How does a young man in a Jewish temple in New Jersey come to view the meaning of life as all for naught: meaningless? It is in his introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes. And how does the Bhagavad-Gita again make him, now a mature man, rethink the question "What is the meaning of life"? Jayadvaita Swami causes us to think about that question by having a "cross cultural" dialog between these two books, "one biblical and one spiritual". By the end of this book, the Swami hopes that we can answer that question for ourselves, as he answers the question for himself.

What I like about this book first of all, is that it is objective but not preachy. Secondly, it is written in an easy to understand way for average people like me. He uses many different scholarly references in such a way that it feels like he is talking directly to me.

There are so many reasons that I like this book. However, the third reason may just have changed my life. And that is the "Hare Krishna" mantra chant. I have been doing it every day since I read about it in Jayadvaita Swami's magnificent study. It is a book worth recommending to anyone who has ever questioned the meaning of life before. You will be in awe of what you may gain from reading this book.

Thank you to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley for giving me an acr copy of this book to read and give an honest review. ( )