Rating: 
Summary: This book is drenched in SPIRIT. Read it and FLY.
Review: My words to describe a GOD realized soul such as RUMI could never be adequate, but they can lead you to this book and that is my gift to you. The Illuminated Rumi is a DIAMOND reflecting the light of GOD.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book slowly, savoring it.
Review: Read this book slowly, savoring each page and each picture. If you don't, you will miss much!
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: Rumi, Coleman Barks, and Michael Green have collaborated on the most beautiful book I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot). Rumi's poetry trancends the artificial boundaries of religion, and speaks to anyone sincerely on the spiritual path. He captures the burning, the longing for the end of separation from God. When I first became aware of Rumi's poetry, I was sure that it was about earthly love between humans here on earth. As I absorbed it more completely, I came to realize that all of his poetry, even his love poetry (which is very suitable for passing on to a loved one) is communicating with God. Coleman Barks has done an amazing job of giving Rumi's work an accessable voice. He has truly given a gift for which we owe a huge debt of gratitude. Rumi provides the music, Coleman's translations provide the instruments. Michael Green was obviously inspired by his collaborators to reach his own level of genius in the illustrations. I love the way he combines images from different cultures, different times, and from different disciplines both scientific and artistic! A desert oasis with a photo shot by the Hubble Space Telescope for the sky... The juxtaposition of fractal geometry with images from cultural art... I would gladly hang any of the original art from this book on the walls of my living room. This book has been and continues to be my favorite gift to people who "get it," and I've probably handed out over 20 copies in the last two years. Do yourself a favor and buy it. I bet you'll be back for more copies.
Rating:
Summary: The intersection of life and love across 700 years
Review: Rumi, Coleman Barks, and Michael Green have collaborated on the most beautiful book I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot). Rumi's poetry trancends the artificial boundaries of religion, and speaks to anyone sincerely on the spiritual path. He captures the burning, the longing for the end of separation from God. When I first became aware of Rumi's poetry, I was sure that it was about earthly love between humans here on earth. As I absorbed it more completely, I came to realize that all of his poetry, even his love poetry (which is very suitable for passing on to a loved one) is communicating with God. Coleman Barks has done an amazing job of giving Rumi's work an accessable voice. He has truly given a gift for which we owe a huge debt of gratitude. Rumi provides the music, Coleman's translations provide the instruments. Michael Green was obviously inspired by his collaborators to reach his own level of genius in the illustrations. I love the way he combines images from different cultures, different times, and from different disciplines both scientific and artistic! A desert oasis with a photo shot by the Hubble Space Telescope for the sky... The juxtaposition of fractal geometry with images from cultural art... I would gladly hang any of the original art from this book on the walls of my living room. This book has been and continues to be my favorite gift to people who "get it," and I've probably handed out over 20 copies in the last two years. Do yourself a favor and buy it. I bet you'll be back for more copies.
Rating:
Summary: Rumi/Barks/Green is revelatory, illuminating & enlightening.
Review: That Love and loving are not affected by time and space is lovingly demonstrated by the "collaboration" of Rumi, Barks and Green. Through the inspired heart-work of Coleman Barks and Michael Green, we, the readers, are gifted by the Gift Rumi received. Now we can meet and perhaps love Rumi and his, our Beloved. I am forever touched and grateful to know Rumi. His words and his living presence communicate the human condition and the spirit-essence of all, inviting us to love as we are loved by our Lover.
Rating:
Summary: Rumi/Barks/Green is revelatory, illuminating & enlightening.
Review: That Love and loving are not affected by time and space is lovingly demonstrated by the "collaboration" of Rumi, Barks and Green. Through the inspired heart-work of Coleman Barks and Michael Green, we, the readers, are gifted by the Gift Rumi received. Now we can meet and perhaps love Rumi and his, our Beloved. I am forever touched and grateful to know Rumi. His words and his living presence communicate the human condition and the spirit-essence of all, inviting us to love as we are loved by our Lover.
Rating:
Summary: Rumi/Barks/Green is revelatory, illuminating & enlightening.
Review: That Love and loving are not affected by time and space is lovingly demonstrated by the "collaboration" of Rumi, Barks and Green. Through the inspired heart-work of Coleman Barks and Michael Green, we, the readers, are gifted by the Gift Rumi received. Now we can meet and perhaps love Rumi and his, our Beloved. I am forever touched and grateful to know Rumi. His words and his living presence communicate the human condition and the spirit-essence of all, inviting us to love as we are loved by our Lover.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: This book obscures the bold spirit of Rumi with a facade of emotionally dominated wishful thinking. Rumi should challenge, confront, transport and dare the reader - but this book merely panders. The text is liberally sprinkled with irrelevancies and contains several interpolations, mistranslations and historical inaccuracies, indeed, blatant balderdash in a couple of places. The poetry is generally well rendered but is a pre-digested selection of the "soft bits" - the bones have been filleted out. One also gets the vague impression that the English language has been "dumbed down". The illustrations are well executed, except for the snapshot at the end, which is both irrelevant and uninteresting. This piece of self-indulgent drivel spoils an otherwise good collection of artwork. In summary, the reader will end up knowing more about Coleman Barks than about Rumi.
Rating:
Summary: a wonderful book
Review: This is a truly beautiful book - the artwork laid out with the poems is masterful. Its far more than just a book of terrific poetry - which it is by the way! I don't know how these poems read in their original language and forgive me but in this case that doesn't even matter - the writings represented here are beautifully written. I'm so glad I bought it. Its a real joy to read and contemplate.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: This is a truly beautiful book - the artwork laid out with the poems is masterful. Its far more than just a book of terrific poetry - which it is by the way! I don't know how these poems read in their original language and forgive me but in this case that doesn't even matter - the writings represented here are beautifully written. I'm so glad I bought it. Its a real joy to read and contemplate.
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