. I didn't know much about the religion besides common knowledge beforehand. I wanted to read the Bhagavad-Gita, and then I found this book in a box in the lobby of my apartment building. It provided the perfect appetizer that helped put the B-G into context as well as all the other texts. Without it I would have been much more lost. Thanks Dr. Knott!

Firstly, before buying books on Hinduism you must consider the depth of the subject. This is a religion with so many gods, it's impossible to memorise them. It's also a religion which is so vast, so multi-layered that not even the most devout Hindu can claim to understand all aspects of it.

With that in mind, if you are looking for a brief subtle introduction - then this little book is perfect for you. The small pocket size of the book means you can easily carry it with you while in India and refer to it when needed. I think that is the main thing this title has to offer.

The key to understanding the religion, is that books such as this are just the baby steps (if that) towards a lifetime of reading in a subject that will fascinate and consume your interest.

With the rise of India, books like this will be very helpful to those preparing themselves for the next few decades.

If buying this book, I'd also recommend Guy Ritchie's film 'Revolver'. Revolver delves into the examination of the ego and mastery of it - a big concept to Hindus. I'd also recommend the graphic novel 'Photo Booth', which would be an excellent companion to a title like this, and gives an insight into Hindu thought.