From one of the worlds foremost scholars on Hinduism, a vivid reinterpretation of its history
An engrossing and definitive narrativ... read full description
An engrossing and definitive narrativ... read full description
reviews
Jan 23, 2011
I was drawn to this book by a lifelong interest in the complexities of Indian religion and society. The author, an American scholar of Sanskrit and Indian religion, rights engagingly if she sometimes goes in a bit too much for jokey plays on words and ideas.
The gist of what makes the book "alternative" is that she more or less rejects the traditional Hindu narrative on the origins of various facets and strains of the multifarious religious tradition. She wisely avoids coming More...
The gist of what makes the book "alternative" is that she more or less rejects the traditional Hindu narrative on the origins of various facets and strains of the multifarious religious tradition. She wisely avoids coming More...
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Jul 27, 2010
Sam
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I am still reading this book, which has provoked both nonviolent and violent protests against it within the Hindu world, much to Wendy's dismay (see this http://hinduexistence.wordpress.com/2010... and this http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/9664.ht... I am not a Hindu, and if you open the old girl's book you will see a chatty, discussion of Hinduism in an haut en bas style that you would be familiar with if it concerned itself with Christianity, for example, particularly in a feminist vein. But
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Jan 12, 2010
Terence
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Just as my first exposure to Buddha came through the sieve of Gore Vidal’s Creation (see my review of Karen Armstrong’s Buddha - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21996...) so too my first exposure to any representation of Hinduism came via the same medium. In that book, Cyrus Spitama – grandson of Zoroaster and Darius of Persia’s ambassador to the Indian kingdoms – witnesses a Vedic horse sacrifice, one of the most important rituals of ancient Indian kingship:
For an Indian ruler thMore...
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Dec 05, 2009
Julie
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The Hindus: An Alternative History by Wendy Doniger of the University of Chicago is really not a history at all. In her book, Doniger retells Hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. One story is about fusing the head of a Brahmin woman onto the body of a Dalit woman. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads.
As I read The Hindus: An Alternative History, I became aware of a pattern: it was as though several authors were writing as Wendy Doniger.
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As I read The Hindus: An Alternative History, I became aware of a pattern: it was as though several authors were writing as Wendy Doniger.
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Dec 11, 2009
Mera Bharat Mahan
rated it:
The Hindus: An Alternative History by Wendy Doniger of the University of Chicago is really not a history at all. In her book, Doniger retells Hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. One story is about fusing the head of a Brahmin woman onto the body of a Dalit woman. Doniger provides several variants of the theme of transposed heads.
As I read The Hindus: An Alternative History, I became aware of a pattern: it was as though several authors were writing as Wendy Doniger.
More...
As I read The Hindus: An Alternative History, I became aware of a pattern: it was as though several authors were writing as Wendy Doniger.
More...
Jun 22, 2009
Jon
rated it: 
More than one friend has said, “Write a lot about this book,” so the pressure is on. When I first saw the reviews for The Hindus An Alternative History, I jumped at the chance to read an opinionated, panoramic discussion of Hinduism, because I have had miscellaneous experiences and opinions of Hinduism ever since my Peace Corps days in Nepal, and I wanted to deepen and consolidate my knowledge.
Doniger acknowledges that hers is an “alternative” history, because it is written with a v More...
Doniger acknowledges that hers is an “alternative” history, because it is written with a v More...
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Apr 08, 2010
Secnud
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It's a very informative read. The way the information has been organized into descriptively titled chapters, helps to get into the book by going to the chapter directly. There is no chronological flow in the specific details that the chapters give about a subject, however, the subjects do follow the pattern of change as it happened historically. For example, you may go directly to the chapter that talks about Mahabharata although it happened after Ramayana and the book places the chapter a More...
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May 09, 2009
Baklavahalva
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Doniger covers so much ground, from pre-Aryan times to yesterday, and most of the contraversial topics (suttee, caste, tantra, beef-eating in the past, multiplicity of and contradictions among the sacred texts, relations with other religions), and she does it, as far as I can tell, with erudition, delicacy, and wit. She's also very knowledgeable of pop cultural adaptations of Hindu materials, both in India and outside. A very smooth, engrossing read. I wished for more pictures.
