This Reader, published in 2013 by Oxford University Press, situates the work of Sri Aurobindo in the fields of literary criticism, political and social theory, philosophy, and spiritual thought.

Fifteen essays, written by prominent scholars across disciplines, use biographical and historical contextualization; cultural, social and political analysis; and critical evaluation to illuminate Aurobindo’s works and contribution.

Convinced that his writings are of more than historical interest, they show how men and women of the twenty-first century can use them to increase their understanding of contemporary literature, social science, philosophy and spirituality, and also, perhaps, to write better poems, design better societies, find better answers to the great questions of life, and pursue their spiritual goals in a more fulfilling way. This book looks beyond Aurobindo’s textual sources to his vision of the future.

Contributors:
Nalini Bhushan is Professor of Philosophy at Smith College, USA. Sugata Bose is Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University, USA. C. Mackenzie Brown is Jennie Farris Railey King Professor of Religion at Trinity University, USA. Haridas Chaudhuri (1913-1975) was the founder of the California Institute of Asian Studies (now California Institute of Integral Studies), USA. B.S. Chimni is Professor and Chair of the Centre for International Legal Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Jay L. Garfield is Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy at Smith College, USA. Richard Hartz is an editor at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives, Puducherry. Robert A. McDermott is Professor and Chair of the Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, USA. J.N. Mohanty is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Temple University, USA. Steve Odin is Professor in the departments of Japanese and Philosophy, University of Hawai’i M?noa. Stephen Phillips is Professor of Philosophy and Asian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. Kathleen Raine (1908-2003) was one of the leading English poets and critics of the twentieth century. Andrew Sartori is Assistant Professor of History at New York University, USA. Michael Stoeber is Professor of Spirituality at Regis College, University of Toronto, Canada. Edward T. Ulrich is Associate Professor at the University of St. Thomas, USA. K.D. Verma is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown.