Goodreads | A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

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A New Earth	4	03/20/2008 09:13AM

Kim rated it:

04/15/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Kim by: Kristin, Oprah

Well...where do I start? I have written a lot about my thoughts on this book (and dare I say 'new age movement') and I have a list of pros and cons further in my 'book report' if you want to read further--sorry, it's long! I read this book because I am an Oprah fan--love her book club-- and also a Christian and I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about. I'm not going to bash the book-- although the first 4 chapters were VERY hard to understand but it was just a bunch of off the wall new-a...more Well...where do I start? I have written a lot about my thoughts on this book (and dare I say 'new age movement') and I have a list of pros and cons further in my 'book report' if you want to read further--sorry, it's long! I read this book because I am an Oprah fan--love her book club-- and also a Christian and I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about. I'm not going to bash the book-- although the first 4 chapters were VERY hard to understand but it was just a bunch of off the wall new-age babble to me. Then chapters 5 and on had some good points that I was able to take and apply.

Unfortunately, we know from the bible (and yes, I'm going to quote scripture because Tolle quotes the bible, specifically Jesus, about 20 times in the book-- so it is relevant)--the bible tells us that, unfortunately, things are going to get worse throughout the years. It doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to realize our purpose and live the best life we can, but to think that everyone on earth will read this book and be enlightened and conscious--nope. Read 2 Timothy chapter 3. Wouldn't it be great for the terrorists in the middle east, the repressive Chinese, the warlords in the Sudan and around Africa, child abusers, and the porn industry to all read this book (or better yet, the bible) and get enlightened--WOW-- then maybe we'd have that 'new earth'. Yeah. Right. Now back to my review:

Pros: I like the reminders to live for NOW--cherish each moment of this wonderful life I've been given. I am better aware of my ego and the things that feed it--materialism, what others think, perpetuating past problems in my thoughts, realizing when I role-play in my mind what I'm 'going to say' to someone--something that may or may not even happen-- therefore clouding up my mind and forgetting to live for NOW. That was all good and helpful stuff. I'm more 'aware' that I do that and am more 'conscious' of it when I do it so I can stop and replace those thoughts with things that are positive. But all that's already been said in the bible. I like that Tolle refers to the biblical teachings of "This too shall pass" and "turning the other cheek" reminding us that we need to not fret about problems, but to deal with them now, accept them for what they are, do something about it now, and move on. Biblically we are taught not to worry about today or tomorrow (Matthew 6:34) and to treat others as we would want them to treat us and we Christians do forget that a lot which is why we need to be reading and hearing those scriptures frequently--and then live it.

Now for the cons: I thought the book was a bit boring and very repetitive--the first 4 chapters--seemed wacko to me. I think too many people are making Tolle's ideas a 'new religion' and putting their hope in a fallible human that THIS is the only way to have a peaceful, non-neurotic earth--it's as easy as destroying the ego.
A BIG problem I had with this book is that he states 'facts' and quotes all over the place with no footnoting whatsoever--none. Yes, at the end of the book he has a bibliography but it is mostly for the scriptures (which are not cited in the text) and other quotes with no footnotes from the Tao, Zen masters, Einstein and various writers) and nothing for the scientific data he claims to be fact. Is anyone else curious about this information and/or would like to look these quotes and 'facts' up and read them in context? Tolle is an evolutionist in the sense that he believes we are made up of energy and cells from stars (p. 197), the earth was created 114 million years ago (p. 1), some animals grew feathers and wings and turned into birds (p. 3) light from Andromeda takes 2.4 million years to reach us (p. 251) but sites no scientific references for those 'facts'--probably because they aren't facts, they are theory. Tolle does not believe in a literal Heaven and he even mentions in the last chapter that all energy, when it dies, goes somewhere in a new form--"it's reincarnated" (p.292). Yes, it would be great to have Heaven on earth, but according to scripture--especially in Revelation, it is a literal place. "A new heaven and a new earth" is actually found twice in the bible--in 2 Peter and Revelation if you want to read what it says.

