For anyone drawn into the magic of Paramahansa Yogananda’s journey, the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) Centenary Edition stands out as the gold standard. It’s the unabridged 2013 release, packed with fresh material that wasn’t in the original 1946 print. Think of it as the deluxe, fully-loaded version—over 300 photographs, three previously unpublished chapters (including a candid account of his London lectures and California farm life), plus an updated timeline and two forewords: one by Yogananda himself, the other by his niece, Daya Mata.

Older SRF editions (1951, ’55 and beyond) still offer the heart of the memoir, but they left out a few “juicy” bits that were recovered from Yogananda’s personal manuscripts. Those editions can feel a bit like snapshots—charming, sure, but missing a couple of frames. By contrast, the Centenary Edition peels back every layer of the onion, restoring passages that make the story more vivid and cohesive.

Penguin Classics publishes a version with scholarly footnotes and an academic introduction—perfect for book groups or university courses hungry for context. It trades off some of the original’s glossy photo spreads to keep costs down, so it’s a no-frills, text-focused pick. Kindle readers might find it handy, though formatting quirks sometimes pop up in the digital layout.

Meanwhile, for those who want bells and whistles, there’s an illustrated gift edition with color plates and ribbon marker—ideal for turning heads on a coffee table or gifting to a friend who’s just discovering meditation in 2025’s mindfulness boom.

Ultimately, the SRF Centenary Edition is the go-to: nothing chopped, everything polished. It feels like taking a backstage pass into Yogananda’s world—perfect for both first-timers and longtime devotees eager to catch every whispered insight into Kriya Yoga.