Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't read past the first few pages.
Review: One of most memorably horrible books I've ever read (well, actually TRIED to read, as I couldn't make myself finish it). I kept thinking it was some sort of joke, which I guess it was. Like many here I thought this book must have some kind of merit, but it doesn't. It's an embarrasment to the literary community and to humanity in general.
Rating:
Summary: Upon reflection
Review: I read this book a few months ago, though I should have probably read it a few years ago, for I would most likely have liked it a lot more then, than I did when I finally read it. Coming into it I expected to love it from all the great reviews I'd heard, but I found rather that many times I would have rather just put it away and not finish it. I forced myself to read it all and now looking back with time to reflect, I feel I'm better suited to give a more objective review. For starters, its not a well written book. Its a book that you read for the information: the message or meaning. The language and style did not make for good or pleasurable reading. I also found some peculiar language used such as 'quantum leap' and 'critical mass'. Seemed odd and out of place to use scientific terms in a clearly unscientific book, and improperly. Another aspect that I found to be unsettling was that many times you ask yourself if this book is meant to be ficton or not, because the author uses characters that are university professors or scientists and such that pushes one to believe that there is actually some sort of basis in reality for the claims made in the book. Overall I found the book to be disappointing. Some of the ideas were interesting, but my biggest problem is just that I disagree with the author's "philosophy". To me, when I think of a person who I haven't talked to in years and then that person calls me that same day, I chalk it up to coincidence, I don't believe there is any meaning behind it. Then again I don't wonder why the other 20 people I think about that day don't call me up. Placing meaning behind coincidence and random events doesn't sit well with me, nor the scientific community for that matter. So read if you think you'll enjoy it, or are interested in what it might have to say, but don't read it if your looking for a well written book or engrossing story. =)
Rating: 
Summary: The Celestine Prochecy
Review: Hi there. Awhile back, my friend told me to read this book. So I borrowed it. It was amazing. It changed my whole view on the world. What it speaks of is so totally true that it blew my mind. I suggest to anyone to read this book. Even if you may not be into the spiritial stuff. (If you aren't then why are you looking up this book?) Read it. I gurantee you'll enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction?
Review: Agreed, not good writing, but it changed the way I see life. What incredible ideas! Despite the fact that it's merely a tale, if everyone read this book the world would never be the same. I found it interesting to say the least, powerful. It's far more than only a book... read it, I assure you that you will find magic follows it. You'll see what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: YOU ARE NOT READY
Review: I was amazed and shocked at all the negative reviews for this book, but in my quest for understanding I realised something..... THIS BOOK WILL ONLY BE OF USE TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY TO MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE. If you are reading this book and it does not move you. Put it down and pick it back up when you can give it your undivided attention. It took me two years to actually read this book. It is a really interesting book, but the fact of the matter is that I was not ready to change. I was truly content to wallow in my state. But when I felt that I had had enough, I remembered where I had placed the book and it read it . All of a sudden it made sense and I found the writing to be truly inspirational. If you haven't experienced this sensation, then YOU WERE NOT READY. Too often we try to rush things in our life and it never works out the way we want it to. But I have discovered that the message in this book came right on time (well at least for me).
Rating:
Summary: Love and Light
Review: What a beautiful fable James Redfield has written to convey Universal Truths. This story is simply captivating! I think this is a book best given to those who are at the beginning stages of their spiritual journey, to those want to learn and to those who are ready to open their eyes. The nine insights are undeniable Truths that we can employ in our everyday life to help us to be more loving and effective beings. Although the ending is perhaps a little over-imaginative, the principles taught within this tale are invaluable to our spiritual evolution. You know when you are hearing the Truth because everything seems familiar, like you have already heard or read these words before - but you can't think where you read it or who told you. That is because this book is just reminding the Soul of what it knows naturally BEFORE we are conditioned by the world we live in. The Celestine Prophecy is essential for inner growth and development. A beautiful first step.
Rating: 
Summary: some potential
Review: The book caught my imagination from the offset then the author's writing went on a tangent with the sole intention of selling his ideas. I enjoyed the messages, which may also be found in other self-help books. If you enjoyed this one I recommend you read Valkyries by Paulo Coelho, which is deeper and more meaningful as it is a personal account.
