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The Saint
“This is going to be an adventure,” James says presciently. “I have a feeling both of us are going to be very different after this.” And so it proves, as one jaded New Yorker is swept by a spiritually radiant revolutionary on a journey of transformation, from the narcissistic bubble of New York City to the sweeping vistas of the Dhauladhar mountains in northern India. Along the way the mismatched duo cross paths with rogue Chinese agents, the incensed descendents of Mahatma Gandhi, and ultimately the Dalai Lama himself. A gripping blend of action, intelligence, and insight."This small, extraordinary book has more to say about life, disappointment, New York, Tibet, India, the holy, and the profane, than most other books could say in ten times as many pages. Oliver Broudy's astounding, funny, harrowing, and finally quite sad experience with a millionaire philanthropist and arch eccentric--a man as saintly as he is demonic--is conveyed in prose as startling as cold water. This is a book I deeply envy, a book I will read again--probably immediately."—Tom Bissell, author of Extra Why Video Games Matter"With the intrepidity of a classic explorer, Broudy journeys to the border between India and Tibet to demarcate the fine line between saintliness and selfishness. 'The Saint' abounds with intelligence and insight, mapping a uniquely memorable route on the never ending quest for personal fulfillment." —Myla Goldberg, author of Bee Season
85 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2011
About the author
Oliver Broudy
10 books4 followersOliver Broudy cut his teeth writing short stories, which have been published in a variety of literary journals. In 2005, after a five-year stint as an editor at The Paris Review, he switched to writing non-fiction. Since then he has focused on writing for magazines. His work has taken him to China, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and elsewhere. He has written about anarchy in Missouri, a kung fu master in Humboldt, and football in Dallas. In 2009, his dissection of a fatal car crash for Men's Health was a finalist for the National Magazine Awards. Since then, he has begun to pursue more independent projects, beginning with The Saint, which was voted a top-ten Single of 2011, and most recently The Convert, which was voted a top-ten Single of 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 16, 2011
What makes one a saint? That is the question the author wants to answer, with his friend James Otis as the subject. He thought James' selfless qualities and life principles qualify as saintly, but he thought differently at the end. Personally, i see this as one story about eccentricity, and it's really interesting because it's true; it really happened. For me, James Otis is far from being a saint - a saint doesn't do press time! A saint is a silent, selfless worker who does not need any man's recognition. Overall, the book as a Kindle Single, does not disappoint.
April 12, 2024
Though peppered with some interesting thought and reflections by the author, this is mostly a pointless brief profile / travelogue with a seemingly narcissistic imbecile as the subject. Being published as a "Kindle Short" appears to be a last ditch effort to salvage a feature article gone awry.
August 6, 2019
I enjoyed this short. It wasn’t complicated and didn’t pretend to be some sort of grand novel. I t felt more like I was reading from a diary and I liked it.
October 11, 2019
Not inclined
This short story left me somewhat annoyed, but not stimulated sufficiently to bring the amount of energy annoyance would require to produce it..
This short story left me somewhat annoyed, but not stimulated sufficiently to bring the amount of energy annoyance would require to produce it..
April 11, 2011
This book provides intrigue, adventure, inspiration, spirituality and much more. "The Saint (Kindle Single)", by Oliver Broudy, is a short 85-page story that delivers some powerful messages.
Oliver Broudy had become frustrated with his life as a resident of New York City and his career as a professional writer. One day he met James Otis, an eccentric memorabilia collector. James was under attack by the international community because he was auctioning off five personal items once belonging to Mahatma Gandhi. James was a lifelong disciple of Gandhi and was determined to use the profits from this sale to help the poor in India and promote Gandhian principles abroad.
Oliver Broudy soon found himself admiring James and accepting an invitation to accompany him on a trip to India. This was an opportunity for Mr. Broudy to escape the routines of city life and investigate a vastly different culture. He spent the next several weeks visiting some of the poorest populations in the world. They go to the border between India and Tibet because James wants to cross the border and peacefully protest human rights violations in the area.
The author believes that James Otis is a saint. He has given up his own dreams, ambitions and wealthy lifestyle to serve others. Yet there are times when James' actions seem to be more self-serving than generous. The author is forced to examine his own values and his views of reality. This is a true story that brings out the best and worst aspects of human nature.
