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Mystical Tales For A Magical Life
About the Book
The Vedic texts are a wellspring of stories, of lessons, of tales that never get old. Here’s a special edition that curates eleven of the most interesting, unheard, and thought-provoking tales from the scriptures, the epics, and the Puranas and correlates them to our present-day situations. By presenting the complexities of these texts in a modern, accessible format, the book leaves you, the reader, richer with its glorious learnings. Mystical tales for a magical life is a wonderful, wise companion that nourishes and nurtures at any and every stage in life.
About the Author
Shubha Vilas is a TEDx speaker, lifestyle coach, storyteller, and author. He studied patent law after completing his engineering degree but, finally, chose the path of a spiritual seeker. ‘Ramayana: The Game of Life’ is his bestselling series. He’s also the author of Open-Eyed Meditations and Perfect Love: 5.5 ways to a lasting relationship. The focus of his work is the application of scriptural wisdom in day-to-day living, addressing the needs of corporates and youth through thought-provoking seminars. He has delivered more than 4000 lectures across the globe. He is also a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management. To know more about him, visit www.shubhavilas.com.
The Vedic texts are a wellspring of stories, of lessons, of tales that never get old. Here’s a special edition that curates eleven of the most interesting, unheard, and thought-provoking tales from the scriptures, the epics, and the Puranas and correlates them to our present-day situations. By presenting the complexities of these texts in a modern, accessible format, the book leaves you, the reader, richer with its glorious learnings. Mystical tales for a magical life is a wonderful, wise companion that nourishes and nurtures at any and every stage in life.
About the Author
Shubha Vilas is a TEDx speaker, lifestyle coach, storyteller, and author. He studied patent law after completing his engineering degree but, finally, chose the path of a spiritual seeker. ‘Ramayana: The Game of Life’ is his bestselling series. He’s also the author of Open-Eyed Meditations and Perfect Love: 5.5 ways to a lasting relationship. The focus of his work is the application of scriptural wisdom in day-to-day living, addressing the needs of corporates and youth through thought-provoking seminars. He has delivered more than 4000 lectures across the globe. He is also a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Management. To know more about him, visit www.shubhavilas.com.
- GenresIndia
280 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2019
31 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Shubha Vilas
72 books159 followersI am: A spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker.
Academics: 1] B.E in Electronics and Telecommunications
2] L.L.B Specializing in Intellectual Property Law : Patent Law.
Leadership Seminars: Focus on relevant and vital themes: ‘Secrets of Lasting Relationships’, ‘Soul Curry to Stop Worry’ and ‘Work–Life Balance’
Believes: A good teacher sees learning and teaching as integral twin aspects of personal and spiritual growth.
Social interaction: I zoom down on
A} Youth: Periodically interact with them in premier institutes like IISC, Bangalore, BITS Pilani, Goa, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Sydnem College. I aim to inspire them to live a life based on deeper human values.
B} Children: Guide towards teaching foundational values through masterful storytelling.
C} Individuals: Practical applications of the Bhagavad Gita; the Ramayana and Vedas in today’s world.
D} Business leaders: as their lifestyle coach, conducting regular classes on Spirituality and Management to help them live a wholesome life.
Academics: 1] B.E in Electronics and Telecommunications
2] L.L.B Specializing in Intellectual Property Law : Patent Law.
Leadership Seminars: Focus on relevant and vital themes: ‘Secrets of Lasting Relationships’, ‘Soul Curry to Stop Worry’ and ‘Work–Life Balance’
Believes: A good teacher sees learning and teaching as integral twin aspects of personal and spiritual growth.
Social interaction: I zoom down on
A} Youth: Periodically interact with them in premier institutes like IISC, Bangalore, BITS Pilani, Goa, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Sydnem College. I aim to inspire them to live a life based on deeper human values.
B} Children: Guide towards teaching foundational values through masterful storytelling.
C} Individuals: Practical applications of the Bhagavad Gita; the Ramayana and Vedas in today’s world.
D} Business leaders: as their lifestyle coach, conducting regular classes on Spirituality and Management to help them live a wholesome life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 2, 2019
Amazing, awesome book! The kind that made me extra eager for my nighttime reading fix!
Took me a little time to get through the book. It has great depth and no wasted words. It is as thorough and well-researched as it is enlightening and captivating. I loved it. Author Shubha Vilas might have folded down about a million pages to refer back to particular points. I gained a lot of perspective about life. And he has a superb writing style; what a way with words!
"Mystical Tales for a Magical Life" is an extremely well-researched and well-written exploration of how India's ancient spiritual wisdom seeped into the culture.
All the stories in this book were so well put together, which in itself was great. I mean come on, gems like these are what make life worth living.
I adored all the stories I read, although some more than others. Keep in mind that everyone, myself included, has a preference when it comes to the mythology.
The stories author presents in this book are by no means exhaustive, but they are a great introduction to the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas. The book is a riot of characters and colour burst from these pages. I cannot pretend to be any the wiser about Indian mythology, because, let's face it, there's a cast of thousands involved. And it's hard to keep track of them all. But I had a hell of a good time reading this.
