'Very beautiful and illuminating' Mariella Frostrup Edward Brooke-Hitching, author of the international bestseller The Phantom Atlas delivers an atlas unlike any other. The Devil’s Atlas is an illustrated guide to the heavens, hells and lands of the dead as imagined throughout history by cultures and religions around the world. Packed with colourful maps, paintings and captivating stories, the reader is taken on a compelling tour of the geography, history and supernatural populations of the afterworlds of cultures around the globe. Whether it’s the thirteen heavens of the Aztecs, the Chinese Taoist netherworld of ‘hungry ghosts’, or the ‘Hell of the Flaming Rooster’ of Japanese Buddhist mythology (in which sinners are tormented by an enormous fire-breathing cockerel), The Devil’s Atlas gathers together a wonderful variety of beliefs and representations of life after death. These afterworlds are illustrated with an unprecedented collection of images, ranging from the marvellous ‘infernal cartography’ of the European Renaissance artists attempting to map the structured Hell described by Dante and the decorative Islamic depictions of Paradise to the various efforts to map the Garden of Eden and the spiritual vision paintings of nineteenth-century mediums.The Devil’s Atlas accompanies beautiful images with a highly readable trove of surprising facts and narratives, from the more inventive torture methods awaiting sinners, to colourful eccentric catalogues of demons, angels and assorted death deities. A traveller’s guide to worlds unseen, The Devil’s Atlas is a fascinating study of the boundless capacity of human invention, a visual chronicle of man’s hopes, fears and fantasies of what lies beyond. Read more

In god is Not Great Hitchens turned his formidable eloquence and rhetorical energy to the most controversial issue in the world: God and religion. The result is a devastating critique of religious faithgod Is Not Great is the ultimate case against religion. In a series of acute readings of the major religious texts, Christopher Hitchens demonstrates the ways in which religion is man-made, dangerously sexually repressive and distorts the very origins of the cosmos. Above all, Hitchens argues that the concept of an omniscient God has profoundly damaged humanity, and proposes that the world might be a great deal better off without 'him'. Read more

One of the best-known and best-loved works of Buddhist literature, the Dhammapada forms part of the oldest surviving body of Buddhist writings, and is traditionally regarded as the authentic teachings of the Buddha himself, spoken by him in his lifetime, and memorized and handed on by his followers after his death. A collection of simple verses gathered in themes such as 'awareness', 'fools' and 'old age', the Dhammapada is accessible, instructional and mind-clearing, with lessons in each verse to give ethical advice and to remind the listener of the transience of life. Read more

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent, and is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goals (artha or 'purpose', kama or 'pleasure', dharma or 'duty', and moksha or 'liberation') takes place in a long-standing tradition, attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'Self') and the workings of karma. Read more

In this gripping retelling of the ancient Indian epic, you will be transported into a world of warring kingdoms, magic, and divine intervention. Through the eyes of the Pandavas and Kauravas, witness a tale of love, loss, and redemption, as they battle for control of their kingdom and their own destinies. With vivid descriptions of the Kurukshetra War and political intrigue—read the Mahabharata like never before! The Epic of Power, Justice, and the Battle for Truth! A massive epic. Explores concepts such as dharma, karma, and the nature of the self. A rich and compelling work of literature. Continues to be a source of inspiration and guidance for millions of people around the world. Its themes of war, love, betrayal, and redemption are timeless. Read more

'Crucial and timely' - VEX KINGLearn how to incorporate traditional yoga into your modern practice - and feel the benefits.Yoga in its authentic form is focused on inclusivity, inner work and peace. But the yoga that is practised in the Western world has got a little lost along the way.Join Nikita Desai on her mission to help us understand yoga beyond the physical poses and pricey outfits that we're so familiar with today. Drawing on research and teachings from ancient sources, Desai helps us navigate this complex practice as we learn how to:- Unpick the problems in modern yoga- Understand the fundamentals of what yoga is in its truest form- Explore key yogic texts and gurus to support our learning- Add in practical elements of traditional yoga to our current practice, both on and off the mat.A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga is the essential companion for anyone who wants to practise yoga respectfully and fully. Read more