I would like to share one of my very favorite quotations from this book;
"Principles, in other words, are not simply acquired, like light bulbs. They're not hot-swappable. So even if we endorse (for instance) the principle of hating the sin and not the sinner, finding a way to organize our inner selves around that principle such that our every action reflects it is another challenge entirely.
You will find this book thought-provoking and challenging. The poetic writing style is a delight to read. I highly recommend this book!"
You will find this book thought-provoking and challenging. The poetic writing style is a delight to read. I highly recommend this book!
Oliver Broudy had become frustrated with his life as a resident of New York City and his career as a professional writer. One day he met James Otis, an eccentric memorabilia collector. James was under attack by the international community because he was auctioning off five personal items once belonging to Mahatma Gandhi. James was a lifelong disciple of Gandhi and was determined to use the profits from this sale to help the poor in India and promote Gandhian principles abroad.
Oliver Broudy soon found himself admiring James and accepting an invitation to accompany him on a trip to India. This was an opportunity for Mr. Broudy to escape the routines of city life and investigate a vastly different culture. He spent the next several weeks visiting some of the poorest populations in the world. They go to the border between India and Tibet because James wants to cross the border and peacefully protest human rights violations in the area.
The author believes that James Otis is a saint. He has given up his own dreams, ambitions and wealthy lifestyle to serve others. Yet there are times when James' actions seem to be more self-serving than generous. The author is forced to examine his own values and his views of reality. This is a true story that brings out the best and worst aspects of human nature.
I would like to share one of my very favorite quotations from this book;
"Principles, in other words, are not simply acquired, like light bulbs. They're not hot-swappable. So even if we endorse (for instance) the principle of hating the sin and not the sinner, finding a way to organize our inner selves around that principle such that our every action reflects it is another challenge entirely.
You will find this book thought-provoking and challenging. The poetic writing style is a delight to read. I highly recommend this book!"
You will find this book thought-provoking and challenging. The poetic writing style is a delight to read. I highly recommend this book!
October 23, 2011
Really enjoyed reading this short story about a journalist who accompanies a modern-day idealistic "saint" to India and the edges of Tibet. I put the word saint in quotes because the protagonist, James Otis (heir to the Otis elevator fortune) envisioned his actions as those paralleling Gandhi's. His whole purpose of traveling to India was to quell international outrage at having auctioned off some of Gandhi's personal belongings. Somehow the trip evolved into a planned attempt to cross the border into Tibet, get arrested by the Chinese government, and become some kind of a martyr. As the story progresses, you can see how the journalist's view of the saint, with his actions and unbridled ability to win people over, become less and less that of admiration and more and more of irritation, realizing that maybe James is more detached from reality (a self-imposed period of fasting, such as Gandhi had done, helps drive this observation home), bordering on just pure flakiness.
Having just finished the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, I meant to leave a little buffer before tackling my next reading project; however, this story, like the Dragon books, was written with a journalist's sense of matter-of-factedness, making it easier to follow his style. Throughout the book the author succeeds in providing the best working definition of a saint; quotes that may have been inspired or even paraphrased by the Dalai Lama himself. Indeed; my Kindle is peppered with such highlighted quotes, having been flagged by readers before me.
Having just finished the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, I meant to leave a little buffer before tackling my next reading project; however, this story, like the Dragon books, was written with a journalist's sense of matter-of-factedness, making it easier to follow his style. Throughout the book the author succeeds in providing the best working definition of a saint; quotes that may have been inspired or even paraphrased by the Dalai Lama himself. Indeed; my Kindle is peppered with such highlighted quotes, having been flagged by readers before me.
August 2, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It is full of statements that make you think. Like:
"All other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy."
Mahatma Gandhi
and
Principles... are not simply acquired, like light bulbs. They're not hot-swappable. So even if we endorse (for instance) the principle of hating the sin and not the sinner, finding a way to organize our inner selves around that principle such that our every action reflects it is another challenge entirely.
It is the story of a guy who meets someone who he thinks could fit the definition of a saint. So he spends time with him, even travels to India with him, and tries to determine if he really has the qualities of a saint.
Saintly Attributes:
. they challenge what you are prepared to believe
. the tendency to attribute the best possible intentions to others
. they stake out absurd positions that the world eventually comes round to. Of course, if the world never comes round, then they're just crazy.