In a way, the book reminded me of Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. Both books follow the same concept: the reworking of ancient myths to present them to a modern audience without losing any of their originality. And I think it’s a great idea. Shubha Vilas’ attempt carries much more of his own personality. And his own voice really shone through and I could tell that he really enjoyed writing this book.
I cannot begin to imagine how much effort went into writing this, there's so much information in this book. There are oodles of "facts" and more weighty matters revealed via footnotes. I learnt so much! From serious information to the humorous and whimsical. To top it all off, all of this is done without the book turning into a massive academic yawn.
Thoroughly readable and immensely enjoyable. I can't recommend it enough.
Took me a little time to get through the book. It has great depth and no wasted words. It is as thorough and well-researched as it is enlightening and captivating. I loved it. Author Shubha Vilas might have folded down about a million pages to refer back to particular points. I gained a lot of perspective about life. And he has a superb writing style; what a way with words!
"Mystical Tales for a Magical Life" is an extremely well-researched and well-written exploration of how India's ancient spiritual wisdom seeped into the culture.
All the stories in this book were so well put together, which in itself was great. I mean come on, gems like these are what make life worth living.
I adored all the stories I read, although some more than others. Keep in mind that everyone, myself included, has a preference when it comes to the mythology.
The stories author presents in this book are by no means exhaustive, but they are a great introduction to the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas. The book is a riot of characters and colour burst from these pages. I cannot pretend to be any the wiser about Indian mythology, because, let's face it, there's a cast of thousands involved. And it's hard to keep track of them all. But I had a hell of a good time reading this.
In a way, the book reminded me of Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. Both books follow the same concept: the reworking of ancient myths to present them to a modern audience without losing any of their originality. And I think it’s a great idea. Shubha Vilas’ attempt carries much more of his own personality. And his own voice really shone through and I could tell that he really enjoyed writing this book.
I cannot begin to imagine how much effort went into writing this, there's so much information in this book. There are oodles of "facts" and more weighty matters revealed via footnotes. I learnt so much! From serious information to the humorous and whimsical. To top it all off, all of this is done without the book turning into a massive academic yawn.
Thoroughly readable and immensely enjoyable. I can't recommend it enough.
July 31, 2019
Shubha Vilas proves to be a wonderful narrator, bringing life, humour, and modernity into these age old stories.
This book is truly fantastic. I have always found the mythology of Ancient India fascinating. And Mystical Tales for a Magical Life is fascinating from start to finish. I have attempted to get into numerous mythology books before, but Shubha Vilas has made these captivating stories into a very readable and wonderful style.
This book is a retelling of a selection of the scriptures, the epics, and the Puranas, sometimes self-indulgent, panache. Informative and fun, the narrative interlaces modern cultural references into the text, highlighting the influence of the stories on the present day. The writing is very accessible, so no prior knowledge of Indian mythology is required.
This book is truly fantastic. I have always found the mythology of Ancient India fascinating. And Mystical Tales for a Magical Life is fascinating from start to finish. I have attempted to get into numerous mythology books before, but Shubha Vilas has made these captivating stories into a very readable and wonderful style.
This book is a retelling of a selection of the scriptures, the epics, and the Puranas, sometimes self-indulgent, panache. Informative and fun, the narrative interlaces modern cultural references into the text, highlighting the influence of the stories on the present day. The writing is very accessible, so no prior knowledge of Indian mythology is required.
August 22, 2019
'Mystical Tales for a Magical Life' is a collection of short stories narrated by the author in a refreshingly engaging manner. These stories are taken from our past, from our scriptures, and have been simplified to be comprehensible for us. Each story has valuable lessons to proffer us. These lessons enlighten us, recreate us, and guide us toward knowing what it takes to live a wholesome life.
The language has been kept smooth throughout. The carefully picked stories, as well as their narration, was amazing. There were a few I have never heard of and I was glad to stumble upon them. Moreover, the magnificent cover added to the overall charm of the book. A wonderful job is done by the cover designer.
I have read Shubha Vilas' work in the past and I am happy to say that this one just equals them. The narrative which would have been otherwise ambiguous has been laid out well for us to grasp the pearls of wisdom out of it. I really appreciate the positive vibes this book gave me. Undoubtedly, it is a book which one should be reading for sure.
4.25/ 5
The language has been kept smooth throughout. The carefully picked stories, as well as their narration, was amazing. There were a few I have never heard of and I was glad to stumble upon them. Moreover, the magnificent cover added to the overall charm of the book. A wonderful job is done by the cover designer.
I have read Shubha Vilas' work in the past and I am happy to say that this one just equals them. The narrative which would have been otherwise ambiguous has been laid out well for us to grasp the pearls of wisdom out of it. I really appreciate the positive vibes this book gave me. Undoubtedly, it is a book which one should be reading for sure.
4.25/ 5
July 31, 2019
Mystical Tales for a Magical Life by Shubha Vilas is a must-read for any lovers of Indian mythology. Author breathes life into these well-known tales in a way which isn’t patronising or assuming of any prior scholarly knowledge.
Author Shubha Vilas structures the book in a way which can be enjoyed by those with a wide understanding of this mythology, as well as those who are dipping into it for the first time - and it’s glorious. It’s witty and gripping but also extremely interesting, with each story exploring how the ancient India explained natural phenomenon.
The Indian Myths have probably been the earliest stories I was ever introduced to. As a child, my grandfather would hoist me on his shoulders and tell me all the Indian Myths, of which today I remember only a few.
I liked author's wit and beautiful writing style which to me brings something classical and by modern day standards would be received as dry and dusty stories a new life and maybe even interest and inspire a new generation of readers.
Author Shubha Vilas structures the book in a way which can be enjoyed by those with a wide understanding of this mythology, as well as those who are dipping into it for the first time - and it’s glorious. It’s witty and gripping but also extremely interesting, with each story exploring how the ancient India explained natural phenomenon.
The Indian Myths have probably been the earliest stories I was ever introduced to. As a child, my grandfather would hoist me on his shoulders and tell me all the Indian Myths, of which today I remember only a few.
I liked author's wit and beautiful writing style which to me brings something classical and by modern day standards would be received as dry and dusty stories a new life and maybe even interest and inspire a new generation of readers.
July 31, 2019
As I grew up, my fascination with myths never dulled and I read multiple versions of the Indian Mythology. The stories told have so much life and colour and imagination to them, that it always left me spellbound.
Shubha Vilas tells these myths beautifully, drawing the reader in with mercurial details and beautiful descriptions of all the characters in the book Mystical Tales for a Magical Life. It is easy to paint a character in just one colour, especially since many writers already have done so.
However, Author does each character a measure of justice and does not unfairly paint any character in a bad light. And of course, writing of Shubha Vilas, his voice resonates in your head as you read his words. He also adds some flavour and a certain humour to the stories that I have rarely seen in any retelling of the Myths.
Author writes well, summarising accurately and succinctly, from a complex selection of Indian myths, relaying in faithful detail the stories as they should be told, with a slight touch of humour and a hint of wit and modern language. He wrote stories in the book with wisdom, knowledge and humour, adding additional perspective to original myths, and without changing the original stories.
Shubha Vilas tells these myths beautifully, drawing the reader in with mercurial details and beautiful descriptions of all the characters in the book Mystical Tales for a Magical Life. It is easy to paint a character in just one colour, especially since many writers already have done so.
However, Author does each character a measure of justice and does not unfairly paint any character in a bad light. And of course, writing of Shubha Vilas, his voice resonates in your head as you read his words. He also adds some flavour and a certain humour to the stories that I have rarely seen in any retelling of the Myths.
Author writes well, summarising accurately and succinctly, from a complex selection of Indian myths, relaying in faithful detail the stories as they should be told, with a slight touch of humour and a hint of wit and modern language. He wrote stories in the book with wisdom, knowledge and humour, adding additional perspective to original myths, and without changing the original stories.
July 31, 2019
Mystical Tales for a Magical Life is a go-to book for all those who have interest in Indian mythology. All creation myths are neatly transformed to a contemporary retelling and are filled with interesting little side-notes explaining the smaller aspects of all myths covered in the book.
Shubha Vilas is a master of collecting information from multiple sources for this book and his in-depth retelling of myths shows a deep understanding of the ancient lore which gives the book a genuine feel where you can feel the passion for Indian mythology radiates from the pages.
These myths have been re-told for millennia and most of us already know them, but what’s exceptional here is the so imaginative narrative of author Shubha Vilas. His captivating and artistic storytelling certainly makes the ancient stories sound so vidid, charming and contemporary.
Moreover, he has a unique way of giving the overall retelling a lightness despite the heaviness of some stories.
I am both enchanted and delighted and would recommend you should read this book by Shubha Vilas.
Shubha Vilas is a master of collecting information from multiple sources for this book and his in-depth retelling of myths shows a deep understanding of the ancient lore which gives the book a genuine feel where you can feel the passion for Indian mythology radiates from the pages.
These myths have been re-told for millennia and most of us already know them, but what’s exceptional here is the so imaginative narrative of author Shubha Vilas. His captivating and artistic storytelling certainly makes the ancient stories sound so vidid, charming and contemporary.
Moreover, he has a unique way of giving the overall retelling a lightness despite the heaviness of some stories.
I am both enchanted and delighted and would recommend you should read this book by Shubha Vilas.
April 26, 2019
Vedic era and Hindu scriptures have end number of stories which show a righteous path to every person. These stories have been coming from one generation to the other and inspire everyone to live a peaceful, spiritual and truthful life. The author of this book, Shubha Vilas, is a master storyteller, who presents mythological stories with a modern approach and makes readers understand their in-depth meaning.
Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/
This book includes 11 different stories of the Vedic period, I have read a few of them years ago and some of them are totally unheard.
The first story ‘Priceless Gifts In Filthy Packages’ depicts the story of Uttanka, who gets everything in life but in an ugly way. Now it is up to Uttanka to see the best in the worst. This story shows us that we can’t always get the best with good looking package but we need to see the best in the worst. Totally apt for today’s life!
The second story, ‘Courage And Compassion Make A Hero’ shows us the story of two brothers Vijaydatta and Ashokdatta. A sudden turn of events in life puts them in opposing circumstances but they fght back and reunite their family. This story gives a lesson of heroism, concentration, compassion, and selflessness.
‘Headless Penalty for Headless Slander’ is the story of Ashwmedh Yagya conducted by Kind Yudhishthira. This story has many sub-stories depicting selfishness, stubbornness, anger, and pride.
Next story, ‘Contentment Contention’ is the story of Shukracharya and his disciple Kacha which gives a lesson on guru-shishya relation, having a positive attitude and leaving behind greed to accumulate more power.
‘Crooked Walk But Straight Thoughts’ shows the story of Ashtavakra who is born deformed from eight places due to the curse of his father. This is an excellent story, which depicts devotion and dedication.
In the story, ‘Perfect Devotion’, Arjuna’s horse enters two different kingdoms and he witnesses many aspects of life. This story depicts the importance of dedication towards the supreme lord.
‘Three-time Blessed’ is an amazing journey of an orphan boy Chandrahasa. This story shows how one needs to learn from everyone and earn positivity from around us.
‘Darkness In Light and Light in Darkness’ is a story of Pandava who witnesses the coming of Kaliyuga. This story depicts the arrival of Kaliyuga and how it is going to change people’s behavior and thoughts. ‘Wings of Destiny’ is a charismatic story of mighty Garuda and how he released his mother from slavery. This story depicts Garuda’s selflessness, his noble cause, and his valuable efforts.
‘Trails of Truth’ is a story of Raja Harishchandra and how he has to go through extreme torture to prove that he is Satyavadi. This story gives importance to truth and fulfilling one’s promise.
Last story ‘Upside-Down Fate’ is a story of Prince Satyvrata aka Trishanku, who decides to go in heaven with his youthful body and Rishi Vishwamitra tries to fulfill this insane wish leaving both of them in trouble. This story gives importance to having a satisfying life.
Writing style:
Though these are Vedic tales the author has written them in a contemporary style. The narration is captivating and entertaining.
My perception:
This book is one of the meaningful books I have read in recent times. The stories are wisely selected by the author and the way the author has interpreted them, in the end, is mind-blowing. I have read many of these stories but reading them again in different perception is totally amazing. However, I must mention that this is not just a simple retelling of Vedic stories but they are the life lessons through which we can learn many things. This book will give you a clear and valuable approach to life. A highly recommended book, this is a must read for everyone.
Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/
This book includes 11 different stories of the Vedic period, I have read a few of them years ago and some of them are totally unheard.
The first story ‘Priceless Gifts In Filthy Packages’ depicts the story of Uttanka, who gets everything in life but in an ugly way. Now it is up to Uttanka to see the best in the worst. This story shows us that we can’t always get the best with good looking package but we need to see the best in the worst. Totally apt for today’s life!
The second story, ‘Courage And Compassion Make A Hero’ shows us the story of two brothers Vijaydatta and Ashokdatta. A sudden turn of events in life puts them in opposing circumstances but they fght back and reunite their family. This story gives a lesson of heroism, concentration, compassion, and selflessness.
‘Headless Penalty for Headless Slander’ is the story of Ashwmedh Yagya conducted by Kind Yudhishthira. This story has many sub-stories depicting selfishness, stubbornness, anger, and pride.
Next story, ‘Contentment Contention’ is the story of Shukracharya and his disciple Kacha which gives a lesson on guru-shishya relation, having a positive attitude and leaving behind greed to accumulate more power.
‘Crooked Walk But Straight Thoughts’ shows the story of Ashtavakra who is born deformed from eight places due to the curse of his father. This is an excellent story, which depicts devotion and dedication.
In the story, ‘Perfect Devotion’, Arjuna’s horse enters two different kingdoms and he witnesses many aspects of life. This story depicts the importance of dedication towards the supreme lord.
‘Three-time Blessed’ is an amazing journey of an orphan boy Chandrahasa. This story shows how one needs to learn from everyone and earn positivity from around us.
‘Darkness In Light and Light in Darkness’ is a story of Pandava who witnesses the coming of Kaliyuga. This story depicts the arrival of Kaliyuga and how it is going to change people’s behavior and thoughts. ‘Wings of Destiny’ is a charismatic story of mighty Garuda and how he released his mother from slavery. This story depicts Garuda’s selflessness, his noble cause, and his valuable efforts.
‘Trails of Truth’ is a story of Raja Harishchandra and how he has to go through extreme torture to prove that he is Satyavadi. This story gives importance to truth and fulfilling one’s promise.
Last story ‘Upside-Down Fate’ is a story of Prince Satyvrata aka Trishanku, who decides to go in heaven with his youthful body and Rishi Vishwamitra tries to fulfill this insane wish leaving both of them in trouble. This story gives importance to having a satisfying life.
Writing style:
Though these are Vedic tales the author has written them in a contemporary style. The narration is captivating and entertaining.
My perception:
This book is one of the meaningful books I have read in recent times. The stories are wisely selected by the author and the way the author has interpreted them, in the end, is mind-blowing. I have read many of these stories but reading them again in different perception is totally amazing. However, I must mention that this is not just a simple retelling of Vedic stories but they are the life lessons through which we can learn many things. This book will give you a clear and valuable approach to life. A highly recommended book, this is a must read for everyone.
August 26, 2019
Mystical Tales For A Magical Life
Have you read something that changed the way you think or what is your favorite quote. Well this book is something like this that will definitely Change the way you think.
The cover of the book looks good and simple. Just simply with beautiful picture. This book is collection of 11 short stories from Vedic. The stories like this never get old. The way stories are explained is just amazing.
The best part of book is narration. Even in modern age you can almost connect to all stories. The storytelling is damn good. The stories are like day to day life. This book will definitely shape you in something new person for sure.
Where all stories are simply and related to our life yet some of stories may not be accepted you are a more science person.
The kal-yug part is explained so well. The book is more like spiritual. The good part of book is morel part. The message in black box is like cherry on the cake.
Well my personal suggesting is try to read this with prime time. So you can understand each of it.
Definitely recommend.
Have you read something that changed the way you think or what is your favorite quote. Well this book is something like this that will definitely Change the way you think.
The cover of the book looks good and simple. Just simply with beautiful picture. This book is collection of 11 short stories from Vedic. The stories like this never get old. The way stories are explained is just amazing.
The best part of book is narration. Even in modern age you can almost connect to all stories. The storytelling is damn good. The stories are like day to day life. This book will definitely shape you in something new person for sure.
Where all stories are simply and related to our life yet some of stories may not be accepted you are a more science person.
The kal-yug part is explained so well. The book is more like spiritual. The good part of book is morel part. The message in black box is like cherry on the cake.
Well my personal suggesting is try to read this with prime time. So you can understand each of it.
Definitely recommend.
May 19, 2019
Mystical Tales For A Magical Life is a wonderful collection of eleven stories from the Vedic scriptures, which are seldom told in Indian household, but which potentially have the wisdom for changing our perspective towards the life as a whole.
With many mythology and Vedic scripture based books flooding in the market, the main thing missing in them is their connection and use in the modern way of living. Either they are plain retellings or fictional modification of the original stories. The part which makes this book stand apart from others lies in the palatable and easily perceivable link of the stories with the modern world.
Kudos to the author for his outstanding storytelling skills, which in many ways have made the narration of the ancient Vedic wisdoms, vivid, spectacular and yet relatable to our day-to-day life. The writing style is captivating and easily understandable. The way, the book reveals the wisdom from the profound stories is really commendable. Vedic stories are indeed difficult to understand and grasp, but that barrier seems to be removed to a great extent when one reads a book articulating the exact wit and wisdom that needs to be imbibed from these stories.
The best part of the book are the black boxes in between the stories, which uplift the mind blowing and mature interpretation of the stories by the author. The stories focus on the path of righteousness and how the understanding of the subtle aspects of human nature help us in the long run for a spiritual life.
Along with the rich wisdom stuffed in the 278 pages, the cover and the blurb gets an applaud for beautiful illustrations from mythology and the spellbinding wordplay.
Recommended to all mythology enthusiasts and readers who intend to search the in-depth meaning of mythological stories and not just the superficial retellings.
My Ratings: 4 🌟 /5
With many mythology and Vedic scripture based books flooding in the market, the main thing missing in them is their connection and use in the modern way of living. Either they are plain retellings or fictional modification of the original stories. The part which makes this book stand apart from others lies in the palatable and easily perceivable link of the stories with the modern world.
Kudos to the author for his outstanding storytelling skills, which in many ways have made the narration of the ancient Vedic wisdoms, vivid, spectacular and yet relatable to our day-to-day life. The writing style is captivating and easily understandable. The way, the book reveals the wisdom from the profound stories is really commendable. Vedic stories are indeed difficult to understand and grasp, but that barrier seems to be removed to a great extent when one reads a book articulating the exact wit and wisdom that needs to be imbibed from these stories.
The best part of the book are the black boxes in between the stories, which uplift the mind blowing and mature interpretation of the stories by the author. The stories focus on the path of righteousness and how the understanding of the subtle aspects of human nature help us in the long run for a spiritual life.
Along with the rich wisdom stuffed in the 278 pages, the cover and the blurb gets an applaud for beautiful illustrations from mythology and the spellbinding wordplay.
Recommended to all mythology enthusiasts and readers who intend to search the in-depth meaning of mythological stories and not just the superficial retellings.
My Ratings: 4 🌟 /5
May 20, 2019
Mystical Tales For A Magical Life is the next book by spiritual and motivational speaker, Shubha Vilas. This is his sixth book that I’m reviewing and as always, I enjoyed this one too. What can I say, I love stories from our ancient epics and texts.
Thanks to Fingerprint! Publishing for sending over the copy, I appreciate it. Now, let’s start with a short summary before getting down to a more detailed review.
Summary
This book is a collection of 11 stories from our vedic age that are unheard of. At least, I haven’t read them anywhere else. As is the case with all the author’s books, the stories come with a lesson and at the end of each of them, gives us insight on how it affects/ is applicable to our lives.
What I Liked
I would like to start by saying that these tales can be termed as pearls of wisdom which are applicable in today’s day and age too. Stories from our vedas about loss, knowledge, greed, satisfaction, fulfillment, duty…you name it. One story would have more than one lesson for you.
A few stories left me thinking how it would benefit me but as the author specifies in the prologue, it may not be clear now but in the future. So, I plan on keeping this book with me for a long time. I have always said this, the author’s books act as guides to morally fit way of life and it is a treasure house of information.
What I Did Not Like
Such interesting stories with loads of mystic and magic, what’s not to like!
Other Details
Most of Shubha Vilas’s books follow a pattern. There are stories and through them the author explains the meaning and the path to righteous living. His previous book was about lasting relationships, if you’d like to read my review of the same, click here.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you like reading morally rich stories from our vedic age, then this is the perfect book for you.
Thanks to Fingerprint! Publishing for sending over the copy, I appreciate it. Now, let’s start with a short summary before getting down to a more detailed review.
Summary
This book is a collection of 11 stories from our vedic age that are unheard of. At least, I haven’t read them anywhere else. As is the case with all the author’s books, the stories come with a lesson and at the end of each of them, gives us insight on how it affects/ is applicable to our lives.
What I Liked
I would like to start by saying that these tales can be termed as pearls of wisdom which are applicable in today’s day and age too. Stories from our vedas about loss, knowledge, greed, satisfaction, fulfillment, duty…you name it. One story would have more than one lesson for you.
A few stories left me thinking how it would benefit me but as the author specifies in the prologue, it may not be clear now but in the future. So, I plan on keeping this book with me for a long time. I have always said this, the author’s books act as guides to morally fit way of life and it is a treasure house of information.
What I Did Not Like
Such interesting stories with loads of mystic and magic, what’s not to like!
Other Details
Most of Shubha Vilas’s books follow a pattern. There are stories and through them the author explains the meaning and the path to righteous living. His previous book was about lasting relationships, if you’d like to read my review of the same, click here.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you like reading morally rich stories from our vedic age, then this is the perfect book for you.
October 3, 2019
If only I could give a negative rating to this book!
Nope. Not for the contents, but for the misleading title and the writing quality. This was the same author who had given a lovable book on Shri Hanuman and hence I bought this book with a lot of expectations.
But the tales are all neither unheard nor vedic. These are but little tales found all along the Mahabharatha. Except for one or two, the rest are all tales that we Indians know like the back of our hands. Neither are they Vedic in terms of sources.
Glaring spelling mistakes all along are a pain too. The author's attempt at sharing the wisdom, which are little better than platitudes make reading a pain. So are the 'lessons' at the end of every story, which almost recount the story in brief and try to state the obvious out of it. The cursive point makes for the eyesoreness and nothing else.
Overall, if you have already read the basic versions of the Mahabharatha or a fan of Indian epics, you can safely skip this book. There is nothing new or even refreshing here.
Nope. Not for the contents, but for the misleading title and the writing quality. This was the same author who had given a lovable book on Shri Hanuman and hence I bought this book with a lot of expectations.
But the tales are all neither unheard nor vedic. These are but little tales found all along the Mahabharatha. Except for one or two, the rest are all tales that we Indians know like the back of our hands. Neither are they Vedic in terms of sources.
Glaring spelling mistakes all along are a pain too. The author's attempt at sharing the wisdom, which are little better than platitudes make reading a pain. So are the 'lessons' at the end of every story, which almost recount the story in brief and try to state the obvious out of it. The cursive point makes for the eyesoreness and nothing else.
Overall, if you have already read the basic versions of the Mahabharatha or a fan of Indian epics, you can safely skip this book. There is nothing new or even refreshing here.
October 3, 2019
Mystical tales for a magical life
-Shubha Vilas
Cover- An elegant portrayal of the medieval era with a calm and soothing aura promises complete deception of the modern day application of tales from the Dwapara Yuga.
Review
A quick pick for all mythology craving readers, but the author has a different plan at play, this book promises to break all your expectations and turn out as a wonderful learning experience.
A breeze of nostalgia crosses over as we turn across the hard work of Shubha Vilas, tiring hours of deep dives into the vast ocean of Indian mythology have paid well for him as he has compiled a treasure of values that shine bright in the "Kali Yuga".
The book has eleven stories which depict the rapid shift of values from the Dwapara Yuga to the Kali Yuga. Living in the Iron Age we have progressed as a society, but this progress has come at the cost of our values and culture. It is very beautifully explained how distance between places have become smaller but between neighbours has grown wider.
The human race is lost in the dark and is plummeting in the bottomless abyss, but the beautiful name of the Almighty concludes the misery.
Every chapter is followed by an interpretation by the author which highlights the pertinent lessons and how to implement the learning of the medieval tales in modern our modern lives.
Writing style- Very professional and easy going approach to the vast scriptures by Shubha Vilas
Drawback- Stories are from the post Mahabharata era and very few references from the Vedas are picked up, so the title is a bit deceiving.
Rating- 4.5/5
-Shubha Vilas
Cover- An elegant portrayal of the medieval era with a calm and soothing aura promises complete deception of the modern day application of tales from the Dwapara Yuga.
Review
A quick pick for all mythology craving readers, but the author has a different plan at play, this book promises to break all your expectations and turn out as a wonderful learning experience.
A breeze of nostalgia crosses over as we turn across the hard work of Shubha Vilas, tiring hours of deep dives into the vast ocean of Indian mythology have paid well for him as he has compiled a treasure of values that shine bright in the "Kali Yuga".
The book has eleven stories which depict the rapid shift of values from the Dwapara Yuga to the Kali Yuga. Living in the Iron Age we have progressed as a society, but this progress has come at the cost of our values and culture. It is very beautifully explained how distance between places have become smaller but between neighbours has grown wider.
The human race is lost in the dark and is plummeting in the bottomless abyss, but the beautiful name of the Almighty concludes the misery.
Every chapter is followed by an interpretation by the author which highlights the pertinent lessons and how to implement the learning of the medieval tales in modern our modern lives.
Writing style- Very professional and easy going approach to the vast scriptures by Shubha Vilas
Drawback- Stories are from the post Mahabharata era and very few references from the Vedas are picked up, so the title is a bit deceiving.
Rating- 4.5/5
October 6, 2019
Mystical tales for a magical life by
@shubhavilas
.
.
"Mystical tales is more like a mentor to me it's already making my life magical"
#Cover- An elegant portrayal of the medieval era with a calm and soothing aura promises complete deception of the modern day application of tales from the Dwapara Yuga.
#Review- A quick pick for all mythology craving readers, but the author has a different plan at play, this book promises to break all your expectations and turn out as a wonderful learning experience.
A breeze of nostalgia crosses over as we turn across the hard work of Shubha Vilas, tiring hours of deep dives into the vast ocean of Indian mythology have paid well for him as he has compiled a treasure of values that shine bright in the "Kali Yuga". The book has eleven stories which depict the rapid shift of values from the Dwapara Yuga to the Kali Yuga. Living in the Iron Age we have progressed as a society, but this progress has come at the cost of our values and culture. It is very beautifully explained how distance between places have become smaller but between neighbours has grown wider.
The human race is lost in the dark and is plummeting in the bottomless abyss, but the beautiful name of the Almighty concludes the misery.
Every chapter is followed by an interpretation by the author which highlights the pertinent lessons and how to implement the learning of the medieval tales in modern our modern lives.
#Writing style- Very professional and easy going approach to the vast scriptures by Shubha Vilas
#Drawback- Stories are from the post Mahabharata era and very few references from the Vedas are picked up, so the title is a bit deceiving.
#Rating- 4.5/5
@shubhavilas
.
.
"Mystical tales is more like a mentor to me it's already making my life magical"
#Cover- An elegant portrayal of the medieval era with a calm and soothing aura promises complete deception of the modern day application of tales from the Dwapara Yuga.
#Review- A quick pick for all mythology craving readers, but the author has a different plan at play, this book promises to break all your expectations and turn out as a wonderful learning experience.
A breeze of nostalgia crosses over as we turn across the hard work of Shubha Vilas, tiring hours of deep dives into the vast ocean of Indian mythology have paid well for him as he has compiled a treasure of values that shine bright in the "Kali Yuga". The book has eleven stories which depict the rapid shift of values from the Dwapara Yuga to the Kali Yuga. Living in the Iron Age we have progressed as a society, but this progress has come at the cost of our values and culture. It is very beautifully explained how distance between places have become smaller but between neighbours has grown wider.
The human race is lost in the dark and is plummeting in the bottomless abyss, but the beautiful name of the Almighty concludes the misery.
Every chapter is followed by an interpretation by the author which highlights the pertinent lessons and how to implement the learning of the medieval tales in modern our modern lives.
#Writing style- Very professional and easy going approach to the vast scriptures by Shubha Vilas
#Drawback- Stories are from the post Mahabharata era and very few references from the Vedas are picked up, so the title is a bit deceiving.
#Rating- 4.5/5
April 23, 2024
'Mystical Tales For A Magical Life' is a brilliant collection of ancient stories sourced from a variety of texts like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, the Puranas and the Kathasaritsagara, that not only fascinate, but also inspire and leave a deep impression. The book lives up to its aim of making ancient wisdom accessible to modern readers in a short and comprehensible format. These stories not only enthrall, but also elevate the quality of life by providing excellent standards of comparison in some of the most exemplary personalities from our ancient literature.
Being a humanities student, the very first story gave me references to history, which made the reading more interesting. Browsing the internet for more information on the protagonists and the source of the stories themselves was fascinating, leaving me more knowledgeable. The dissection of the wisdom gained from a particular episode of the story into a single line was something helpful. A brief overview of the wisdom gained from the stories is provided at the end of each story, making it more accessible.
Not all the stories were equally fascinating, but some had me completely absorbed. 'Trials of Truth' was my personal favourite. At some points, the use of language was incorrect and there were grammatical errors, but it is easy to overlook these for the sheer motivation, inspiration, and empowerment endowed by these brilliant stories. I was not expecting this to be such a magnificent read, and it completely took me by surprise. I look forward to reading the other works of the author in the future.
Being a humanities student, the very first story gave me references to history, which made the reading more interesting. Browsing the internet for more information on the protagonists and the source of the stories themselves was fascinating, leaving me more knowledgeable. The dissection of the wisdom gained from a particular episode of the story into a single line was something helpful. A brief overview of the wisdom gained from the stories is provided at the end of each story, making it more accessible.
Not all the stories were equally fascinating, but some had me completely absorbed. 'Trials of Truth' was my personal favourite. At some points, the use of language was incorrect and there were grammatical errors, but it is easy to overlook these for the sheer motivation, inspiration, and empowerment endowed by these brilliant stories. I was not expecting this to be such a magnificent read, and it completely took me by surprise. I look forward to reading the other works of the author in the future.
July 14, 2019
Reading this book was a quite an experience for me. Being a reader who doesn't generally pick books from the mythology genre, I had really different expectations from what I got after reading the book. The author has written the stories in a simple and easy language which makes the book an easy and interesting read and which helps the reader to easily get into the story.
I really enjoyed reading the stories. The incidents and the tales which the book highlights, aren't much talked about and hence this was actually a book which intrigued me and made me curious about our religion and our scriptures which apparently have jewels for us to unearth. Each and every story left me with a lesson to learn and something to ponder upon. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who love mythology and even to the readers like me who are looking forward to try out the genre and begin with reading something light and easy yet wonderfully compiled which is definitely going to make them pick up more from the same shelf.
I really enjoyed reading the stories. The incidents and the tales which the book highlights, aren't much talked about and hence this was actually a book which intrigued me and made me curious about our religion and our scriptures which apparently have jewels for us to unearth. Each and every story left me with a lesson to learn and something to ponder upon. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who love mythology and even to the readers like me who are looking forward to try out the genre and begin with reading something light and easy yet wonderfully compiled which is definitely going to make them pick up more from the same shelf.
April 16, 2019
Just superb! Shubha Vilas Ji has truly mastered the art of narrating the ancient Vedic wisdoms in a palatable way for modern generations to understand. This book is a gem with so many lessons on life, relationships, principles, ethics, etc. If you really look forward to elevate yourself to higher objectives in life, this book will help you to introspect your own weaknesses through the 11 stories from ancient India's wisdom! Must read for all...
January 22, 2022
When you read the work of Shubha Vilas, you just don't want it to end! I got to know about so many characters from vedic stories through this book. It has inspired me to read more mythological books! The only reason I have given it 4/5 stars is because of the publisher, they've picked the font for lessons part which is very hard to read. Plus they should have placed the little notes along the stories at the end of them.
May 1, 2019
The book consists of 11 unique stories from Indian mythology - Mahabharata, Jaimini Bharata, Markandeya purana, Ramayana and Kathasaritasagara. Each story is spellbinding and comes with moral given at every step of the way. The author even gives a comprehensive view for every story.
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January 4, 2021
Insightful application of ancient wisdom for modern times
Shubha Vilas' USP is writing is his skill of expressing in depth wealth of wisdom through anecdotes from ancient past. After all History holds some good lessons for the future.. this book is one of Shubha Vilas'epitome towards the same
Shubha Vilas' USP is writing is his skill of expressing in depth wealth of wisdom through anecdotes from ancient past. After all History holds some good lessons for the future.. this book is one of Shubha Vilas'epitome towards the same
December 16, 2021
Great stories told in an interesting way. I knew some of the stories but still it was fun rereading them. People should definitely read these stories so that they just don’t worship the Gods without any understanding but should also follow them and the path to follow may be by devotion or anti devotion. There can be no worries when all the paths lead to Him and Him only.
June 24, 2019
I would give it around 7.5 stars out of 10. The stars above are rounded off.
[Detailed review at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis...]
[Detailed review at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis...]
August 9, 2020
First of all the long stories are readable by fast narration,secondly the stories are not unheard but after reading you will know that what you already know was not complete and this is complete and therefore unheard. Very good book.
September 15, 2020
Some stories were great but some were too weird for my taste. Major disappointments were spelling mistakes, grammatical errors.
Good part was one liners written on each page with crisp learning one can gain from that part of the story.
Good part was one liners written on each page with crisp learning one can gain from that part of the story.
June 7, 2019
Interesting and intriguing tales from ancient Indian scriptures with a connotation of its relevance to modern day life and living.
August 2, 2019
This book has such an amazing writing style... Each and every story is astoundingly interesting and unique. Absolutely in love with this book.
September 23, 2019
Inspirational and motivational stories from Indian Mythology. Spiritually these stories focus on meaning of life.
November 4, 2019
A collection of absolutely crazy stories which will make you sit back and admire the way our ancestors and past was so wild. Today's fantasies and fictious books will barely compare.
August 12, 2020
Interesting Stories from Indian Scriptures. Great narration with special emphasis on Life Lessons.
June 20, 2021
Amazing book for all the ages. This book by Shubha Vilas preaches precious life lessons through many short stories. I will say it a 'must read' for all. I could relate a lot with the stories and the lesson. It highlights the most common mistakes made by the humans and also shows a way forward.
I will recommend it to a reader of any age. I am 12 years old and I loved. Everyone can benefit from this enlightening book.
This was the first book I read by Subha Vilas sir and now he is one of my favorite authors.....
I will recommend it to a reader of any age. I am 12 years old and I loved. Everyone can benefit from this enlightening book.
This was the first book I read by Subha Vilas sir and now he is one of my favorite authors.....
November 24, 2021
This book is a brief about the Indian vedas and the knowledge stored in them
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