Swami in a Strange Land ─ How Krishna Came to the West; The Biography of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is known as the teacher who brought love of Krishna to the West. In the midst of the war-torn and drug-saturated ’60s and ’70s, Prabhupada unleashed a flood of robe-wearing, yoga-practicing, Krishna-chanting devotees onto the streets of America and forever changed Western perceptions of spirituality. The story of his life is one of faith, failure, sincerity, discipline, and ultimatelysuccess.

Written by noted biographer Joshua M. Greene, this dramatic, humorous, and enlightening account of the epic rags-to-riches story combines extensive scholarship with a broad range of primary sources to create a gripping portrait of the world’s leading exponent of Bhakti, or devotional Yoga.

Now known as one of the 20th century’s most charismatic spiritual leaders, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada came to the United States when he was seventy years old. He landed in New York with mere pennies in his pocket and without any contacts in the country. He had only his love for Krishna to sustain him. Through sheer power of will and devotion he created one of the world’s largest international religious organizations, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), revitalized understanding of Vedic cosmology, karma, and dharma, popularized chanting (kirtan) on every continent of the world, and became the leader of a global spiritual movement.

The first time his tale has been told for the general public, Swami in a Strange Land will reveal why celebrities such as George Harrison, Allen Ginsberg and a coterie of rock artists incorporated Prabhupada’s teachings into their lives, and millions more around the globe flocked to the call of Hare Krishna.”

Joshua M. Greene has directed films for PBS and Disney, served as VP for New York's largest PR firm, and was appointed director of strategic planning for the United Nations Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders. He is emeritus Professor of Hindu Studies, Hofstra University in New York. His previous works include the best-sellingHere Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison, Justice at Dachau: The Trials of an American Prosecutor, Witness: Voices from the Holocaust, andGita Wisdom: An Introduction to India's Essential Yoga Text.