Toward Awakening: An Approach to the Teaching Left by Gurdjieff (Arkana S.)

Rating:
Summary: Not "New Age"! Best simple book for understandong yourself!
Review: I agree with the Ohio guy, but got amused at his appeal "tagged for the psychology shelves." Then right below Amazon.com says "look for books on similar subjects: new age." If you want to know why this wonderful book went out of print, that is it in a nutshell - the blindness of the people marketing it. I know a lot of people who deeply appreciate this book, and they would all scowl if you called them "New Agers." Not long ago I read a statement about this book in Telos magazine. It called it "a gem" and added that "it has suffered from ridiculous cover art." The publishers have a New Age-looking cover. They don't know what they have. If this book ever gets "discovered" it will be revolutionary. But the very people who could promote it competently are having to fight against the people who are trying to make money on it! The New Age label has ruined this book, and it is the best simple book for understanding yourself there is. It is required reading for anyone trying to "find" themselves. Amazingly down-to-earth, profound and practical, and very well written.

Rating:
Summary: Not "New Age"! Best simple book for understandong yourself!
Review: This is one of the most important contributions to personal growth literature to appear this century. It is a vital primer for new pupils - in some ways it is more practical than Ouspensky's "Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution". Ouspensky's book is sometimes adamant, terse and over-simplified in a manner with can repel prospective pupils unnecessarily. But Vaysse's introduction to the Gurdjieff teaching is patient, sensitive and practical. Although essentially a primer, it has real depth. Every new pupil of the Work should study it thoroughly annd every group leader should stock up on copies. Reprinting of this work is in critical need, and should be tagged for the psychology shelves.

Rating:
Summary: A vital primer for new pupils - an introduction with depth.
Review: This is one of the most important contributions to personal growth literature to appear this century. It is a vital primer for new pupils - in some ways it is more practical than Ouspensky's "Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution". Ouspensky's book is sometimes adamant, terse and over-simplified in a manner with can repel prospective pupils unnecessarily. But Vaysse's introduction to the Gurdjieff teaching is patient, sensitive and practical. Although essentially a primer, it has real depth. Every new pupil of the Work should study it thoroughly annd every group leader should stock up on copies. Reprinting of this work is in critical need, and should be tagged for the psychology shelves.