Swami Vivekananda remains an icon for all time, especially for the youth. He touched the lives of numerous personalities across the globe, including physicists like Nikola Tesla and J.C. Bose; and entrepreneurs like Rockefeller and J.R.D Tata. His famous Chicago address at the Parliament of Religions in 1893 is considered the turning point in the revival of Hindu pride at a universal level. His speeches and writings cover a vast range of topics-from science to spirituality, from technology to casteism, from Yoga to Vedanta. In a short lifespan of thirty-nine years, he triggered national resurgence in all walks of life. Essential Vivekananda is a compact, concise, representation that unveils all the shades of his personality and gives the reader an essential understanding of Swami Vivekananda-the monk and the man. It serves to introduce readers to his life, message and influence, and hopes to urge the reader to go to the original sources and know more about this glorious son of India.