This collection of essays investigates the multifaceted role of Swami Vivekananda in the modernization of Hinduism and his broader impact on global religious and social thought. Editor William Radice, an academic at the University of London, compiles fourteen scholarly papers that examine Vivekananda's life and work through a critical lens. The volume moves beyond hagiography to analyze how his ideals interacted with Indian social reform movements and Western theological discourse. By contextualizing his teachings, the contributors aim to decouple his legacy from contemporary communal or chauvinist appropriations.

Experts and reviewers recognize this collection as a rigorous and necessary contribution to the study of modern Indian intellectual history. The text is noted for its academic depth and its success in providing a balanced, nuanced perspective on a complex historical figure.