Goodreads | Bell's review

Bell's review

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
by Eckhart Tolle

[close]

blog this review

Copy/paste the text below into your blog.

<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76334.A_New_Earth_Awakening_to_Your_Life_s_Purpose?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1170890306m/76334.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76334.A_New_Earth_Awakening_to_Your_Life_s_Purpose?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4493.Eckhart_Tolle">Eckhart Tolle</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18721012?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 3 of 5 stars 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 Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. I think he might be doing this to build bridges with his audience, but if his intent is to “de-religionize” his teachings, I fail to see the logic. His message can stand alone. 
 
 This is the same problem I think C. Hitchens has in “God is not Great”. 
 
 A quote needs to remain within its original historical context in order to prove or disprove a point so that the author’s point/theory doesn’t conveniently fit the quote. De-contextualizing a Biblical quote (and Quranic like Hitchens does) usually just sets up the author to be easily refuted by professional scholars. 
 
 Tolle then goes further and re-interprets these quotes in a manner that I’m open to contemplate, but know for a fact will not be accepted by the hard, or maybe even moderate, right. (not that it matters)
 
 So, what’s all the fuss about?
 
 Well, Tolle’s prose is simple and built for Western audiences especially those who haven’t studied religion or are looking for a new point of view. [Though atheists and agnostics may have a hard time with him] 
 
 He’s also hooked up with Oprah to have a free 10-week online class, an invaluable resource that puts people in direct, real-time contact with Oprah, Tolle and millions of others studying this book. This book alone is good, but the interaction with others prevents people from blindly accepting or blindly rejecting, always a positive as far as I’m concerned. 
 
 He also addresses the “pain body” which I find to be an especially useful discussion. Basically, it's an addiction to unhappiness that leaves a body susceptible to illness. He states that a lot of our individual and collective pain is based on the past and in fear. He discusses how being in tune with this fear and pain dispels it thereby bringing greater happiness.
 
 I like this book a lot, but I’m rating it 3 stars because it, and all others like it, can only point you in a direction. It’s only through experience and meditation, if you choose to accept that mission, that a person can understand this internal quietness he mentions. 
 
 The second part of the title “Awakening to your Life’s Purpose” simply means to raise your consciousness and awareness and that of others. It’s not about career, money, power. According to Tolle, we all have access to this potential right now.
 
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/149183?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Bell's review
rating:
bookshelves: heard, religion-sprituality-magical
recommended for: self-help buffs

** spoiler alert ** 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 Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. I think he might be doing this to build bridges with his audience, but if his intent is to “de-religionize” his teachings, I fail to see the logic. His message can stand alone.

This is the same problem I think C. Hitchens has in “God is not Great”.

A quote needs to remain within its original historical context in order to prove or disprove a point so that the author’s point/theory doesn’t conveniently fit the quote. De-contextualizing a ...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it) flag

comments (showing 0-0 of 0)

newest »

date

all Bell's books »