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The Vivekananda Handbook for Everyday Living
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF VIVEKANANDA TO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
Are you weighed down by societal expectations, family pressure or the need for digital validation? Vivekananda will help lighten that burden so that you care a little less about the opinions of others.
Are you struggling with your work - or your workplace - despite no obvious deficit of skill? Vivekananda will help you redefine how to measure your own success or failure.
Does death - your own, or of those closest to you - frighten you? Vivekananda will teach you how to cope with grief and loss, and be the support your loved ones need in trying times.
Anecdotal and thought-provoking, The Vivekananda Handbook for Everyday Living unravels the wisdom of Swami Vivekananda's teachings to guide you through your life, whether at home or at the office.
Are you weighed down by societal expectations, family pressure or the need for digital validation? Vivekananda will help lighten that burden so that you care a little less about the opinions of others.
Are you struggling with your work - or your workplace - despite no obvious deficit of skill? Vivekananda will help you redefine how to measure your own success or failure.
Does death - your own, or of those closest to you - frighten you? Vivekananda will teach you how to cope with grief and loss, and be the support your loved ones need in trying times.
Anecdotal and thought-provoking, The Vivekananda Handbook for Everyday Living unravels the wisdom of Swami Vivekananda's teachings to guide you through your life, whether at home or at the office.
Paperback
Published June 28, 2021
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30 people want to read
About the author
Anshul Chaturvedi
8 books2 followersAnshul Chaturvedi has been writing and editing to earn a living as a journalist for some 25 years, of which the last 21 have been with the Times Of India.
Apart from what the job needs him to scrutinize, he reads a lot about WW2, managerial theory, the philosophy of Vivekananda and Ramakrishna and the life of Subhas Bose.
He has so far authored four books:
The first was Uncut, a collection of his interviews with the Three Khans of Hindi cinema.
The second moved away from his journalistic work and came from years of observing why stress trips young professionals with increasing frequency: Work Sucks? Or Do You?
The third was a longer project: A book that looks to bring Vivekananda from the zone of reverence to one of relevance. He began reading about Vivekananda when he was 16, began writing about him in his 30s, and now, in his 40s, after about a decade of thought and effort, he finally has a book in place: The Vivekananda Handbook For Everyday Living. It is not a 'religious' book but a philosophical one, one that addresses our everyday challenges and not the mysteries of the universe. The author describes Vivekananda as the Dale Carnegie of his youth and the Steven Covey of his career, rolled in one, and then much more.
The fourth book is a piece of historical fiction set in 1942/43, as WW 2 rages and a restless Subhas Bose is in Berlin, building the core of his first Indian Army, comprising of Indian POWs being trained in Germany. In an alternate reality, Stalingrad has fallen to the Axis powers after a bitter, brutal campaign; in North Africa, Field Marshal Rommel’s Afrika Korps has emerged victorious; Rangoon has been seized by the Japanese after their capture of Singapore. Does this give Bose's army the opportunity to march towards's India's western borders? How does he manage the million contradictions and challenges of his situation, and the personalities of that era, from Adolf Hitler to Mahatma Gandhi? Even if possible, can a military defeat of the British ensure an undivided India amidst the murmurs of an impending partition? And will the militaristic Axis powers leave India be if they have landed here?
Apart from what the job needs him to scrutinize, he reads a lot about WW2, managerial theory, the philosophy of Vivekananda and Ramakrishna and the life of Subhas Bose.
He has so far authored four books:
The first was Uncut, a collection of his interviews with the Three Khans of Hindi cinema.
The second moved away from his journalistic work and came from years of observing why stress trips young professionals with increasing frequency: Work Sucks? Or Do You?
