If you're someone who's expecting a self-help plot to this book, you probably picked the wrong book by the author. Pick any other book by him, you might find what you're looking for.

But, if you're looking for a life as a lesson; a journey which takes you through good and bad alike; a human touch where flaws are inevitable, you're at the right place.

If you're an atheist, you'll probably have a hard time digesting most of the experiences and philosophies shared by the authors. If you're more bent towards religion than spirituality, it's not for you either.

This book is mostly for those who are seeking spiritual fulfilment in life; those who work on faith, are believers; those who are open - to almost every single thing, imaginable or otherwise; those who are curious; and those who're trying to find themselves.

From psychedelics, to religion, to academics, to internet age, the journey of Ram Dass has been through multiple ages and eras. Hence, a lot of things mentioned here might even seem fake or imaginary - especially if you're a curious mind and haven't had those experiences yourself.

(Auto) biography is a genre I extensively read. And, I've read some of the best ones - including that of Steve Jobs. That is where I found the first mention of Ram Dass - and he was mentioned a lot! Steve was his follower, and used to read and re-read his book "Be Here Now", and even followed his footsteps to Kainchi Dham.

Even after him being mentioned so many times in Jobs biography, I couldn't instantly remember who Ram Dass was. I still picked up this book because it somehow seemed interesting to me. And, I'm really glad I did.

I know I'm too late to give the feedback - took me about 7-8 months to complete this book, because I was savoring its content ( and also had personal reasons). Yet, I'm back to spread the word, because it is totally worth it.

A must read if you're looking for do's and don'ts, especially don'ts for a fulfilled life.

Richard Alpert was leading a Bohemian life. A sucker for speed, he possessed every possible conveyance that had the enviable might and thrust of acceleration. He even got a pilot's license and began flying small aircrafts. Little did the daring Alpert realise that his life would take an astronomical turn. A chance meeting with a seer in India paved the way for the transformation of Richard Alpert into Ramdass. The world renowned spiritualist and teacher, Ramdass has penned a memoir that is bewitchingly beautiful, incredibly humbling and unbelievably candid.

Alpert was also a Harvard psychologist and researcher who was terminated by his alma mater for conducting controversial experiments with LSD and other drugs on students, with his fellow professor Timothy Leary. Ramdass' pivot towards the East began soon after this episode. Finding his "Guru", whom he respectfully addresses as "Maharaj-ji", Ramdass writes, “My path has been a pilgrimage of the heart, a journey from the mind to the heart,”

Being Ramdass is a memorable journey of a man who strived to seek his soul and succeeded beyond every wildest imagination.

Very good book, I enjoyed the spirituality behind the teachings of Ram Dass. His books are calming and very insightful.

Overall good, but kinda disappointing in that it was lots of surface level observations from Ram Dass, was hoping for something deeper

Wow. I absolutely loved the autobiography, “Being Ram Dass.” At 488 pages, it is a long, beautiful and comprehensive look at his two lives. We meet Richard Alpert, the chubby Jewish kid-turned Harvard psychology professor who used psychedelics in his research. And we watch Richard transform into Ram Dass when he met his guru in India. Ram is well-known for bringing to the West a heightened awareness of Eastern spirituality and practices.

If you’ve read Ram Dass’s best-known book “Be Here Now”—referred to as the counterculture Bible—you’ll find a repeat of those stories. But this memoir (which took 10 years to write) is also chock-full of new stories. We learn much more about his well-heeled East coast family, his fundraising efforts for charitable causes, his spiritual efforts to help those in prison as well as in hospice care. And of course we witness his journey after his debilitating stroke.

Ram was in this lifetime for nine decades, so he has witnessed everything between the Great Depression to the ability to teach thousands via the internet. Of course, he has much to say about cultural events, spiritual transformation, social psychology the ego and his professional ups and downs.

Ultimately, Ram Dass shares an uplifting message of humility, being of service and practicing lovingkindness. I think this book will have a much wider appeal than just to hippies and yogis. If you’re looking for a way to connect spiritually, it might just be a great fit for you.


