Priests, Kings, and Women in the Early Upanisads: The Character of the Self in Ancient India

“Black’s book is well researched and intelligent… Most impressive is his ability to bring out the concrete and the social in these narratives, including issues of wealth, prestige, regional rivalry, and gender relations.” – Journal of the American Oriental Society

“…[an] innovative and stimulating account of early Indian thought.” – History of Religions

“This is an outstanding book.” – Patrick Olivelle, editor of Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE

“This is the finest, most insightful, and most theoretically sophisticated book on the Upanisads I have ever read. For years I have had students come up to me after class and ask me to recommend a book on the Upanisads and I never could. Now, at last, we have a long critical read of these texts from a multitheoretical perspective sociological, historical, rhetorical, and gendered.” – Jeffery J. Kripal, author of The Serpent’s Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of Religion

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