The third was a longer project: A book that looks to bring Vivekananda from the zone of reverence to one of relevance. He began reading about Vivekananda when he was 16, began writing about him in his 30s, and now, in his 40s, after about a decade of thought and effort, he finally has a book in place: The Vivekananda Handbook For Everyday Living. It is not a 'religious' book but a philosophical one, one that addresses our everyday challenges and not the mysteries of the universe. The author describes Vivekananda as the Dale Carnegie of his youth and the Steven Covey of his career, rolled in one, and then much more.
The fourth book is a piece of historical fiction set in 1942/43, as WW 2 rages and a restless Subhas Bose is in Berlin, building the core of his first Indian Army, comprising of Indian POWs being trained in Germany. In an alternate reality, Stalingrad has fallen to the Axis powers after a bitter, brutal campaign; in North Africa, Field Marshal Rommel’s Afrika Korps has emerged victorious; Rangoon has been seized by the Japanese after their capture of Singapore. Does this give Bose's army the opportunity to march towards's India's western borders? How does he manage the million contradictions and challenges of his situation, and the personalities of that era, from Adolf Hitler to Mahatma Gandhi? Even if possible, can a military defeat of the British ensure an undivided India amidst the murmurs of an impending partition? And will the militaristic Axis powers leave India be if they have landed here?
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 16, 2025
This one is a very under-rated self-help book as there are very few great mentors and advise giver like Vishwamanav Swami Vivekananda himself! First of all, this book is not about Swamiji’s life but about how to apply his teachings in our everyday life. Many people will think that it’s just about spirituality and achieving divine consciousness. But no, you don’t need to be a spiritual or religious person to follow Vivekananda. You can be an atheist, agnostic or non-religious person, but you can still apply Swamiji’s teachings to your everyday life. And the best thing about this book is that author tells you about applying Swamiji’s teachings to everyday life from his own experiences (from teen ages to his current life).
The book has three parts: dealing with oneself, dealing with work and dealing with others. In current times, especially the youths face anxieties, non-relevance in society and many more philosophical problems. The first part can be used as nectar for them. Every one, while entering the teen age, grows a rebellious tendency to being cool. But after reading Vivekananda, the author at his teen age started to rebelling against this tendency itself! The first part also talks many things about religion and believe. He revealed that religion is about to know yourself and every religion can co-exist as they have some goodness themselves. What the author missed that these facts are true for Dharmic religions but not for the Abrahamic religions and they are based on one eternal truth and they grow with declaring other faiths as false and tends to troll, humiliate and destroy them.
The second part is very vital for those who are going to start their career after finishing their education. Every problem one faces on that stage of life have its solution in the second part of this book. The third and last part talks about how to deal with the sorrow of losing any loved ones, who has died. This part has touched my heart. It also talks about love, which is not self-centric, but universal.
This book is very vital for everyone and I will recommend this to all of you. If you face many emotional and sentimental issues in your everyday life, then this book is a must read for you.
The book has three parts: dealing with oneself, dealing with work and dealing with others. In current times, especially the youths face anxieties, non-relevance in society and many more philosophical problems. The first part can be used as nectar for them. Every one, while entering the teen age, grows a rebellious tendency to being cool. But after reading Vivekananda, the author at his teen age started to rebelling against this tendency itself! The first part also talks many things about religion and believe. He revealed that religion is about to know yourself and every religion can co-exist as they have some goodness themselves. What the author missed that these facts are true for Dharmic religions but not for the Abrahamic religions and they are based on one eternal truth and they grow with declaring other faiths as false and tends to troll, humiliate and destroy them.
The second part is very vital for those who are going to start their career after finishing their education. Every problem one faces on that stage of life have its solution in the second part of this book. The third and last part talks about how to deal with the sorrow of losing any loved ones, who has died. This part has touched my heart. It also talks about love, which is not self-centric, but universal.
This book is very vital for everyone and I will recommend this to all of you. If you face many emotional and sentimental issues in your everyday life, then this book is a must read for you.
October 10, 2021
Book: The Vivekananda Handbook for Everyday Living
Author: Anshul Chaturvedi
Clam, peaceful and soul-filled just like Swami Vivekananda himself! The author has done complete justice with bringing out relevant topics to light in the book. The voice is honest, clear and humble. Despite interpreting Swamiji rightly, the author has the humility to handover the freedom of judgement to the reader. That’s spirit of Vivekananda in action! 😊
The book embodies Vivekananda’s wisdom across various dimensions of human existence like, understanding self, work-place and people (major sections in the book). Nonetheless, reading it only emphasises the fact that this book is the tip of the ‘ice-berg-wisdom’ Vivekananda embodied.
Author’s own life experiences and anecdotes act as connecting examples saving the book from a ‘preachy tone’. The voice is more of ‘sharing’ rather than preaching, making it a pleasant read throughout.
Some concepts to imbibe are:
1. ‘You can’t control the microbes around you, be immune.’
2. ‘Find the decision that leaves you weaker, and walk away.’
3. ‘The Hudson test – choose what deserves your attention.’
Enlightened and estranged! is enough of a phrase to describe Swamiji’s vibe. Dying at the age of 39 this monk had comprehended what might be beyond many in double the life span. All the quotes and wisdom in the book stand priceless, yet, some lines are bound to stay with a reader. Like…
“The world cares little for principles. They will listen with patience the words of a man they like, however nonsense and will not listen to those they don't like.”
“The names of those who wish to injure us will be legion. But is that not the surest sign of our having the truth?”
“Work in the real world is not a chemistry lab reaction, where adding A to B leads to C.”
The best and ultimate one is: “NO good deed goes unpunished.” 😉
PS: This book is bound to leave a reader more intrigued about the personality of this enlightened monk!
Author: Anshul Chaturvedi
Clam, peaceful and soul-filled just like Swami Vivekananda himself! The author has done complete justice with bringing out relevant topics to light in the book. The voice is honest, clear and humble. Despite interpreting Swamiji rightly, the author has the humility to handover the freedom of judgement to the reader. That’s spirit of Vivekananda in action! 😊
The book embodies Vivekananda’s wisdom across various dimensions of human existence like, understanding self, work-place and people (major sections in the book). Nonetheless, reading it only emphasises the fact that this book is the tip of the ‘ice-berg-wisdom’ Vivekananda embodied.
Author’s own life experiences and anecdotes act as connecting examples saving the book from a ‘preachy tone’. The voice is more of ‘sharing’ rather than preaching, making it a pleasant read throughout.
Some concepts to imbibe are:
1. ‘You can’t control the microbes around you, be immune.’
2. ‘Find the decision that leaves you weaker, and walk away.’
3. ‘The Hudson test – choose what deserves your attention.’
Enlightened and estranged! is enough of a phrase to describe Swamiji’s vibe. Dying at the age of 39 this monk had comprehended what might be beyond many in double the life span. All the quotes and wisdom in the book stand priceless, yet, some lines are bound to stay with a reader. Like…
“The world cares little for principles. They will listen with patience the words of a man they like, however nonsense and will not listen to those they don't like.”
“The names of those who wish to injure us will be legion. But is that not the surest sign of our having the truth?”
“Work in the real world is not a chemistry lab reaction, where adding A to B leads to C.”
The best and ultimate one is: “NO good deed goes unpunished.” 😉
PS: This book is bound to leave a reader more intrigued about the personality of this enlightened monk!
August 29, 2021
I’ve read and re-read this book, and it’s helped me more than any amount of therapy sessions I’ve attended in the last couple of months. It is as simplistic as the title suggests, mirroring a way of life so uncomplicated and fundamental that we actually trashed it long ago for exactly those reasons, with our self taught doctoral knowledge of life as we know it.
This book won’t teach you religion if that’s what bothers you (yes, it bothers me), it probably won’t teach you anything (the author has beautifully maintained a relatable, non-didactic tone which works for people like me who are embarrassed by picking up “self help books”) but it’ll get you thinking on how easily we can uncomplicate our everyday life. The author has pragmatically, and simplistically, put Vivekananda’s teachings in context of dealing with ourselves, our issues at work and our relationships with others without the usage of overt philosophy and romanticising the teachings of his spiritual guru.
For the longest time, I consciously stayed away from texts relating to Vivekananda and other “saints” fearing overly preachy content and association of religious tags. But here comes a 19th century monk with millennial ideologies leaving me wondering, “How was I not thinking this all this while?” For a reader like me whose attention span has been greatly impacted by short form content, this handbook had me hooked with its precise opposition to the principles by which I (and maybe most of my peers) have been practising life all these years. Maybe that’s what’s made it count — go for it, you won’t put it down.
This book won’t teach you religion if that’s what bothers you (yes, it bothers me), it probably won’t teach you anything (the author has beautifully maintained a relatable, non-didactic tone which works for people like me who are embarrassed by picking up “self help books”) but it’ll get you thinking on how easily we can uncomplicate our everyday life. The author has pragmatically, and simplistically, put Vivekananda’s teachings in context of dealing with ourselves, our issues at work and our relationships with others without the usage of overt philosophy and romanticising the teachings of his spiritual guru.
For the longest time, I consciously stayed away from texts relating to Vivekananda and other “saints” fearing overly preachy content and association of religious tags. But here comes a 19th century monk with millennial ideologies leaving me wondering, “How was I not thinking this all this while?” For a reader like me whose attention span has been greatly impacted by short form content, this handbook had me hooked with its precise opposition to the principles by which I (and maybe most of my peers) have been practising life all these years. Maybe that’s what’s made it count — go for it, you won’t put it down.
June 29, 2021
In about 177 pages, 'The Vivekananda Handbook for Everyday Living' deals with some of the questions that many of us have been pondering over for so long, and more so lately.
What is the point of even existing without someone we dearly loved? What is the point of this life anyway? Why should I even slog when I can lose it all in just a few minutes?
This one is that rare book that comes once in a lifetime - a book that can actually change your whole life.
It leaves us with a hope that "if we're to able to work on ourselves, we, too, can perhaps get through life and death, and calmly accept whatever comes with grace."
In short, this book is exactly what the author has written for Vivekananda- "Following his thinking, we could lead a life that is somewhat philosophical and not excessively possessive, to help us make it easier to head towards the final gate less painfully and frantically."
What is the point of even existing without someone we dearly loved? What is the point of this life anyway? Why should I even slog when I can lose it all in just a few minutes?
This one is that rare book that comes once in a lifetime - a book that can actually change your whole life.
It leaves us with a hope that "if we're to able to work on ourselves, we, too, can perhaps get through life and death, and calmly accept whatever comes with grace."
In short, this book is exactly what the author has written for Vivekananda- "Following his thinking, we could lead a life that is somewhat philosophical and not excessively possessive, to help us make it easier to head towards the final gate less painfully and frantically."
July 8, 2021
I would give a 5/5 to this book it is an easy read and has numerous thoughts and learning’s which would stay with you for your lifetime. I am sad that I didn’t read about Swami Vivekananda at an early stage of my life. My life would have been much different. The most striking part about Swami Vivekananda’s teachings are that they are still so relevant even after 125 years.. this book has inspired me to read more about Swamiji’s work. I will be reading this book again in the times to come so that thr teachings stay on with me. Thank you Anshul Chaturvedi for this book
September 29, 2021
This is such an honest and mind opening book that I have read in a very long time. Vivekananda is a Swami like no other. The simplicity and sincerity of his thoughts are so captivating. I really really enjoyed the book and recommend it to all.
