Review of Happiness is All We Want!
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Jane Pulido
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- Latest Review: Happiness is All We Want! by Ashutosh Mishra
Review of Happiness is All We Want!
[Following is a volunteer review of "Happiness is All We Want!" by Ashutosh Mishra.]
Ashutosh Mishra, in his book, Happiness is All We Want! walks us along his suggested path to a healthy mind, body, and soul, and consequently, to a happy life. Joining the contemporary conversation on what makes for wellbeing in today’s fast-paced and stress-filled world of incessant work, he throws in as a contribution not only common-sense and common-place ideas but also methods originating from his distinctively Indian or Hindu culture and philosophy.
This book is an easy read for the most part. The author’s attempt to present the achievement of wellbeing holistically is laudable. His discussion on how to achieve physical wellbeing conforms to what most of us already know from basic scientific knowledge on health. The same could be said about his exposition on mental wellbeing. Even without resorting to the language of psychology, most readers would be able to follow his train of thought and agree with him. The book is presented with stories, practical tips, and a list of things to ponder and to do, making it some sort of a guide and manual, or a how-to book. It also gives the reader a glimpse of karmic philosophy and how it remains an influence among modern-day Indians.
The underlying philosophy on which Mishra bases his overall discussion on wellbeing is pre-eminently of his own beliefs, which may be shared by a good number of people from his own country of origin, but not from many others. His assumption that the principles he presents are common to all major religions may show a lack of sufficient knowledge of other religions and beliefs. The majority, if not all, of his anecdotes, are of people from his region. He draws his conclusions from stories that are, for the most part, anecdotal. There is hardly any reference to scientific studies.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The ideas he presented on physical and mental wellbeing are not new to me and most probably to many others. There are many other more authoritative references on these topics. Neither do I find some of his claims on the universality of his ideas on spiritual wellbeing tenable.
This book will be appreciated by people who may share the author’s beliefs on yoga, karma, and reincarnation. Philosophers and academics who study or take interest in belief systems may find this work informative and illustrative of the impact of age-old belief systems and philosophy on modern men and women in some parts of the globe.
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Happiness is All We Want!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Ashutosh Mishra, in his book, Happiness is All We Want! walks us along his suggested path to a healthy mind, body, and soul, and consequently, to a happy life. Joining the contemporary conversation on what makes for wellbeing in today’s fast-paced and stress-filled world of incessant work, he throws in as a contribution not only common-sense and common-place ideas but also methods originating from his distinctively Indian or Hindu culture and philosophy.
This book is an easy read for the most part. The author’s attempt to present the achievement of wellbeing holistically is laudable. His discussion on how to achieve physical wellbeing conforms to what most of us already know from basic scientific knowledge on health. The same could be said about his exposition on mental wellbeing. Even without resorting to the language of psychology, most readers would be able to follow his train of thought and agree with him. The book is presented with stories, practical tips, and a list of things to ponder and to do, making it some sort of a guide and manual, or a how-to book. It also gives the reader a glimpse of karmic philosophy and how it remains an influence among modern-day Indians.
The underlying philosophy on which Mishra bases his overall discussion on wellbeing is pre-eminently of his own beliefs, which may be shared by a good number of people from his own country of origin, but not from many others. His assumption that the principles he presents are common to all major religions may show a lack of sufficient knowledge of other religions and beliefs. The majority, if not all, of his anecdotes, are of people from his region. He draws his conclusions from stories that are, for the most part, anecdotal. There is hardly any reference to scientific studies.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The ideas he presented on physical and mental wellbeing are not new to me and most probably to many others. There are many other more authoritative references on these topics. Neither do I find some of his claims on the universality of his ideas on spiritual wellbeing tenable.
This book will be appreciated by people who may share the author’s beliefs on yoga, karma, and reincarnation. Philosophers and academics who study or take interest in belief systems may find this work informative and illustrative of the impact of age-old belief systems and philosophy on modern men and women in some parts of the globe.
******
Happiness is All We Want!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Happiness is All We Want! by Ashutosh Mishra