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Feb 24, 2011
Miriam
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I was looking forward to a book that traced women's and disadvantaged voices through Hindu literature, which was the claim in the introduction. That theme quickly became overpowered by the true purpose of the book, which was to explore the various Hinduisms (and other religions) that have existed throughout the history of India because of their response to the various developments throughout that rich history.
Nov 30, 2009
Uma
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An interesting read... for a change found a Western Writer who got the stories right... Wendy Doniger has a Phd in Indian Studies and Sanskrit.. and she has done her homework with this book... Really liked the format of the book and the snippets of the stories that she has given... Gives a very nice perspective on hinduism, its myths and the popular stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The take on the evolution of the different practices in the religious context are given without any bias
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Jul 02, 2009
John
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An outstanding book. I highly recommend this book to any educated adult, in order to get a rich and insightful look at one of the most important religious cultures in the world. Fantastically learned, clearly and engagingly written, brilliant.
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Jun 15, 2009
Felicity
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This is a research kind of a book where for example you glean information from legends that the author has selected to illustrate a theme or a Hindu ideal. I am enjoying reading chapters of this book of 690 pages plus.
Dec 28, 2010
Mike
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A doorstopper in the best possible way. Doniger is erudite, earthy, and encyclopedic, ably spanning time and space in telling the unruly story of the multitude of streams that went into today's Hinduism.
Dec 20, 2010
John
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Wow! What a tour-de-force! This is kind of a grab-bag of Hinduism, definitely not for the neophyte, who would be lost before s/he began. But for those who already have a good grounding in Hinduism, there are delightful tidbits on nearly every page. I had many "no way..." moments in this book--which was delightful and surprising. Basically, it's a romp through Hindu history, with special attention to the perspectives of the marginalized voices--women, the lower castes, and animals. Abso
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Oct 11, 2010
Saikat
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it's a beautiful book written from a very uncommon perspective
i like the questioning of the accepted conclusions about India's past without any diffidence
i like the questioning of the accepted conclusions about India's past without any diffidence
Oct 09, 2009
Naresh
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A very engaging read. This created minor buzz in some right wing circles. I fail to see what is controversial.
Apr 26, 2009
About how 18th centruy contact with west formed united "hinduism" good review in book review 4-26-2009
Jul 26, 2011
So why no book reviews for five days? A. I've been taking codeine-assisted naps. B. 1200 pages of Hinduism.
Aug 15, 2011
A brilliant and thorough discussion of Hinduism through a New Historicist lens.
Oct 27, 2009
Abby
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This is a massive tome and unfortunately it was due back at the library before I could really get into it. What little I read I really enjoyed and look forward to getting it from the library again. When that happens, I will clear my reading schedule so I can focus on this book.
Sep 01, 2010
Tom
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Still in the huge intro. She is a renowned scholar and the style is refreshingly free of academic speek.
Sep 16, 2011
Amoxtli
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Very good overview. Can't wait to get to the sections dealing with the great Sanskrit Epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Nov 08, 2010
Nivas
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An Alternative Theory more than Alternative history. Several of the translations lack scholarship.
May 29, 2011
Mark
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She's got me hooked again. Once she quoted Janis Joplin I knew I had to keep reading...
Feb 28, 2010
Ajay
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Lately, one has been on a search mission. One difficult to define. It can be called a quest for understanding the origins - of thought, opinions, values and
judgements.
Wendy came right along, offering one of the most objective records of our history. The title is a bit misleading - does one need to have the normal perspective
to understand the alternative one? Is this a 'religious' book? The rightwingers didnt help by sensationalizing the cover and looking fo More...
judgements.
Wendy came right along, offering one of the most objective records of our history. The title is a bit misleading - does one need to have the normal perspective
to understand the alternative one? Is this a 'religious' book? The rightwingers didnt help by sensationalizing the cover and looking fo More...
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 10, 2012
