Philip Goldberg's eye-opening popular history, American Veda, shows how the ancient philosophy of Vedanta and the mind-body methods of Yoga have profoundly influenced millions of Americans and altered the religious landscape of our country. What exploded in the 1960’s with the Beatles extended stay in India actually began in the 1700’s, influencing the likes of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, then Emerson and Thoreau. The teachings now permeate our everyday lives as we practice yoga and meditation, use mindfulness techniques for healing, consider the ramifications of karma, and strive for enlightenment. As he traces the journey of Vedic wisdom from India to America and back again, we meet the great spiritual teachers Vivekananda and Yogananda who brought it West, and the scientists, authors, and others who absorbed it and passed it on.