Acclaim for my award-winning book Mahabharata:The Eternal Quest
“. . . the original Mahabharata is an epic in every sense of the word. . . The new volume is a condensing of this monumental text that keeps its heroic figures, mystical deeds, and philosophies on justice, honor, and perseverance at the forefront while relating the story with a lighter pace and a visually rich prose style that recalls Western works like The Lord of the Rings trilogy. . . A useful glossary, map, and an outline of the Vedic worldview are included. . . many of the concepts, from Brahmins to mantras, are organically introduced. . . There’s a surprising amount of humor in the story, with effective modern flourishes. . . An inherently approachable tale despite the vastness of the Indian mythology it taps into.”
Kirkus Reviews
FROM UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS
“Fresh, fast-paced and cinematic! Andy Fraenkel’s book captures the scope and breath of this great epic.” Subhash Kak, Ph.D., Author & Regents Professor, Oklahoma State University – from his Foreword
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“I have read through many Mahabharatas and there is none as gripping and beautiful as yours.” Gopal Gupta, PhD, Religious Studies@Department of Philosophy, College of Idaho
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“Fraenkel maneuvers through the story’s monumental terrain with ease. His powerful narrative captivates and sustains the reader… Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest chronicles a vivid and timeless story that should be incorporated more often into our classrooms.” Kevin Cordi, PhD, Professor, Ohio Dominican University
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“Very readable. Elegantly written. Deserves to be highly successful….” Joel Mlecko, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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“A wonderful, rich narrative! Andy Fraenkel does a fine job keeping all the threads clear, even as they interweave. I see his long career of storytelling at work on every page. The book is very attractive… along with map, glossary and key Hindu concepts, it’s obvious how much work was involved … the book should be in every library.” Robert Rosenthal, PhD, Philosophy Chair, Hanover College
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“Both entertaining and erudite, Andy Fraenkel’s rendering of the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata delivers a text that is readily accessible to the layperson and refreshingly insightful to the scholar. A delight to read – and ponder over.” Greg Emery, Ph.D., Director, Global Leadership Center, Ohio University
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“I loved reading Andy Fraenkel’s wonderful version of the Mahabharata! It brought back memories of my travels in India. I was thoroughly involved in the story’s philosophy, family intrigue, and battle spectacle. The author captured my interest from the start, and knowing the plot did not diminish my excitement and fascination in its unfolding. Each personality was clearly developed and often involved in conundrums with which we are all familiar. I sympathized with Arjuna’s confusion and his plea to Krishna. Much of the Mahabharata brings to mind problems of more recent times; other wars and other warriors. This book, even though thousands of years old, offers us visceral and uncanny insights into our age.” Gail N. Herman, PhD, Storyteller, Professor and Educational Consultant http://gailherman.net
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“Well-written and concise. Excellent for college courses on philosophy, religion, or literature. It’s clearer and gets to the point much better than many other Mahabharata tellings. The brevity of the text will appeal to students of the “sound-bite” generation, while instructors will appreciate that quality is not sacrificed in its name. Finally, the concise section at the end of the book on the Vedic Worldview is a very useful addition which, I’m sure, will go far to help sort things out for the lay reader. I commend the author for including it.” Dr. Arnold Smith, Philosophy Dept, Kent State University
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“Beautifully written and inspirational. Andy Fraenkel makes the Mahabharata come alive as only an accomplished storyteller can. Anyone interested in Hinduism and religion more generally—whether practitioner, student or scholar—will find much to appreciate in this truly wonderful rendering of one of the great epics of ancient India.” E. Burke Rochford Jr., author of Hare Krishna Transformed (NYU Press) & Professor at Middlebury College.
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“Epic and Scripture come together in this magnificent unfolding drama. A story so human and yet so sacred. It can change us deeply. ” Professor (Fr) Walter M Jagela, West Liberty University
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“As a teacher of religious studies, I usually approach Hinduism as a set of concepts. Mr. Fraenkel, with his retelling of the Mahabharata, reminds us that this religious tradition is also rich with stories and all the elements that make stories appealing. He does so while not neglecting the religious poetry of the Bhagavad Gita.” Dr. David Torbett, Marietta College
FROM OTHER SCHOLARS & AUTHORS
“Wonderful! Your storytelling art – which quickly gets to the essence of everything – has opened the world of Mahabharata to me , for it has opened up the world of the feelings and emotions of Mahabharata.” Sacinandana Swami, Author & Spiritual Leader
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“To condense the profound wisdom and rich culture of Mahabharata into a book of this size constitutes a formidable challenge. In this offering, Andy Fraenkel has distilled the essence of the expansive scripture and has skillfully crafted a book which is accessible and comprehensible to a universal audience.” Varshana Swami, Author & Vaisnava Scholar
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“Andy Fraenkel’s very readable and insightful narrative allows immediate entrance into the Mahabharata, an epic known for its inscrutability. His deliciously distinct version of this martial text conjures up images of an ancient storyteller, sitting at a campfire surrounded by listeners who rightfully hang on his every word. Not to be missed!” –Steven J. Rosen (Satyaraja Dasa), author of 31 books & founding editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies, http://www.sjrosen.com
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“Being immersed in the depth of the drama of Mahabharata, Fraenkel expertly provides a rendition which can not only entertain and edify us, but also point in essential directions going forward for our fragile civilization.” Chris Fici, Huffington Post
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“Thank you Andy for this wonderful book. As I sit here reading I feel whole regions of my mind and heart awaken.” Rasika Walkingfeather, Author
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“Cinematic! What a great read! A compelling story and utterly engaging.” Rebecca Strowger, Independent Scholar
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“The Mahabharata is an important part of India’s great history and heritage. It’s a monumental account of those ancient times. The principles of dharma contained in this book are meant to benefit all humankind. The importance of this book cannot be underestimated, and we are in debt to Andy Fraenkel for making it available in a readable and exciting format. Every educational and religious institution, as well as every library, should have a copy. Indeed, every household should have a copy to study and revere.” Thakor Topiwala, North Carolina, Lecturer in Hinduism and Bhakti Yoga, Hindu Center of Charlotte, NC
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“Your Mahabharata is wonderful!” Rev. David Carter
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“A stirring and authentic version. He deserves much credit for this very enlightening book. My prayer is that his Mahabharata will be enjoyed, studied and appreciated by people for years to come.” Dr. Laxmi Narayan Chaturvedi M.D, Ohio Author, “The Teachings Of Bhagavat Gita” http://www.teachingsofbhagavadgita.com/
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“Literature for those who want to step outside the box.” Mick Burk, West Virginia Public School Educator
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“Andy Fraenkel provides us with a remarkable story in his adaptation of Mahabharata. . . He captures the essence of the epic and relates the unfolding action in a most interesting and exciting way.” Stephen Knapp, Author (Books on India’s ancient Vedic culture) www.stephen-knapp.com
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“Such a great job – deep and flowing. You are truly gifted to share this profound story the way you have. Outstanding!” Krsnanandini Dasi, Author & Workshop Leader
The Mahabharata Project 