The Asura Way – Book Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

All major religions have their own edicts, their own versions of “the ten commandments”, the numbers and morals might differ a little, but ironically, even Gods seem to have a hard time sticking to the rules at all times. So Anand Neelakantan in his cleverly titled book “The Asura Way” is the author’s guide to getting onto “the contrarian path to success” in Kali Yuga through reinterpretation of age-old edicts from epic Hindu texts. It’s essentially a self-help book, a genre I completely avoid, but someone gifted me “The Asura Way,” and after my dad read (and loved it), he enthusiastically urged me to check it out.

In Hindu scriptures, Asuras are said to be power-hungry demons or demi-Gods, with the most famous being Ravana, the King of Lanka and the primary antagonist in the epic Ramayana. Anand Neelakantan divides this book into several chapters, each exploring a “vice,” and then he cites examples from both mythology and history to illustrate how not just Asuras but also several great men, and in some cases even gods, have succumbed to their base emotions and violated the edicts espoused by great saints to live a honorable life.

The author conveys two key messages in the book:

To harness negative emotions effectively, be it anger, jealousy, greed, or pride. He writes about redirecting these typically “sinful” emotions into constructive avenues that foster individual success, rather than allowing them to spiral into destructive behaviors.Embrace a mindset of perpetual ambition, advocating for living life on a grand scale, akin to the Asuras. “Don’t be content with what you have,” the author repeatedly says.

While packed with several interesting tales, from how Ravana got himself Lord Shiva’s sword to how Shivaji expanded the Maratha empire, “The Asura Way” gets a little repetitive and isn’t very interesting for avid readers who are already familiar with Hindu epics and Indian history. But it’s definitely a fun way to look back at the wisdom passed down through several generations and turn them upside down.

Regardless, Anand Neelakantan’s writing style is simple and easy to read, so I think “The Asura Way” would be a good pick for those who are dipping their feet into the reading world and lean towards the self-help genre.

Rating: 3 on 5.

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