Non-Fiction Book Review for “If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir” by Om Swami; reviewed by Amy Owings
If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir
By Om Swami
Published by Black Lotus
Reviewed by Amy Owings
ABOUT THE BOOK
If Truth be Told is an extraordinary memoir of the making of a spiritual life in today’s demanding, competitive, and baffling times. The book unravels the life story of Om Swami and his journey to becoming a monk. As an 18-year-old young boy, Om Swami headed to Australia to realize his worldly dreams and aspirations. He struggled to make his ends meet but two years down the line he was a multimillionaire earning $250,000 a year. He always had a burning desire to explore his spirituality.
As an 8-year-old he saw a vision of God in a dream which transformed his life forever. This triggered off his desire to meet God and he practiced astrology, meditation and tantra in his pursuit to know God. Yet God was nowhere in sight, deeply frustrated he plunged into the worldly affairs to distract himself from the restlessness and commotion within. After spending several years in Australia he moved to India and led his life in solitude in the Himalayas. He battled death as he starved, faced the wrath of nature and wild animals. But finally his sadhana brought him to the ultimate realization – I am what I have been seeking, which became the basis of all his teachings. This astounding memoir is a must-read for those interested in the life and teachings of Om Swami.
Genre: Biographies / Spirituality
266 pages
MY REVIEW
4 out of 5 stars
If Truth Be Told is an inspiring story of perseverance and commitment, even for those who are not necessarily seeking spiritual enlightenment. Om Swami’s decision to forgo his monetary pursuits and discover the life he had always dreamed of living reminded me to find what speaks to me as an individual rather than blindly following the crowd. This biography is well-written, with many engaging metaphors and interesting narratives from his childhood that connect the reader to Om Swami. I would have enjoyed a glossary in the book with definitions for those unfamiliar with Hindi terms, but otherwise I really enjoyed this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Om Swami is a monk who lives in a remote place in the Himalayan foothills.
He holds an MBA from University of Technology, Sydney and a Bachelors in Business Computing from University of Western Sydney. Swami served in executive roles in large corporations around the world. He founded and lead a profitable software company for seven years with offices in San Francisco, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney and India.
Om Swami completely renounced his business interests to pursue a more spiritual life.
His blog can be seen on www.omswami.com.
DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
https://www.amazon.com/If-Truth-Be-Told-Memoir-ebook/dp/B00RG3MMNC
If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir
By Om Swami
Published by Black Lotus
Reviewed by Amy Owings
ABOUT THE BOOK
If Truth be Told is an extraordinary memoir of the making of a spiritual life in today’s demanding, competitive, and baffling times. The book unravels the life story of Om Swami and his journey to becoming a monk. As an 18-year-old young boy, Om Swami headed to Australia to realize his worldly dreams and aspirations. He struggled to make his ends meet but two years down the line he was a multimillionaire earning $250,000 a year. He always had a burning desire to explore his spirituality.
As an 8-year-old he saw a vision of God in a dream which transformed his life forever. This triggered off his desire to meet God and he practiced astrology, meditation and tantra in his pursuit to know God. Yet God was nowhere in sight, deeply frustrated he plunged into the worldly affairs to distract himself from the restlessness and commotion within. After spending several years in Australia he moved to India and led his life in solitude in the Himalayas. He battled death as he starved, faced the wrath of nature and wild animals. But finally his sadhana brought him to the ultimate realization – I am what I have been seeking, which became the basis of all his teachings. This astounding memoir is a must-read for those interested in the life and teachings of Om Swami.
Genre: Biographies / Spirituality
266 pages
MY REVIEW
4 out of 5 stars
If Truth Be Told is an inspiring story of perseverance and commitment, even for those who are not necessarily seeking spiritual enlightenment. Om Swami’s decision to forgo his monetary pursuits and discover the life he had always dreamed of living reminded me to find what speaks to me as an individual rather than blindly following the crowd. This biography is well-written, with many engaging metaphors and interesting narratives from his childhood that connect the reader to Om Swami. I would have enjoyed a glossary in the book with definitions for those unfamiliar with Hindi terms, but otherwise I really enjoyed this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Om Swami is a monk who lives in a remote place in the Himalayan foothills.
He holds an MBA from University of Technology, Sydney and a Bachelors in Business Computing from University of Western Sydney. Swami served in executive roles in large corporations around the world. He founded and lead a profitable software company for seven years with offices in San Francisco, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney and India.
Om Swami completely renounced his business interests to pursue a more spiritual life.
His blog can be seen on www.omswami.com.
DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
https://www.amazon.com/If-Truth-Be-Told-Memoir-ebook/dp/B00RG3MMNC
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