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searlait_carolinehoey's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
alulushi's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
incredible, inspiring, and reflective. i will be thinking about these words for years
“when you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find that it is only that which has given you sorrow has given you joy.”
“when you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find that it is only that which has given you sorrow has given you joy.”
dyno8426's review against another edition
3.0
I feel conflicted due to my mixed reactions after reading this book. The bittersweet aftertaste feels more bitter now due to its incomplete undertaking - something that even begins to feel like betrayal. First to the wonderful part - its poetic delivery of the prose. It elevates its prophetic content to scripture like holiness. Analogies and metaphors interspersed within the prose are impressive with their beauty and uplifting sentiments. At places, I literally exclaimed with appreciation and felt the same exhilaration that any beautiful imagery or idea evokes. The symbols also convey a feeling of harmony - pleasant and stabilising like a musical symphony. Although the ideological freedom that provides this unity also see-sawed its favour in my opinion and left me intellectually unfulfilled.
The underlying philosophical fibre seems to be spiritualism - the idea of human's spiritual reality as paramount than any material aspect. A grander design and its intellectual access through spiritual realisation comes out to be the purpose of living. Everything is developed relative to it and uses the same existential harmony to fit in the groove that completes the bigger picture. Complex topics like suffering and evil are explained as a vacuum of this spiritual awareness. This somewhat neutralises the comforting interludes of beautiful symbols by offering trite words - to the extent of contradictory seeming statements that irked me to the point of "What?!". As pointed in someone else's criticism as well (not quoting verbatim) - in its entirety, it comes out as a sugar-coated blend of theology, spiritualism and morality which makes it easier to swallow. Its embalming effect makes it agreeable. It seems to be constructed from the good parts of various ideologies you might have heard of which makes it acceptable. Its optimism feels artificial which seeds doubt and leaving an impression of "more saccharine with less substance". I believe I am not biased towards pessimism to feel this way. This is what divides my appreciation and second-guess the worthiness of this work. As a moral guide, its simplicity and clarity is agreeable and identifiably in the right of mind and heart. Like spiritualism, its positivity just feels overused in order to make it widely acceptable. Appearance of depth sometimes also comes from an inadequacy of light. It does not carry the intellectual burden or inspires anyone to share it with the author. It closes in on itself as soon as it started while heading into waters which always left many wondering. Maybe it was never meant to do so. I can understand and accept that. I am glad it exists to provide enough beauty for some emotional respite and enough light to clear the complexity of some human experiences.
The underlying philosophical fibre seems to be spiritualism - the idea of human's spiritual reality as paramount than any material aspect. A grander design and its intellectual access through spiritual realisation comes out to be the purpose of living. Everything is developed relative to it and uses the same existential harmony to fit in the groove that completes the bigger picture. Complex topics like suffering and evil are explained as a vacuum of this spiritual awareness. This somewhat neutralises the comforting interludes of beautiful symbols by offering trite words - to the extent of contradictory seeming statements that irked me to the point of "What?!". As pointed in someone else's criticism as well (not quoting verbatim) - in its entirety, it comes out as a sugar-coated blend of theology, spiritualism and morality which makes it easier to swallow. Its embalming effect makes it agreeable. It seems to be constructed from the good parts of various ideologies you might have heard of which makes it acceptable. Its optimism feels artificial which seeds doubt and leaving an impression of "more saccharine with less substance". I believe I am not biased towards pessimism to feel this way. This is what divides my appreciation and second-guess the worthiness of this work. As a moral guide, its simplicity and clarity is agreeable and identifiably in the right of mind and heart. Like spiritualism, its positivity just feels overused in order to make it widely acceptable. Appearance of depth sometimes also comes from an inadequacy of light. It does not carry the intellectual burden or inspires anyone to share it with the author. It closes in on itself as soon as it started while heading into waters which always left many wondering. Maybe it was never meant to do so. I can understand and accept that. I am glad it exists to provide enough beauty for some emotional respite and enough light to clear the complexity of some human experiences.
jvsaucceda's review against another edition
4.0
This book was gift from a dear friend of mine. As I was reading it I was blown away by the use of language and the colorful illustrations that compared life to life. It seemed convoluted at times which made it difficult to understand what I was reading, but the parts I did understand I really enjoyed.
afroditi86's review against another edition
5.0
Though this book is short, it's not one to be read in one sitting. The meaning is condensed and one needs time to take it all in. The writing can also become tiresome after a while. However it's a beautiful book with a beautiful message. I enjoyed every second of reading it.
eleader's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
elcapu's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kellyrenea's review against another edition
4.0
Book 35 of 2023: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Thought provoking. Definitely plan to reread this in the future.
“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime. And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered. For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.”
Thought provoking. Definitely plan to reread this in the future.
“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime. And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered. For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.”
nffictionophile's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0