The Recovering Materialist - Book Review



The Recovering Materialist From a Nordic Hardcore Punk to a Hindu Monk in California by Tuomas Mäkinen

To this day, it’s not common to see a Hindu monk in the streets of America or anywhere else in the Western world. But, it’s not impossible - and it might no longer be an uncommon sight there in the near future.  In the past few decades, an increasing number of Westerners seeking a more peaceful spiritual life have adopted the Krishna path. And, Tuomas Mäkinen is one of those men.


In his book The Recovering Materialist, Mäkinen recounts his life story of conversion from a punk artist to becoming an adherent of a strict and disciplined way of life. He was born and raised to Finnish parents who are Evangelical Lutheran Church adherents. Although he was one of those individuals who doubted the teachings of his religion. He expressed that his country’s religion has...


“... nothing to do with deep spirituality and internal change but has everything to do with covert materialism and sheepish conformity to social customs and hierarchies.”  


Thus, in his teenage years, the author sought wisdom from other religious organizations, including a group that promoted neo-paganism. At the same time, he actively performed in a music band that promoted hardcore punk. A turning point came into his life when he met what he referred to as “the laughing Buddha''. He said the man handed him a book about Indian philosophy and invited him to a Krishna temple in Helsinki. From that time onwards, Mäkinen’s life has turned around completely. 


In The Recovering Materialist: From a Nordic Hardcore Punk to a Hindu Monk in California, he tells all the joys and hardships he experienced as a Hindu monk. 


About the Book and the Author


The Recovering Materialist is a personal life journey of a man from Finland who was dissatisfied with his family’s Christian beliefs, and whose homeland seemed to lean on neo-Nazi principles rather than establish a nation that refused to hurt other people.


Tuomas Mäkinen writes from the heart and articulates his thoughts well. By providing vivid descriptions of his journey, he takes the readers on a good ride through the joys and challenges of a monastic life. He virtually drags them into helping build the temple and walking through the pilgrimage site in India. His style of writing is simple and easy to relate to. And, I appreciate this kind of writing. It keeps the reader glued to the pages until the end.


I categorically say that The Recovering Materialist is a good material to guide aspiring monks or those seeking a contemplative way of life using the Krishna path. It gives the readers insights into what to expect in a Hindu monastic life. And, just a word of caution, the author does not promise a smooth journey, but a joyful and meaningful experience.


Meanwhile, on the technical side, the book is well-proofread. I find no typographical or grammatical errors in it. 


Overall, I give The Recovering Materialist: From a Nordic Hardcore Punk to a Hindu Monk in California a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I highly recommend it to men who want to pursue a peaceful spiritual life that follows the Krishna path. I’m not sure, however, if this guide is applicable to women. The book is also a good read for general readers. The Recovering Materialist gives a glimpse into a certain type of life apart from the secular world.

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