Tolle believes that God ('the Source, the Universe) created the universe but his 'God' is just energy of the power of life, God is "being conscious", and "aware" and what we, misinformed, religious people "traditionally call 'God'" (page 220, 267) is just a concept. He also says that if you turn away from it (being unconscious and unaware), God ceases to be a reality in your life (p. 267). The bible says that God is a reality in your life whether you believe in Him or not. Tolle teaches that we can, through awareness, have that same enlightenment, power, and intelligence by allowing God to flow through us--putting us on the same level as God. God does live in us (1 John 4:12-16) but we are not equal to God (read Genesis). Also, another thing that gave me the creeps was Tolle says on page 106 "It is said that God is love but that is not absolutely correct." (by the way...God is the one who said it to John). 1 John 4:16 says, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him." It goes on to say in verse 19 that we are capable of love because God first loved us. And Jesus, who he quotes a lot, is reduced to another brilliant philosophical teacher who was 'enlightened'.

Tolle, in my opinion, is a new-age philosopher (Col. 2:8, Jeremiah 14:14, and Matthew 7:15) that takes many things he likes from the bible but doesn't believe it all to be truth inspired by the actual God, the One and Only, whose image we were created in. In fact he says many times in the first 4 chapters that there is no real truth. (nope--read psalm 26:3; Romans 15:8, or Titus 1:1) In fairness to Tolle, I believe many of the quotes from the bible were in context but a few of them rubbed me the wrong way because Tolle would say, "what Jesus really meant was..." So that's where I say, "buyer beware" and if it inspires people to read the bible themselves for God's truth and God's enlightenment that would be great! Now that's TRUE enlightenment! ...less

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Carrie rated it:

04/21/08

Read in March, 2008

recommended to Carrie by: Oprah's Book Club
recommends it for: Self-help seekers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I was a skeptic at first glance. It was only moments after i read about "feeling my inner-body" that i was feeling my pillow and sleeping soundly (and this is no small feat.)
However, the further i got into the book, the more i enjoyed it.

The self-help author, highlights the benefits of life spent "in the moment" and gives concrete exercises to help 'transcend our ego-based consciousness'. This he argues, is the key to personal happiness and fulfillment.

Illuminating-...more

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Liz E rated it:

03/13/08

recommended to Liz E by: Oprah
recommends it for: everyone

Oprahmercial. Well if you can over look that aspect I highly recommend this book. Tolle's penmanship allows difficult philosophical, psychological principles to come together simplified. This book simplifies complex notions of western approaches with an eastern point of view on metaphysics. I think it is a helpful tool for those cynical about the current state of humanity. I also believe it could be a great entry book into Eastern philosophy. He seems to Americanize complex metaphysical approach...more Oprahmercial. Well if you can over look that aspect I highly recommend this book. Tolle's penmanship allows difficult philosophical, psychological principles to come together simplified. This book simplifies complex notions of western approaches with an eastern point of view on metaphysics. I think it is a helpful tool for those cynical about the current state of humanity. I also believe it could be a great entry book into Eastern philosophy. He seems to Americanize complex metaphysical approaches of being thereby creating access. Oprah is a maverick bookseller and I can say that this is one of her greatest gifts to her audiences. She has found a tool to help readers enable their greater selves. I am deeply grateful that this book is available to the masses. Tolle brilliantly takes many philosophical backbones to task by incorporating them in layman’s terms. The more philosophy, Western and Eastern is accessible to the masses the better off we will all be. This book is trying to do just that and I can say Tolle accomplishes the goals set for in the writings. If one is familiar with eastern concepts of spirituality this book will reinforce the ideas, if one is familiar with basic psychology and western philosophy one will be pleasantly reminded of the insights into human nature. I would buy this book and give it to everyone who comes to me with existenal anxiety and seeking answers about the purpose of their life. One notion reinforced in this book is that these answers are not out side of you but are within yourself. This is a difficult concept to practice, especially for Americans in that our culture reinforces the notion that acquisition of external means will lead to internal gratification. It brings me great joy to know that Tolle’s efforts are reaching millions, which Oprah is trying to teach this enlightenment and that for once someone is using their media means for the greater good.
Sometimes the best books state concepts that you are unable to articulate. This book does this for me. At the end of my philosophy studies I wanted to seek out reconciliation between eastern ideas and western ideologies this book successfully does this with an amazing ease. Tolle is an enlightened man and even more impressive is when he said he didn’t want to be, or become a guru. This made me respect his mind even more. He is a gifted intellect and is doing a great service for humanity by this text.
If one wants more than a self help book, tired of Zen lyrics that seem to dissipate after reading them and wants a breath of fresh air to challenge your cynicism in the current state of humanity this book will satisfy. This book is soul food.
I like reading what is extremely popular becuase it seems to let you believe you are connecting with many minds at once. Instead of being locked in your own consciousness. This book creates the bridge towards the path of connecting to the ...less