Special thanks to his longtime publisher, Sounds True, for an advanced digital copy of the book via NetGalley. I also purchased the audiobook and listened along while reading. Rameshwar Das did a wonderful job in helping to write, edit and narrate the book.

…”No matter what someone else does to you, never put anyone out of your heart.”__Maharaji-ji

That creed is not something I was ever gifted with. Life has many pitfalls and I found plenty of them. However, I was first introduced to the writings and lectures of Ram Dass back in the late sixties, early seventies. I liked both him and his work then and I certainly love him now. One pretty cool dude. Ram Dass has always been consistent in his representation of pure love and words of wisdom. Sad to know he passed from this life but his body did outlast most of his peers. This autobiography was written over the last ten years of his life. Interesting to learn what was behind his very public service and get a bit of insight into the other players in his continually evolving sphere of influence. The humility of Ram Dass comes through his writing, though he never truly suffered from any monetary lack which is the plight it seems for many of us. Richard Alpert was born into wealth and privilege which for me casts a shadow at times on his lifetime of good work and self-realization, but it was comforting to know he gave it all away. Any money he made from lectures or the sales of his books was put back into his foundations.

"...My intellectual explorations made me think about who I was. I became an observer of my thoughts, learning how to watch how my mind changed. I became curious about the motivations that propelled me and others. Little did I realize that this observer stance would become important...I had just found the “I”—that perceptual point of view, that essence of identity, that scanning device. I’d found that place of awareness beyond form, where “I” exists independent of social and psychological roles. This “I” was beyond space and time…"

LSD offers this like-experience. Of course, I had felt it all along in my sober self, but using LSD gave me a first-hand intense lesson on getting outside of one’s self and being witness to it. As in not reacting. Simply watching and observing what might, or might not, unfold. Steve Jobs maintained that everyone should take a hit of LSD at least once. Not a bad idea.

"...Suddenly, sitting there, it occurs to me that if Maharaj-ji knows my thoughts about my mother, then he knows all my other thoughts too—including all the things I’m most ashamed of…"

The quotation above reflects the astounding idea, and fear, of growing up a Lutheran that our dear God should know everything about me no matter what. Frightening, and for my part cause for extreme consternation. The same phenomenon of a fellow human being over in India knowing everything about me, all my secrets, guilt, and shame, just might be enough for my head to explode, and is something fortunately I have yet to have happen to me. It happened to Richard Alpert.

"...We said that compassion is beyond sympathy or even empathy. It literally means being with another’s suffering. It includes the wisdom of impermanence and the understanding that personal narratives are not so important in the larger scheme of things…"

Nearing my own passing due to the sheer mathematics of my advancing age is propelling me into a more rigorous study on how I might better prepare for my own end days. I understand this is something we now all should be practicing every day, but rarely do we. My having a family member struggling on all levels while dying of cancer brings this book into even better focus.

"...Contentment is an attitude of the soul…Maharaj-ji said no one can die a moment before his or her time or live for a moment past it..."

A joy to read and well-written, Being Ram Dass is as good as it gets, unless one had the pleasure and good fortune of being present in his midst. I have yet to subscribe to all these beliefs, but there are plenty of them for me to chew on in what remains of my time on this earth.

This wonderful autobiography of American spiritual icon is a wonderful gem and a final gift from Ram Dass.

The autobiography starts out with the birth of Richard Alpert to a upper class New England family and his relationships with his parents and siblings. The first half of the book covers his youth, education and his eventually becoming a Harvard Professor which lead to his meeting of Timothy Leary and both their controversial at the time psychedelic research which in turn lead to their being fired from Harvard.

The second half of the book starts out with Alpert journeying to India and meeting his Guru which changed his life and being given the name Ram Dass. After India the book covers Ram Dass' many years of service & teaching and the last part of the book covers his stroke and his move to Maui and immersing himself in loving awareness. Which he totally embodied.

I loved this book! I highly recommend this book for any person who is on the spiritual journey or is interested in reading a great autobiography about a very fascinating person who has inspired so many!

