Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul

Rating:
Summary: A small book of aphorisms and quotations
Review: I adored Richard Bach's Illusions, so I was rather excited when notice came that a review copy of the Messiah's Handbook was on its way. I'm not sure what I was expecting, perhaps an expansion on Illusions, or something more obviously related to it, however this is not the case.

Messiah's Handbook is a tiny book of aphorisms and quotations taken from some of Bach's other works, notably Illusions, One, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Out of My Mind, and The Ferret Chronicles.

It's intended use follows the example of other bibliomancy tools of this type: `Hold a question in mind, please. Now close your eyes, open the handbook at random and pick left page or right' (from the forward). The results tend to be more interesting than traditional books of this type, of course, being Richard Bach, they're a little quirkier, and occasionally with some spice: `Spacetime is a fairly primitive school. But a lot of folks stay with the belief of it even when it's boring, and they don't want the lights turned on early.'

It's small, it's cute, and underneath the dustjacket the covers of the book are blue suede as in Illusions, but unless you're already a big fan, at 12.95$US it's an expensive countertop impulse buy at the giftshop

Rating:
Summary: Doggonit, He Did It Again!
Review: If you like the I-Ching, you'll love the "Handbook...". It has no plot, only method. It has no story; YOU are the story. Let it settle into the way you weigh. Let it help you think about your thinking, without replacing your own thinking. Don't think of it as a book; think of it as a spiritual 9/16ths end wrench. Think of yourself as a hex-head lock nut.

I wrote on this website once that I thought Richard Bach might have another great book in him somewhere. Well, this may or may not be it (since the real book is in you, not him), but Bach is definitely back, and if you read "Illusions..." you need this tool in your bag. Some of these aphorisms left me belly-laughing with lightning recognition. Listen up, folks, I think this consummate wordsmith is whispering sweet somethings into the ear of a cynical old world. After all, if you found out that the universe truly is (in the words of Andrei Codrescu) "an organism whose sole purpose is happiness," would you really be all that upset?

(Note to friends: Guess what YOU'RE getting for Christmas.)

Rating:
Summary: Richard, You've Done It Again!!
Review: It can all be summed up by saying that this literary masterpiece is of sheer brilliance. In the basic of words, this handbook is one that can be utilized in everyday life; perhaps as your own personal handbook of inner conscienceness.

You've done it again Richard. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: A Small but Powerful Book of Wisdom
Review: The book that disappeared, coincidentally reappears and Richard Bach has now published it. It is a book filled with wisdom and thought provoking statements that will make you stop and think. It is a book that you can read all in one sitting (exactly what I did when I received it!). Or, it is a book that you can open to any page, and read that page, and reflect on it.

Have you ever read a book where throughout the book, there is wisdom that you wish you could capture and refer to later? Well, this book does just that.

To give you a small sample of the wisdom in the book, below are some quotes:

"Life tells you nothing, it shows you everything."

"There's a reason you chose what's happening around you. Hang on, live your way through the best you know, and in a bit you'll find out why."

"If it's never your fault, you can't take responsibility for it. If you can't take responsibility for it, you'll always be its victim."

"Having climbed certain peaks you'll descend no more, but spread your wings and fly beyond."

"You do not exist to impress the world. You exist to live your life in a way that will make you happy."

"You're master of what you've lived,
artisan at what you're living,
amateur at what's next to live."

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.
You may have to work for it, however."

In Richard's forward there is a quote from the book,
"Every person, all the events of your life,
are there because you have drawn them there.
What you choose to do with them is up to you."

I would highly recommend this book. And as you read the above quote, I hope you choose to read Richard's newest book, Messiah's Handbook.


The book is a wonderful motivator, one that you can refer to on a daily basis.