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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
i loved this book as a teenager, but after rereading it years later, it just seemed a bit too hokey.
I found this book a nice addition to my spiritual journey. I liked it was explained like an adventure as it kept me intrigued throughout.
I first read this book back in middle school, and back then, it made a profound impact on me. Some of the concepts about energy and human's use of it are things I still think about. Now, returning as an adult, I have a somewhat different perspective.
Redfield has good story concepts and ideas, but unfortunately he leaves a lot to be desired as a writer. Where when I was younger I didn't recognize or could ignore a lot of things, there were certain words, phrases, directions the book took that had me questioning what younger me though. It didn't help that I was reading the book aloud to someone else either; that just made the issues that more glaring.
First and foremost, you could make a drinking game out of the amount of times that someone looks intensely at another person in this book. It happens nearly every page, sometimes more. We began shouting it out loud at certain points because it amused us. Same goes with conversation and the use of the word "said". And that goes to the conversations itself; there is no conversation that doesn't mean something in this book. Everything has a message. Which gets a bit tedious. It's like it's the only way the author has of expressing his views so there's a lot more telling than showing that happens.
But it does have some good points. I still find the concepts of energy a bit magical in this book. Who wouldn't want to view energy that way or use it? For adventure, it does have a compelling narrative; religion and government trying to limit what might take their power, etc.
My advice is, don't take this book too serious. It's not going to be a guidebook. Enjoy it for what it is and view it as the author's concepts of the world around and things he would like to see.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
Redfield has good story concepts and ideas, but unfortunately he leaves a lot to be desired as a writer. Where when I was younger I didn't recognize or could ignore a lot of things, there were certain words, phrases, directions the book took that had me questioning what younger me though. It didn't help that I was reading the book aloud to someone else either; that just made the issues that more glaring.
First and foremost, you could make a drinking game out of the amount of times that someone looks intensely at another person in this book. It happens nearly every page, sometimes more. We began shouting it out loud at certain points because it amused us. Same goes with conversation and the use of the word "said". And that goes to the conversations itself; there is no conversation that doesn't mean something in this book. Everything has a message. Which gets a bit tedious. It's like it's the only way the author has of expressing his views so there's a lot more telling than showing that happens.
But it does have some good points. I still find the concepts of energy a bit magical in this book. Who wouldn't want to view energy that way or use it? For adventure, it does have a compelling narrative; religion and government trying to limit what might take their power, etc.
My advice is, don't take this book too serious. It's not going to be a guidebook. Enjoy it for what it is and view it as the author's concepts of the world around and things he would like to see.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
I always come back to this book (and The Alchemist) when I feel off track. Always leaves me feeling realigned and confident with my life path.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whilst the writing style leaves much to be desired (it's very much a list of concepts and ways to live/change your life turned into a piece of fiction to make it more readable/relaitable), I actually really enjoyed the journey into discovering these 'insights'.
The basic premise is that the human race is evolving to a point where we're entering a new consciousness, a new awareness and way of thinking, whereby we'll be able to bring about the kinds of coincidences and interactions that'll have a positive affect on our lives. Basically the same sort of concept as 'positive thinking' and 'what goes around...', but it's so much more than that.
The strangest thing for me, even as I doubted the insights and just read the book as a story, was that I did actually start to notice these "coincidences" in my day to day life. Somebody makes eyecontact with me? Instead of looking away as I'd usually do, I actually engaged that person and whilst I'm not sure they changed my life I was able to glean a message from the encounter, and was actually left feeling really positive about the whole thing.
I've always been a firm believer in positive thinking and I think this book gives you a way to get to the next level for that kind of thinking, I guess. I don't agree with every point made, but that's okay! And if nothing else, it's an interesting enough read to hold my attention for a few hours/days.
The basic premise is that the human race is evolving to a point where we're entering a new consciousness, a new awareness and way of thinking, whereby we'll be able to bring about the kinds of coincidences and interactions that'll have a positive affect on our lives. Basically the same sort of concept as 'positive thinking' and 'what goes around...', but it's so much more than that.
The strangest thing for me, even as I doubted the insights and just read the book as a story, was that I did actually start to notice these "coincidences" in my day to day life. Somebody makes eyecontact with me? Instead of looking away as I'd usually do, I actually engaged that person and whilst I'm not sure they changed my life I was able to glean a message from the encounter, and was actually left feeling really positive about the whole thing.
I've always been a firm believer in positive thinking and I think this book gives you a way to get to the next level for that kind of thinking, I guess. I don't agree with every point made, but that's okay! And if nothing else, it's an interesting enough read to hold my attention for a few hours/days.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book contains some superbly horrible advice. Including magical thinking.
Plot-wise, it's also rather hamfisted from time to time.
Plot-wise, it's also rather hamfisted from time to time.
Interesting story that makes you start to think of how and why humans act and behave the way that they do.
It made me think of my actions towards others and myself - wondering, what would a truly compassionate world be like.
It made me think of my actions towards others and myself - wondering, what would a truly compassionate world be like.
This was a reread, when I read it years ago I remember being in awe.
This time around I just couldn’t enjoy the main character — perhaps it’s just too different from my own thought process — and I couldn’t get invested.
This time around I just couldn’t enjoy the main character — perhaps it’s just too different from my own thought process — and I couldn’t get invested.
Bagi gue...bukunya 'OK'. Tapi mungkin juga karena usia gue waktu baca buku ini (19). Jadi ada sebagian yang 'I just didn't get' (hmmm...ato emang gue aja kali yah yang ngga ngerti).
Tapi kesimpulan dari buku ini bagus banget...Kita sudah sepantasnya menghargai semua yang ada disekitar kita, bahwa tanaman bisa tumbuh segar, indah, karena adanya komunikasi antara kita dengan alam semesta. Memeluk pohon, berbicara dengan binatang, jangan anggap itu sesuatu yang gila lhooo...Bilamana alam semesta bisa kita ajak bicara heart to heart...kenapa sulit untuk kita berbicara dengan sesama kita...Well...this book made me think about our way of life, though the philosophy may be too deep for me to grasp at the time.
I may try and read it again one day...
Tapi kesimpulan dari buku ini bagus banget...Kita sudah sepantasnya menghargai semua yang ada disekitar kita, bahwa tanaman bisa tumbuh segar, indah, karena adanya komunikasi antara kita dengan alam semesta. Memeluk pohon, berbicara dengan binatang, jangan anggap itu sesuatu yang gila lhooo...Bilamana alam semesta bisa kita ajak bicara heart to heart...kenapa sulit untuk kita berbicara dengan sesama kita...Well...this book made me think about our way of life, though the philosophy may be too deep for me to grasp at the time.
I may try and read it again one day...