At what point does a saint become a fanatic? The nonviolent analog to the suicide bomber? When the extremity of his position starts to attract him more than the substance? When total conformity to principle becomes more important than the principle itself? How much better is conformity to personal principle than conformity to a shared ethos, if both are equally thoughtless?
I enjoyed reading it.
"All other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy."
Mahatma Gandhi
and
Principles... are not simply acquired, like light bulbs. They're not hot-swappable. So even if we endorse (for instance) the principle of hating the sin and not the sinner, finding a way to organize our inner selves around that principle such that our every action reflects it is another challenge entirely.
It is the story of a guy who meets someone who he thinks could fit the definition of a saint. So he spends time with him, even travels to India with him, and tries to determine if he really has the qualities of a saint.
Saintly Attributes:
. they challenge what you are prepared to believe
. the tendency to attribute the best possible intentions to others
. they stake out absurd positions that the world eventually comes round to. Of course, if the world never comes round, then they're just crazy.
At what point does a saint become a fanatic? The nonviolent analog to the suicide bomber? When the extremity of his position starts to attract him more than the substance? When total conformity to principle becomes more important than the principle itself? How much better is conformity to personal principle than conformity to a shared ethos, if both are equally thoughtless?
I enjoyed reading it.
May 2, 2011
This piece is an awesome example of a Kindle Single...short enough so the author is able to get to the point without feeling a need to add extra embellishments, but long enough to tell describe the fascinating mental & physical journey of both a journalist and a multi-millionaire. Although the title may lead one to believe otherwise, the message of this work is not necessarily religious. While dealing with many of the premises of Buddhism & Jainism, the themes, which include passive resistance, freedom, search for self and happiness in an often isolating world, are universal.
In this mini-memoir, Oliver Broudy becomes fascinated with James Otis, a wealthy collector of Gandhi-related memorabilia who goes on a quest of redemption after selling Gandhi relics to an auction house for an exorbitant monetary sum. Broudy, who is also trying to come to grips with his own mixed feelings about New York life, accompanies the millionaire in his travels to India, with plans to fuel the Tibetan rebels through both non-violent resistance & monetary assistance. Throughout this journey, Broudy is thoroughly honest about his mixed feelings toward James and tries to come up with a contemporary definition of Sainthood, while attempting to discern that fine line between saintliness and selfishness.
Really enjoyed it!
In this mini-memoir, Oliver Broudy becomes fascinated with James Otis, a wealthy collector of Gandhi-related memorabilia who goes on a quest of redemption after selling Gandhi relics to an auction house for an exorbitant monetary sum. Broudy, who is also trying to come to grips with his own mixed feelings about New York life, accompanies the millionaire in his travels to India, with plans to fuel the Tibetan rebels through both non-violent resistance & monetary assistance. Throughout this journey, Broudy is thoroughly honest about his mixed feelings toward James and tries to come up with a contemporary definition of Sainthood, while attempting to discern that fine line between saintliness and selfishness.
Really enjoyed it!
November 7, 2011
The main character in "The Saint," James Otis, is a wealthy collector of Gandhi memorabilia, with a drive to do good and an apparent disregard for his own health and safety. One of the things that struck me about this story was how well it integrated the story of Gandhi (both good and not), for those who might not be familiar with his life story. Gandhi’s story also gives insight into Otis and his motivations. What didn’t occur to me while reading the story was that it was actually true – a misconception corrected after the fact. The adventures of Otis and Broudy (who I now realize was the story’s narrator) read like fiction. That the story is true is even better and gives great insight into spirituality and religion along with current politics along the border of India and Tibet. One of my favorite passages was this succinct explanation of the difference between two of the world’s major religions: “Christianity is premised on man’s imperfection. Hinduism is premised on his perfectibility.”
"The Saint" also serves as a prime example of the Kindle Single program. Too long for a magazine article and too short for a paper book, this work was able to maintain its natural length as an e-book.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
"The Saint" also serves as a prime example of the Kindle Single program. Too long for a magazine article and too short for a paper book, this work was able to maintain its natural length as an e-book.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
August 6, 2016
I found this book interesting but was disappointed overall. The present day characters, the author and the main character, James Otis, are odd and full of ambiguity. They both untimately seem sort of sad and pathetic. The best parts of the story is the retelling of Ghandi's life and world view but even then I found it hard to feel very moved. It may be the harking back to being a 'true New Yorker' that I can not relate to. I know there are people who see NYC as the center of the universe but I am not one of them and find those sorts of people alien. I have read many books about India and I was again disappointed with that aspect of the book. The descriptions of India seemed flat, I could not image the smells or sounds. There is so much more to it than that!
