Hinduism is practised by eighty per cent of India's population, and by thirty million people outside India. In this Very Short Introduction, Kim Knott combines a succinct and authoritative overview of a major religion with an analysis of the challenges facing it in the twentieth century. She discusses key preoccupations of Hinduism such as the centrality of the Veda as religious texts, the role of brahmins, gurus, and storytellers in the transmission of divine truths, and the importance of epics such as the Ramayana. Issues such as the place of women and dalits (untouchables) in contemporary society are also addressed, making this book stimulating reading for Hindus and non-Hindus alike.
Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction
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"This book is instantly accessible in its approach without being in any way condescending or an oversimplification. Each of the chapters tackles a crucial issue or web of interconnected issues, none of them straightforward and yet all conveyed with an elegance of simplicity that belies their inherent complexity."--Julia Leslie, School of Oriental and African Studies, London
"Strongly recommended both for its exemplification of the finest contemporary thinking in this area and its attention to central matters and issues."--Peter Doble, Theological Book Review
"A very accessible overview. The rich diversity within Hinduism is celebrated and the difficult questions are not avoided."--Inter-Faith Issues
"Accessible and enjoyable."--Arti Kacchia, ISKON Communications Journal
"Very readable and certainly the most helpful, with a new and original perspective conveyed in a succinct introductory style."--Ursula King, University of Bristol
"My students thoroughly enjoyed it."--Prakash Chenjen, Southern Oregon University
About the Author
Kim Knott is Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds and the President of the British Association for the Study of Religions. She has written on modern Hinduism, religions in Britain, and gender and religion.
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If you go into a library or bookshop with the intention of finding out about Hinduism, to which section do you go? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
If you go into a library or bookshop with the intention of finding out about Hinduism, to which section do you go? Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Greshon
Format:Paperback
I've picked this book up and put it down so many times. It takes ages to get going and once it does get going it gives you no idea about the hierarchy of ideas in terms of importance, and it doesn't spell out what the main ideas are simply enough. It goes right for the small detail without painting the bigger picture, so you can't see how it all fits together. Reading this guide is like being lost in a maze - without a guide. I'm looking for another introduction to the subject.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is by far the weakest book in the series on religions they produce, (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Koran, Bible, Buddhism and Sikhism). It is complicated and a lot of it is irrelevant.
The book offers a lot of knowledge on the spread of Hinduism and events that took place during the Modern and Post-Modern period e.g. colonialism, modernity and Hinduism outside India. There is very little on the theological and philosophical writings on the faith. I am comparing this to the other books I have read, as mentioned above.
Poor, overall.
The book offers a lot of knowledge on the spread of Hinduism and events that took place during the Modern and Post-Modern period e.g. colonialism, modernity and Hinduism outside India. There is very little on the theological and philosophical writings on the faith. I am comparing this to the other books I have read, as mentioned above.
Poor, overall.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I bought this book to learn about Hinduism, the religion itself is covered quite well but as, for example, special holidays, particular God,Goddesses worshipped were not talked about in any great length,even named,let alone described.These Gods are as important to Hindus as our God is to us, can you imagine writing a book about Christianity and not mentioning God or Jesus for that matter, there would be no book. I realise that it is only meant as a short introduction, and as that, I feel that a short piece on all aspects of Hinduism would have been far better. I feel that I have been quite generous in giving a 3 star and have recently bought a book for £2 which has much more coverage than this, I only wish that I had borrowed it from a library first but alas I buy instead. At least at Amazon, if more people give feed back, we can buy the books that will really cover the imformation that we need to gain. Keep up the good work Amazon!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Notoneforme
Format:Paperback
If like me you are looking for a high level introduction to Hinduism then this is fair - but only just that. I don't feel that the author has a clear target audience in mind and so misses the mark for many of us looking for a general introduction to and understanding of Hinduism. Some parts of good, others are too philosophical for and introduction - best read in conjunction with some of the Ramayana stories, or even YouTube offerings
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Martin
Format:Paperback
The book gives a fairly good introduction to religious and social aspects of Hinduism. However, there are two points worth noting:
- The order of discourse seems unnecessarily complex. For instance, the concept of divinity and its many embodiments in the form of Gods and Goddesses, which I would consider a fundamental element, is not explained until late in the book.
- There is a gender bias. Almost throughout the book, a lot of emphasis is given to female figures, views and issues. Understandable given the writer's background, but I think a very short introduction should be more impartial.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Reeve
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Hinduism has a special place among the world's major religions, being of great antiquity and being, until recent times, an ethnic or racial religion, like Judaism, Sikhism or Shinto. In the last century it has spread its teachings to the West and in doing so has fragmented and branched into an even more complex variety, so that, as the author of this book says, we must now talk of 'Hinduisms', in the plural. So the writing of a very short introduction that will do justice to this subject is a tall order. Kim Knott succeeds splendidly.
She does not shirk problematic topics, such as the evils of the caste system or the burning of widows. In fact, she devotes a fair amount of space to the particular difficulties faced by Hindu women.
Knott being a British academic, and a Quaker, this is an outsider's view, a learned, sympathetic and interested outsider's view. It is none the worse for that. Including a map, a timeline, a glossary, excellent illustrations and suggestions for further reading, it is packed with a surprising amount of information in such a small space.
If you have only a passing interest in Hinduism, this book may tell you all you want to know. If you wish to pursue the study, this is the perfect introduction. A good next step would be an annotated edition of the Bhagavad Gita.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This little book provides the reader with both background and indepth information on the vast group of practices and beliefs tied together under the banner of Hinduism. Written for those with no prior knowledge but also offering analysis in some detail on topics such as the position of women and Dalits or 'untouchables', and the Hindu religion in the diaspora, it should be entertaining and informative for a wide variety of people.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Quite a readable book and very interesting. When delving into a new subject, it needs to be presented in a clear and practical way which is what this book does.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
good for getting an overview of Hinduism - I bought this book as I am now teaching Hinduism and it is good to have a basic idea of the religion
Published 2 months ago by dawn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really useful!
I initially brought this book on recommendation of my tutor who advised us all to purchase it for our degree in religious studies. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Steph
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good book on a difficult subject
Firstly, before buying books on Hinduism you must consider the depth of the subject. This is a religion with so many gods, it's impossible to memorise them. Read more
Published on 9 April 2011 by PunjabiPrincess
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hinduism
A good useful book but in tiny type font and that is the worst part of it. Keeping a book small can be a good idea but keeping the older readers in mind can be another brilliant... Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2010 by Raza Ali
5.0 out of 5 stars
Useful
I give thanks for the day someone thought up the idea for this wonderful series of books. In beginning to study or understand a subject it is often hard to know where to start and... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2007 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
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