Rating: 
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: Sorry to all those who critized this book, however, the use of the story may not be literal. THINK about the insites and apply them. This novel is a life changing story of spiritualism and getting in tune with who you really are. A fantastic novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Sloppy, contrived and DECEPTIVE
Review: We may not all want to admit it, but I would posit that most people read TCP because they were duped into believing it was a true story at first--perhaps written by an archaeologist, or at the very least, a well read, enlightened explorer--a story about "adventure" and monumental spiritual insights inspired by actual textuary artifacts. After all, this is what the book cover tells us to expect. Romantic and thrilling, set deep in the mystical Amazonian rainforest--who could resist? Upon skimming the inside of the cover jacket, we may briefly notice that Redfield's profile and background is rather scanty for someone with such extraordinary claims and experiences, but we blindly forge on, letting our eagerness and curiosity take over. After reading the first couple of pages and finding the writing level to be comparable to a Dick and Jane book, we begin to question Redfield's educational background and why his work has apparantly not been edited. Nonetheless, we continue to give him the benefit of the doubt. Soon after, we're bombarded by one annoying, flat character after another. We may also notice blazing innaccuracies in Redfield's descriptions of Peruvian geography, culture and history, as well as his simplistic, archaic stereotyping of Peru as a backward banana republic. We begin realizing that everything about this story is bogus, sophmoric and contrived, even questioning whether Redfield had ever been to Peru at all. While some of his theories on human behavior may ring true, they're based on nothing new or magical--just good old-fashioned common sense and pop psychology. No serious, self-respecting archaeologist or spiritual leader would relay their experiences in this manner, so we wonder just exactly who this James Redfield is anyway and what gives him the legitimacy to be such an influential spiritual guru. Amazingly, most of us still hang on until the end, I guess because we want to discover what makes this book so "earth shattering" and what the basis is for his grandiose assertions. I bet none of us ever truly find out. I sure haven't. If you want to read a much better fictional book about a spiritual journey and the mysteries of the universe, I recommend Contact by Carl Sagan. The movie is also excellent. MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION OF THE DAY: Being that Redfield insists on forest preservation as critical for our "evolution," why are his books made out of 100% non-recycled paper?
Rating:
Summary: just like...amazing and eye opening
Review: so ok....don't take this book literally, instead take it in...into your heart and your mind. don't focus on criticizing it, focus on understanding the deeper points it wants to share with you. after reading the book, i just stopped and looked out at the lake and realized that we take so much for granted. this book makes you want to run out and experience life and people and it makes you look at things differently. let go of your inhibitions and suspend your disbelief and jump into it...open your eyes.
Rating:
Summary: Pure New Age Pop Culture garbage!
Review: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! Borrow it from your local library. I did, thankfully. It is so bad that its great sales success is unbelievable. It actually saddens me to think that so many people can take this garbage seriously. The writing style is stiff, the characters unidimensional. The pop philosophy layed down is a combination of "a little bit of this, a little bit of that", freely gleaning ideas from Sixties Eastern Religion movements, EST, astrology-like tenets, etc., etc.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Reaction
Review: I found this book amongst a pile for a yard sale and decided to read it, unaware of its fame and hype. It advertises an adventure in Peru that changed the author's life. Wow- a manuscript written by an ancient culture that provides guidance to our current development. Interesting, no? Innocently enough, I did not know that this was fiction. I read it with the intent of believing the journey was real. Of course, as a historian, I immediately realized that there were flaws in the description of Peru's history and landscape. However, thinking that the journey was real, I figured the author was simply mistaken about some details. I also believed that his incredibly juvenile writing style could be attributed to the fact that he was not a writer, but a man eager to retell the world of this awakening he experienced. I continued to read. However, by the middle of the book, I was awfully skeptical and wondered how everything magically occurred on cue. Was he simply leaving out the intermediate details of his journey in order to shorten the story? Or am I living in an alternate world that's more mundane and less predictable? So I came to this site, read the reviews, and it all made sense. THIS IS FICTION!! Ha ha ha! Silly me, so gullible. Reading the end of the book was all the more amusing after seeing these reviews and realizing that I was not imagining the author's delusions. HOWEVER, I must say that the book does have some positives. First, the "insights," although old as the wind and sand, are genuine. Any truly spiritual person, not bound by the conventions and restrictions of traditional religion, has probably realized these already. That does not, however, subtract from the appeal of seeing them solidified on paper. Agreed, this "novel" is a literary atrocity, its presentation is overwhelmingly archaic, and its message is profusely pounded into sickening flatness. Regardless, there is truth in the regurgitated notions/ideas/beliefs. "Insight" is something we all need to understand, even if this book is not what promotes the awareness. I feel that The Celestine Prophecy is a wonderful book for those who are least concerned with fine literature and more concerned with beginning a quest into understanding the greater meaning of our existence. Of course, the book pales horribly when compared to the great ones. But the point is not comparison. The point is to get in-tune. To those of you who are well-read and consider yourselves avid intellectuals, you might be better off skipping this one in favor of some of the greats. For those of you who feel something stirring deep within that makes you question our current human condition, The Celestine Prophecy may very well open up a new and positive way of seeing yourself and others. The awakening may very well help you on YOUR path. Do you NEED this "novel" to help facilitate this change? You decide. Personally, I found the basic skeleton of the book, the insights, worth embracing.
Rating:
Summary: Elephants produce vast quantities of it from their rear ends
Review: If somebody was to make me take this seriously, I'm afraid the only option open to me would be a hot bath and razor baldes.
Rating:
Summary: Elephants produce vast quantities of it from their rear ends
Review: If somebody was to make me take this seriously, I afraid the only option open to me would be a hot bath and razor baldes.
Rating:
Summary: Please don't view it as a novel...
Review: Many of the poor reviewers complain of the lack of plot... however if you focus instead on the insights this book may well change your life, as it has changed thousands of others. Regardless of your current views, you should read this book with an open mind. You can learn more about yourself without abandoning any of your current religious beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: Just awful!
Review: I have now expunged the words energy, evolution and beauty from my vocabulary. If I had the author's address, I would send him a thesaurus. Such lifeless writing. Such lifeless characters. Shame on the editor!
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening psychological masterpiece
Review: After reading this book, (in less than 2 days) I put it down, looked around at the people in my workplace and saw a dramatic difference in the way people move and act. Knowing that this work was only fiction i played it off, but had this nagging sensation that Redfield is right on with his analysis. My next journey now, (this weekend) will be to head for the Poccono Mts. and try and replicate the experiences in this book. An insiration to all who have picked it up, and at the least it lifts your mind to another level, if only for a brief period.
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