January 1, 2014
A good read into the complexities of a man and his ridiculousness relationship with Tibet. Tinzen is the most enjoyable character in the book and he's the only person able to talk to James during his fast and help him see that his good intentions aren't always what's best for the Tibetan and Indian people. I feel bad for Oliver.
My favorite quotes:
1. "If age is the bitter process by which we gradually learn to aim low, James had somehow escaped it."
2. "The whole charade left me struggling with the paradox of how an entire nation could treasure a man for his teachings while simultaneously absolving themselves of any obligation to live by them."
3. "...with every dream the problem is always the same: How to achieve it without being torn apart by the pursuit of it."
My favorite quotes:
1. "If age is the bitter process by which we gradually learn to aim low, James had somehow escaped it."
2. "The whole charade left me struggling with the paradox of how an entire nation could treasure a man for his teachings while simultaneously absolving themselves of any obligation to live by them."
3. "...with every dream the problem is always the same: How to achieve it without being torn apart by the pursuit of it."
October 4, 2011
What a great story about the damage we can do when we try to "help" others without having an understanding of their culture, religion and ethnicity. I loved Oliver Broudy's story about his friend James who he thought was a Saint, but ended up realizing his friend needed more help than anyone else. Bringing wealth into an impoverished country doesn't bring change. Bringing heartfelt devotion to an area doesn't do anything for the people unless there is a long term partnership, plan, and ultimately humility and respect for those we are trying to "help". This story was a really quick, fascinating read. I loved it.
April 12, 2011
This is one of the new Kindle "singles," about 1/3 length of an average book. On Amazon, everybody rated it 5 stars. I disagree. As I read, I kept saying out loud, "Really? C'mon, dude, what were you thinking?" Because the author went to India, almost as a servant/assistant, to the guy who we all know from high school who spent too much time reading comics and playing video games and tells all his friends that he's really in the CIA. How did he not see through the guy before he got on the plane???
May 2, 2011
Interesting... kind of a very long-form article, a little more personal than you'd find in NYRB or the New Yorker or Atlantic, but topical and on-topic both. An interesting niche, and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the same. The story was interesting, it was well-written and decently edited -- none of the self-pubbing cliches apply here, other than the fact the it occupied an odd literary category and probably couldn't have found a home as a periodical article or part of a book of essays, due to its length.
More later on the blog, I think. But I'm glad I bit on this one.
More later on the blog, I think. But I'm glad I bit on this one.
October 31, 2011
I picked it up mostly based on Amazon reviews/rating. Based on comments, my expectation was bit high.
Author starts his journey from the chaos of NY and takes you through a journey to Indo-Tibet border with a friend (whom Author regards as a Saint, and the story is based on his observations on his Friend through the journey). Good for a weekend read.
Author starts his journey from the chaos of NY and takes you through a journey to Indo-Tibet border with a friend (whom Author regards as a Saint, and the story is based on his observations on his Friend through the journey). Good for a weekend read.
January 3, 2013
Beautiful short telling the story of a global trip with a self-perceived saint. Interesting perspectives on what makes one saintly or mad and what makes one kind or selfish. Delightful read and quick too. Wish Oliver Broudy would write some more Kindle shorts :-)
May 7, 2011
This book has recieved good reviews, but I did not get it. An eccentric million sells some personal items of Ghandi and then goes on a weird adventure to India...I missed the point.
Read
February 25, 2016a kindle single
February 29, 2012
An interesting short read about the cult of personality, selflessness, and activism
May 4, 2012
Better than I expected!
could-not-finish
April 27, 2015This book wasn't for me so I stopped reading it.
August 19, 2012
A quick inspirational read. Not a great writer but certainly a great thinker. Asks many thought provoking questions.
October 26, 2012
Kind of Saul Bellowesque. Horrible and lovely character but yeah you couldn't hang around too long and have any self respect. The long short story format worked for this.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews