Karma and Kismet
Michael Shandler
Koehler Books (2024)
ISBN: 979-8888243824
Reviewed by Amanda Caswell for Reader Views (02/2025)
Michael Shandler’s “Karma and Kismet: A Spiritual Quest Across Continents, Cultures, and Consciousness” is a deeply personal story that takes readers on an extraordinary journey. From a chaotic childhood in apartheid-era South Africa to spiritual awakenings in North America and India, Shandler’s life is a testament to strength, resistance, self-exploration, and the heartfelt search for meaning in a messy world.
The author opens his memoir with a gripping account of his early life in South Africa, where he navigates a difficult relationship with his abusive father. His yearning for love and acceptance propels him into a restless search for belonging—a journey that takes him from the strict confines of an English-speaking school in Cape Town to an Afrikaner boarding house in the ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn. These early chapters vividly capture his struggles with cultural displacement, identity, and survival in a world where antisemitism and personal trauma loom large.
As Shandler grows older, he endures even more struggles but overcomes them beautifully in both physical and spiritual ways. Shandler’s experiences navigating the complexities of relationships, financial hardships, and societal expectations, are told with raw vulnerability.
Finally escaping from South Africa, the author heads to Israel, where he works on a kibbutz, and then later journeys to North America during the countercultural revolution of the 1960s. Psychedelic exploration, encounters with spiritual leaders like Ram Dass, and immersion in alternative lifestyles mark his transition from rebellion to enlightenment.
His ultimate reconciliation with his father, once a source of deep trauma, serves as one of the most poignant moments in the book, offering a powerful message about healing, forgiveness, and breaking cycles of pain. Anyone who has struggled with trauma and forgiveness will find this part of the story particularly touching. One of the memoir’s greatest strengths stems from the author’s ability to weave together historical, cultural, and deeply personal narratives.
The structure of the novel can be nonlinear at times, yet so is life, which makes the author’s raw vulnerability even more impressive and engaging. The book mirrors life’s unpredictability with every chapter, giving the reader a vivid look inside a tumultuous life. What’s interesting is at times, the author’s writing snaps with humor—even in the most heartbreaking moments of hardship, providing a necessary lightness to the heavier themes of the book. His dialogues, particularly in moments of conflict, feel authentic and emotionally charged.
It’s obvious that Shandler is a natural observer of the world around him, offering sharp reflections on apartheid, war, political upheaval, and the spiritual movements of the 20th century. His talent to describe his surroundings—whether it’s the dusty landscapes of Oudtshoorn, the vibrant yet turbulent streets of 1960s America, or the meditative sanctuaries of ashrams—makes for an immersive reading experience. This story is naturally engaging, candid, and often poetic.
Michael Shandler masterfully balances introspective passages with action-driven storytelling and keeps the reader invested in his journey. “Karma and Kismet” is an unforgettable memoir that transcends the boundaries of personal storytelling and delves into the collective human experience. It is a book for seekers—those who have questioned their place in the world, grappled with the wounds of the past, or longed for something greater than themselves.