Ayurveda: Life, Health, and Longevity (Paperback)

~ Robert E. Svoboda B.A.M.S. (Author)
Key Phrases: Vaidya Nanal, Sri Lanka, Five Great Elements (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr. Svoboda literally embodies the wisdom of Ayurveda. He is a spiritual seeker..."

Krishna Das -- Cover Endorsement

"This book is probably the best of its kind on the market..." -- Dr. Swami Shankardevananda

Dr. Svoboda literally embodies the wisdom of Ayurveda. He is a spiritual seeker and practitioner of the highest order and lives in that most rare of worlds...one that exists in perfect balance, here mystical and medical become one. --Krishna Das, spiritual vocalist in the bhakti yoga tradition, creator of five CDs including Breath of the Heart, Pilgrim Heart, and Door of Faith

In this book Dr. Svoboda has beautifully explained the history of Ayurveda, its basic principles and applications in our daily lives. Following these will help to expand the scope of your life, including your mental and physical health as well as longevity. Reflecting Dr. Svoboda's Eastern and Western integrative approach to Ayurveda, this book is a practical guide for the student and layperson alike. --Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc., Ayurvedic Physician, author of Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing, Textbook of Ayurveda, and many others as well as an internationally known teacher, lecturer and founder of The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mex

This book is probably the best of its kind on the market. Ayurveda is one of the best systems for self-healing and the author does not just present an authentic introduction to Ayurveda, but also gives the keys to understand its application in our lives. I recommend it to all my students. --Dr. Swami Shankardevananda, a pioneer in the field of yoga therapy, author of several notable texts on yoga therapy, Australian medical practitioner and international lecturer

Product Description

Ayurveda addresses the well-being of the entire being - physical, psychological and spiritual - in an approach to health & healing that is as relevant to the modern world as it was to the ancient world from which it emerged. Herbs and minerals, nutrition and purification, affirmative ways of living are a few of the ways in which Ayurveda treats not just the ailment but the whole person, emphasizing prevention of disease to avoid the need for cure. The Ayurvedic principles and practices outlined in this book form a sound basis for accessing optimal health in balance.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Ayurvedic Press; 1st edition (February 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883725097
• ISBN-13: 978-1883725099
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,947 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In-depth presentation of the theory of Ayurveda, January 9, 2007

By	V. Patel "med student" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book to understand the theoretical basis of Ayurvedic medicine. The complexity of Ayurveda's theory is often overlooked for its knowledge of herbs and diet. Vasant Lad's "The Science of Self-Healing: A Practical Guide..." is very useful for such practical information; anyone wanting a quick perusal of what Ayurveda can offer should consult his book.
For those already familiar with Ayurveda or medicine, however, this book opens your mind. His writing style is excellent (certainly a higher level than Vasant Lad's books), but very engaging and easy to read. I do not know how to describe his style (you should look at excepts), but he takes you through every aspect of Ayurvedic medicine, starting with the fundamentals. Almost like a narrative, he tells the story of the Ayurvedic view of the human being and the universe, thus illustrating what the Ayurvedic philosophy means.
One criticism I have is that he does not cite his references. This is particularly problematic when he refers to "recent discoveries" or what "modern science" says; he has a bibliography, but that mostly contains books pertinent to Ayurveda. Also, some of the comparisons he makes to allopathic medicine and anatomy are questionable, such as the existence of a deposit of magnetic metal in the frontal bone of the skull. As a student at a US medical school, I would advise to take some of these comparisons with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, he is familiar with the ideas and theory behind allopathic medicine, and he makes thought-provoking comparisons to the Ayurvedic system.

I highly recommend this book to those who want a further understanding of the philosophy that is Ayurveda.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to Ayurveda., September 15, 2005

By	James E. Hickey Rivera "jehr" (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you want to understand the history of Ayurveda and the basic concepts of this science of life, read this book. I'm presently reading several ayurveda books and this one has impress me very much with its clarity and Dr. Svoboda way of writing. There are other great books on this subject by Dr. Vasant Lad.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity, February 28, 2009

By	Raven (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews

I am familiar with other books on Ayurveda such a YOGA AND AYURVEDA by Frawley and THE YOGA OF HERBS by Frawley and Lad. I have also read other books written by Svoboda on the subject of Jyotish. This book delivers the contents of Ayurveda thoroughly with a flavor of academia. Svoboda's style seems more analytical and scientific and has a knack for summarizing theory, philosophy, and the wisdom of a concept in a sentence. His expertise on Ayurveda is evident and I will keep this book as a reference. I highly recommend it.