GURU TO THE WORLD Hardcover

GURU TO THE WORLD by Ruth Harris offers a meticulously researched and compelling biography of Swami Vivekananda, the influential Indian monk whose teachings profoundly impacted both Eastern and Western thought. This book meticulously traces Vivekananda's journey from a Calcutta attorney's son to a saffron-robed ascetic who captivated audiences at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, introducing universalist Hinduism (Vedanta) and yoga to the West. Blending elements of science, religion, and politics, Harris reveals how Vivekananda's ideas fostered a more tolerant spirituality globally, challenged colonial critiques by highlighting Eastern agency, and became a cornerstone of modern Indian nationalism, making him a complex and enduring figure whose legacy continues to resonate today.