Best of the East, Best of the West

Tambe, an educator born and raised in India, came to Wisconsin in 1961 to study for his doctorate in education and stayed to work and become a U.S. citizen. A big believer in the principle that it's""up to us to change our lives,"" he has no use for the late Rajneesh or Deepak Chopra--both""great communicators"" and""super salesmen,"" but flawed in their belief that""God and money can co-exist."" In these short, plainly stated essays, Tambe explains why he admires former President Carter (who has""given Christianity a good name""), Baba Ram Dass (formerly Richard Alpert), Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Abigail Adams and, above all, Gandhi. Each, in his or her own way,""encouraged people to reexamine their lives and values and dedicate themselves to the service of humankind."" Tambe presents his homespun thoughts in some 45 pieces, which may appeal to the simplicity-oriented reader.