Rating: 
Summary: This book is a fraud and poorly written at that!
Review: Maybe it was me, but I bought this book thinking that it truly offered insight into an ancient philosophy. You can imagine my displeasure when I got home and read the fine print under the title "an adventure". Oh well, I thought, my goof. But it'll probably be good anyway. Boy, was I wrong.The book is written in the style usually adopted by would-be authors who have spent too much time in front of the TV: it was very heavy on meaningless physical description but virtually silent in the type of narative that truly places one in the story. But, let me just cut to the chase. I'm a lawyer by training. This means I have endured reading obtuse, boring, and dense statutes and cases. Folks, I can get through anything. I have finished books that I really didn't like just out of principle. This is probably the only book in recent memory that I could not finish. I couldn't get through a page without feeling that my intelligence was being insulted. 'Nuff said.
Rating: 
Summary: At least it's a nice try
Review: Okay, okay, so this guy's talent as a novelist is poor. Well, at least we can give him credit for trying a new creative approach, don't you think? Previous to this book, I don't think anyone has ever written a self-help book in the form a novel. One should think of this as a fairy-tale written for children. It's like carrot cake. If your childen don't like carrots, but you want them to eat it because it's nutritious, you chop it up into little pieces and mix it in a cake, so they would enjoy eating it, right? Well that's pretty much what this "novel" approach is about. Some adult readers may find this approach manipulative, but the message he's trying to get across is not bad or anything. He talks about the importance of preserving our environment, he gives out a few tips about making relationships work, and in the last chapter, he portrays his image of a utopian world. I think the puropose of his Celestine project is what he states in the 6th chapter. He wants to make up a new way of thinking which integrates Eastern and Western philosophy. In addition to that, it seems like he wants to integrate science, Christianity, and relationship skills into it as well. Although a little bit immature, I think his attempt is at least worth giving credit for. Personally, the one thing that I find is missing from his books is that, although the story takes place in South America, there is no reference to the Native American teachings. From what I understand, Native Americans used to live by a beautiful philosophy of their own, in perfect harmony with the environment, animals, and the "Great Spirit" (God). The Christians should have left them alone instead of trying to convert them, and rob their land. If the author here is so much an environmentalist, I think he should have paid more respect to his fellow Native Americans, and refer to their original teachings in this book. Another thing that bothers me is not the novel, but one of the editorial reviews on Amazon. One of the critics up there compared this book to Carlos Castaneda's works. Well, I've read Mr. Castaneda's works, and I'm sorry, this Celestine thing is no match. It doesn't have the depth that Mr. Castaneda's works have. If any of you readers out there are interested in the real thing, check out Carlos Castaneda's "The Teachings of Don Juan" and its 7 sequels.
Rating: 
Summary: Enlightenment pulp fiction
Review: It's hard for me to categorize this book as a novel or as a "statement of belief". Let's say it tries to be much more than it is. The plot is rather ludicrous and the writing is pretty shabby, but the ideas are interesting and some are even compelling. Fortunately it isn't too long so if you decide to read it and end up hating it at least you haven't wasted too much of your life.
Rating:
Summary: Well, this is just really awful, isn't it?
Review: All right. If I have the story straight, James Redfield initially published this book himself, and it sold so well that he was offered a deal with a major publisher. Fair enough. If Warner wants to publish, and the citizens of the world want to read, the half-baked ramblings of some weirdo who thinks he's got a lock on spirituality but appears to be making the whole thing up as he goes along, that's their prerogative. However, this book would have been somewhat less of a train wreck if the author had just published it as a straightforward religious tract, rather than as a novel. Redfield obviously knows NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, about what makes a good novel. The dialogue is atrocious, the characters are ridiculous, and the whole thing is mind-numbingly boring. As a former English major and longtime voracious reader, I'm actually offended that Redfield would use the form of the novel to get his ideas across, yet show absolutely no respect for that form. Not everyone can write a novel just because they feel like it; what made this dude think he could? If you're looking for some good fiction, avoid this like the plague; if you're looking for some guy you've never even met to show you your spiritual path in life, well, God help you.
