“Autobiography of a bhakti Yogi” by John Berg, also known as Yogindravandana Dasa, is a deeply personal memoir that traces the path of an ordinary American boyhood toward an extraordinary spiritual awakening. From the neighborhoods of New Orleans to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, John paints vivid memories of family, community, and growing up in a post-war world filled with simplicity and struggle.

His story is rooted in childhood joys, such as playing ball in the streets, family gatherings, and the magic of youth, but it is also marked by profound challenges, including the sudden loss of his father. These experiences shaped his resilience and set him on a search for meaning that carried him through the turbulence of the 1960s counterculture. Like many of his generation, he experimented with freedom, music, and rebellion, but his restlessness eventually led him to something greater.

That turning point came with his encounter with the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and the practice of Krishna Consciousness. Embracing bhakti yoga, John found answers to his most profound questions and a way of life centered on devotion, community, and love. Even food became a spiritual practice as he learned the meaning of prasadam and the joy of cooking and eating purposefully.

More than a memoir, this book is an invitation. It is about discovering hope in hardship, finding clarity when life seems uncertain, and realizing that every step, whether painful or joyful, can bring us closer to the truth. Honest, heartfelt, and filled with wisdom, John Berg’s journey encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and explore the light that faith can bring.