Rating:
Summary: a little shaky
Review: Most Utopians, but particularly Environmentalist Utopians, share a rather curious characteristic, they tend to hate humans. James Redfield is no exception to this rule. The Utopia he imagines will have far less people, will worship old growth trees, and whoever is left over for this epoch will apparently spend the bulk of their time vibrating (perhaps having attained a state of pure energy?). Basically, Heaven is a depopulated place, where we turn Nature into a fetish, and ditch our bodies. This just is not the belief system of a person who's comfortable with himself or his own humanity. Sadly, being antihuman is no bar to success, nor to being taken seriously--witness the continuing academic reputation of Paul Ehrlich--so this book has sold far too many copies and, in a turn of events that makes one hope that future archaeologists never find a copy of the book, actually made the Amazon.com list of the Top 100 Books of the Millennium. In order to save you the agony of reading this drivel, here are the (first) nine Celestine Insights, as presented by Redfield at his website : A Critical Mass A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture, an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences. The Longer Now This awakening represents the creation of a new, more complete world view, which replaces a five-hundred-year-old preoccupation with secular survival and comfort. While this technological preoccupation was an important step, our awakening to life's coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe. A Matter Of Energy We now experience that we live not in a material universe, but in a universe of dynamic energy. Everything extant is a field of sacred energy that we can sense and intuit. Moreover, we humans can project our energy by focusing our attention in the desired direction...where attention goes, energy flows...influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives. The Struggle For Power Too often humans cut themselves off from the greater source of this energy and so feel weak and insecure. To gain energy we tend to manipulate or force others to give us attention and thus energy. When we successfully dominate others in this way, we feel more powerful, but they are left weakened and often fight back. Competition for scarce, human energy is the cause of all conflict between people. The Message Of The Mystics Insecurity and violence ends when we experience an inner connection with divine energy within, a connection described by mystics of all traditions. A sense of lightness - buoyancy - along with the constant sensation of love are measures of this connection. If these measures are present, the connection is real. If not, it is only pretended. Clearing The Past The more we stay connected, the more we are acutely aware of those times when we lose connection, usually when we are under stress. In these times, we can see our own particular way of stealing energy from others. Once our manipulations are brought to personal awareness, our connection becomes more constant and we can discover our own growth path in life, and our spiritual mission - the personal way we can contribute to the world. Engaging The Flow Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question; then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us towards the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being. The Interpersonal Ethic We can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. Care must be taken not to lose our inner connection in romantic relationships. Uplifting others is especially effective in groups where each member can feel energy of all the others. With children it is extremely important for their early security and growth. By seeing the beauty in every face, we lift others into their wisest self, and increase the chances of hearing a synchronistic message. The Emerging Culture As we all evolve toward the best completion of our spiritual missions, the technological means of survival will be fully automated as humans focus instead on synchronistic growth. Such growth will move humans into higher energy states, ultimately transforming our bodies into spiritual form and uniting this dimension of existence with the after-life dimension, ending the cycle of birth and death. If any of that has even a mild ring of truth to you, by all means read the book. You and the rest of the Celestinians are certain to have a grand old time circling the redwoods, sharing your energy, and vibrating like tuning forks. The rest of us actually have lives to get on with. GRADE : F
Rating:
Summary: This book is a fraud and poorly written at that!
Review: Maybe it was me, but I bought this book thinking that it truly offered insight into an ancient philosophy. You can imagine my displeasure when I got home and read the fine print under the title "an adventure". Oh well, I thought, my goof. But it'll probably be good anyway. Boy, was I wrong. The book is written in the style usually adopted by would-be authors who have spent too much time in front of the TV: it was very heavy on meaningless physical description but virtually silent in the type of narative that truly places one in the story. But, let me just cut to the chase. I'm a lawyer by training. This means I have endured reading obtuse, boring, and dense statutes and cases. Folks, I can get through anything. I have finished books that I really didn't like just out of principle. This is probably the only book in recent memory that I could not finish. I couldn't get through a page without feeling that my intelligence was being insulted. 'Nuff said.
Rating:
Summary: At least it's a nice try
Review: Okay, okay, so this guy's talent as a novelist is poor. Well, at least we can give him credit for trying a new creative approach, don't you think? Previous to this book, I don't think anyone has ever written a self-help book in the form a novel. One should think of this as a fairy-tale written for children. It's like carrot cake. If your childen don't like carrots, but you want them to eat it because it's nutritious, you chop it up into little pieces and mix it in a cake, so they would enjoy eating it, right? Well that's pretty much what this "novel" approach is about. Some adult readers may find this approach manipulative, but the message he's trying to get across is not bad or anything. He talks about the importance of preserving our environment, he gives out a few tips about making relationships work, and in the last chapter, he portrays his image of a utopian world. I think the puropose of his Celestine project is what he states in the 6th chapter. He wants to make up a new way of thinking which integrates Eastern and Western philosophy. In addition to that, it seems like he wants to integrate science, Christianity, and relationship skills into it as well. Although a little bit immature, I think his attempt is at least worth giving credit for. Personally, the one thing that I find is missing from his books is that, although the story takes place in South America, there is no reference to the Native American teachings. From what I understand, Native Americans used to live by a beautiful philosophy of their own, in perfect harmony with the environment, animals, and the "Great Spirit" (God). The Christians should have left them alone instead of trying to convert them, and rob their land. If the author here is so much an environmentalist, I think he should have paid more respect to his fellow Native Americans, and refer to their original teachings in this book. Another thing that bothers me is not the novel, but one of the editorial reviews on Amazon. One of the critics up there compared this book to Carlos Castaneda's works. Well, I've read Mr. Castaneda's works, and I'm sorry, this Celestine thing is no match. It doesn't have the depth that Mr. Castaneda's works have. If any of you readers out there are interested in the real thing, check out Carlos Castaneda's "The Teachings of Don Juan" and its 7 sequels.
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