Gita on the Green

by Stephen J. Rosen

**Use copy in Blurb1Deep in India's past, Lord Krishna revealed the 700 verse Bhagavad-Gita, a spiritual poem containing universal, nonsectarian truths. In 1995, Steven Pressfield decided to introduce the Bhagavad-Gita to a contemporary audience, so he restructured the Gita in terms of a golf novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance. As he says, "In the Gita the troubled warrior Arjuna receives instruction from Krishna, Supreme Lord of the Universe, who has assumed human form as Arjuna's charioteer. Instead of a troubled warrior, it's a troubled golf champion (Ranulph Junah); instead of his charioteer, it's his caddie Bagger Vance." Now a major motion picture directed by Robert Redford and starring Matt Damon and Will Smith, The Legend of Bagger Vance is loosely based on the ancient Hindu epic. Steven Rosen, in Gita on the Green: The Mystical Tradition Behind Bagger Vance, draws the story out further using some thirty years of Gita scholarship and a writing style that is both eloquent and thorough. Rosen takes us on a colorful journey into the golf world of Bagger Vance, as well as into the spiritual realm of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. By the end of the journey, one realizes that one has just read a commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita while hitting a hole in one.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2000

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I admit I need help with my golf game.
This was an informative read even if my golf game isn't any better.

[George Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Companion to The Legend of Bagger Vance, Rosen is quite knowledgable with the Bhagavad-gita and makes it accessible.

[Krishnanand Khambadkone]

Gita in a Nutshell is what I would call this book. If O'Reilly were to interpret the Gita, it would also probably turn out like this. A very nice and concise interpretation with occasional comparisons to Golf.