Excellent Survey of Recent LiteratureSeptember 7, 2000 22 out of 22 found this review helpful
Gavin Flood's introduction is not only comprehensive, but readable. I have taught this book for two years now and feel that my students glean a sense not just of Hindu traditions today but also of the history and transformations of Hindu traditions through time. The best thing about the book is the subtle incorporation of the latest scholarly work on Hinduism. At the same time, Flood appreciates the insider's perspective and what is really significant to Hindus themselves. Flood has conducted research in both North and South India and is sensitive to the geographic differences of religious practice in India.
Previous reviews on amazon.com suggesting that Flood uses the Aryan migration question as an organizing principle of his book are ludicrous. He devotes a total of 5 pages to this discussion in the middle of the second chapter. Hardly an obsession. Furthermore, the unsubstantiated charge of Orientalism by another reviewer also seems misplaced. A minute's glance at the bibliography shows that Flood has used Indological (textual), anthropological, historical, and feminist scholarly literature to produce his introduction.
This is an excellent work on the history of Hindu religious traditions that deserves a place among the best out there.
Superb introduction to HinduismMay 5, 2000 4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Having read a number of introductory works on Hinduism in my studies I have found this one unsurpassed in the range of its coverage. Not only that, but it incorporates much recent theory in many areas of Indic studies. Regarding archeological evidence of an invasion of India, it is a well known adage of that discipline that lack of evidence is not evidence of lack - Flood's thought is in accord with mainstream thought in this matter, and besides, in an introductory book, the most accepted theories are those that should be covered. Anyone approaching Hinduism for the first time as a serious student, whether at degree level or as an intelligent observer, will find this book the best work to approach the subject.
Old stuffOctober 21, 1998 0 out of 21 found this review helpful
The archaeologists say that there is no record for invasion/immigration then why should Flood use that as the centre piece of his analytical framework for the development of Hinduism?
An Orientalist construction of HinduismSeptember 18, 1998 4 out of 22 found this review helpful
This is much better than what used to be written on Hinduism in the West. But Flood still has to travel some more distance. This book still speaks of the Aryan invasions although archaeologists have abandoned that racist theory.
Probably the best introduction to Hinduism on the market.July 31, 1998 9 out of 10 found this review helpful
If you are looking for a single introduction to Hinduism this is the book to buy. Flood has a first rate grasp of his sources, and manages to write in a manner that is at once scholarly and reader-friendly. The diversity of Hinduism is such that it is difficult to do justice to its variety. This Introduction to Hinduism brings us as close as any book can to an appreciation of that variety.
