BOOK REVIEW: BELIEF AND BEYOND BY MUKUNDA RAO

TITLE: BELIEF AND BEYOND 
AUTHOR: MUKUNDA RAO
PUBLISHERS: @harpercollinsin
GENRE: PHILOSOPHICAL NON FICTION 

Synopsis: Belief and Beyond delves into the realm of the mystic - Adi Sankara, Allama Prabhu, Kabir, Nagarjuna, Gaudapada, Akka Mahadevi, Lalleshwari, Anandamayi Ma, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Jiddu Krishnamurti, U.G. Krishnamurti, and the Buddha - bringing to life their spiritual quests and the philosophical messages they left behind for humanity. The book explores the search for the non-dual state of being - sahaja sthithi or the natural state - which is not in the realm of experience at all, but a state of being where the borders and boundaries of the divided self have been transcended. The author also weaves in narratives from many difficult-to-access texts, including the Upanishads, the Ashtavakra Gita and the Avadhuta Gita. Written with depth and simplicity, this book is for the seeker and the curious alike.


OVERVIEW/ MY OPINION : 



Belief and beyond by Mukunda Rao is a nonfiction book. It fits moreover into the nonfiction- philosophical genre a very small part of this book caters to the field of self help.

This book is divided into various chapters and subcategories to help a reader filter out information based on his liking and curiosity more effectively.

The writing style of the author is pretty impressive, it is simple and yet keeps one engaged with it.

The language is simple and unsophisticated.  It was amazing to learn how such deep topics were presented with such simplicity that it doesn't overburden the reader , yet it covers all the major aspects of the chapter.

The cover and the title are pretty innovative and appropriately chosen.

The book is divided into various parts such as the upanishads, songs in dualism and non dualism ,beyond gender etc, my personal favourites are the word and birth of self and coming of the buddha.

Speaking about the pace, it's a pretty slow paced read.

The only part wherein this book disappointed me was when it became too slow and some chapters seemed over stretched.

Overall, I had a fairly good time reading this book. It was a pretty informative and an insightful read. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a unique non fiction read.


MY RATING : 4/5 

Purchase link : HERE


Special thanks to harpercollins publishers for sending over a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT & INTERVIEW

AUTHOR: Pooja poodar marwah
TITLE: Pursuit drawn by destiny

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

She is your typical girl next door and yet, she is everything but typical. Born and brought up in Mumbai in a Marwari family, she has grown to realize the importance of pursuing dreams. This is one of the first lessons she recalls, growing up in a home with two other siblings.

She studied at Welham Girls and spent most of her time on the track field; running sprinting, playing basketball etc. She went on to be the Prefect and left soon after as she was selected to go to the US of A on a Rotary Exchange. She served as a cultural ambassador of India for a year and attended Stormlake High School at Iowa. There are very interesting stories she shares on the way India was viewed by the locals, at the time.

She came back and studied at Sydenham College and helped in her family business of creating sterling silver artefacts. In addition, she also did an extensive 3 year course in the manufacture and design of precious and semiprecious jewellery, something that she loves to wear. In indian wear, it’s the 9 yard drape that fascinates her and she knows more than 15 styles to wear the same.

Marriage brought her to Dehradun, where she is currently based. Pooja is a creative and energetic Entertainment & Event Planner with fifteen years’ experience in managing Lifestyle Exhibitions (which is special as it promotes women entrepreneurs from across the Country), Conferences and Offset meetings. Her company has offices in Dehradun and Delhi and it works with corporates Pan India. She works in a fast paced environment where professional organizational expertise is mandatory to handle staff, customers, and contractors and oversees the budgets and financial aspects of special events.

As a person, she is very warm and affectionate. Her two young girls are her biggest strength and are currently at her alma mater too. When she is not writing, she is pursuing golf, travelling and is attempting to learn cooking!

She hasn’t had any formal training in writing and neither does she have a dedicated time or place. She writes with her heart and her words show that. She writes, literally in the parking lots, while waiting for her kids extra curriculars to get over. “Its my way of spending as much time as I can with them as they only come home 4 months of the year so I don’t want to miss a thing about them growing up.”