**A Financial Times What to Read in 2025 pick**'A brave and magnificent book, and a vital intervention: as elegant as it is witty, as erudite as it is wise, and as stylish as it is scholarly. Manu Pillai is fast becoming one of India's most accomplished and impressively wide-ranging historians' William DalrympleWhen European missionaries arrived in India in the sixteenth century, they entered a world both fascinating and bewildering. Hinduism, as they saw it, was a pagan mess: a worship of devils and monsters by a people who burned women alive, performed outlandish rites and fed children to crocodiles. But it quickly became clear that Hindu ‘idolatry’ was far more layered and complex than European stereotypes allowed, surprisingly even sharing certain impulses with Christianity.Nonetheless, missionaries became a threatening force as European power grew in India. Western ways of thinking gained further ascendancy during the British Raj: while interest in Hindu thought influenced Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire in Europe, Orientalism and colonial rule pressed Hindus to reimagine their religion. In fact, in resisting foreign authority, they often adopted the missionaries’ own tools and strategies. It is this encounter, Manu S. Pillai argues, that has given Hinduism its present shape, also contributing to the birth of an aggressive Hindu nationalism.Gods, Guns and Missionaries surveys these remarkable dynamics with an arresting cast of characters – maharajahs, poets, gun-wielding revolutionaries, politicians, polemicists, philosophers and clergymen. Lucid, ambitious, and provocative, it is at once a political history, an examination of the mutual impact of Hindu culture and Christianity upon each other, and a study of the forces that have prepared the ground for politics in India today. Turning away from simplistic ideas on religious evolution and European imperialism, the past as it appears here is more complicated – and infinitely richer – than previous narratives allow. Read more

Reconnect with your authentic self and bring meaning back into your life with the ancient, time-tested wisdom of shamanism.This book is a fantastic and comprehensive introduction to shamanism by a leading expert and teacher on the subject. Shamanism is the oldest and most enduring spiritual wisdom tradition on Earth. It offers powerful practices for healing and finding wholeness, and is appealing to a whole new generation of spiritual seekers. Shamanism Made Easy, written by a much loved university psychotherapist and shamanic teacher, explains the subject in a clear and easily digestible format, and shows why these deeply transformative techniques are so needed in our challenging times. In this book, the reader will learn, amongst many things, how to build an altar and create a sacred space, conduct ceremonies and design a daily ritual, connect with spirit helpers, ancestors and descendants, and use dance as a tool for awakening and freedom. Above all, readers will learn what it is like to undergo transformative journeys for personal healing and development. This book was previously published within the Hay House Basics series. Read more

The basic questions of Who Am I? Where Am I Going? What Is the Purpose of Life? are asked by every generation, and Patanjali's answers (given in the third century BC) form one of the oldest spiritual texts in the world. 'That which unites' is called 'Yoga' - and is thus much broader than the form of exercise so popular today. It is a way to restore our lost wholeness, our integrity as complete human beings, by unifying the personality around a centre that is silent and unbounded. Alistair Shearer's superb introduction and translation bring these ancient, vital teachings to life in the modern world and are for all those who seek the benefits of self-knowledge. Read more

If there is one book that can claim to provide the solution to all problems of humanity, it is the holy Bhagavad Gita.Simply reading this book and comprehending the life-changing, ageless, and profound wisdom contained in its 701 magnificent verses is enough to change the path of one’s life and bring it to the peak of perfection.That is why, after hearing this transcendental discourse of Lord Krishna, Arjuna exclaims to Him, “O Achyuta (The Changeless One), my delusion is destroyed, and my memory (about one’s true identity) has been regained by me through Your grace. I am firmly situated; my doubts are gone. I will now act according to Your word.” [Bhagavad Gita 18.73]The Bhagavad Gita is not a religious book and is not intended to be read and acted upon by the adherents of a particular religion. It’s a guidebook for life; a how-to manual. It is a medicine for the infected souls of the Kali-Yuga, the dark age. And there is no religion in medicine.The Bhagavad Gita is the most sacred conversation ever between Lord Krishna and his friend Prince Arjuna just before the beginning of the great war of Mahabharata, on the holy battlefield of Kurukshetra, where the Lord enlightens a bewildered Arjuna about the biggest truths of the universe.This dialogue is considered to contain the nectar of all Vedic scriptures, the most ancient scriptures of the world. By reading the Bhagavad Gita, you will discover answers to the most important questions in life, such as:Who are you?What is your purpose in life and how to fulfill that purpose?Is there a God? If yes, who is God, and how to know and reach Him?Is God one or many?What is your relationship with God?What is death and why you do not need to fear death?What happens after death?Do heaven and hell exist?Is reincarnation real?What is Yoga? What are the different types of Yoga? How to be a Yogi?How does the Law of Karma work?Why are we all living life the wrong way? And how you can live your life the right way?How to see yourself and your life from the right perspective?How to master your mind and get rid of negative emotions like worry, fear, anger, jealousy, and sadness for good?How to be always happy?What is the most perfect method of meditation?Hari Chetan’s translation of the Bhagavad Gita is the outcome of his two decades of experience in the field of Vedic philosophy. The following are some of the distinguishing aspects of this English translation:All the verses of the Bhagavad Gita are accurately translated from the original Sanskrit texts.The translations are presented in their authentic form, free from any sectarian bias.The translations are kept simple without sacrificing accuracy, essence, and spirit.The gaps arising while translating verses from Sanskrit to English have been taken care of to preserve the intended meaning of each verse.Context has been given due importance while establishing the meaning of each word with the aim of providing correct interpretation.To facilitate self-explanatory translations, additional explanations are given in parentheses in the verses.Additional explanations are provided in the form of notes at appropriate places.The historical background of Mahabharata is included for perfect understanding.To help you test your understanding, a printable workbook is included.All of this adds up to a complete translation of the holy Bhagavad Gita in English.Read This Book to Uncover The Secret Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and Change Your Life Forever! Read more

