Rating: 
Summary: For idiots by an idiot
Review: This is the worst book I've ever read. It isn't profound, it's just dumb. I could actually feel myself becoming stupid as I read it. Keep clear at all costs.
Rating: 
Summary: Contradictory
Review: One aspect of this book that didn't make sense to me were the control dramas. The author says that all of us, without exception, fall into one of four control drama categories. Yet, he then goes on to say that if a child is raised in a particular way (and he gives details of what that way is), then that child will NOT grow up with a control drama. But there must be X number of people in the population who WERE raised in that particular manner, so therefore, it is incorrect to say that every one of us has a control drama.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing! Gripping! Enlightening!
Review: The Celestine Prophesy and The Tenth Insight (two books combined into one) were recently giving to me as a gift. I had never before heard of these books or of James Redfield. However, I became hooked once I began reading about the fictional ten insights. Over the next two days, I read both books consisting of 475 pages... put them down for a few days, and then preceded to read them a second time. I thoroughly enjoyed Redfield's presentation of his new age spiritual parables. Redfield described these parables within the context of a voyage that takes place mainly in Peru. An exciting voyage not unlike an Indiana Jones adventure. I am not certain if James Redfield truly believes the spiritual philosophies presented in his books, but I have realized that many people have taken him seriously. For example, I conducted an on-line search for these books using the search engine, Google. Many links and websites were subsequently retrieved... some of which negatively compared the ten insights to Christian philosophies. Obviously, the critics of the insights felt threatened. To these people I say... "Jeese... lighten up". The Celestine Prophesy and The Tenth Insight are not meant to be taken literally or intended to replace conventional Christian beliefs (at least I don't think they are). However, the book's new age ideas help open-minded people expand their understanding of their role on earth and of their relationship with God. After all, nobody really knows what lies beyond our current lives. However, The Celestine Prophesy and The Ten Insights makes considering life after death a fun exercise, much more fun than what I have learned to expect based on traditional Christian beliefs. They also encourage us to put mystery and adventure back into our lives in the here and now. Did I say that these books were Engrossing... Gripping.. and Enlightening?
Rating:
Summary: An exercise in open mindedness...
Review: First of all, please do me a favor and try not to take the negative reviews too seriously. I believe that those reviewers have not yet reached the point in their lives where they can take something for what it's worth instead of picking apart anything that in their eyes is not absolutely perfect.
Don't buy the book--at first. Check it out from your local library and give it a chance before spending any money. If you remain open minded about the information within the book, then and only then will you be able to grasp what James Redfield is trying to get across. This book is not a history lesson or a class teaching geography; this is simply a story trying to help the reader achieve something greater in their lives.
So please try to overlook the close-minded attacking reviews and give something different a shot. I promise you that you will not be let down.
Thank you for giving this book a chance.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: Ugh...this is really just the author's religious ramblings, poorly disguised as a novel. And I wouldn't even object to the religious and spiritual aspects of the book (in fact, this is why I picked it up in the first place) if not for the fact that the writing is so spectacularly bad and the characters so one-dimensional. The author can't even keep his facts and story straight (in one scene someone is supposed to be driving and the next paragraph he is reading a map). Normally I try to give books away after reading them but this one I threw in the garbage...I couldn't think of anyone who I would want to subject to this and waste their time. Oh well.
Rating:
Summary: Answered my question.
Review: I read this book with amazement, recently given to me by my daughter. Back in the 60s, I had very similar experiences, and had no one to talk to about them. They just stayed bottled up in me all of these years. I didn't know what to make of them. After reading the book, I realized I had several mystical experiences which opened my mind to understand what others weren't understanding. What a relief to finally have an answer to my questions to myself about how and why. It is good to know I am not alone. I am not into "New Age", etc. For me the principles are an opportunity for an expanded awareness of what I already believe. Is what he writes truth or fiction? It seems to be a combination of both. I have aleady experienced much of what he wrote about and look forward to a deeper understanding of my spiritual evolution.
Rating:
Summary: Not a *total* waste of time
Review: I'd like to give this book a good review. No, really, I would. When I picked it up, I had high hopes for a deeply moving spiritual experience. Unfortunately, I didn't get it. Oh, it was a good reminder that I need to be more connected to the source of my spiritual strength, which is God. But, mostly, it was watered-down New Age mubo-jumbo. It started out okay, though it wasn't what I expected. It was, essentially, a work of fiction meant to impart nine "insights" of a spiritual nature. I hadn't expected a story at all, but I plowed ahead anyway. Even though it was written at about the same level as USA Today. Then, they started to tell me that I needed to be a vegetarian. Uh-oh... I disagree with that for a number of reasons, which I won't go into here. Suffice it to say that was my first warning that this wasn't my kind of book. But, I reminded myself of all the Hindu and Buddhist vegetarians and kept reading.
Then, they started seeing auras. Oh, they called it "energy fields", but it was nothing more than auras. That's not bad in and of itself, but it added a bit of hokey-ness to the whole thing that was hard to get past later.
And, from there on out, everyone was a characature of a stereotype found in pop-psychology or New Age literature. Not that it's all that bad, but it didn't endear the book's author to me. And, ultimately, it all got in the way of my reading. It's never a good sign when the medium obstructs the message. Still, it wasn't a total loss. I did gain a deeper appreciation for better books! And, it made me think about what "coincidenes" really mean. Are they just interesting accidents? Or, are they messages from a higher source? So, I vowed to pay closer attention to chance encounters and such.
Also, it made me think more about how we interact with each other. How most of us are not conscious of the way we talk to and treat others. I know that <i>I</i> have not always been very conscious of how I deal with others. So, I promised myself that I would pay more attention to my interactions with other people. So, while I can't honestly reccomend this book to anyone else, it wasn't a total loss. For more reviews and such, see my website Fantasist.net
Rating:
Summary: Utterly worthless
Review: This book was reccomended by an aquaintance as a fabulous book that would be "a thrill to read." What I found however was much less than that. The incoherent story line and out there themes leave anyone with a shred of objective thought scratching their heads wondering why they should waste another minute on it. With that said, I did not finish it after reading 2/3 of it. I couldn't bring myself to think that I not only put down 8 bucks but also a couple hours of my time.
Rating:
Summary: Transformitive!
Review: I read this book, or should I say absorbed this book and immediately wanted more. Thankfully I was guided to the next books and some complimentary ones too. The book has completely changed the way I view things in my life. Noticing the synchronicities that surround me has been an exciting way to look at the world and I actually now own 3 copies of the book. I keep loaning them out. Imagine if we could raise our collactive consciousness to really change the world. Anything is possible and this book and "it's friends" really make that point. The story was engaing to me... we all have those questions and wonder what things in our lives "mean". I would highly recommend this book to anyone... the best part is I can also relate this book to the lessons in my life and in my church... the message is always the same... it is about Love! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Eye Opening
Review: This book and it's sequel the Tenth Insight were thrilling. They help you see things in a different light while teaching you how to find harmony with everything, and it takes you on an excited adventure leaving you to wonder what is going to happen next in their quest.
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