Indian Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction

This book stands out as a masterclass in condensation. Hamilton manages to convey the full richness and subtlety of the Indian philosophical tradition without falling into the trap of oversimplification. I particularly appreciated how she dismantles the lazy Western assumption that Indian thought is merely 'mystical' or 'spiritual' rather than rigorously logical. To be fair, the text is quite dense, acting almost like a neutron star of information that requires slow, deliberate reading. It would be of great interest to anyone who wants to see how schools like Nyaya and Vaisheshika handled epistemology and logic. The historical approach helps ground these abstract concepts in a clear timeline. I highly recommend this to anyone seeking a serious academic starting point.

Finally got around to reading Hamilton's overview, and it is a 35,000-word neutron star of information. She does a fantastic job of explaining the concept of 'Darshan' as a way of seeing that transcends simple cognitive perception. The way she links the development of the Upanishads to the later Buddhist schools like Madhyamaka is brilliantly handled. I particularly approved of her decision to keep terms like 'svabhāva' in the original Sanskrit; it forces the reader to engage with the concepts on their own terms. Even though it is a tiny book, it feels incredibly comprehensive. It has totally changed my perspective on the intellectual history of the subcontinent. This is easily one of the best titles in the entire Very Short Introduction series.

Ever wonder why Indian thought is so often labeled as purely spiritual? Hamilton tackles this myth head-on, showing that Indian thinkers were just as concerned with 'rational' and 'logical' proofs as their Western counterparts. I loved the way she explained that the distinction between religion and philosophy is actually a post-Kantian Western invention. Most of these systems are soteriological, meaning they aim for moksha, yet they use incredibly sophisticated metaphysical arguments to get there. The writing is clear and well-ordered, though you have to be prepared for some very heavy lifting regarding epistemology. It is a very short introduction that feels very long because of the sheer volume of ideas packed into 35,000 words. A great, scholarly entry point for the patient reader.

The chapter on linguistics and language was, surprisingly, the highlight for me. Hamilton explores how Bhartrhari connects the sound of the universe to the knowledge of Brahman in a way that feels totally unique. I also appreciated the deep dive into the 'pluralistic realism' of the Vaisheshika school. It is refreshing to see Indian philosophy treated as a serious field of logical inquiry rather than just a collection of yoga poses and vague mantras. My only gripe is that the book can be repetitive, especially when rephrasing an author right before providing a near-identical quote. Still, it provides an impressively clear outline of a massive field. If you are willing to read slowly, you will get a lot out of this scholarly work.

To be fair, trying to condense thousands of years of intellectual development into a tiny pocketbook is an impossible task. Hamilton succeeds by focusing on the most novel points of debate between the six orthodox schools. I found the discussion on 'dependent origination' in Buddhism to be particularly insightful and well-phrased. The book avoids the common mistake of treating Indian philosophy as a monolith, instead highlighting the fierce polemics and disagreements between schools. While it gets a bit bogged down in the intricacies of Sanskrit grammar toward the end, the overall narrative is strong. It makes you realize how much of 'common human interest' these ancient philosophers were actually debating. It is a clear, scholarly, and very readable guide to a complex subject.

Picked this up at a bookstore hoping for a quick overview, but it turned out to be a bit of a slog. Hamilton makes a bold decision to leave most key Sanskrit terminology untranslated. While I respect the accuracy, it makes sentences about 'prakṛti being qualitatively inferior to puruṣa' very difficult for a total novice to parse. I found myself constantly flipping back to remember what each term meant. The chapters on Buddhist thought and Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta were definitely the highlights and saved the book for me. However, the lack of diagrams to explain the complex relationship between schools was a missed opportunity. It is a solid academic resource, but perhaps too dry for the casual reader looking for wisdom.

After hearing many good things about the VSI series, I decided to tackle this one. It is a decent guide, but it feels like the 35,000-word limit really constrained the author's ability to dive deep. The book is organized chronologically, starting with the Brahmanical beginnings and ending abruptly at the end of classical antiquity. While this helps you see the 'growth' of ideas, it also means some fascinating later developments are ignored. I felt the chapter on language was a bit too long and didn't offer much for the non-specialist. On the plus side, the further reading section is excellent for addressing the gaps left by the text. It’s a helpful map of the territory, even if it feels a bit cramped at times.

As someone who prefers a thematic approach to history, this chronological deep dive was a bit of a mixed bag. Hamilton does give justice to figures like Nagarjuna and Shankara, and those chapters are absolutely worth the price of admission. However, the earlier sections on Vedic ritual felt like they dragged on for too long without enough payoff. The book really should have been divided by topics like metaphysics and ethics rather than this overarching timeline that sometimes muddies the waters. I also found some of the explanations of the Nyaya school's logic to be a bit convoluted. It’s a useful list of literature to revisit, but I wouldn't call it an easy read. Good for students, maybe too dense for a casual afternoon.

Not what I expected from an introduction. The author seems obsessed with proving that Indian philosophy isn't mystical, which honestly feels like she is overcompensating for Western biases. In doing so, she leaves out the most interesting 'spiritual' parts like the Noble Eightfold Path or the actual experience of Samadhi. Instead, we get endless, repetitive chapters on grammar and linguistic theory that feel totally disconnected from the human experience. Frankly, the chronological structure makes the whole thing feel like a muddy list of names and schools rather than a coherent exploration of ideas. I found the sections on 'sacrifices maintaining the universe' to be incredibly tedious after the third mention. If you want a book that actually explains the heart of these traditions, look elsewhere.

Look, I appreciate the scholarly effort here, but I found the structure quite tedious and the tone somewhat patronizing. The author spends so much time apologizing for Indian philosophy being 'rational' that she forgets to make it engaging. Much of the book is spent on conventional, ritualistic philosophies that resemble Western ones, while the truly radical and different ideas are pushed to the margins. Why include a repetitive timeline every few pages? It breaks the flow and adds nothing. I also found the lack of focus on ethics and lifestyle a bit jarring for a book on Indian thought. It feels like a text written by an academic for other academics, rather than a true introduction for the curious public. It left me wanting more substance and less justification.