An essential guide to learning everything you need to know about the history, central practices, and the key teachings of many religions. A compelling and insightful guide for uncovering and understanding a variety of the world's major religions. This book will be the perfect gift for thinkers, borrowers, and students of religious studies and philosophy.Learn new and profound information about a variety of faiths. In this educational guide you'll find:- A chapter devoted to each of the major world religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam - Lesser-known religions and belief systems are covered, offering a comprehensive overview of faith - Detailed illustrations and annotated works of art, and a timeline of religious history Discover a variety of the world's major religions and other faiths from both the ancient and the modern world through this insightful guide. Explore over 450 classic works of religious and devotional art. With sacred texts, epic imagery, key beliefs, and religious artefacts, this educational guide is perfect for libraries, classrooms, and the bookshelves of those who simply love learning. Read more

This is a book about awareness - it's about being 'awake' and in touch with what is going on here and now. Practical and down-to-earth, it deals exclusively with the present, not with speculation, theory or belief in some far-off time and place. The teachings of the Buddha are plain and straightforward, and because they remain focused on the moment they are just as relevant now as they have ever been. BUDDHISM PLAIN AND SIMPLE is the book for anyone wanting to discover, or rediscover, the essence of Buddhism. Read more

The definitive guide to yogic breathing from B.K.S. Iyengar, the world’s most respected yoga teacher.B.K.S. Iyengar has devoted his life to the practice and study of yoga. It was B.K.S. Iyengar’s unique teaching style, bringing precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of ‘yoga for all’, which has made it into a worldwide phenomenon.His seminal book, ‘Light on Yoga’, is widely called ‘the bible of yoga’ and has served as the source book for generations of yoga students around they world. In ‘Light on Pranayama’, he establishes the same definitive level of authority on the art of breathing.For the serious yoga practitioner, the study of Pranayama is an essential. This work, from the most respected yoga teacher in the world, B.K.S. Iyengar, offers the most comprehensive and instructive work available in the world. With 190 photos of B.K.S. Iyengar himself, the book highlights a progressive 200-week practice, highlighting the best techniques and the common errors in them. Read more

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOKThe Babylonians invented it, the Greeks banned it, the Hindus worshipped it, and the Christian Church used it to fend off heretics. Today it's a timebomb ticking in the heart of astrophysics. For zero, infinity's twin, is not like other numbers. It is both nothing and everything.Zero has pitted East against West and faith against reason, and its intransigence persists in the dark core of a black hole and the brilliant flash of the Big Bang. Today, zero lies at the heart of one of the biggest scientific controversies of all time: the quest for a theory of everything. Within the concept of zero lies a philosophical and scientific history of humanity.Charles Seife's elegant and witty account takes us from Aristotle to superstring theory by way of Egyptian geometry, Kabbalism, Einstein, the Chandrasekhar limit and Stephen Hawking. Covering centuries of thought, it is a concise tour of a world of ideas, bound up in the simple notion of nothing. Read more

