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Sometimes We Walk Alone
Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 9, 2009
Ankur Shah is not like me.
I don't mean the fact that he's of Indian descent and I'm of Anglo-Saxon descent, though that's true. I also don't mean that he's studied the teachings of Gandhi and I haven't, though that is also true. I'm sure there are many other ways in which we are not alike, and many ways in which we are, but the specific difference that I am choosing to focus on lies more in our spiritual and philosophical approaches to life, because it best illustrates the dichotomous nature of my experience reading his book.
Ankur Shah is vegan (when he can be), deeply spiritual though as far as I can tell not dedicated to any one religion, and deeply fascinated by the interconnections between all life, especially those between his fellow human beings. I am a dedicated omnivore, nearly devoid of spirituality of any kind, and not particularly inclined to revel in oneness with my fellow man.
So it was somewhat perplexing to me that I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit, considering that a good portion of it was dedicated toward contemplating the spiritual and emotional connections to other people that Shah values so highly. But then, one thing we do have quite in common seems to be a fascination with the workings of society, an interest in both history, modern times, and the contrast between the two. It was this aspect of the book that I most enjoyed.
Initially, the text was hard for me to get into. I had to adapt somewhat to the writing style which, while not difficult to read, was fairly dense and mildly rambling. I also had to resign myself to the fact that many, many Indian names would be mentioned, some in rapid succession, and I would not be able to remember all of the "characters" being introduced. This is not a fiction novel ... we're not going to spend any more time with these people than Shah did, and for the most part that means a matter of hours, or a few days at the most. We are seeing a foreign land through the eyes of someone only partially versed in the cultures and languages of that land, and many things will be mildly incomprehensible.
Once you get past this fact, the rest of the book presents a fascinating look into modern Indian society. Shah is American, though better-traveled than most, and is thus able to contrast what he is seeing as he follows Gandhi's famous march to the salt flats with what he has seen during his life in the US. The differences between Indian and American society run much deeper than simple ideas like rich vs. poor, or vegetarian vs. meat-eater, or Hindu/Sikh/Muslim vs. Christian/Jewish. Shah spends a great deal of time chronicling Indian culture, in between his philosophical reflections, it was this part of the book which I enjoyed the most.
I don't mean to sound like the rest of it was an unenjoyable slog ... I found the book as a whole compelling even if I don't share all of Shah's beliefs and opinions. While it is not flawlessly written or edited, it is engaging, the prose relatively skilled, and the author's observations valuable.
I can't say whether I believe in the one Love that Shah espouses, but I can say that the glimpse into India and its culture was fascinating, and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy such studies.
I don't mean the fact that he's of Indian descent and I'm of Anglo-Saxon descent, though that's true. I also don't mean that he's studied the teachings of Gandhi and I haven't, though that is also true. I'm sure there are many other ways in which we are not alike, and many ways in which we are, but the specific difference that I am choosing to focus on lies more in our spiritual and philosophical approaches to life, because it best illustrates the dichotomous nature of my experience reading his book.
Ankur Shah is vegan (when he can be), deeply spiritual though as far as I can tell not dedicated to any one religion, and deeply fascinated by the interconnections between all life, especially those between his fellow human beings. I am a dedicated omnivore, nearly devoid of spirituality of any kind, and not particularly inclined to revel in oneness with my fellow man.
So it was somewhat perplexing to me that I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit, considering that a good portion of it was dedicated toward contemplating the spiritual and emotional connections to other people that Shah values so highly. But then, one thing we do have quite in common seems to be a fascination with the workings of society, an interest in both history, modern times, and the contrast between the two. It was this aspect of the book that I most enjoyed.
Initially, the text was hard for me to get into. I had to adapt somewhat to the writing style which, while not difficult to read, was fairly dense and mildly rambling. I also had to resign myself to the fact that many, many Indian names would be mentioned, some in rapid succession, and I would not be able to remember all of the "characters" being introduced. This is not a fiction novel ... we're not going to spend any more time with these people than Shah did, and for the most part that means a matter of hours, or a few days at the most. We are seeing a foreign land through the eyes of someone only partially versed in the cultures and languages of that land, and many things will be mildly incomprehensible.
Once you get past this fact, the rest of the book presents a fascinating look into modern Indian society. Shah is American, though better-traveled than most, and is thus able to contrast what he is seeing as he follows Gandhi's famous march to the salt flats with what he has seen during his life in the US. The differences between Indian and American society run much deeper than simple ideas like rich vs. poor, or vegetarian vs. meat-eater, or Hindu/Sikh/Muslim vs. Christian/Jewish. Shah spends a great deal of time chronicling Indian culture, in between his philosophical reflections, it was this part of the book which I enjoyed the most.
I don't mean to sound like the rest of it was an unenjoyable slog ... I found the book as a whole compelling even if I don't share all of Shah's beliefs and opinions. While it is not flawlessly written or edited, it is engaging, the prose relatively skilled, and the author's observations valuable.
I can't say whether I believe in the one Love that Shah espouses, but I can say that the glimpse into India and its culture was fascinating, and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy such studies.
Read
January 25, 2012I'd never read a self-published book before, nor taken one seriously. I carried around Shah's words with me all fall, and was grateful for the company.
May 24, 2015
My recommendation was too long so I'll put it here.
I would recommend this book to those interested in travelogues, pilgrimage, India, self-discovery, and Ghandi; and anyone that enjoys an insightful, entertaining narrative.
My actual review is to be added at a later date.
I would recommend this book to those interested in travelogues, pilgrimage, India, self-discovery, and Ghandi; and anyone that enjoys an insightful, entertaining narrative.
My actual review is to be added at a later date.
March 18, 2009
India is a very welcoming place for people trying to find themselves.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews