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casparb's review against another edition
4.0
Yeah this was really interesting. There's an impressive metaphysics running about with a neat ethical system knitted in. Of course, I'm not really capable of saying anything particularly unique about the text here. I'd like to get a better of the Gita in its wider context of the Mahabharata, since the BG functions as a more strictly spiritual piece.
The BG is really effective, that is, beautiful, as poetry. Arguably this is partly due to the versification the Penguin Classics version uses. I really adored the middlish discourses around 8-11 for this poetic flavour mixed with the life-affirming approaches. Also nice to get a brief hint of the eternal return.
The BG is really effective, that is, beautiful, as poetry. Arguably this is partly due to the versification the Penguin Classics version uses. I really adored the middlish discourses around 8-11 for this poetic flavour mixed with the life-affirming approaches. Also nice to get a brief hint of the eternal return.
anishinaabslay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
3.0
Don’t want to assign a holy book a rating as for many it is more than just literature. The rating above is just a comment on how I found the translation to be. Which was okay
cheazcakeguy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This was my first time reading the Gita. There is a lot to ponder in this book, and I highly recommend reading it no matter your spiritual or religious background. I think anyone can read this and come away with new, helpful insights on how to live.
As for this edition/translation, I thought it was fantastic. I know very little about Hinduism, the Mahabharata, and South Asian mythology. Laurie Patton's introduction, notes, and translation are heavily focused on helping Western readers understand the text and its historical, religious, and cultural context. For Western beginners to the subject (like me), I can't recommend this highly enough.
As for this edition/translation, I thought it was fantastic. I know very little about Hinduism, the Mahabharata, and South Asian mythology. Laurie Patton's introduction, notes, and translation are heavily focused on helping Western readers understand the text and its historical, religious, and cultural context. For Western beginners to the subject (like me), I can't recommend this highly enough.
amyeewing's review against another edition
4.0
This review is based on the commentary and presentation rather than the Bhagavad Gita itself.
I found this edition very helpful as someone that has next to nil understanding or context for Hinduism. The format of long introduction, commentary, excerpt, commentary, commentary, excerpt, commentary, commentary, excerpt, etc. I found found very helpful. It's a lot to take in especially if it's your first exposure to a lot of these concepts.
I'm certainly not a convert after this, but I feel like I may be a better person as a result.
I found this edition very helpful as someone that has next to nil understanding or context for Hinduism. The format of long introduction, commentary, excerpt, commentary, commentary, excerpt, commentary, commentary, excerpt, etc. I found found very helpful. It's a lot to take in especially if it's your first exposure to a lot of these concepts.
I'm certainly not a convert after this, but I feel like I may be a better person as a result.
theinternationaldoll's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
I learned so much! Very interesting and no matter what your spiritual/religious background is, there are some great insights within this book that can help you become a better person.
smallick15's review against another edition
Getting back into yoga has led me on a path to rediscover my spirituality and find answers to questions I’ve always been curious about. This translation of the Bhagavad Gita was my first stop! It’s a handy pocket guide to understanding the human condition, the nature of work, and the ideals we can aspire to in our daily lives :)
starborne's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book because Oppenheimer studied it. I figure if the guy who created nuclear bombs and used them twice on an island nation with no restraint, he would have answers to my meager problem. Does he? In the end he served as a spokesman renouncing nuclear weapons.
In summary of the book, love is the thing that brings us together and it's the thing that saves us from total annihilation. That's my takeaway. Hopefully our leaders will think of that before the next World War occurs.
In summary of the book, love is the thing that brings us together and it's the thing that saves us from total annihilation. That's my takeaway. Hopefully our leaders will think of that before the next World War occurs.