Synopses & Reviews
Nearing thirty, Amanda thought she’d be someone else by now. Instead, she’s an ex-nanny yogini-wannabe who cranks out “For Idiots” travel guides. True, she has a sexy photographer boyfriend, but he’s usually off shooting a dogsled race in Alaska or a vision quest in Peru—or just hooking up with other girls. However, she’s sure her new assignment to the ashrams of India will change everything.
India, it turns out, is not the spiritual refuge she'd pictured. But when a wandering mystic offers her an enigmatic blessing, Amanda realizes a new life may be in store—just not the one she was expecting.
"Cushman's send-up of the New Age American dream is both thoughtful and wise." —Shambhala Sun
"A fun read, especially if you're in on the joke (and even if you aren't)...When you read between the lines for the wisdom that is woven throughout Cushman's fun romp, this book serves as a call to enlightenment and an introduction to yoga philosophy." —Yoga Journal
"Engaging...Cushman brilliantly interweaves snippets of Buddhist teachings with the mishaps and successes of their journey, infusing the book with wisdom and humor." —Booklist
Synopsis
Nearing age thirty, Amanda thought she'd be someone else by now. Instead, she's just herself: an ex-nanny yogini-wannabe who cranks out For Idiots travel guides just to scrape by. Yes, she has her sexy photographer boyfriend, but he's usually gone--shooting a dogsled race in Alaska or a vision quest in Peru--or just hooking up with other girls. However, she's sure her new assignment, Enlightenment for Idiots, will change everything; now she'll become the serene, centered woman she was meant to be. After some breakup sex, she's off to India to find a new, more spiritual life.
What she finds, though, is an ashram run by investment bankers, a yoga master who trashes her knee, and a guru with a weakness for fashion models. She escapes a tantra party at the Taj Hotel, has a nasty argument outside the cave where the Buddha used to meditate, then agonizes through the ten-day silent retreat that's supposed to make her feel better.
No, India is not what she had pictured. But she finds a friend in Devi Das, a redheaded sadhu who refers to himself as we. And when a holy lunatic on the street offers her an enigmatic blessing, Amanda realizes a new life may be in store for her--just not the one she was expecting.
From the Hardcover edition.
Synopsis
A yoga teacher finds new life in India-just not the one she was expecting.
Nearing thirty, Amanda thought shed be someone else by now. Instead, shes an ex-nanny yogini-wannabe who cranks out “For Idiots” travel guides. True, she has a sexy photographer boyfriend, but hes usually off shooting a dogsled race in Alaska or a vision quest in Peru-or just hooking up with other girls. However, shes sure her new assignment to the ashrams of India will change everything.
What she finds, though, is an ashram run by investment bankers, a model-obsessed guru, tantra parties, and silent retreats. India, it turns out, is not the spiritual refuge shed pictured. But when a wandering mystic offers her an enigmatic blessing, Amanda realizes a new life may be in store for her after all.
About the Author
ANNE CUSHMAN is a contributing editor to both Yoga Journal and Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and is the coauthor of From Here to Nirvana: The Yoga Journal Guide to Spiritual India.