Celestine Prophecy, The: Abridged

Rating:
Summary: Danger! Do not read! Can be harmful to your intelligence!
Review: I've heard this book was written to awaken the spiritual in the individual, but the only thoughts "awakened" in my mind as I read were baffled questions: "To what age of audience was this book written (fifth graders, perhaps)? How in the world did it become so popular? Where's the nearest book burning, and how soon can I get there?" The basic spiritual philosphy is nothing new, but the real problem here is the writing. Redfield's fictional narrative is so atrocious, it completely distracts from any redeeming qualities the book might have spiritually. I can only guess that he chose this goony adventure premise because his principles were too half-baked and re-hashed to present upfront. Unfortunately, his writing skills are far too weak to benefit from the fiction format. Consequently, this book provides only the worst of both genres with none of the positives of either one. The fact that something like this could be such a phenomenal best-seller and spawn several sequals boggles the mind of the intelligent reader. Perhaps, like the "characters" in this insipid "novel," the book itself somehow drains the reader of his or her energy and renders them incapable of intelligent decision-making skills when shopping at the bookstore... Read this only if you want to be enraged, insulted, or put to sleep (permanently, that is).

Rating:
Summary: truth cleverly disguised as fiction
Review: I had missed the chance to read the Celestine Prophesy when I was about 14. I was curious to see what's topping the charts of the New York Times bestseller, and there it was. The blurb wasn't terrible flattering, and I thought I had a lot more interesting things to do.

It's been six years of bittersweet memories that I wouldn't trade for the world. Along the way, I've been looking for answers to questions, learning and researching tai chi, talking with people determined to make a better living.

The second time I encountered the Celestine Prophesy was last week. I wasn't looking for the book. I've never heard anyone recommend it to me. I was at a bookstore browsing. I saw the book, and picked it up at as a prop since there's a lovely lass standing across the room. At least, the book was a prop until I really read the first few pages. Since then, I've been compelled to read this book, and a few of James Redfield's other books.

There's truth to what the less-than-"wow" reviews have said: the writing by itself wasn't all that great. The plot was well-greased and well-worn. The content of the book is not original.

But that's not what's compelling about the book. I knew what the author was trying to say, even if I wanted to smack the main character for not picking it up fast enough. Obfuscating and encoding the book into some college literature mishmash would not have the same impact as the book's clarity did. I wasn't just reading the book: I was reliving my life because I've encountered, first hand, what went on in the book. But this was the first time these ideas and concepts were put together like this. This was the first time that I could see myself as a whole person, and not just pieces everywhere. The Celestine Prophesy is catalytic -- it causes what's going to happen anyways at much faster pace. That's why, I think, the book is so compelling.

Some other reviewers have disparaged the lack of originality in the book. I have yet to meet people who dislike the book, and I would be interesting in meeting more of these people. From what I can tell of these people who loath the book, they didn't find the silver bullet in the book that would make their lives better, and they saw the book saw the book as a passive form of entertainment, or perhaps they just want spiritual awareness and the meaning of their lives handed to them. For those reasons alone, the book sucks. But then again, if you had grokked that you can take your spiritual life into your own hands, you wouldn't notice the material failings of the book.

I bid you all a fair journey. Please direct any personal flames to [e-mail] as I'd like to understand more of why some people hate the book.

---hhh

Rating:
Summary: Fine literature is not the only criteria for fine reading
Review: I read this book when I was 48, with my dad who was 80. We both really enjoyed the light style, easy to read, and the opportunity to look forward to, and discuss each of the insights as the were unfolded. It was a very rewarding experience. This is a book anyone can enjoy. It refreshes the spirit even if the messages are already known. I felt inspired afterwards to be outdoors more, and to respect nature. May the Forest be with you. Thanks :-)

Rating:
Summary: the one nugget
Review: Why write a book about spirituality in the form of a poorly-written third-rate Latin American adventure novel? Who knows? I'm guessing that the author thought that the readers are too dumb to read a book written like a book on spiritual awakening. And maybe he didn't have the writing skills to make his point convincingly otherwise.

After a few pages I was so insulted by the author's tone that I skimmed the rest, looking for nuggets of insight. I found one: some people get their energy by draining it from others, but giving your own energy willingly doesn't deplete it. That's all you need to know, stripped of all the new age hooey and fake adventure story.

Rating:
Summary: Quite possibly the worst book ever written.
Review: Written with the prose of an eigth grade creative writing student, full of McSpiritual boomer whining and whacko metaphisics, and bad "man climbing the mountain of wisdom" allegory, The Celestine Prophecy is like watching a slow motion train wreck.

It gets worse with every page. One dimentional characters come and go. The anonymous first person narrator is about as engaging a story teller as Al Gore. The whole premis is preposterous.

Do yourself a favor. If you are looking for true insight, buy Robert Persig's first book, and call it good. The Celestine Prophecy is a wast of your time.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read, but...
Review: Here's the thing... Celestine Prophecy was a brilliant start, a hope for some spiritual change in the world. However, what came after is the disappointment, more Redfield books, just cranking them out... it's degenerating into self-help, not world change, and in that you won't be able to take much pleasure.

