The Hidden Words

Rating:
Summary: A Day At the lake
Review: I had had the Hidden Words book given to me by a friend. I had looked through it a few times although I never really took time to read it all that closely. Well about a month or so ago my parents took my best friend and I out to a lake with them and we just happened to take our little collection of Baha'i books along with us. It was a wonderful day! We found an abandoned dock and carried a little radio and a blanket out on it and read the entire book that day, while listening to classical music on the radio. It was so amazing. Right as we completed the book the sun was beginning to go down and beautiful white doves flew over head. Ever since that day this book has been a personal favorite of mine. Any time I am feeling down I can open it up and read a selection from it and instantly feel a little better. I recommend this book to anyone; Baha'i or not.... it is just a wonderful use of prayer and poetry combined .... and can uplift any spirit!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Didn't do too much for me
Review: I was kind of hoping to be transported by this book, but not too much of it struck home for me.

The book is a collection of short sayings, each about a paragraph long.

It's easy to read. There's not much in the way of verbiage.

Rating:
Summary: The Hidden Words
Review: I won't offer my personal, highly biased opinion. Istead, I will share the reaction of two Christian friends, one of whom is just shy of a Master of Theology degree from a Methodist university, and the other of whom studied for the priesthood, before deciding it wasn't to be his life vocation.

The first friend found the Hidden Words to be nothing special- a collection of platitudes. He didn't disagree with the ideas, but wasn't moved by the form of expression.

The second said nothing for two or three weeks after receiving the book, but then told me it was the most Christian book he had had ever read, save the New Testament. He told me that some of the brief verses had brought him greater insight into the teachings of Christ than had his study of scholarly texts. He confessed he had only read part way through the very short book, because so many passages gave him so much to reflect upon.

I think these reactions reflect a generality about reader reactions to the Hidden Words. It's not a matter of loving it or hating it. Instead, readers find it either inconsequential of life-changing. All in the eye and heart of the beholder.

Rating:
Summary: The Hidden Words
Review: Just open the book. Let the words sink in. You will feel complete joy, profound peace. I carry it with me everywhere, and if my spirits are low, or I am under a lot of stress I take the book out and read a few passages...its completely wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Most profound Joy!!!!!!!
Review: Just open the book. Let the words sink in. You will feel complete joy, profound peace. I carry it with me everywhere, and if my spirits are low, or I am under a lot of stress I take the book out and read a few passages...its completely wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: An Instruction Book for Life
Review: Remember those Cliff Notes in school, condensing down long books into a form that was manageable? That's exactly what this book is, Cliff Notes for all the world's holy books. I read this book at least 5 or 10 times a year just to review the messages and see what new insights I can pick up. The very first paragraph of the book refers to these holy books, saying, "We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous". Could Cliff Notes have stated it more clearly?