I Am That unfolds not as a conventional narrative but as a series of live “Q&A” sessions with Nisargadatta Maharaj, captured, edited and translated into English. Each chapter carries a thematic title—“State Before Birth & After Death,” “Love & Immortality,” “Freedom from the Known”—and consists of raw dialogue between seekers and the Maharaj in his humble Mumbai flat. No frills, no fictional plot—just seekers posing questions, Maharaj firing back razor-sharp pointers to the ever-present Self.

Picture it like a vintage podcast: spontaneous, unscripted, occasionally playful yet always razor-keen. The editor stitches these exchanges together around central themes rather than strict chronology, so dipping in at any chapter feels like plugging into the heart of a live satsang. Footnotes and brief translator’s notes clarify Sanskrit terms—“atma,” “maya,” “nirguna”—while letting Maharaj’s voice stay front and center.

It’s this stripped-down, conversational format—akin to overhearing wisdom over chai—that gave the book its staying power. In an age of slick self-help webinars and Instagram gurus, I Am That still hits home with its unvarnished honesty, proving that timeless guidance often arrives most potently when served straight up.