You should buy this book and read it just for the bravery of it's creation, but then again you'll only be sad in the long run that nothing has really come of it.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written, Spiritually Bankrupt
Review: This book earned the dubious distinction of being the one and only book I ever threw against the wall. A complete waste of time and money. This is as spiritually nutritional as a fast food meal. That so many find it inspiring is a sad testimonial to the state of spiritual health and depth in the world today. On the other hand, spirit is where you find it. Personally, I couldn't get this book out of my library fast enough.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable read -- fiction or not!
Review: I enjoyed this books very much. Whether it is the "truth" or fiction, I enjoyed it at it's own merit.

I have this to say about the review by Allan Darrow: You clearly must imagine yourself to be an intellectual and unbelievably witty. I can see how you can give one negative review of a book but why then would you continue to read books by the same author? Just to give a few more "witty" and "insightful" reviews? Since you obviously believe that you're such an authority on religions and cultures--why not write a book and then we'll get to review it.

Rating:
Summary: The secrets of Zen Buddhists and Chi Kung masters
Review: I was happy to find out ideas in this book perfectly complements Zen Buddhism and Chi Kung. On top of that, it added a new twist on "people draining on eachothers' energy" which I find to be very true. This is a perfect complement to Glenn Morris's "Path Notes" book which actually describes how to reach enlightment using basic energy exercises. (Chi Kung). Skills like seeing energy fields have been around for almost thousand years and is very real. Great book. Storyline could be fiction but foundation is not. I will apply it in my daily life.

Rating:
Summary: Alice in New Age Land
Review: OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES:

To paraphrase Tweedledee's story of the Walrus and the Carpenter in Alice in Wonderland:

"It is time to talk of New Age Things," said the author,/ "Of soul groups and force fields and astral projection / Of time travel and things / And why our energy levels are not boiling hot / And whether dakinis have wings."

Like Alice, I think the author James Redfield has been drinking too many magic potions and smoking too much hookah with the caterpillar and his New Age friends. In his trilogy, the author weaves fictional stories around New Age doctrines and beliefs. Each book starts out "above ground" in the realm of reality but soon, like Alice, we find ourselves falling down into the rabbit hole of the New Age mind.

Here in New Age Land that we learn the "TRUTH" that everything above ground is not as it appears to be. One key truth to unlock the door and enter the magic of New Age Land is to be very careful of what one eats. The food of choice is to eat only live greens, preferably uncooked, which will increase your energy levels so that you can disappear and reappear like Cheshire cats on demand. Poor Alice, if only she hadn't eaten the cake!

Once your energy levels are high enough, and with a little practice, you too will be able to escape reality and enter New Age Land, any time, anywhere and any place. Here you will learn how to perform all sorts of reality-escaping magic, including astral projection and time travel. You can even visit your past and future lives or just sit around and vibrate at high energy levels. Just as in Wonderland, New Age Land is also full of mystical and magical creatures that appear and disappear to help you on your journey. However, these creatures are not seen by everyone, you have to increase your energy levels high enough and look out of the corners of your eyes or cause your eyes to go out of focus to see them. Soon, with a little practice, you will be able to see them too. Some of these "colorful" beings include angels like creatures called dakini (apparently similar to angels) and soul groups that are part of your previous and future lives to help you along your journey.

What is the ultimate purpose of all this? Well, after you learn the ten truths taught in the first two books you must begin to make them an integral part of your life and teach others these truths. Soon many people will embrace these truths to the point where we collectively reach critical mass and then POOF, we all evolve consciously into a spiritual society where there is no need for clothing and no one goes hungry because we all can just create it in our minds in the land called Shambhala!

I hope none of this makes much sense to you, because if it does, you're beginning to worry me. Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland for a young girl named Alice. Young children, as every parent knows, have a vivid imagination and in their early years they have a hard time distinguishing between reality and fantasy. Fortunately, most children eventually grow up and learn the difference; unfortunately, the author of these books was not one of them.

REVIEW OF THE CELESTINE PROPHECY:

This is the first book in the series. Here the main character and his friends are on a quest to find nine hidden spiritual insights that are lost somewhere deep in the Peruvian rainforest. Of course it wouldn't be much of a story if there weren't any evil opposition; how about the evil Catholic Church working with the Peruvian government to stop these seekers from uncovering the "truths". YAWN. In the first half of the book our hero struggles with how to interpret events that are occurring and reoccurring in his life. Certainly we can all relate to that. Unfortunately, about midway through the book the story takes a left turn from reality, bypasses the signpost up ahead that says, "Warning, Twilight Zone Ahead", goes beyond the "Outer Limits" and enters a realm where characters begin glowing like light bulbs and appearing and disappearing like Cheshire cats. My advice is to read Alice in Wonderland instead.