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4,093 ratings,
4.06
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published
September 29th 2004
(first published 1997)
by New World Library
binding
Paperback, 224 pages
isbn
1577314808
(isbn13: 9781577314806)
description
Ekhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly ...more
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avg 4.06
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Has a copy to sell/swap
recommends it for:
fools and idiots
What a pompous fraud this guy is, this Eckhart Tolle. He steals the classic works of Eastern cultures and repackages them in a poorly-written and impossibly stupid manner. He talks about rocks being alive. But he doesn't say what makes them alive, what gives them that metaphoric quality.
This is metaphysics presented in a Naked Emperor fashion, packaged for those who are ill-educated and cloistered in a materialistic Judeo-Christian (read: American, British, Israeli) mindset. Noth...more
This is metaphysics presented in a Naked Emperor fashion, packaged for those who are ill-educated and cloistered in a materialistic Judeo-Christian (read: American, British, Israeli) mindset. Noth...more
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1 comment
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone interested in evolving spiritually
Mr. Tolle spent two years sitting on park benches and simply "living in the moment" prior to writing this book. I doubt whether I will ever take the time in my life to do such a thing, however the suggestion he offers that we all spend a ridiculous amount of time either worrying about the future, or dwelling on the past has impacted me in a huge way. Until I read this book, I never noticed how in sane my mind can make me if I choose to let it. Tolle implores the reader to take the re...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
No One
There is no nice way to say this. I hated this book with a fiery passion. It did not make me feel at peace. Rather, it made me want to chew off my arm. I bet if we asked Eckhart Tolle why I felt that way, he'd say that I wasn't really listening to his message.
My problems with the book were as follows. First off, the tone of the book was extremely condescending. Written in a question/answer format, many of the answers started out with "You're not really listening" or "...more
My problems with the book were as follows. First off, the tone of the book was extremely condescending. Written in a question/answer format, many of the answers started out with "You're not really listening" or "...more
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2 comments
There is a point in our lives when we say enough is enough. This is what this book is about. In one of his greatest works Eckhart Tolle teaches us the real meaning of spirituality. He teaches us the importance of the present moment. Through the recognition of the ego he makes us aware of how it destroys our lives. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for the real meaning of their lives and to anyone who is sick and tired of the usual thing.
The first time I encountered this...more
The first time I encountered this...more
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I like Echkart Tolle. I recommend this book if you are into new age spirituality or not. Even if you aren't into spirituality at all, check it out. I mean, jeez, spiritual enlightenment for less than $20, how could you go wrong?
I sometimes struggle with doubts about him, but I do this with all spiritual teachers. Another reviewer described him as a "pompous fraud" who "steals the classic works of Eastern cultures and repackages them in a poorly-written and impossib...more
I sometimes struggle with doubts about him, but I do this with all spiritual teachers. Another reviewer described him as a "pompous fraud" who "steals the classic works of Eastern cultures and repackages them in a poorly-written and impossib...more
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Read in July, 2004
Tolle's book is an important one, a much needed reminder that is too easy to forget. All too often people can pass entire lifetimes 'missing the moment.' One can, like the worst type of junkie, become so comfortable with-and so used to-anxiety, worry, and procrastination that to simply experience tranquility in the present becomes an impossibility. For such people, the simple and inspirational teachings that The Power of Now details can incite a revolution in one's experience of being alive. Tha...more
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6 comments
Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone!
Upon 2nd reading of this book, I realized that any form of negativity I may have in the moment actually reflects a resistance to the present moment - a refusal to accept the here and now (which is the only reality).
Previous to this, I had thought that negativity simply is - and therefore should simply be noticed and accepted as part of the current reality, and not struggled against.
True, negativity shouldn't be railed at nor struggled against - but should instead be simpl...more
Previous to this, I had thought that negativity simply is - and therefore should simply be noticed and accepted as part of the current reality, and not struggled against.
True, negativity shouldn't be railed at nor struggled against - but should instead be simpl...more
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Another one of those awesome, life-changing books!
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2 comments
Read in May, 2008
recommended to Jillian by:
Oprahrecommends it for: Tracy Baptista
I was skeptical of this book at first since I can't stand Dr. Phil and this guy is like Oprah's spiritual guru and sometimes as much as I love her-she's got some strange ideas about who is enlightened and who is not...but I loved this book. I've read a few books with similar messages-about living in the present, being mindful, and grateful-it's a very zen-like message-but this book was different. Tolle explains that we are not our thoughts.
"The very fact that we can objective...more
"The very fact that we can objective...more
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Read in December, 2008
I passed this book dozens of times in my yoga studio back in 2003. It was so popular and its praises so well sung by my yoga teacher, Steve Ross, that I thought it must be a bunch of new age mumbo jumbo. I didn't want to read it because I thought that it would entail jumping on some Los Angeles hippy bandwagon.
I opened myself up to Eckhart Tolle after watching him on Oprah's Spirit Channel and I'm so glad that I did. This book is really great. It contains such simple philosophy that...more
I opened myself up to Eckhart Tolle after watching him on Oprah's Spirit Channel and I'm so glad that I did. This book is really great. It contains such simple philosophy that...more
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Read in December, 2006
(orignally written in 2006)
Books were a major part of my gift giving this year and, being slightly amazon.com obsessive, I used their gift guides to inform my purchases. The guides provided by magazine editors were especially helpful and despite myself, I bought a hell of a lot of the suggestions from O. When I received the box in the mail, I realized that all of the items I had purchased had intended recipients except for one: The Power of Now.
