Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 9 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #687 in Religion, #41,373 overall

Book review of an upbeat introduction to India and its spirituality

Great book if you want to go to India yourself - especially if you're interested in India as the home of spirituality.

I read the book in one go: couldn't put it down. It's interesting as a story of personal and spiritual growth and as a catalog of some of the spiritual teachings India has to offer.

India in pictures 

Natraj by Yogendra174

Natraj

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

India } Goa } Nov2009 by travelmeasia

India } Goa } Nov200...

DSC_2115 by pradeep_kumbhashi

DSC_2115

...Oblivious!!! by Avadhesh Malik

...Oblivious!!!

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. by ManojVasanth

Beauty is power; a s...

The Business Casual Look by mynameisharsha

The Business Casual...

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The storyline 

Going to India just married

The book starts with Sarah just before her plane leaves and she can get out of India (which she's hated). A begger tells her she'll be back: following love.

The next scene, ten years later, is Sarah coming back to India because her new Husband, Jonathan, has a job here as a journalist. She has given up her own high profile job as a journalist to be able to follow him there.

We follow Sarah as she gets close to death, dives into the main religions India has to offer, tries to learn Hindi, makes friends, follows Indian fashion and watches Bollywood movies.

Sarah leaves India pregnant and sad to leave India for her native Australia. Even though she knows how much easier things will be there.

Who was your favorite person in the book? 

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India - a complicated country 

My review: a balanced picture

India is a country like other countries: it has bad people and good people. It has poverty (lots of it) and wealth (lots of that too). It has technological innovation and people living in hunter gatherer type groups.

India is the largest democracy in the world. It's also the home of yoga, Buddhism and Hinduism. These religious/spiritual traditions have moved west in the last century.

Some of the people who describe India just ignore one or another aspect of it. It's all divine yogi's, or all poverty, all technology or all Dalai Lama type Buddhists.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure actually gives a decently balanced picture, even though it can be seen as too superficial. Well - there isn't a book out there that can do India justice, there's just too much of it. But this book does do a good job of introducing India to Westerners in a way that does it justice enough, I feel.

What was your favorite spiritual teacher or tradition in this novel? 

Sarah finds the most famous spiritual teachers and spiritual traditions in India and gives each a try. Which inspired you most?

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Ganga - the sacred river

Sarah is both repulsed and fascinated by this sacr more...1 point

2

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Astrologer Rakesh

Who prophesies the year Sarah and Jonathan have co more...1 point

3

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S.N. Goenka

The Vipassana teacher who is only present on video more...1 point

4

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Islam in India

Devotion to God instead of doubt in everything.1 point

5

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Dalai Lama

Tibetan Buddhism made easy. Main message: find hap more...1 point

6

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Mata Amritanandamayi

The hugging Amma. Her unjudgmental love for everyb more...1 point

7

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Sufi Love in Pakistan

The center of spirituality for Sarah is Love for a more...1 point

8

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Satya Sai Baba

The guru who supports various charities, has great more...0 points

9

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the Sikhs

The religion of perseverance, protection of the we more...0 points

10

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Hinduism

Religion of tolerance.0 points

11

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Judaism

Food as spiritual service and living life with pas more...0 points

12

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Parsi's followers of Zarathustra

Purity.0 points

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Kryon, space guru

Sarah goes new age in India0 points

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Christianity

The Indian variety.0 points

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure 

by Sarah Macdonald

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

by: Sarah Macdonald

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/24/2009)Buy Now

I loved this book and read it out in three nights of reading. I've studied India in college and went there myself some time ago - yet I could not find many mistakes. Given the size and variety of the country - that's quite an achievement.

This book really is great for those who are thinking of going to India to grow spiritually - it will get you out of your romantic haze. It's also great for those who've been there - a feast of recognition. And if you aren't spiritually inclined - this may just change your mind.

Zoroastrianism / Parsis 

This is the only religion where the descriptions went off a bit. I was taught, in my ancient religion class, that Zoroaster lived around 1000 BC. Certainly not 600 B.C. Also - the Parsis are in trouble and deal with their dwindling numbers in a variety of ways. Sarah is most sympathetic to the people who marry outside the tribe. But their choice makes it even harder for the rest to keep going.

What was your favorite moment in the book?  

Please add your own favorite scene/moment from the book.

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When Sarah lost all her hair

She almost dies of double pneumonia.1 point

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When Sarah went to Afghanistan with Jonathan

1 point

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When the Twin Towers get hit

Sarah and Jonathan face the horrors religion can b more...1 point

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When Sarah got cursed by an Indian begger

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When Sarah got a quick hug from Amma

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When Jonathan and Sarah went to see Sai Baba

0 points

What did you think about this description of India? 

Write a review, add a comment, or debate someone who disagrees with you.

Was this book good, or too superficial, or something else? Tell me.

Was this book good, or too superficial, or something else?

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Inspiring read, good book, well written.

Mac33 says:

My wife loved it. A couple friends of ours who have visited India really enjoyed reading it also.

Posted April 25, 2008

spirituality says:

I loved it. Gave me some ideas of what to do and where to go when I go back to India in a few years.

Posted April 16, 2008

Too superficial, read something else to get to know India and its relgions.

 

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