Reddit reviews Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction

Isn't that series really, really old? Best not to read translations that are too old.

You can't just jump in and read stuff like the Upanishads or the Veda. They are neither rigorous philosophical texts presenting a certain position, nor commandments, though some vidhi (injunctions) relating to practice are present, nor are they the life of somebody which the Gospels are.

So you must approach with an introductory text, and then read the Upanishads with a particular commentary. Also, many texts will ignore the Shaiva and Tantric traditions, which also need to be read.

Here are some links to looking at the Upanishads from the Advaita perspective

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As for introductory books, I recommend three.

The Essentials of Hinduism: A Comprehensive Overview of the World's Oldest Religion

The Spiritual Heritage of India: A Clear Summary of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Hinduism: A very short introduction

You can get all three for $35. After that you can go into more detail.

Get a copy of Kim Knott's book: http://www.amazon.com/Hinduism-A-Very-Short-Introduction/dp/0192853872

Nobody is going to take the time to write out even a basic explanation of Hinduism on an internet thread. It's simply too much information, too broad.

If you want a short, cut-and-dry "Western" kind of history, this one is good although kind of dry (in my view): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0192853872/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1420169174&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SY200_QL40