I cracked the binding and r...more
Books were a major part of my gift giving this year and, being slightly amazon.com obsessive, I used their gift guides to inform my purchases. The guides provided by magazine editors were especially helpful and despite myself, I bought a hell of a lot of the suggestions from O. When I received the box in the mail, I realized that all of the items I had purchased had intended recipients except for one: The Power of Now.
I cracked the binding and r...more
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Read in March, 2008
It's ait. Actually, I picked up the wrong book. (or, did I?) I meant to pick up Oprah's book club selection "A New Earth" also by Tolle.
I wasn't paying attention when I took this one. (or, was I?) JK
It's better than most self-help, spiritual books. It's more thorough and its question-answer format is helpful for the most common questions Tolle has been asked over the years. It's clearly and simply written so that the depth of his message is understandable, b...more
I wasn't paying attention when I took this one. (or, was I?) JK
It's better than most self-help, spiritual books. It's more thorough and its question-answer format is helpful for the most common questions Tolle has been asked over the years. It's clearly and simply written so that the depth of his message is understandable, b...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Someone at the bottom of the hole with no way out
If you are looking for a self-help book, then go a head and read this one - it may actually help you. Otherwise, don't give it to someone else unless they are already actively seeking self-help/enlightenment advice.
Honestly, I couldn't get past the first chapter of this book. An acquaintance gave it to me; apparently he was worried that I wasn't a happy camper. It's closer to the truth to say that he has a bad tendency to try to change people when they don't fit he pre-determined picture o...more
Honestly, I couldn't get past the first chapter of this book. An acquaintance gave it to me; apparently he was worried that I wasn't a happy camper. It's closer to the truth to say that he has a bad tendency to try to change people when they don't fit he pre-determined picture o...more
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Read in June, 2008
If you can get past the initial assumptions like--
"If I cannot live with myself there must be two of me" nonesense --- there is much worthy of thought --- OH dear there I go thinking and according to Tolle the mind is not my friend! He suggests that the mind uses us for its own purposes rather than our using it to analyze -- in fact part of his formula is not to overthink things! I personally am glad that not everyone buys this idea! A little thought goes a long way to help us...more
"If I cannot live with myself there must be two of me" nonesense --- there is much worthy of thought --- OH dear there I go thinking and according to Tolle the mind is not my friend! He suggests that the mind uses us for its own purposes rather than our using it to analyze -- in fact part of his formula is not to overthink things! I personally am glad that not everyone buys this idea! A little thought goes a long way to help us...more
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14 comments
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in June, 2008
recommended to Fred by:
friendrecommends it for: most everyone
This is a hard one for me. I have it in audio book and am letting it rest.
Now I have finished it and rated it now. This is a good book because it has a lot of wisdom in it and meshes very well with other great spiritual teachings that are at the top of my list. It also meshes well with my own experience and common sense - a guideline that Buddha gave.
Bottom line, religious organizations from the major lines (Catholic, Protestant, or even evangelical or any other kind) hav...more
Now I have finished it and rated it now. This is a good book because it has a lot of wisdom in it and meshes very well with other great spiritual teachings that are at the top of my list. It also meshes well with my own experience and common sense - a guideline that Buddha gave.
Bottom line, religious organizations from the major lines (Catholic, Protestant, or even evangelical or any other kind) hav...more
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Read in December, 2006
recommends it for:
People with busy minds that need to slow down
This book is an excellent guide to shutting of your brain noise. We let our brains run us mad most of the time, and never really stop to enjoy the space we are in. Always dwelling over the past, or fretting about the future. This book points out that the future is 100% unpredictable (so stop making up stories about what is going to happen when you have absolutely NO IDEA) and to stop worrying about the past because no amount of energy devoted to the past will change it. Instead, be in the now; b...more
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01/08/09
David
is currently reading it
An acquaintance recommended me this, and I read much of it when my ma checked it out. Eckhart is very interesting, but what I have read seems to be written from one slightly Eastern viewpoint: he says the mind is problematic and limited. That is funny: a book such as this is intellectual, so he is being pretty Western but rejects (maybe unconsciously) a/the major Western (cultural) idea and its(/his) potential.
In Sanskrit (maybe not in Chinese,) there are enough words that are used...more
In Sanskrit (maybe not in Chinese,) there are enough words that are used...more
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Read in June, 2009
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Read in April, 2009
This is my second Tolle book, and I found it another powerful read. This book took me longer to grasp than A New Earth, but again I found it to be very powerful and enlightening as a way to grasp the fullness of life by being fully present in the moment, accepting your life situation as it is right now, finding peace by doing so, and then making the best choices for life from this moment. The past has passed, the future hasn't happened, Now is what counts and what is your life. Enjoy it and make...more
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Read in September, 2008
I am currently reading this book, and find it so interesting, it's hard to stop reading! Every night, I lie down and practice the techniques of meditation and thinking in order to attain a clear mind. My father recommended this book to me, and I would recommend it to anyone, especially those with anxiety or phobic disorders. It goes over what your mind really is, and a way to clear it from all bad thoughts, addictions, or anxiety or phobias.
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quotes from this book
"Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.
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