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Martha rated it:

04/14/08

Read in January, 2008

What is so powerful about this book is not that there is much new material here. We’ve all heard about how the ego keeps us chained to our judgements, fears, and desires. The difference is in how the author explains his points. Finally, we understand! Wouldn’t you love it if all the stuff you’ve read about enlightenment suddenly became crystal clear? (I see you all nodding!) This is it.

Throughout the entire book, he reiterates the same points. He does not offer ‘instructions’. Her...more What is so powerful about this book is not that there is much new material here. We’ve all heard about how the ego keeps us chained to our judgements, fears, and desires. The difference is in how the author explains his points. Finally, we understand! Wouldn’t you love it if all the stuff you’ve read about enlightenment suddenly became crystal clear? (I see you all nodding!) This is it.

Throughout the entire book, he reiterates the same points. He does not offer ‘instructions’. Here’s a great example-how to let go of attachment. “Don’t even try. It’s impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them.”

My copy is frilled with flags (the best Christmas present I got last year was a flag dispenser!). There is so much you’ll want to remember that once you have finished it, you will find yourself picking it up at odd times and leafing through it. You’ll find a page and read something, and <wow> it will resonate.

Here’s the author’s summary: “Enjoyment of what you are doing, combined with a goal or vision that you work toward, becomes enthusiasm. Even though you have a goal, what you are doing in the present moment needs to remain the focal point of your attention; otherwise, you will fall out of alignment with universal purpose. Make sure your vision or goal is not an inflated image of yourself and therefore a concealed form of ego, such as wanting to become a movie star, a famous writer, or a wealthy entrepreneur. Also make sure your goal is not focused on having this or that, such as a mansion by the sea, your own company, or ten million dollars in the bank. An enlarged image of yourself or a vision of yourself having this or that are all static goals and therefore don’t empower you. Instead, make sure your goals are dynamic, that is to say, point toward an activity that you are engaged in and through which you are connected to other human beings as well as to the whole. Instead of seeing yourself as a famous actor and writer and so on, see yourself inspiring countless people with your work and enriching their lives. Feel how that activity enriches or deepens not only your life but that of countless others. Feel yourself being an opening through which energy flows from the unmanifested Source of all life through you for the benefit of all.

All this implies that your goal or vision is then already a reality within you, on the level of mind and of feeling. Enthusiasm is the power that transfers the mental blueprint into the physical dimension. That is the creative use of mind, and that is why there is no wanting involved. You cannot manifest what you want; you can only manifest what you already have. You many get what you want through hard work and stress, but that is not the way of the new earth.”

All I can say is read it, and watch your life change!

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Bell rated it:

04/19/08

bookshelves: heard

recommends it for: self-help buffs

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I could only get the audio version which is 8 cd's. might take a while...
***
No doubt Oprah has had a lot to do with A New Earth’s popularity. However, I think “The Power of Now” is a little better, though the overall message with this new book resonates with me.

