"Ayurveda: The Genes of God" is Susan Bass's coffee-table introduction to the ancient science of Ayurveda. Twenty years of teaching, distilled into accessible chapters with gorgeous images, written for the new generations discovering Ayurveda for the first time. If you've been curious about Ayurveda and don't know where to start, this is the book Susan wrote for you.
What the book is, in plain English
A coffee-table book filled with gorgeous images and accessible content about Ayurveda. Not a textbook. Not a thousand pages of Sanskrit. A roadmap for moving from surviving to thriving using the foundational concepts of Ayurveda, written in language anyone can pick up and follow.
What Susan means by "the genes of God"
The genes of God are in your DNA, in your every cell, and have been guiding your growth every step of the way. The book invites you to truly feel and understand your unique code, your own genes of God.
In Susan's framing, Ayurveda is the ancient science that teaches you how to take care of yourself. This ancient sacred healing path helps you connect to your internal source of power, to your own genes of God.
Who Susan wrote this book for
Susan wrote this book for the new generations. Her mission in writing about Ayurveda is to elevate today's youth, filling them with vitality, enthusiasm, and hope as they discover the long history of knowledge and support behind them.
Practically: if you're curious about Ayurveda and want a beautiful, readable starting point. If you're a Sarasvati student or alum and want a reference that lives on your coffee table. If you're looking for a gift that honors a friend's wellness journey without lecturing them.
What Dr. Vasant Lad said about it
Susan Bass has brought the ancient Ayurvedic concept of universal creative intelligence (Mahat) which may carry the genes of God in every flower and blade of grass. This is a masterpiece of bringing science and spirituality together.
Dr. Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc
Susan studied with Dr. Lad for eleven years between 2004 and 2015. His endorsement of this book sits in that lineage.
What it felt like in the room (Erin Donley's account)
Erin Donley, longtime friend and student, wrote this after the sold-out book launch at New Renaissance Bookshop in Portland:
Despite the frigid Portland rain, crowds lined up outside New Renaissance Bookshop for Susan Bass's sold-out book launch.
When I met Susan 15 years ago, she was terrified of public speaking, yet determined to introduce Ayurveda to a fast-food, quick-fix society.
Now, here she was, presenting an extensive coffee-table book filled with gorgeous images and accessible content about this timeless medicine.
Being there brought tears to my eyes, not because she "made it" or "overcame" anything, but because in that moment, the book stopped being just the author's and became everybody's.
The energy felt electric. There's something profound in shaking an author's hand, getting books signed, and joining a room full of people drawn to the power of words. And as the book passed from her hands to ours, we all became part of its story.
Erin Donley
Where to find the book
The full book is at thegenesofgod.com. You can also find it on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Ayurveda: The Genes of God"? Susan Bass's coffee-table book introducing Ayurveda to readers new to the ancient science. Twenty years of teaching, distilled into accessible chapters with gorgeous images.
Do I need to know Ayurveda already to read it? No. Susan wrote the book specifically for readers without prior background. It is a roadmap from foundational concepts forward.
Where can I buy "Ayurveda: The Genes of God"? At thegenesofgod.com or on Amazon.
Who endorsed the book? Dr. Vasant Lad, Susan's primary teacher of eleven years, called it "a masterpiece of bringing science and spirituality together."
Who is the book for? New generations discovering Ayurveda for the first time. Curious readers without prior background. Sarasvati students who want a beautiful reference for their shelf. Anyone looking for a wellness gift that's substantive but not preachy.