July 17, 2021
The only book that I had read about Vivekananda before coming across Anshul Chaturvedi's work was a biography written in Hindi. I was thirteen and it took me a little more than a week to finish the thick hardcover, pouring over the pages and rereading sections. The book didn't include Vivekananda's teachings but the author had done justice in bringing alive Narendra Nath Datta's slightly sardonic rebellious fire. Oddly it was a source of solace and support for me while growing up, I had no qualms about being alone, barely having any friends and spending time reading.
Anshul Chaturvedi, with engaging prose and a pragmatic attitude, introduces us to the real Vivekananda, a man with an exceptionally clear view of the world, a man detached from the very idea of attachment, a man with nerves of steel and a burning desire to learn and educate. Everyone who has ever read about Vivekananda or his works knows of his strict guidance and the calm comforting effect he has. He teaches us that unhappiness, like happiness, is ephemeral, and if nothing else, we must familiarise ourselves with the ideas of loss and death. Anshul Chaturvedi has delved deep into Vivekananda's ocean of knowledge and given us an incredibly inestimable gem.
Anshul Chaturvedi, with engaging prose and a pragmatic attitude, introduces us to the real Vivekananda, a man with an exceptionally clear view of the world, a man detached from the very idea of attachment, a man with nerves of steel and a burning desire to learn and educate. Everyone who has ever read about Vivekananda or his works knows of his strict guidance and the calm comforting effect he has. He teaches us that unhappiness, like happiness, is ephemeral, and if nothing else, we must familiarise ourselves with the ideas of loss and death. Anshul Chaturvedi has delved deep into Vivekananda's ocean of knowledge and given us an incredibly inestimable gem.
July 23, 2021
Exceptional content!
A practical handbook giving exceptional wishdom, I never read vivekanand but now glad I read this short and sweet book!
A practical handbook giving exceptional wishdom, I never read vivekanand but now glad I read this short and sweet book!
September 26, 2021
This book is not bad. I picked it up at my psychologist's office because it looked interesting. I finished reading it and I really think this was written by a sociopath obsessed with Vivekananda. In my personal life, I do not believe in revering or basing my whole life on one person. Although the author did say that he did not worship or 'follow' Vivekananda...he still based his entire life on this one person and developed anti-social tendencies. He is an obsessed sociopath and how he leads his life is something to wonder. How can one person be so obsessed with Vivekananda I do not know. The book has some good ideas and it is written very well. It is not a bad book by any means.. just take the stuff that resonates with you and leave the rest. If you are reading this Mr. Anshul Chaturvedi know that I mean all these things in the nicest way possible and if you do somehow get offended just apply the rules that you wrote in this book for hostility for yourself. That's all.
July 1, 2021
Phenomenal, insightful and likely to leave an impact.
I'm a teenager and the genres I usually read include YA, mystery, crime and the occasional self-help book. I picked this book up out of curiosity and I found myself finishing it in around a day.
The book questions most of our standard beliefs - Why are we scared of death? Are we perhaps too attached to a transitory existence? Why do we feel a need to have name and fame? And it explains these through the eyes of Swami Vivekananda.
It was an easy read and while it made me ponder, it was never too adamant about shoving its opinions on me. The book leaves us with so many questions, thoughts and points of view we may have never considered.
It is an incredible read.
Vivekananda's nuanced and brilliant mind explained and explored with the writer's skilful drafting made this an enthralling page-turner.
I'm a teenager and the genres I usually read include YA, mystery, crime and the occasional self-help book. I picked this book up out of curiosity and I found myself finishing it in around a day.
The book questions most of our standard beliefs - Why are we scared of death? Are we perhaps too attached to a transitory existence? Why do we feel a need to have name and fame? And it explains these through the eyes of Swami Vivekananda.
It was an easy read and while it made me ponder, it was never too adamant about shoving its opinions on me. The book leaves us with so many questions, thoughts and points of view we may have never considered.
It is an incredible read.
Vivekananda's nuanced and brilliant mind explained and explored with the writer's skilful drafting made this an enthralling page-turner.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews