Shah explains the Bhagavad Gita and applies it to everyday questions and situations in her amiable debut. After her mother was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage and her uncle died from cancer, Shah found solace in the Bhagavad Gita. In the ancient Indian text, Krishna answers questions posed by Arjuna about how he must live his life, and Shah views the work as a source of guidance for ordinary people. Shah organizes her book around life and spiritual concerns, such as obstacles and failure, pleasures and addiction, fitness and food, and the nature of the soul. After providing synopses of Krishna’s responses to each chapter’s topic, Shah elaborates on the broader spiritual teaching and brings in both fictional and nonfictional anecdotes. For instance, the Gita taught Shah that addiction is extreme attachment to pleasurable sensory objects or sensory acts, and discipline gained through yoga can help alleviate attachment. Much of Shah’s interpretation leans on trusting the plan of God by detaching from the material and viewing life as many opportunities to grow in self-understanding. This breezy guide to the practical applications of the Gita is a good entry point to the text. (BookLife)