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Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment
The "New York Times" bestselling author captures the untold story of Jesus in this surprising, soul-stirring, and inspiring novel.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
November 3rd 2009
by HarperOne
(first published 2008)
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I love pretty much anything that Deepak Chopra writes, but this is the first work of fiction of his that I've read. I am also a person that LOVES reading anything that helps break Jesus out of the tiny box that organized Christianity has put him in, and this really does a good job of that.
This book is a fictionalized account of Jesus' lost years prior to his mission as described in the New Testament. As a work of fiction, the book is very well written and very believable. Even hard liner...more
This book is a fictionalized account of Jesus' lost years prior to his mission as described in the New Testament. As a work of fiction, the book is very well written and very believable. Even hard liner...more
I loved this book. At first I was unsure if I would even get through it, but I couldn't put it down. It has helped me renew some faith I have been lacking...
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One thing I will say about this is that, listening to it as an audiobook, it's so interesting to catch the rhythm of non-native English speakers. The emphasis is so different, sometimes, which can really alter a sentence--just an observation from one who's listening to a lot of audiobooks these days.
As to the story, I'll say right out that, as a reviewer, I have a giant handicap against impartiality because I am, in fact, Christian, and bring those ideas and assumptions to the reading of ...more
As to the story, I'll say right out that, as a reviewer, I have a giant handicap against impartiality because I am, in fact, Christian, and bring those ideas and assumptions to the reading of ...more
To my way of thinking, an outstanding book should concern a subject of some significance, have something new to say, and say it very well.
It would be hard to claim that the subject of a book entitled Jesus was not significant.
I came to it with little knowledge of the author (odd, considering he was connected with the University of Virginia when I was there and subsequently opened a center in San Diego where I now live), but I expected that this would not be a conventiona...more
It would be hard to claim that the subject of a book entitled Jesus was not significant.
I came to it with little knowledge of the author (odd, considering he was connected with the University of Virginia when I was there and subsequently opened a center in San Diego where I now live), but I expected that this would not be a conventiona...more
Very Insightful, Very Redundant
My dad recommended I read this book because I am at a point in my life where I’m doing a lot of soul searching but I don’t really have any firm beliefs. Since the platform of this book is essentially that of a novel, I figured it could be pretty digestible.
I love the idea of this book: Jesus was not a static being that was simply born divine, but rather a human being that sought and found enlightenment. He found god not because he was the literal son o...more
My dad recommended I read this book because I am at a point in my life where I’m doing a lot of soul searching but I don’t really have any firm beliefs. Since the platform of this book is essentially that of a novel, I figured it could be pretty digestible.
I love the idea of this book: Jesus was not a static being that was simply born divine, but rather a human being that sought and found enlightenment. He found god not because he was the literal son o...more
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This is a retelling of the age-old story of Jesus, but in the unique way that only Deepak Chopra could do. Ignoring, for the most part, the biblical account for the life of Jesus, Chopra creates a world in which the reader can watch the young Jesus find his way through a troubling existence. In a sense, Chopra forces the reader to see themselves as a Christ, capable of finding enlightenment and transforming as Jesus did two thousand years ago. Using poetic diction, the story is sung into the ...more
Deepak Chopra offers sage advice on transforming your life, from a Christian perspective, in his novel "Jesus." While many Christians may not agree with his fictional account of Jesus' lost years before his ministry began, they can reap new insights from the Readers Guide - Jesus and the Path to Enlightenment. He writes that Jesus was the product of transformation and that he wanted others to be transformed also, giving up unloving, violent, selfish and narrow-minded attitudes and offe...more
Zero stars. I listened to this as an audio book, which was the first problem. Deepak Chopra, the author, also narrated this book, and although I admire his ambition, his accent and cadence were detracting from the story. Although I can appreciate Chopra's attempt at blending different religious philosophies, it is clear that he didn't do his homework on very basic Christian principles or on Jesus as he is depicted in the gospels. Jesus never proclaimed himself the messiah, for example. The i...more
I really enjoyed this book that fictionally filled in much of the time between the gap in the bible between when Jesus was found in temple at 12 and when he supposedly began his ministry at around age 30. This is a story about the development of Jesus' spirituality as he gained insight as to his mission and accepted God as his true Father. Some of the writing is fragmented in that you have to assume certain contexts and environments, but he places Jesus in real life situations given the decorum ...more
Last Week: So far I read the Authors Note pages and the Reader's Guide at the end of the book. I think it gives the book a better head start. I have enjoyed both of these sections very much and look forward to the fictional story of Jesus' middle years within.
Conclusion: I think this book, to be enjoyed by Christians, must be approached with an open heart and an open mind. One should not be attached to their own version/vision of who Christ was in his early years, the between years. ...more
Conclusion: I think this book, to be enjoyed by Christians, must be approached with an open heart and an open mind. One should not be attached to their own version/vision of who Christ was in his early years, the between years. ...more
Not the best book I've read. If you are a Christian, there are times this book will offend you. It's an interesting concept to take a real religious figure and wrap a fictional storyline around him. I think this is where the book crosses a line many cannot accept. When I bought this book, I was hoping the content was going to be more like the final chapter; a non Christian view on the real life of Jesus. I would have really enjoyed an entire book written from that perspective, rather than ...more
Holy Crap!?! As I forced myself to read this work of fiction in one sitting, I could not help but wonder what Deepak was hoping to accomplish with this publication (or how strapped for cash he was). I was neither enlightened nor inspired by his story. If anything, it has only fueled my curiosity and yearning for knowing the truth. Sylvia Browne's "The Mystical Life of Jesus" (using her spiritual guide) and Dolores Cannon's "Jesus and the Essenes" (utilizing subjects of hypno...more
Says Chopra, “This book isn’t about the Jesus found in the New Testament, but the Jesus who was left out.” This is a novel, about Jesus’ own period of enlightenment before he began his ministry, and how he found God. Or, rather, how he found himself, the Son of God.
Jesus turns down the opportunity to join the Zealots, studies with the Essenes (whom he disappoints), and eventually begins a long and dangerous trek to find a mysterious guru, where he discovers his true soul. By the end of...more
Jesus turns down the opportunity to join the Zealots, studies with the Essenes (whom he disappoints), and eventually begins a long and dangerous trek to find a mysterious guru, where he discovers his true soul. By the end of...more
Reading the Kindle version so no page numbers. Just started but it seems interesting so far.
Well, I finished it but I don't know why. This book is very poorly written. And to top that off, the story is lame. Not being Christian, I thought I could just read it as a story about what it might be like to be the son of god on earth. I mean, that sounds interesting doesn't it? But even given that fascinating premise, the author managed to make the whole thing such a jumble of uninteresting...more
Well, I finished it but I don't know why. This book is very poorly written. And to top that off, the story is lame. Not being Christian, I thought I could just read it as a story about what it might be like to be the son of god on earth. I mean, that sounds interesting doesn't it? But even given that fascinating premise, the author managed to make the whole thing such a jumble of uninteresting...more
I'm always curious to see what others think/imagine of what Christ was like, how they pictured him as a person, as the man. While this might ruffle a few feathers or just come off as pure drivel to others, I neither thought it was amazing nor did I think it was terrible. There are probably many other Chopra books I could've/should've started with, but regardless of the "high dramatics" of this one, Chopra can weave a coherent sentence, and let a few ponder-worth moments slip in, too.
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An interesting companion to Rice's Road to Cana Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. Both imagine the young adult Jesus, in his twenties, discovering his identity, mission, divinity. Rice's book does a better job of describing the rough life of rural Jews in Nazareth, and the personalities of the people in Jesus' family and community. Chopra makes the bulk of his book a flashback, after Jesus has arrived in the hut of holy man in the Himalayan hills.
Chopra's main idea is that the youn...more
Chopra's main idea is that the youn...more
If your someone that believes everything in the Bible, literally, word-for-word, this may be a controversial read for you. If you are open to interpretation but haven't thought about it much, you may find this book to be an eye-opening experience. If this is a subject that is on your mind most of the time, the things written in this book have probably already crossed your thoughts many times.
I guess what I'm saying is that I like what has been written here but for me, it was nothing ...more
I guess what I'm saying is that I like what has been written here but for me, it was nothing ...more
Gurudas Sunyatananda
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Progressive Christians, especially Unitarian Universalists
Recommended to Gurudas by:
local book club
I will have to admit to being rather disappointed after reading this book. That doesn't mean it wasn't a well-written book, certainly worth reading. But I expected something more from the author, Deepak Chopra.
In his preface to Jesus, Chopra is very straightforward about his purpose in writing the book, saying
In his preface to Jesus, Chopra is very straightforward about his purpose in writing the book, saying
"[there is] a Jesus left out of the New Testament - the enlightened Jesus. His absence, in my view, has profoundly crippled the Christian faith, for...making [Jesus] the one...more
I think Chopra is right on the money as far as emphasizing the spiritual essence of Jesus and what he taught, rather than focusing on the things that were later taught ABOUT him. Unfortunately, anything dealing with the "lost years" prior to his ministry began is pure speculation and, therefore, deemed worthless by most "Christians" of the Paulian variety. While I do believe Jesus was taught by Buddhists in his youth, there is a lot of historical data that makes such a concep...more
I found great interest in this possible version of Jesus's coming of age, questions about his true place in man's world and his acceptance of his destiny. Although his lost years create many questions about his travels and learning...it's hard to imagine that Jesus struggled with questions of morality, belonging, truth, survival and happiness in a volatile world. In these strange and violent times, these lessons have never been more important.
Either there's something wrong with me or Deepak Chopra fiction is HIGHLY over-rated. This is the second novel I've had a go at, I'm currently stalled 1/3 into his The Return of Merlin. That one is really causing me to pull my hair out so I thought I'd try this one as part of my Easter challenge. While I haven't found it as painful as Merlin it was hardly a treat. I suppose I hardly found it interesting and not at all inspiring. It wasn't particularily educational and the characters were wo...more
Another great book by Deepak Chopra. The story of the 'missing years' of Christ's life. The story is a 'good read' and quite plausible. Raised a Catholic I would have enjoyed a little more sympathy for Mary Magdalen and Judas role didn't quite ring true. However, the synopsis at the end is fantastic. I would love all of my friends and family to read Deepak's ending discussion.
I truly enjoyed the way the book approached the missing years of Jesus. He included the political upheaval of the time, which is so important to understanding the actions that followed. I struggled with some of the language that he used just because I couldn't envision a 1st century Jew using the modern day slang that Deepak used. But overall it was worth the read.
Enjoyed this book alot. Even though it is fiction It gave me a new outlook on certain religions. I do come from a catholic background but never connected to this religion even finding it dull and at times full of hipocrisy but after reading this my feelings changed... Not going to become a devotee or anything but i feel i might find some valuable lessons in these teachings.
Just a month ago, I was journaling that I regretted how 'otherly' Jesus is in the Bible. I wrote that I couldn't find Jesus, at least not the one who is a real person and who demonstrates daily life. Then I happened across this book.
I especially like the introduction and epilogue.
Kept My Attention - 5
Accessible - 5
Well-written - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 1
I especially like the introduction and epilogue.
Kept My Attention - 5
Accessible - 5
Well-written - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 1
I didn't know this book was fiction when I reserved it at the library, assuming it was a book about Jesus' teachings - but that's not why I thought it was terrible. The writing was just lame and uninspired to me, and I really enjoy Chopra's spiritual writing; I feel he has the special way of shining the light on a concept simply and beautifully.
I liked the part of the book when the story is done and Chopra writes about his interpretation of Jesus' message, that Jesus/God wanted/s fo...more
I liked the part of the book when the story is done and Chopra writes about his interpretation of Jesus' message, that Jesus/God wanted/s fo...more
I have picked up this book numerous times only to put it back again and come back still interested. It is of a subject I am clearly interested very much in but the obvious controversy left me unwilling to read. I finally did and found it an interesting fiction, not overtly offensive, though some clearly are offended by this "lost years" narrative.
I started this one and pushed myself to think I'd begin to see a change but I didn't. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who loves the charitable Jesus Christ, the JC who teaches with every word.
The character that I read was just a person not a God.
My husband is reading it now so while it's not for me who knows if it's for you.
The character that I read was just a person not a God.
My husband is reading it now so while it's not for me who knows if it's for you.
Jesus, the early years. I am also reading "Christ The Lord" by Anne Rice. Chopra's Jesus is a gritty, down to earth character undergoing a dawning of consciousness and the scenes he paints of the ancient world are dusty and sweaty and reeking of rebellion, whereas Rice's Jesus is a bit more Harry Potter in its supernaturalness.
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Dr. Deepak Chopra is the founder of The Chopra Center for well-being in Carlsbad, California, and New York City, and cofounder and president of the Alliance for a New Humanity. Chopra’s Wellness Radio airs weekly on Sirius/XM Stars, Channels 102 and 55, and focuses on the areas of success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being, and spirituality. The June 1999 issue of Time magazine heralde...more
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