Customer Reviews

Vivekananda: A Biography

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This is the first biography I owned and at the end of reading, left a feeling that is a combination of optimism, enthusiasm and a fire in the belly to accomplish something in life.

Swami Vivekananda, a Saint/Patriot of India is an amazing personality. He is kind of a super-man, with exceptional oratorial skills, unfailing memory, with a mind stretching to the limits and with a heart of gold. There are hatha-yogis, bhakti yogis and raja yogis etc. But Vivekananda is all in one. Above all he seems to be a perfect Karma yogi - which is very difficult to be.

The book starts with his early days of attachment to Western thinking, then suddenly shifts to narrating the life of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Then when the meeting of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda happens - it is the one of the most exciting part of his life and a turning point in Indian history too. Every important part of his life is neatly depicted - his wanderings throughout India, his journey to America, the famous speech in Chicago and his subsequent journeys to the rest of the world. I tried to find the building where the PoR was held in 1893, but I could not. I was told it was turned into "Field Museum", but its Museum Director didnot know when I enquired about it.

I expected the book to contain the original text of his first speech, but it doesnot. This book does not have many photographs too. Anyway reading Vivekananda's life, one is sure to catch his optimism, enthusiasm and purpose of life and indeed think about reforming oneself.

This biography on Vivekananda captivates the reader immensely. It starts of in the early life of this remarkable soul and ends with a few priceless sayings of this colossal figure. This book also contains a glossary on Sanskrit words for the uninitiated reader.

Surprisingly, this book contains no chapters. But this should not put the reader off. The sub-headings in this book makes this work an easy read but the lack of photographs is a minor shortcoming. However, Vivekananda's life is a remarkable one and this should captivate the reader deeply.

Vivekananda was a real trail blazer. An unorthodox monk, who sought to offer real spirituality to both East and West. The author manages to convey the dynamism and enthusiasm of Vivekananda as he learns under his Guru, Sri Ramakrishna and then begins his own mission in India and the West.

Vivekananda had a huge heart, I love the stories of his disdain the Indian caste system and belief in the oneness of humanity. My only complaint, the book is too short! You feel there were many more great stories of Vivekananda which never made it it.

But, it is the kind of book you can re-read again. The biography of Vivekananda will inspire you to want to do something good with your life.