Incidentally, “Don’t wanna miss a thing” by aerosmith is her favourite song. Her happy colours are purple and blue and her biggest asset is her ability to restart in life.

She has been bogging on relationships for over two years and when asked why relationships, she simply smiled and said, “Everyone needs to love and be loved. To me, this is the eternal truth of life. Nothing drives as love can. In a generation where people are taken for granted and things are loved, this is my way of saying that Hey! Stop a while.. Hold a hand instead!”

She is a die hard mush magnet and yes, movies do make her cry. She has a strong belief in her delectable threesome of faith, trust and love and that is her drive in life.

Pooja is a woman with the class of a lady and a lady with the spontaneity of a girl. To find more on her, please visit her at www.poojapoddarmarwah.com

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:  

1 ) What inspired you to write?

It was a chance meeting with a stranger at a random party that affected my every sense. It left me with a feeling of déjà vu and we had a one conversation on life. Somewhere inside me, that stayed. I am a hyper possessive and protective mom so while driving my children around to their co curricular’s, Pursuit – Drawn by Destiny got written. The second part, which has all the answers will be out next year.

2) Since when are you writing?

Every day is my Day 1. My journey has only just begun. I found the need to emphasise on the importance of love and relationships after looking around and finding an emptiness. Few had accepted theirs to be a life without love and some had made peace with broken relationships. That really touched me and I began blogging two years ago. I didn’t want it to be a life gyaan of sorts and wanted to convey what I felt on a particular aspect of companionship. Over time, this grew and has readers in tens of thousands.

Titled, Random Conversations – Redefining relationships, the blog is a quirky take on modern day relationships. I take aspects like freedom, conversation, equality etc and write in a conversational way so its easy for everyone to find a connect. This was my first step and with my debut book winning the best debut author award, and now being nominated for the Valley Of Words award, I imagine my journey as an author has only just begun.

3 ) Your favourite writing spot/ nook?

Ok, I really am laughing, like literally on this one. I write in breaks. I write in a car at a parking lot or perhaps at a long traffic signal. I write in between the staff asking for directions to clean the house. I write while I’m working and teaching. So, yes, I don not have a dedicated time or place. I just have a dedicated heart and soul to write.

4) At this stage in your life whom do you admire the most & why?

My Mother. She is my bestest friend, my toughest critique and my greatest source of strength. She has raised my siblings and I to be confident, happy women. I've never missed a girlfriend ever as she has the innate qualities of being our one man army. It is through her that I aspire to be who I want to be.

5 ) what do  you do apart from writing?

Currently I’m on Beer and Branson!!! This refers to my love for reading and I’m on his autobiography which I find very raw and honest. I enjoy books that express reality.

So when I’m not writing, I’m working on my next educational event for schools, or I may be out at the golf course playing golf.

Oh! And I have another story about this as well, which we can delve into at a later point. If you have a chance to see Blake Shelton’s video for his song -  Doing what she likes! That would give you a glimpse into my attempt at cooking. I promise I try but somehow its just not me..

6) would you like to brief about your childhood and teen days?

I've had a completely fulfilling childhood. Right form playing in the mud to getting grounded, I can proudly say that my childhood has been one of the funnest one ever.

Hmmm.. In teenage years, I believe I gave my parents a fair share of heartache.. I was quite the not so civilised variety and this is all you’ll get from me on this for now. ☺

7) you're favourite excerp/poem from this book?

My favourite part of the book is the Spa scene (Pg 82) It is here that Kate goes to unwind and Edward drops in. The scene has them along with other people in the spa room play a word game! What I love is the spontaneity of the characters and how a simple sauna room can turn into such a lively ambience! The underlying message here is that no matter who you are or where you go, keep the child in you alive.

8) Whats your definition of being successful?

Success to me is coming home to a house full of music, laughter and conversation.

9) what were the difficulties you faced while writing ur books?