I listened to the audio version (twice) and found the pace a little slow and repetitive. Also, it seems that he’s not only rehashing some of the same info in the “power of now” but too often quotes teachings in H...more

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Steven rated it:

04/20/08

Read in April, 2008

This book was given to me by my mother, who was inspired to read it by her recent love of all things Oprah. My mom has been working with the same company for nearly 30 years and whether it was because she worked in a hospital or because it is in her nature she always worked a lot more than the traditional 40 hour work week. I remember that she would be at work at around 7 a.m. and would not return until after 5:30 p.m., and she is not an hour or even a half-hour lunch person. She was always o...more This book was given to me by my mother, who was inspired to read it by her recent love of all things Oprah. My mom has been working with the same company for nearly 30 years and whether it was because she worked in a hospital or because it is in her nature she always worked a lot more than the traditional 40 hour work week. I remember that she would be at work at around 7 a.m. and would not return until after 5:30 p.m., and she is not an hour or even a half-hour lunch person. She was always one who never left until all the work was done. That is why it made me very happy that my mother now in her semi-retired state works a much more traditional work week. She still works more than 40 hour a week and still gets there before seven, but she is usually home now at about four in the afternoon. Being home at 4 o’clock in Tallahassee means that you are able to watch Oprah and in the past two years or so, my mom has discovered the force that is Oprah Winfrey and not at all surprising to me, she has become a huge fan. Through her new-found love for Oprah, my mom discovered this book and she thought it was so good that she had to buy a copy for both my sister and I.

Because of the source of the recommendation, I am a bit hesitant to criticize this book - not that I have a lot of criticisms anyway. I don’t know if the book is quite as powerful as some have suggested and I do think that most of the knowledge espoused is pretty well worn. That being said, I think the book is very good and it is never a bad idea to hear some of the tenets of this book repeated over and over.

Just a few of the thoughts I took from this book, in bullet format:
• Fear, greed, and desire for power cause conflict both in the world at large and in our own personal relationships.
• To be a better person, don’t try to be good, but find the goodness without you.
• Life isn’t as serious as the mind makes it out to be.
• When you can no longer feel the life that you are, you are likely to try to fill up your life with things.
• Things make you happy for about two weeks.
• You can’t get rid of attachment, attachment drops away when you no longer seek to find yourself in them.
• Don’t seek happiness. Happiness is ever-elusive, but freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it.
• You have to find a way to let go of the anger and resentment of the past.
• Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance.
• Make the present moment your friend.
• This too will pass.
• Not what you do, but how you do what you do determines whether you are fulfilling your destiny.
...less

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Michelle rated it:

03/08/08

Okay so I had high expectations for this book. Normally I don't really go for Oprah selections but I heard so many great things about it plus I am totally into new agey type things, I thought it would be right up my alley.

My problem with this book was twofold. First, a lot of the ideas weren't new to me. Living in the present (you are not walking across the room to get a book, you are walking across the room), not letting your ego attach itself to things (that is not "my car" or &q...more

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Cheryl rated it:

02/16/08

bookshelves: inspirational

Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: graduates, all adults

5 stars! Uplifting and inspiring!

Having Oprah Winfrey say, "Your book is my book club pick" epitomizes a leap in success. It's certainly the dream of almost every author I know. For one Canadian author it's a dream come true. Vancouver-based author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle must feel like he's riding a wave. His book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose is Opr...more

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Rogier rated it:

(review of isbn 0452289963)

04/13/08

bookshelves: spirituality

Read in March, 2008

This is a wonderful and very helpful book. Coming from a ACIM vantage point, it takes a little bit to adjust to his terminology, because Tolle uses words in a different way. His Consciousness is ACIM's Spirit and Mind, and ACIM's consciousness (and the thoughts you think you think) is Tolle's "thoughts." Likewise ACIM's "guilt" equates to Tolle's pain body, so in a way it's simply the "wrong mind." His biblical " New Earth" is the Course's " Real Worl...more This is a wonderful and very helpful book. Coming from a ACIM vantage point, it takes a little bit to adjust to his terminology, because Tolle uses words in a different way. His Consciousness is ACIM's Spirit and Mind, and ACIM's consciousness (and the thoughts you think you think) is Tolle's "thoughts." Likewise ACIM's "guilt" equates to Tolle's pain body, so in a way it's simply the "wrong mind." His biblical " New Earth" is the Course's " Real World." On and on. So, once you adjust for those variations of terminology, his message is very helpful, though it's different. The way Tolle addresses the "why" is more in line with Advaita Vedanta, and therefore he does not have a clear cause for the dynamics of guilt, as the Course offers in the notion that the world was made as an attack on God, and is a projection from the mind, not a creation of God. But he does a lot to clarify the guilt mechanism in ways that nicely complement the picture, and can help you see things you might not have noticed before.