Rating:
Summary: worthy of a reading
Review: well, i would've probably rated it 3.5 rather than 3, if that were an option. at any rate, i feel this book is worth reading. it's not too long, so if you are amongst those who despise it, it will only take a few days of your time anyway. the story structure, dialogue, and overall writing of the book are probably the main point of criticism. it is NOT a brilliant work of literature by any means. the situations are simple, the language use is quite adolescent, and the book is filled with gaping holes where there was much room for expansion. however, what the book does offer is a point of reference, or another way of interpretation of spiritual beleifs, mixed in with a story that is, though not at all elaborate, enjoyable. at the very least, the story serves its purpose of escorting you through the philosophies of the book. and the overall philosophies of the book are graspable to even young readers, and inspiring enough for anyone. in fact, perhaps at a certain level, the simplicity of the book is a strong-suit, as it makes the book graspable to virtually anyone. i would suggest this book to anyone who is curious about spirituality. its underlying message is positive, and worth understanding.
Rating:
Summary: A Starting Point
Review: The Celestine Prophecy has become one of the standards in any spirtualists' or New Age thinkers' library and in the wake of its popularity, many new comers and veterans ask "What's so special about this book?" The language is simple and and the scenarios so uncomplex that it left me feeling uneasy on a first read. What I've come to recognize is that Redfield's genius lies in his ability to construct a fictional account of a spiritual journey in modern day society while using a vehicle so basic that even adolescents can understand its meaning. Wow! I took a second look, you know? This man has taken the mysteries of how to walk in the path of Christ consciousness, boiled them down to their essences and recombined them in order to produce an easily accesible contemporary parable! There's no pseudopsychological jargon, no political rhetoric, just a simple story, whose meaning is delightfully complex. That Redfield's approach asks the reader to work may be its only flaw, but considering its intent, should do any less?
Rating: 
Summary: Some good concepts
Review: To be fair the book had some good concepts. I personally got more out of Converstations With God and Encounter With A Prophet. But this book was certainly not bad.
Rating:
Summary: Silly, juvenile, pseudo-religious junk for the weak-minded!
Review: The title of this review says it all--the book is an utter waste of time. Are people so desperate for spiritual enlightenment that they will turn to this puerile, poorly-written trash for answers? Awful, even by New Age standards--and just a step below Marlo Morgan's atrocious books about Aborigines, and makes Richard Bach's saccharine efforts seem genuine. About as real and inspiring as powdered milk. For Christians, pagans, non-believers--all people--DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!
Rating: 
Summary: Celestine Prophecy
Review: I found this to be an excellent book!!! I do think it is a beginner book, but then again, that's when I read this book, was at the beginning of my journey. It allowed me to see other aspects of the world that I had never contemplated before. At the time, had I ready anything too much more intense, I would have been lost. Many of the reviwers bash this book, but at what point did they decide to read it? If taken in at the beginning, I think this book will be one of the most beneficial to start with. Read later on, it would offer nothing new and would probably bore you. I think it's an excellent book, with a lot offer, and would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: 7th grade writing coupled with 5th grade philosophy
Review: This is the only book I have ever returned to get my money back! This book was only designed (poorly) to extract money from lost-soul new-agers with no taste for literature and no knowledge of philosophy. One painfully wades ones way through all of the instances of the word "suddenly" (suddenly this happened, suddenly that...) and all of the nine "insights" only to find that one must purchase yet another book to learn the tenth "insight". The end papers of the book even contain an advertisement and order form for the Philistine Prophecy Newsletter! It is blatent commercialism and exploitation badly executed. The only reason I read this book past the first chapter was to be able to fully critique it at my book group. Here's an "insight": Don't Waste Your Money! and: If you did - Take the Book Back and Demand a Refund!
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