Smita Narula and her associates have done a great job. The most extensive report of abuses against India's untouchables that I have ever seen. Covers South India, Gujarat, and Bihar with careful research, detailed explanations, and moving personal accounts of Dalits themselves. A bit technical for the recreational reader because it serves as a human rights advocacy report which provides recommendations to the government of India and approaches solutions through an academic framework. Still, one can learn a lot of the measures that have been taken to protect Dalits by the government, UN, etc. while at the same time discovering its dismal attempts at enforcing them. Graphic yet necessary photos are included. Very informative and eye opening read.

Ruegg's work is a great synthesis of information derived from primary and secondary sources, and explores the ways in which important themes of Indian Buddhist thought (buddha-nature, conceptions of mind and enlightenment) were interpreted and adapted in the complex cultural matrix of early Buddhist Tibet. A must-read for anyone wanting a deeper take on the cultural history of Tibetan Buddhism, or the history of Tibetan Buddhist philosophical interpretations!

This book is an exceptional introduction for the beginner in Buddhism. It covers all the major points in a form that is easily understood. The author clearly has a deep understanding of Buddhism, but has gone to great lengths to write in a style that is accessible to the average person. Highly recommended for those beginning their study of this fascinating religion.

I had to read this book for a course on Tantric Buddhism and it was so much fun to read. There is a great introduction which explains a bit about Tantra and some of the terminology in the book. The book is about the mahasiddhas or exemplars of this tradition. The book consists of short stories, about two pages each, of the enlightenment and adventures of these religious people. The best part about it is that they all went through these rigorous mental and physical states to reach Enlightenment and none of them got there in quite the same way. There are thiefs, kings, and young women who have interesting and fun tales to read. I would recommend reading some of these stories for children at bedtime but be careful choosing which one, those Tantrics can get a little crazy!

I had met the author on one of his visits to New York and he had mentioned about writing this book. I kept in touch with him, and actually got to go through an advanced copy of it too. The book starts out tight and only gets tighter page by page. Reads like your typical Tom Clancy thriller, with good action, descriptive but not boring .. enough of a pace to keep you hooked and glued ... but the real twist comes in the end. The end just leaves you gasping for air at the audacity of the whole plot.

The story is contextual to India and Kashmir, so i would suggest getting a brief overview of the nationalistic rivalry in that part of the world (much like the happenings between the Serbs and Croats) to really and truly appreciate the wonderful insanity of this book.

Also makes you question your perspectives on nationalism and what it means to be patriotic .. but then thats too deep a topic for this book. This is a true blue nail-biter of an action thriller.

Overall, an awesome read that i just cant seem to get out of my mind ...

Having similar background & experienced "emigrating" experiences to Canada & US, I connected easily to the experiences of the immigrant. So little has been written about Guyana, its people & its trials thus far. This is insightful,informative,descriptive, humourous,& moving,tinged with exotic Indian flavor & romance.

Amazingly funny stories of growing up in a British Borading School in the Himalayas in the 1950s. I found the characters wonderful, the stories extremely well written, and the plots very entertaining. They reminded me of my own time at a borading school in England in the 60s. A delight. Especially good reading if you're feeling under the weather. Switch off the T.V. and curl up with Capers!

If you love Nepal, Tibet and it's beautifull people, you'll love this book. The stunning pictures tell a great story. About the people in the Dolpho region. They trade salt against food. But to do so, they have to travel hard miles trough a stunning but barren country, with incredible moutains, lakes and of course a caravan of yaks. The author lived with these people and you'll see in his picture the love he has for this region. He knows how to tell a story and how to make the picture to encounter the beauty of it.

The movie CARAVAN tells the same story but then the pictures move (haha) As you can read I'm not used to write in English, but my message is this one ... buy it and go see the picture, you won't be disapointed !

Shiv Visvanathan is a brilliant writer and an original thinker. His interpretation of science is essentially a humanist one. He argues for a science that rooted in concerns of all that is human, a science of play not of war,a non-vivisectionist science. The article on Vavilov is tribute to all great scientists who saw in science a liberatory role. A must read for all those interested in science of the third world. Especially for scientists and engineers- from rich and poor countries alike. This book will open some eyes.