Break the Norms: Questioning Everything You Think You Know About God and Truth, Life and Death, Love and Sex

Bhardwaj, a seventh-generation spiritual guru, draws on traditional Hindu wisdom in this guide for navigating spiritual life, but his message of self-realization is not limited by a particular religious worldview. Thematic chapters systematically debunk common spiritual myths, such as the necessity of giving up individuality, pleasure, and ambition. Instead, Bhardwaj argues, spirituality means experiencing timelessness by combating the ego and connecting with God. Reversed lettering in the chapter headings reflect the complete turnaround that abandoning a lifetime of conditioning requires. A chapter of relationship advice is no more than simple self-help advice, but the following chapter on sex rises above clichés by wrestling with the concept of the divine feminine. Although Bhardwaj recommends visiting Indian temples and finding a guru to “ignite transformation,” he acknowledges that some will find this unfeasible and emphasizes that “living holy” is simply a matter of “living wholly” in the present. Anecdotes from the author’s life add a personal dimension to discussions of loss. Self-assessment exercises and guided meditations make this promising debut both practical and interactive. A foreword from the Dalai Lama ensures this will appeal to spiritual seekers, especially Deepak Chopra fans. Agent: Bill Gladstone, Waterside Productions. (Jan.)