Actually, nothing. I wrote as and when I could and enjoyed every bit of it.

10) How do u deal with / take criticism or negative reviews?

It is an opinion. Some will love it and some will prefer others. Overall, I believe that this book is a great story and is a racy read. To me, that is the most important.

11) A fictional world/ character you adore? Why ?

I simply love Beauty and the Beast. It is one of my eternal favourite stories. Perhaps the character of Edward has taken shape from there.

The reason I love them is because theirs is a story about real love, totally unadulterated and raw. My favourite line from there is, “Think of the one thing that you’ve always wanted. Now find it in your mind’s eye and feel it in your heart.”

I'm pretty much impressed by her answers and I'm eagerly excited about reading her book! Keep an eye for it on my blog!

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:

https://www.instagram.com/poojapoddarmarwah/

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH RICHA MUKHERJEE

Hey people! Hope you all are doing well.  So here's the interview with Richa Mukherjee the author of the book - I didn't expect to be expecting.  The review of it is up on my blog and my booktube channel so make sure to check that out as well.I had such a wonderful time going through her answers and im sure you too will.

) What inspired you to write?

I can’t isolate one inspiration point. I’ve always expressed myself easily through pen on paper and gravitated towards different formats through life, poetry being the most frequent stop. As for books, the inspiration found me and I just wrote!

2) Since when are you writing?

Since I was a child. I used to write poetry for my dad who was in the government service and travelled a lot. There were a lot of aborted ‘Dear Diary’ attempts along the way, but I always scribbled my thoughts.

3 ) Your favourite writing spot/ nook?

I can find these wherever I go. Being a working mother, my usual spot ends up being the dining table with my daughter hanging off my leg and maid screaming in my ear, but when I need to focus on something specifically, I take a corner at a café and write for a few hours.

4) At this stage in your life whom do you admire the most & why?

I am blessed to have inspirational people all around me, being part of a big loving family. But I would have to say my father. The smile on his face and the firmness in his step remains despite age. Through loss, grief, tragedies, good times or bad. I turn to him very often for advice.

5 ) what do  you do apart from writing?

I’m an advertising professional, so that’s work. Other than that, my husband and I are avid travellers and spend all our time planning multiple trips through the year! Other interests include singing, reading and working out.

6) would you like to brief about your childhood and teen days?

Imagine growing up with 3 elder sisters and changing 7 schools! Too much of moving around but it was certainly entertaining. We travelled a lot because of my father and the kind of perspective and exposure travel breathes into a child trumps all else. During my teenage years, let’s just say I was hardly found at home and was a bit of a stereotype with the hormonal behaviour and always wanting to be out but I reformed myself after a few years! 😊

7) you're favourite excerp/poem from this book?

That’s like asking a mother to pick out a favourite child! 😊 There’s blood and sweat in all of it. Grateful and proud that all of the madness is out there on paper.

8) Whats your definition of being successful?

When you know you’ve achieved your purpose, followed your heart and done what you were meant to do. Everything else flows from there.

9) what were the difficulties you faced while writing ur books?

Making time amongst others. Work, home, kids, schedules are a heady masala mix that no writer can escape. You know, I read about these writing retreats and look at posts of people sitting and writing in the hills and I start drooling just thinking what that might feel like! But truth be told, I think I now have trained myself to write wherever I can , whenever I can and that’s the fluidity I need to make my books happen. Ps: I will get to the hills at some point 😊

10) How do u deal with / take criticism or negative reviews?

Its a part of the process. Happiness doesn’t come without brickbats. If every individual is different then how can we expect their opinions to be homogenous.

11) A fictional world/ character you adore? Why ? 

Actually every book transports me to a different world. But oh my gawd I’m such a potter head! I could be lost in that world forever. It’s a world that is complete in the joy, the wonder, the danger and the complexities it holds.

12) Is any character in the book inspired by your life?

I repeatedly deny it but the lead protagonist Tara Roy borrows heavily from my life in sections of the book. Pssst. That’s a secret!