Regarded as the founder of Neo-Platonism, Plotinus (AD 204-70) was the last great philosopher of antiquity, producing 0works that proved in many ways a precursor to Renaissance thought. Plotinus was convinced of the existence of a state of supreme perfection and argued powerfully that it was necessary to guide the human soul towards this state. Here he outlines his compelling belief in three increasingly perfect levels of existence - the Soul, the Intellect, and the One - and explains his conviction that humanity must strive to draw the soul towards spiritual transcendence. A fusion of Platonism, mystic passion and Aristotelian thought, The Enneads offers a highly original synthesis of early philosophical and religious beliefs, which powerfully influenced later Christian and Islamic theology. Read more

All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind . . . In the quest for understanding ones own mind, body, and soul, and to attain liberation, each man seeks spirituality as per his own means and understanding. Yoga, with its origin dating back to ancient India, has always been considered a pathway of achieving moksha. This edition combines the four paths of yoga as expounded by Swami Vivekananda in the nineteenth century. They include the three yogas mentioned in the Bhagavad GitaKarma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnna Yogaand Rja Yoga, which is based on Maharshi Patanjalis Yoga Sutras, and together they speak to the active, the emotional, the mystic, and the philosophical inside us. Complete with timeless universal wisdom, and not restricted to asanas and physical exercises, the yogic practices explained by Vivekananda become a way of life and hence lead to the realization of the Absolute. Discover the Complete Guide to Yoga! Includes practical exercises, meditation techniques, and rituals. Promotes inner peace, clarity, and spiritual growth. Understand the nature of the self and the ultimate reality. A complete approach to spiritual practice and personal development. Accessible to practitioners at any level. Read more

An anthology of the most lyrical, passionate, illuminating writings of the Hindu mystical tradition.For this inspiring anthology, Andrew Harvey, the popular spiritual scholar and writer, has selected excerpts from ancient and contemporary sources, including extracts from the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and other classical Hindu texts; the words of such venerable spiritual teachers as Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharshi; and the devotional poetry of Mirabai, Ramprasad, and many others. Read more

One of the best-known and best-loved works of Buddhist literature, the Dhammapada forms part of the oldest surviving body of Buddhist writings, and is traditionally regarded as the authentic teachings of the Buddha himself, spoken by him in his lifetime, and memorized and handed on by his followers after his death. A collection of simple verses gathered in themes such as 'awareness', 'fools' and 'old age', the Dhammapada is accessible, instructional and mind-clearing, with lessons in each verse to give ethical advice and to remind the listener of the transience of life.Valerie Roebuck's new translation is accompanied by an introduction examining the language of the Dhammapada, its status as literature and the school of Buddhist teaching from which it comes. Read more

Part of the ancient Hindu epic The Mahabharata, The Bhagavad Gita is one of the enduring religious texts of the worldThe Bhagavad Gita is an early poem that recounts the conversation between Arjuna the warrior and his charioteer Krishna, a manifestation of God. In the moments before a great battle, Krishna sets out the important lessons Arjuna must learn to understand his own role in the war he is about to fight. Krishna reveals to Arjuna his true cosmic form and counsels the warrior to act according to his sacred obligations. Ranging from instructions on yoga to moral discussion, the Gita has served for centuries as an everyday, practical guide to living well. Translated with an introduction by Laurie L. Patton Read more

A dazzling new history of the Indian subcontinent and its diverse peoples in global context―from antiquity to todayMuch of world history is Indian history. Home today to one in four people, the subcontinent has long been densely populated and deeply connected to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through migration and trade. In this magisterial history, Audrey Truschke tells the fascinating story of the region historically known as India―which includes today’s India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan―and the people who have lived there.A sweeping account of five millennia, from the dawn of the Indus Valley Civilization to the twenty-first century, this engaging and richly textured narrative chronicles the most important political, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural events. And throughout, it describes how the region has been continuously reshaped by its astonishing diversity, religious and political innovations, and social stratification.Here, readers will learn about Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Sikhism; the Vedas and Mahabharata; Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire; the Silk Road; the Cholas; Indo-Persian rule; the Mughal Empire; European colonialism; national independence movements; the 1947 Partition of India; the recent rise of Hindu nationalism; the challenges of climate change; and much more. Emphasizing the diversity of human experiences on the subcontinent, the book presents a wide range of voices, including those of women, religious minorities, lower classes, and other marginalized groups.You cannot understand India today without appreciating its deeply contested history, which continues to drive current events and controversies. A comprehensive and innovative book, India is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the past, present, or future of the subcontinent. Read more