What books should YOU read?

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

• Reading is presented as one of the best ways to learn about religions and philosophy, especially Hinduism, and more broadly world religion and culture.
• The speaker aims to recommend specific books and explain why they were chosen, with a final section on practical tips for reading.
• The video emphasizes a modern decline in recreational reading and argues that reading improves comprehension and helps slow thinking down.
• A key learning method for difficult material is journaling / reflective note-taking.
• The speaker suggests practical ways to access books cheaply (libraries, community colleges, online systems).
• Beyond religious texts, the list also includes classical literature, comparative spirituality, and science fiction.

Book recommendations (grouped by category) + why/how they’re recommended

Hindu / related scriptures (and Hindu-focused guidance)

Bhagavad Gita

• Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God (recommended for Hindus)
  • Chosen because it’s an English translation that aims to capture Krishna’s meaning.
  • Features per verse:
    • Sanskrit in original
    • Sanskrit in Latinized form
    • word-for-word translation
    • full English verse
  • Commentary is described as extensive, with connections between Krishna’s words and other texts.
  • Critiques mentioned:
    • the physical book is very large
    • print quality isn’t great
    • but the text itself is strong
• Gita Press translation
  • Not personally read by the speaker, but recommended based on reputation.
• ISKCON translation: Bhagavad Gita As It Is (recommended for non-Hindus)
  • Recommended mainly because it was widely distributed in America (often for free) and is accessible.
  • Commentary is said to be aimed at a more Western audience in a non-Hindu context.
  • Caveat: the speaker suggests Hindus should not read ISKCON’s version unless they are actually ISKCON.

Ramayana

• Valmiki Ramayana translation by Bibek Debroy
  • Presented as a top recommendation.
  • Why:
    • translator is described as strong in Sanskrit
    • includes helpful footnotes on each page to keep readers oriented in the story
  • Format:
    • translation comes in three separate books available as a box set
• Additional Bibek Debroy recommendations (also mentioned):
  • Vishnu Purana
  • Srimad Bhagavatam
  • Shiva Purana
  • Matsya Purana
  • Mahabharata
• What to avoid:
  • online “English translations by Aubrey”
  • reason: they condense or remove parts and don’t capture the full meaning

Other Hindu books

• The Science of Self-Realization (ISKCON; Back to Godhead articles collection)
  • Why:
    • excellent introduction to Hindu theology
    • balanced blend of philosophy, theology, and (notably) politics
    • explains concepts clearly without oversimplifying
• Chanting Be Happy (ISKCON; Back to Godhead articles collection)
  • Recommended sequence:
    • not recommended as a first read
    • should be read after The Science of Self-Realization
  • Reason: relatively short (~100 pages), easier to complete
• Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead (ISKCON book)
  • Why:
    • explains Krishna’s stories/pastimes
    • helpful because Krishna is described as a “complicated figure”
• Additional ISKCON books
  • The speaker hasn’t read them personally, but recommends them generally after “hearing good things.”

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Non-Hindu texts (religious and philosophical)

Zoroastrian scripture: The Avesta

• Themes highlighted:
  • truth vs. falsehood
  • moral choices
  • divine wisdom
  • cosmic order
  • worship of Ahura Mazda as supreme god
• Character framing:
  • Zarathushtra is likened to a religious reformer opposing older practices
• Translation recommended:
  • Hymns of Zarathushtra by M. L. West
• Caveat:
  • the speaker doesn’t know whether actual Zoroastrians would prefer it; they invite knowledgeable Zoroastrians to suggest alternatives

Buddhist scripture: Dhammapada (Dharmapada)

• Description:
  • collection of Buddha sayings
  • short and not complicated
  • focuses on spiritual wisdom: mind, suffering, anger, desire, discipline, wisdom, liberation
• Tradition:
  • from the Theravada Buddhist canon
• Comparison:
  • often compared to the Bhagavad Gita for Buddhists
• Translation recommended:
  • Eknath Easwaran
• Caveat:
  • the speaker again isn’t sure whether Buddhist readers would prefer another translation; invites correction

Classical epic: The Odyssey

• Plot overview:
  • Odysseus tries to return home after the Trojan War
  • journey from Troy to Ithaca takes ~10 years
  • household conflict: Penelope faces suitors
• Translation recommended:
  • Penguin clothbound books edition

Comparative spirituality / philosophy: The Perennial Philosophy (Aldous Huxley)

• Core claim:
  • Perennialism: major world religions share underlying metaphysical truths despite differences
• Topics emphasized:
  • mysticism
  • divine reality
  • ego death
  • detachment
  • union with God
• Author context:
  • Huxley also wrote Brave New World

Christianization of the Roman Empire

• From The Gods That Failed, The Christianization of the Roman Empire by Rama Session
• What it covers:
  • roots of Judaism
  • how Rome transitioned from multiple gods to one god
• Perspective:
  • “written in a Hindu and Pagan perspective” (as stated by the speaker)

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Science fiction picks

Dune series

• Setting:
  • future interstellar society with noble houses controlling planets
• Plot setup:
  • Paul Atreides and House Atreides inherit/fight to control Arrakis
  • Arrakis: inhospitable desert world containing the only source of melange/spice, necessary for space travel
• Recommendation stance:
  • the speaker avoids spoilers and strongly recommends it

The Three-Body Problem (series)

• Premise:
  • humanity encounters an alien civilization
• Themes:
  • humanity’s place in the universe
  • civilization
  • survival
• Recommendation stance:
  • no spoilers; series strongly recommended

Practical tips for reading (methodology / instructions)

• Schedule daily reading downtime
  • Set aside time every day to read for a period of downtime (implied target: “a couple hours”).
• Use journaling for difficult books (especially non-fiction)
  • Create a companion journal and write reflections while reading:
    • what the words mean
    • your interpretation/analysis
    • any “hidden meanings” you suspect
    • mistakes or errors you notice
  • Claimed benefits:
    • helps process hard-to-decipher non-fiction
    • pushes deeper analysis instead of passive reading
    • improves memory/retention (“immortalize” thoughts)
    • provides satisfaction from completing journal entries
• Don’t rely only on buying books
  • Alternative access methods:
    • second-hand bookstores
    • community college libraries (in the West: often large selections; sometimes order via interlibrary systems)
    • interlibrary systems that obtain books across regions
  • Claimed advantages:
    • can obtain hard-to-find philosophy texts
    • often free or cheap to sign up

Claims about reading decline (supporting points)

• The speaker argues people today read mostly for school-required reading and stop afterward.
• Cited statistics:
  • US National Endowment for the Arts: 48% of US adults report reading a book in the past year.
  • AP News: 14% of 13-year-olds read for fun every day (down from 27% in 2012).
• Reasoning link:
  • reading forces slower thinking and better comprehension.

Channel / community and sponsorship notes (included in subtitles)

• The video claims it is not sponsored.
• Support options mentioned:
  • YouTube channel memberships
  • Patreon
• Membership tier pricing stated:
  • $6.99 basic tier
  • $14.99 advanced tier
• Perks described:
  • access to a members-only Discord server (public Discord is always free)
  • possible name mentions at the end of videos
  • shoutouts for level two subscribers
  • milestone: once reaching 10,000 subscribers, a public Q&A video is planned
• Content plan:
  • more similar videos may appear in memberships
  • some content will be public; some private due to sensitive topics

Speakers / sources featured

• Speaker/host: Path of Dharma (referred to as “Hey, Path of Dharma”)

Book / translation authors and editors mentioned

• Krishna (subject of Bhagavad Gita explanations)
• Bibek Debroy (Valmiki Ramayana; also translations of Vishnu Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam, Shiva Purana, Matsya Purana, Mahabharata)
• ISKCON (organization associated with Bhagavad Gita As It Is and other recommended titles)
• M. L. West (Hymns of Zarathushtra)
• Eknath Easwaran (Dhammapada translation)
• Aldous Huxley (The Perennial Philosophy)
• Rama Session (The Gods That Failed: The Christianization of the Roman Empire)
• Penguin (publisher/translation edition for The Odyssey)
• Back to Godhead magazine / ISKCON magazine (source of article collections: The Science of Self-Realization, Chanting Be Happy)

Organizations / publications cited

• US National Endowment for the Arts
• AP News

Religious figures referenced

• Zarathushtra
• Ahura Mazda
• Odysseus
• Penelope

Fictional/series characters referenced

• Paul Atreides
• House Atreides
• Arrakis