On the whole the book seems very helpful to me, and certainly has a very insightful way of helping us understand our inner workings better, and moreover point the way out of the labyrinth, not deeper into it, which is more than can be said for a lot of materials that are paraded around as spirituality.

To watch his presentations on Oprah's show is delightful, and documents that there is a huge pent up demand for this type of information. It seems curious that on one hand, because of his Vedanta-alike way of looking at the origin of creation, that he gets caught up in this evolutionary thinking, which can easily be an ego cop out, for then we're waiting for everybody else to change their mind. However, he is also crystal clear that the whole idea of a spiritual journey is a perfect ego stalling tactic, when the only question always is, what choice am I making right now, in this moment?

Within the context of Oprah's network it seems funny that Tolle's presentations are happening at the same time as Marianne Williamson, who gives the Course her own spin and seems focused in a more New Age style on fixing up the world, and not the way out of the labyrinth. So in that context Tolle is more closely in-line with the Course in spirit than her presentations, which purport to represent or explain the Course....less

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Laurie rated it:

04/04/08

Read in April, 2008

Loved this book. It has changed how I look at life.
I read a lot of "self-help", "spiritual insight" books and this is one of the best I have ever read. I just finished it and I want to read it again. His writing is very easy to understand --clear and simple and he shares insights that you can use in your life immediately. IT is chock full of fascinating insights on every page.

Some of my favorite points are:

1. The pain-body--a "psychic parasite" inside...more Loved this book. It has changed how I look at life.
I read a lot of "self-help", "spiritual insight" books and this is one of the best I have ever read. I just finished it and I want to read it again. His writing is very easy to understand --clear and simple and he shares insights that you can use in your life immediately. IT is chock full of fascinating insights on every page.

Some of my favorite points are:

1. The pain-body--a "psychic parasite" inside of us that feeds on drama and enjoys negative thoughts. Once your mind is taken over by the pain-body, your thoughts will become negative. You will believe all the distorted,negative thoughts and you will keep thinking them over and over again. The way to be free of the pain-body is to recognize it for the psychic parasite that it is and realize it is not you.

2. When you are angry or frustrated with people because you believe they are withholding praise or appreciation from you--try giving love and appreciation to them. You cannot receive what you do not give. Outflow determines inflow.

3. Understanding that no matter what is going on in your life--this too, will pass-- and being aware and totally in the present. When you can sense your inner stillness and feel your own Presence, then you are free from ego and can live a better quality life.

4. Recognize patterns that are not working --ie: giving your opinion when no one has asked for it, demanding recognition, being concerned about how someone else sees you, trying to make an impression on others through--knowledge, good looks, status, physical strength, etc., taking things personally, complaining, making yourself right and others wrong. If you notice any of the above patterns in yourself--try letting go of them and see what happens.

5. When doing becomes infused with the timeless quality of Being, that is success. Unless you are present, you lose yourself in what you do.

6. There are three ways you can align your life with the power of the universe: acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm.
If you can neither enjoy or bring acceptance to what you do--stop. Otherwise you are not taking responsibility for consciousness which means you are not taking responsibility for life....less

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Jacqueline rated it:

04/16/08

Read in April, 2008

Wow. I bought it b/c Oprah was raving about it everyday and I can see why. It helps you shift your perspective on life and what's really important through the dissection of the ego, and enables you to be more AWARE, more PRESENT in your everyday life...and teaches you the importance of that. For example, how often in a day are you doing something but thinking about what you need to do the next day? If you're doing that, then you're not really present and experiencing the moment. This definitely ...more Wow. I bought it b/c Oprah was raving about it everyday and I can see why. It helps you shift your perspective on life and what's really important through the dissection of the ego, and enables you to be more AWARE, more PRESENT in your everyday life...and teaches you the importance of that. For example, how often in a day are you doing something but thinking about what you need to do the next day? If you're doing that, then you're not really present and experiencing the moment. This definitely hits home for parents who are with their kids.

I was reading this at the airport/airplane and had only one post-it note as a bookmark. I kept ripping the post-it to smaller and smaller pieces so I could mark certain pages of the book to re-read. The first chapter is boring and hard to get through, but it's well worth it. Here are some quotes I marked:

Regarding the ego: "How you are seen by others becomes the mirror that tells you what you are like and who you are. Do you need others to give you a sense of self... if you live in a culture that to a large extent equates self-worth with how much and what you have, you will be condemned to chasing after things for the rest of your life in the vain hope of finding your worth and completion of your sense of self there."

"Everybody's life really consists of small things. The present moment is always small in the sense that it is always simple, but concealed within it lies the greatest power. Like the atom, it is one of the smallest things yet contains enormous power. only when you alight yourself iwth the present moment do you ahve access to that power."

"To awaken within the dream is our purpose now. When we are awake within the dream, the ego-created earth-drama comes to an end and a more benign and wondrous dream arises. This is the new earth."

So, I really enjoyed the intent of this book and appreciate for giving me a way to look at life differently. There's a lot of touchy-feely stuff so you may want to read it along with a different book so you don't get overdosed. But I do recommend that everyone goes through it once b/c it really helps you look at life differently....less

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Kate rated it:

02/27/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Kate by: Oprah Winfrey
recommends it for: people who don't know who they are

It's an OPRAH thing. *UPDATE* This book is the bomb! I don't want to make it sound more grandiose than it is but this book (& the online class with Eck & O plus conversations with friends & family about the concepts in it) has really influenced me to shift my thinking about everything.

I picked it up with MUCH MUCH resistance (hi Rob!) but I am so grateful that I did pick it up. And though it's tempting to say "hey everyone, you gotta read this RIGHT NOW" the truth is...more It's an OPRAH thing. *UPDATE* This book is the bomb! I don't want to make it sound more grandiose than it is but this book (& the online class with Eck & O plus conversations with friends & family about the concepts in it) has really influenced me to shift my thinking about everything.

I picked it up with MUCH MUCH resistance (hi Rob!) but I am so grateful that I did pick it up. And though it's tempting to say "hey everyone, you gotta read this RIGHT NOW" the truth is that it's not for everyone right now. but it came to me at a perfect time, having totally lost my Seattle "identity" and being in a place of who am i and what am i doing hanging out with no job and no social life in this cute lil apartment in San Antonio,tx.

One of the ideas that was most useful right off the bat was the letting go of labels and understanding how labels dehumanize people. this opened me up to accept a job here that my past self would have been highly skeptical of.....and so far, the job is working out beautifully.

Another concept that really impacted me was that of the collective ego and the unhealthiness that it can perpetuate. I've had big connections with activist friends when I read them the passage about collective ego.

The collective pain body concept seems to be in the same neighborhood as Dr.Leary's post traumatic slave syndrome which I find very affirming. There is some acknowledgement of institutionalized oppression in the book and I found enough to satisfy me. Others may disagree. Of course, he uses a different language.

I also really really appreciated his interpretations of the bible. To read about Jesus as an enlightened being and about God as the consciousness in all of us made so much sense. And eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil is not some patriarchal bullshit about a temptress & filthy sinners but is about humanity beginning to identify with the ego. HELL YEAH!!!!!!! Bring it, Eckhart!

I could go on and on and may come back to add more. But this is certainly one of the most important books I've ever read. And if you call me it will probably come up in conversation, but hopefully not in an annoying way....less

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Kristin rated it:

04/02/08

Read in March, 2008

Unless you are very cynical, or are already very enlightened, this book is powerfully fulfilling, encouraging and potentially life-changing. To quote Oprah (what can I say, I wouldn't have gotten into this book if it weren't for her!), this book has an "a-ha!" moment on just about every page. To be honest, the concepts Tolle introduces in this book are radically new to me. Some of them are so simple, but I had never thought (or perceived) in this way before. Just the basic notion t...more Unless you are very cynical, or are already very enlightened, this book is powerfully fulfilling, encouraging and potentially life-changing. To quote Oprah (what can I say, I wouldn't have gotten into this book if it weren't for her!), this book has an "a-ha!" moment on just about every page. To be honest, the concepts Tolle introduces in this book are radically new to me. Some of them are so simple, but I had never thought (or perceived) in this way before. Just the basic notion that "we are not our thoughts" was a new and fascinating concept for me. It had honestly never occurred to me that we, as humans, are anything other than the thoughts and emotions that run through us or, at many times, control us. To find out that, according to Tolle and perhaps many others, thoughts and emotions are tied to ego and have nothing to do with our essential selves...well, I was astonished.

I think just about anyone will benefit from reading this book. Tolle clearly understands the human condition and unabashedly charts a new course for peace and purpose in one's life. It's good, good stuff. =) Am I truly aware and present now after reading it? Well, hmm, I don't think so. I'm not there, yet, and as I know from reading the book, awareness is nothing you can work toward, like my son's "potty power" chart, where he gets a sticker for doing his business. It's either there or it's not. But...I know I have benefited tremendously from being more conscious of my ego and pain body, as well as those painfully repetitive thought patterns that I used to associate as "just me."

Some of Tolle's concepts are pretty esoteric, and I'm not able to fully "get" all of them (check out the zebra reference on p. 292...huh?). But for the most part, his book is, in every sense of the word, a breath of fresh air. Although I have finished this book, it is not one I will be putting a the top of my closet to collect dust. It's too important to leave in the past...not that the past is any more important than the present. ;-)...less

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Jodi rated it:

03/11/08

Read in March, 2008

recommended to Jodi by: a friend and Oprah
recommends it for: Anyone who wants to better themselves

The overall message I got from this book was to live in the here and now, and to not get too absorbed with material things. The author also mentioned how to deal with "baggage" (pain-body)that we and others have from our past. There are a lot of practical suggestions and new ways to look at the way we live our life.

In the first chapter or two, the author was mentioning that we should not be too materialistic, and basically I do agree with this point. We should not get too wrappe...more

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Maria rated it:

05/08/08

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Maria by: Leslie A. Brown
recommends it for: anyone interested in self-help and/or spirituality.

Pop-Buddhism. Fairly accessible introduction to a holistic worldview (I'm not talking herbal medicine here). Really worth reading regardless of your take on metaphysics, God, etc. For skeptics: it will give you tools to communicate with Oprah & friends, plus it's got some fairly practical advice for dealing with stress. Sure, there are some things that are "out there," but if you've studied quantum mechanics you'll know that most everything we know about the nature of our physical...more

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Michael rated it:

02/28/08

bookshelves: deadtree, philosophy, self-help, spirituality

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Michael by: Mom

Practically: spot-on treatment of the ego as problem source. Lots of advice that would be beneficial for most people.

Philosophically: not rigorous, despite an implicit claim to be the next step following the path from Descartes through Sartre. Equivocal vocabulary lets him subtly draw questionable logical connections. Some metaphysical foundations are implicitly assumed. Notably missing is any treatment of ethics, or much in the way of implications at all. All in all, I am probably giving him ...more

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Madeline is currently reading it (review of isbn 0452289963)

05/09/08

bookshelves: currently-reading

ok, i'm about half way through. first thing i notice is this guy is pretty long-winded. it took him 127 pages to tell me that the ego is the source of all the earths problems. Anything you feel or think or say comes from the ego. and thats a bad thing. we all need to be "enlighted" and gain "awareness" of our "presence."

heres a nice quote from the book: "Enlightened collectives will fulfill an important function in the arising of the new consciousness. Ju...more

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Babs rated it:

03/01/08

Read in March, 2008

Initially, I had trouble getting into the book. In my mind, the first couple dozen pages seemed written in pig latin. I put the book down for a few days and upon resuming, gems as noted below started jumping off the pages.

"When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world". ~Eckhart Tolle

"...the voice in the head, perhaps in the very moment it complains about something, and recogniz...more

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Andrew rated it:

04/29/08

bookshelves: currently-reading

This is really a phenomenal book. At the risk of sounding all new age cheesy, the proper word is a "gift". I read Tolle's "The Power of Now" when it originally came out and and found it very useful. Of course, as things go with us humans, over time I gradually forgot to put the principles to use in my daily life. Now, along comes A New Earth to reawaken that knowledge and expand on it in significant ways. A New Earth goes beyond, but includes the principle of bein...more

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

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