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carlabarros's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
osamatheauthor's review
5.0
It was the book cover that attracted me, though I was not aware of Rainer's work. I returned home, searched for this book, and was glad I picked the right option.
It is my first time reading letters written by an author, and I am glad I initiated with Rainer's. Every note has its theme to grab - a lesson of a lifetime you should hold onto.
Simply splendid!
Some points that I could learn vividly from the book are the following:
Cherish the questions like closed rooms or strange books till answers appear themselves.
Distances do not mean anything when someone is close to your heart - perhaps we have to hold onto hope for such.
A world resides within you, and you need to indulge in it first and foremost.
On sorrows will help you reach your new destinations - we are not required to look beyond the sight but have immense patience for ourselves and our paths.
Be part of your solitude when sadness is wrapping you around.
Art is the only way of living knowingly or unknowingly.
All feelings that uplift you are pure.
My favorite lines from the book:
Do not think that the man who seeks to comfort you lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words which sometimes do you good. His life has much hardship and sadness and lags far behind you. If it were otherwise, he could never have found those words.
It is my first time reading letters written by an author, and I am glad I initiated with Rainer's. Every note has its theme to grab - a lesson of a lifetime you should hold onto.
Simply splendid!
Some points that I could learn vividly from the book are the following:
Cherish the questions like closed rooms or strange books till answers appear themselves.
Distances do not mean anything when someone is close to your heart - perhaps we have to hold onto hope for such.
A world resides within you, and you need to indulge in it first and foremost.
On sorrows will help you reach your new destinations - we are not required to look beyond the sight but have immense patience for ourselves and our paths.
Be part of your solitude when sadness is wrapping you around.
Art is the only way of living knowingly or unknowingly.
All feelings that uplift you are pure.
My favorite lines from the book:
Do not think that the man who seeks to comfort you lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words which sometimes do you good. His life has much hardship and sadness and lags far behind you. If it were otherwise, he could never have found those words.
maialunovis's review against another edition
4.0
Sehr, sehr empfehlenswert. Man sollte natürlich nicht all seinen Ratschlägen folgen, aber es ist ein guter Ausgangspunkt um über Ansätze für das eigene Schaffen nachzudenken. Insbesondere der erste Brief ist hier von Bedeutung.
raxorrr's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
this was amazing. i loved the evolution of correspondence in the letters, how there's a shift from formal exchanges to more intimate and personal dialogue, as a friendship forms. the reflections and insights in Letters to a Young Poet were reminiscent of Khalil Gibran's The Prophet. it's so unique to find philosophy embedded in an exchange of letters.
if i were to voice one objection, it would be the absence of letters from the "young poet". having access to them would have enriched the reading experience and provided more context. i'm guessing that as the title says, Rilke is the main attraction as he shares his perspective on art and life and overall, he's the one providing the advice; despite that, it would have painted the full picture and completed the epistolary collection.
while i find a lot of wisdom in his writing, i don't exactly agree with everything he says. for one, he mentions how to truly live a fulfilling life, we must concentrate on everything and not merely think of things as a distraction, specifically addressing acts of pleasure. this seemed somewhat idealistic and in my experience, distractions are a necessary and rejuvenating part of life. continuously living in a state of intense focus is not only mentally exhausting, but it can also deprive you of the simple joys in life. that being said, i don't think it's necessary to comment on his advice as a work of philosophy but rather appreciate it for its moral lessons and uplifting nature. Rilke's letters were specifically tailored for an individual facing distinct challenges in that moment so it isn't very fair to say that his overarching philosophy is encapsulated in the work but rather offering solace to a friend.
this was amazing. i loved the evolution of correspondence in the letters, how there's a shift from formal exchanges to more intimate and personal dialogue, as a friendship forms. the reflections and insights in Letters to a Young Poet were reminiscent of Khalil Gibran's The Prophet. it's so unique to find philosophy embedded in an exchange of letters.
if i were to voice one objection, it would be the absence of letters from the "young poet". having access to them would have enriched the reading experience and provided more context. i'm guessing that as the title says, Rilke is the main attraction as he shares his perspective on art and life and overall, he's the one providing the advice; despite that, it would have painted the full picture and completed the epistolary collection.
while i find a lot of wisdom in his writing, i don't exactly agree with everything he says. for one, he mentions how to truly live a fulfilling life, we must concentrate on everything and not merely think of things as a distraction, specifically addressing acts of pleasure. this seemed somewhat idealistic and in my experience, distractions are a necessary and rejuvenating part of life. continuously living in a state of intense focus is not only mentally exhausting, but it can also deprive you of the simple joys in life. that being said, i don't think it's necessary to comment on his advice as a work of philosophy but rather appreciate it for its moral lessons and uplifting nature. Rilke's letters were specifically tailored for an individual facing distinct challenges in that moment so it isn't very fair to say that his overarching philosophy is encapsulated in the work but rather offering solace to a friend.