If you were to open up a typical English language book on Hinduism, usually you'll find that it revolves around the same things; caste, cows, statues, widow burning, Aryan invasions etc. Such books are often written with a strong cultural and religious bias, and are anything but balanced in their portrayal of Hinduism. Anyone with even a basic understanding of Hinduism would know how erroneous such stereotypes are. The problem is that these books often serve as many people's introductions to Hinduism, therefore their lopsided portrayal of Hinduism has far reaching ramifications.

On the other hand, there are some better books on Hinduism. However many of them are heavy on technical terms, and are written in an academic style that makes them difficult for the casual reader to follow.

Luckily, Linda Johnsen's 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism' escapes both these categories. It is a large book, spanning some 400 pages. But its smooth language, lively style and excellent presentation will mean that it is not a drag to read.

This book was obviously designed for the Western non-Hindu reader in mind. Often the author will explain aspects of Hinduism by comparing and contrasting to Christian beliefs, in order to explain Hinduism in a way the readership can understand. Despite being written for a non-Hindu beginner to Hinduism, this book can serve as a great reference source for Hindus too.

The writing tone of the book is set after the title! Linda Johnsen certainly does write and present the book as if it were meant for idiots, in a child-like tone. But this isn't necessarily a negative thing, as the works of great saints like Sri Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda can sometimes fly over people's heads. So it certainly makes a refreshing change from the rather hard 19th century English that some books about Hinduism are written in.

Pretty much everything a beginner could want to know about Hinduism is covered here from the philosophy, to the festivals and various deities, and much more. It is split into 6 parts (Introduction, Beliefs, Worship, Life, God and Tradition) each with about 4-5 chapters. Instead of being a standard textbook of typical sort, it almost feels as if the author is actually speaking to the reader while they are reading!

One aspect of this book that can be particularly applauded is that the book gives some focus more on the lives and teachings of contemporary Hindu sages as well as ancient. Johnsen understands that Hinduism is a living religion, in which contemporary saints and sages play a very large role. She also touches upon modern Hindu issues. The drawings and layout are eye-catching to say the least. All these factors come together, making it a book that is anything but boring. It is the kind of book that most readers will actually read fully, rather than skip a few pages here and there. The glossary at the back is a welcome addition, especially for those unaware of many Hindu terms.

For experienced readers and practitioners of Hinduism, 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism' may not be particularly enlightening, but for those that are unfamiliar or unsure of the basics, it is highly recommended, as this is a very simple and fun book to read, and at the same time profound and meaningful.

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