Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I don’t love audiobooks, but believe both philosophy and poetry are best read and understood aloud.
I was introduced to Kahlil Gibran’s work through an art class. We were invited to read an excerpt from The Prophet (On Joy and Sorrow) and reflect on how the piece moved through us.
Listening to the entirety of the prophet reminded me of ancient biblical wisdom literature, specifically Ecclesiastes. In that book, like the prophet (Al Mustafa), you are introduced to a kohelet (teacher) who then reflects on common but substantial human experiences. For the range of topics Gibran covers in this book, the format is actually advantageous. Gently nestled in a fiction, the reader is able to listen to Mustafa man through the prompting of Almitra and others in the community.
I love the Prophet for the same reason, I love Ecclesiastes. It rids itself of unnecessary binaries that inhibit the reader from comprehensively taking in the human experience. Several chapters of the book are titled after what might feel like two opposite ends of a spectrum(On Joy and Sorrow, Reason and Passion, Good and Evil), but as you listen Gibran elevates a meaningful and complicated relationship between the two. Even on the chapters that focus on a singular topic, I appreciate how he expands in such a way to invite deeper thinking. I especially loved the chapters on Love, Houses, Clothes, Pain, and Self-Knowledge.
Like all wisdom literature and poetry, it is meant to be listened to and read more than once. I know I will buy the book and read through it with curiosity of how it will move through me again.
I was introduced to Kahlil Gibran’s work through an art class. We were invited to read an excerpt from The Prophet (On Joy and Sorrow) and reflect on how the piece moved through us.
Listening to the entirety of the prophet reminded me of ancient biblical wisdom literature, specifically Ecclesiastes. In that book, like the prophet (Al Mustafa), you are introduced to a kohelet (teacher) who then reflects on common but substantial human experiences. For the range of topics Gibran covers in this book, the format is actually advantageous. Gently nestled in a fiction, the reader is able to listen to Mustafa man through the prompting of Almitra and others in the community.
I love the Prophet for the same reason, I love Ecclesiastes. It rids itself of unnecessary binaries that inhibit the reader from comprehensively taking in the human experience. Several chapters of the book are titled after what might feel like two opposite ends of a spectrum(On Joy and Sorrow, Reason and Passion, Good and Evil), but as you listen Gibran elevates a meaningful and complicated relationship between the two. Even on the chapters that focus on a singular topic, I appreciate how he expands in such a way to invite deeper thinking. I especially loved the chapters on Love, Houses, Clothes, Pain, and Self-Knowledge.
Like all wisdom literature and poetry, it is meant to be listened to and read more than once. I know I will buy the book and read through it with curiosity of how it will move through me again.
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5 stars
This book holds the feeling you get when getting advice from a close friend, like the world isnt so big and scary after all. Gibrans take on the world is rather unique and i can definitely see why it become so popular.
This book holds the feeling you get when getting advice from a close friend, like the world isnt so big and scary after all. Gibrans take on the world is rather unique and i can definitely see why it become so popular.
it was so calming and soothing to read this book which I really enjoyed and loved. it's such a beautiful and spiritual read as well, and the graceful prose is powerful and inspiring. the way Khalil Gibran evokes an abundance of emotions and understanding with even the smallest sentences was completely breathtaking.
love, children and, joy and sorrow were my favourites parts of the book. that'll probably change when I read it again and it'll be interesting to see what stands out to me next time.
love, children and, joy and sorrow were my favourites parts of the book. that'll probably change when I read it again and it'll be interesting to see what stands out to me next time.
This is my first time actually reading this book, in English. Usually, I listen to an Arabic audio book version that I play before bed, and it puts me straight to sleep. So you can imagine it was difficult to go through it and not feel a sense of drowsiness. I found the English to be more nonsensical than the Arabic. Somehow, the writing style, or translation rather, of the Arabic made more sense, and I was able to understand it better. Took a while for me to digest this book in English. No wonder, too, because every other sentence is profound and enlightening. I found myself relating my life events to the advice given through descriptive metaphors, and so I underlined a lot. Here are some of my favourite of these hard-hitting one-liners:
"A voice cannot carry the tongue and the lips that gave it wings."
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet, they belong not to you."
"And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?"
"You shall not dwell in tombs made by the dead for the living."
"People of Orphalese, you can muffle the drum, and you can loosen the strings of the lyre, but who shall command the skylark not to sing?"
"For many of my arrows left my bow only to seek my own breast."
"For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root."
"You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good."
"A voice cannot carry the tongue and the lips that gave it wings."
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet, they belong not to you."
"And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?"
"You shall not dwell in tombs made by the dead for the living."
"People of Orphalese, you can muffle the drum, and you can loosen the strings of the lyre, but who shall command the skylark not to sing?"
"For many of my arrows left my bow only to seek my own breast."
"For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root."
"You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good."
El Mustafa'nın yıllardır beklediği gemi onu uzaklara götürmek üzere gelmiştir sonunda. Yaşadığı bölgenin halkı da gitmeden önce ona aşk, dostluk, suç ve ceza, din, ölüm, özgürlük ve yaşamın aklınıza gelebilecek her yönü hakkında sorular sorar. El Mustafa da onlara kısa ama son derece derin cevaplar verir.
Cibran ile tanışma kitabım oldu Ermiş. Her satırı istemsizce tekrar tekrar okudum. Çünkü oldukça kısa bir kitap olsa da yüzlerce kitabın derinliğini taşıyor. Elbette ''Ermiş''in öğütlerinin katılmadığım noktaları olsa da (doğal olarak) sonuna kadar katıldığım ve ifade ediş biçimine hayran kaldığım kısımlar da oldu. Çok fazla cümlenin altını çizdim ve hala okumadıysanız kesinlikle tavsiye ederim :)
Cibran ile tanışma kitabım oldu Ermiş. Her satırı istemsizce tekrar tekrar okudum. Çünkü oldukça kısa bir kitap olsa da yüzlerce kitabın derinliğini taşıyor. Elbette ''Ermiş''in öğütlerinin katılmadığım noktaları olsa da (doğal olarak) sonuna kadar katıldığım ve ifade ediş biçimine hayran kaldığım kısımlar da oldu. Çok fazla cümlenin altını çizdim ve hala okumadıysanız kesinlikle tavsiye ederim :)
You often say, "I would give, only to the deserving." The trees in the orchard say not so, north the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to parish.
And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart: "your seeds shall live in my body, and the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart, and your fragrance shall be my breath, and together we shall rejoice through all the seasons. " and in the autumn, when you gather the grapes of your vineyards for the wine press, saying your heart: I too am a vineyard, and my fruit shall be gathered for the winepress and like new wine I shall be kept in eternal vessels "
You have been told that even like the chain you are as weak as your weakest link. This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of the ocean by the frailty of its foam.
And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart: "your seeds shall live in my body, and the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart, and your fragrance shall be my breath, and together we shall rejoice through all the seasons. " and in the autumn, when you gather the grapes of your vineyards for the wine press, saying your heart: I too am a vineyard, and my fruit shall be gathered for the winepress and like new wine I shall be kept in eternal vessels "
You have been told that even like the chain you are as weak as your weakest link. This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of the ocean by the frailty of its foam.
inspiring
reflective
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced