COMMENT:A well-researched expose of a guru who wields power not only in his native India, but also worldwide. Some of Sai Baba's devotees have talked themselves into accepting every unnecessary medical emergency which they encounter in his care as further proof of his "healing powers." These loyal followers maintain his claim to telepathic omniscience and his ability to materialize objects out of thin air. The author, however, presents a detailed examination of these "miracles" and shows that on various occasions Sai Baba's methods have been indistinguishable from the deceptive techniques used by stage magicians. Although the tone is restrained and objective, the reader will be touched by the vivid stories: tales of ruined health, broken families and wasted lives. It is a compelling account of a self-proclaimed holy man who leaves a trail of human misery behind him -- smiling beatifically all the while.
