The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered texts of all time—and one of the most impenetrable for Western yoga practitioners and students of contemplative practices.

In his popular introduction to Bhagavad Gita, author Joshua M. Greene distills the Gita’s 700 verses into easy-to-follow dialog and insightful commentaries. He reveals that this quintessential yoga treaty is, in essence, a heart-to-heart talk between two friends about the meaning of life. As Krishna and his warrior-friend Arjuna reminisce on a battlefield known as Kurukshetra, readers learn that the two played together as children and became family when Arjuna married Krishna’s sister. In later life the men shared extraordinary adventures, including a journey to places outside the known universe.

Like all great literature, the Gita explores the human condition: who we are, where we came from, and why we’re here. Unlike most editions, here is a practical, reader-friendly introduction that has become a staple in yoga studios nationwide.