Rating: 
Summary: Look within if you want true insight
Review: Contrary to many people's opinion, all of us who gave this book a low rating are not obsessive intellectuals, close minded, or religious fanatics. I heard so much about this book that I couldn't stand it any more and dedided to read it. I read the whole book even though I had a hard time doing so. I wanted to be fair to those people who had recomended it, by giving it my full attention. Ignoring the bad writing and terrible plot I found very little substance. Control dramas are common self help issues well covered even by the TV talk shows. Energy fields are simplistic metaphysical knowledge that are well covered in many books and spiritual teachings. Anyone who spends any time in metitative practice can learn to work with, and see these fields. In fact seeing and working with them is preschool knowledge for many spiritual paths. These "insights" were not well developed, but were but a skeleton of the truths from which they were gleened. If you really want to follow a spiritual path all the insight you need is avaiable within simply by quieting self and asking. Your lifetime spiritual journey can be a glorious thing. It does require time and patience and a desire to know self and God. If we can go to Peru spend two weeks running around, so the right people can hand us the right info at the right time, while we are being chased around by bad people with guns, and then transcend all of our mortal limitations at the end of the two weeks, then perhaps we should all be packing our bags and making our reservations. Many read this book and saw what a terrible message that gives. The true spiritual journey is far more ordinary, and in most cases much better written!
Rating:
Summary: This is by far, the worst book I have ever read.
Review: I could go on for years about how awful this book was. Here's one good example: Every character in the book was basically the same, whether they were male or female, rich or poor, priest or criminal. They all talked exactly the same, acted the same and none had their own personality. The "spiritualism" could be best described as mindless drivel. I think I'll stop there...
Rating: 
Summary: A good guide to your destiny
Review: First off, I don't know -- and am truly amazed -- why this book has got such lousy reviews! It's not a Pulitzer-winning kind of writing but what's written here is really marvellous. It's not very original stuff. But for those of us who are just entering the portals of spiritual experiences or just about really starting to discover our true selves, this is a great kick-off point. It's put together a lot of theories from the ancient and contemporary spiritual thinkers and has done so in a pretty convincing manner. Life's coincidences no longer seem to be coincidences. And there is a method in the madness of what we call life. These are some of the main tips that this book provides you. It takes you into yourself -- what you find out there is, after all, upto you. And if it's part of your life plan, you should get enough food for thought from this book and its sequels (the fourth, the Experiential Guide to The Fourth Insight is the best). Lastly, I believe that this book has the ability to heal yourself and as The Tenth Insight almost pleads, you have the ability to play a role in healing the world. Really. But I'm not going to try and convince you more. If you HAVE to read this book, you WILL, good reviews or bad reviews notwithstanding.
Rating: 
Summary: Thoughtful.....yet somewhat trite, but for a reason!!
Review: This book did indeed open my eyes but I don't think it really changed my life, as some people I know have said. Most detracters of the book believe that the setting of the book (in South America of all places!) was, well, stupid. The setting isn't important, however, the story and thoughts that this book puts forth are. Those detractors must remember that Mr. Redfield wrote Celestine in such a way that the "common" man (or woman!) could understand it a little better. Plus, novels sell much better!!! ;)
Rating:
Summary: Read "Karen" by Marie Killilea if you want spiritual insight
Review: Other reviewers have already noted the numerous problems with this book. I strongly suggest that anyone on a spiritual journey read the book "Karen" by Marie Killilea. This book is 45 years old and out of print, but is available at used book stores. The book tells of a Catholic family's struggle to help Karen, who was born with cerebral palsy. Marie Killilea, Karen's mother, has a compelling story to tell as well as some profound spiritual insights. She wrote the book to help people with disabilities and their families, not to make a buck, so her point of view is more credible in my opinion. Anyone who checks Amazon.com will notice that although "Karen" has few reviews, they are overwhelmingly positive. Unlike the Celestine Propechy!!
Rating:
Summary: Open your minds
Review: To all that have read this book and do not like it for whatever reason, I have this to say. It is not a literary masterpiece, and yes it could have been written better. But the bottom line is this...The Celestine Prophecy is about us. It's about the everyday relationships of ordinary people and our pursuit to find out what the hell we are doing here. I am only 17, but after I read the book my views about my relegion, my goals as a person, and my outlook upon my future, have changed for the better. For the people who are ready......it is a book you will never forget. The God that I believe in loves me and everyone thing else in this universe. Do not fall victim to the Christian gospel, it only creates conflict.
Rating:
Summary: You either love it, or hate it.
Review: I read the Celestine Phrophecy when it was first published in '94. I had just lost my Husband, at age 46 to complications of diabetes. The book fell off the shelf at me. At that time, I NEEDED the insights it provided. I guess I read it with an "uncritical-eye", because it seemed to speak to me. I see that many have put down the folksy story, but when you are hit with one or more of the "Synchronisities", I think it "talks" to your heart, NOT your educated mind. I wondered why I happened to follow the course of "Living History" with my late Husband, then realized the truth of history is not just the progress we make with Technology, but with our thoughts. As I said, it seems that the reviewers either loved, or hated it.Fortunately, I am glad to count myself amoung thoses who benefitted by it. The Insights were simple enough to apply to everyday life, and create a new-way of Living. For me, it worked.
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading if you are a spiritual soul-searcher.
Review: The writing itself is no masterpiece but the author has no intention of pleasing literature critics. Don't be so gullible as to live by some of the insights, but let them open your mind and bring you to the higher state of 'awareness' that you lack in life to carry you to the next realm. The book took me on a roller-coaster of fun, and definitely taught me one or two things about myself. A Fable of the highest order.
Rating:
Summary: If you attempt betterment you earn 5 stars
Review: This book gets bad reviews by those who want superior entertainment value and creativity. Don't buy it if you want that. If I wanted that, I wouldn't have enjoyed it either. I wanted to clear my mind to a numbingly empty level which is exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to do that and I did. Do that. I believe that is precicely the teaching of insight number nine, though I can't remember. As for the story, I remember driving somewhere...A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Why do people like this drivel?
Review: I'm amazed by the success of this "spiritual" novel. Even my most intellectual friends were taken in. I knew better, though. While the actual content of the book was adequate, if not shocking (I thought that any self-respecting spiritual person knew about human energies and such), it was planted in the midst of this horrible, cliche-ridden story with the stock reluctant hero in a stock South American country facing stock high-level corruption. IJames Redfield has the potential to be a competent spiritualist, perhaps, but judging from the way The Celestine Prophecy has no defined writing style at all, I I defy all of you tools of the bestseller list and say that Mr. Redfield is no writer.
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