Thank you Sounds True & Netgalley for giving me the privilege to read and review this beautiful book before the publish date! While reading the book i became sick with covid-19 for the second time this year! This book helped me in so many ways while I was ill and consider it a real blessing to have read it when I did! Thank you!

This book came my way when I was going through one of the lowest emotional moments in my life and needed spiritual uplifting to sail through. It seemed like a message from God himself. This book is also my first ever ARC from @netgalley when I was absentmindedly scrolling through my dashboard and I came through the powerful cover of this book. There was an instant pull.

Born in 1931 as Richard Alpert, Ram Dass was given his spiritual name by his Guru Neem Karoli Baba who has established several ashrams and temples devoted to Hanuman (Hindu monkey God) in the Himalayas. Born in a privileged family, Richard was a psychology professor at Harvard. He along with Timothy Leary pioneered psychedelic drugs research during the '50s-'60s which had raised lots of controversies. This book is Richard's transformational journey from a Harvard professor to the psychedelic researcher to
Becoming Ram Dass, one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the west.

This book is the first-person narration of a life that has been written with an open heart. Covering 88years of a lifetime which has been a witness and participant to many revolutionary events, Ram Dass's life is a message to every soul who is seeking spirituality.

This book is releasing on Jan'21 and recommended if:
- You are looking for a spiritual read
- Don't mind reading lengthy books
- You are interested in knowing about psychedelic related research.
- You like detailed autobiographies

Years ago I purchased some cassettes by Ram Dass from Sounds True. I guess you can tell that was quite a number of years ago! I felt I gained so much from them at the time, and was thrilled when the opportunity to read and review this autobiography came up.

In this book, Ram Dass invites the reader into an intriguing glimpse of his life, including, surprisingly, years where they actually tested drugs at Harvard. I would have never guessed that! He also gives in-depth information on his experiences, what they were like and how they came about.

The book is fascinating, and it's sure to become a classic for searchers everywhere.

Excellent memoir of one of the greatest teachers of our times. If you have been interested in the history and background of Ram Dass, this book will you give you more and then some! Highly recommended for those who have listened or read through his teachings.

Thank you NetGalley and Sounds True for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
The journey of Richard Alpert aka Ram Dass is one of discovery, awakenings, luminous moments and personal struggle. From the first page to the last you are on a wild ride, seated on the back of Ram’s Harley. His journey of many incarnations is profound and shadowed by issues surrounding sexual identity, the influence of psychedelics and associations with Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsburg, Elizabeth Kubler Ross and Aldous Huxley.
A trip to India in 1967 became his gateway to the spiritual practices of the East and led him to his guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji) who named him Ram Dass. Living as a devotee he became a yogi and returned to the United States sharing his experiences and transforming the spiritual paths of many with his famous mantra ‘Be Here Now’.
Suffering a stroke in 1997, he considered it an act of grace and continued to give small lectures on the island of Maui where he resided.
The words, influences and his legacy of Ram Dass live on. His openness and willingness to share his very full life with us in itself is a gift of enlightment..
This is a highly recommended and much needed gift for the soul.

Ram Dass began working on this nearly-400 page biography in 2010 at the insistence of his friend and co-author Rameshwar Das. Considering the last 10 years of his life were physically agonizing it took much persistence to complete.

Ram Dass begins with his childhood as Richard Alpert ,born to a wealthy New England couple., giving a portrait of his family and family dynamics. He spends quite a bit of the book delving into his childhood and also the psychedelic era he and Tim Leary helped shape and evolve.

Toward the middle of the book, goes to India on vacation and meets his guru Neem Karoli Baba aka Maharaj-ji, who gives him his spiritual name Ram Dass. Many experiences living communally with devotees, his nearly 20 year committed relationship with another man ( who he identifies as ‘Peter’) . This period also involves social action and reaching out to prisons and hospitals to do meditation there,

The last part Ram Dass talks
about moving to Maui and becoming enthralled with the island’s vegetation , the ocean, the air, the rain.
He discusses determined early work is this.

The writing sounds like his speaking, his with his wry humor and deep insights in conversational tone. Many thanks to Net Galley and Sounds True for e-ARC.