Patrick Ogle
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The Ocean Of Churn By Sanjeev Sanyal

1/17/2023

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Late in 2022 I read a survey history book on India , India, A History by John Keay. It was an excellent book but any single volume "history of India" is the rough equivalent of a similar book called "a history of Europe."

The subject is vast, especially when the  book starts with pre-literate societies, known only from archaeology. After the Keay book I started fishing around for more Indian History. While I have a basic knowledge of the history of India? It is not particularly deep, nor does it extend much earlier than the modern era.

The Ocean of Churn by Sanjeev Sanyal is more about the Indian Ocean than India but its point is that the ocean here was a cultural link that transcended any single culture. It is also written by an Indian author who dispenses with some of the fanciful notions that even fairly responsible western historians cling to (see Ashoka).  While it isn't as well documented as the Keay book? It raises more thought provoking ideas--even if many of these are tossed out without documentation. It also makes the vast scope more manageable than the Keay book, which is sometimes bogged down in an over abundance of names and place names.

Ocean of Churn also illustrates the horror of European incursions into the Indian Ocean and the depredations of all Europeans who appeared (some, far worse than others). These incursions, when compared with earlier invasions and migrations demonstrate the Europeans were far more deleterious--especially the British.

The book is written in a conversational, almost breezy, style that makes it a quick read. It is also an informative one that points the reader in the direction of further sources, further information.

This book has also been adapted for children.



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A Concise History Of Buddhism By Andrew Skilton

1/17/2023

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I've been making a concerted effort to read more history of India and China. I am not completely ignorant of these ancient culture's history but I am nowhere near as well versed as I am in the history of Europe, Africa or the Americas. I actually started reading A Concise History of Buddhism by Andrew Skilton, in 2022 but I include it here since I FINISHED it this year (early on this may be a theme)

I recently read a book called India, A History by John Keay, which is an excellent survey of the history from prehistoric time ALMOST to current events. After that I went searching for more specific topics which turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated.

Buddhism wasn't really on the radar but I stumbled across this book. What it turns out to be is a short but sometimes mind numbing survey of the various Buddhist trains of thought, schisms and theology. If you do not know ANYTHING about Buddhism this is going to be incredibly difficult to get through. The book is not big on explaining the basics, even basic terminology. It is pretty close to ALL theology so do not expect a great deal of political or personal history.

The book does detail many of the different lineages of Buddhism in an understandable way and there are other times when it gives you a glimpse into appeal of the religion. It also has a chapter on   the reason Buddhism vanished in its homeland of India. It is not a particularly critical history but it does not shy away from the "warts" either. There is a concerted attempt to be even handed between the different sects (for lack of a better word).

I am glad that I read it and  I would  recommend this to people interested in theology. It is interesting in a comparative sense too. When you  look at other religious traditions you see parallels. One thing that struck me is how the biggest world religions all seem to share a trait. Almost immediately after the demise (or ascension ) of the religion's founder there are suddenly myriad interpretations and sometimes outright perversions of the original intent. Buddhism does not escape this (if this book is to be believed).

Keep in mind, this book is written by a true believer and there is no delving into the hinted at hypocrisies and potentially ahistorical interpretations by Buddhist thinkers.

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    This is really to motivate me to read and remember what I am reading. I'd love to hear what YOU are reading.

    What I am reading now--The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy and China Marches West by Peter C. Purdue.

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