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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Soul
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Soul is an evocative collection of the transcendental journeys, spiritual tips and chance encounters that will transform the way you think about your compassion for humanity while bringing deeper meaning in your everyday life.
200 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 9, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Bostick Communications in exchange for an honest review.]
This is a book that lives up to its subtitle, but whose full meaning and implication requires some unpackaging by the reader. A short book, at around 180 pages, this book is divided into small chapters based around experiences the author had with various people, often in ways that suggest a surprising reversal of expectations. There is the story of Ken, the effervescent and bubbly man who dies young of cancer and whose life was full of energy and drama, who the author had thought to fire from a position of volunteer leadership before learning to appreciate. There is a story of a bum who provides the author with an unexpected lesson on greed, and so on. This is the sort of material, for example, that would appear as part of a story song for a musician like Howard Jones or Duncan Sheik, with a dramatic reversal of expectations and a crystallization of the sort of wisdom that one would find in a fortune cookie. The book also contains various crystallized statements that encourage meritorious deeds of service on the part of the reader [1], and at the beginning of the book the author even makes an open request of the readers to provide examples of service and volunteerism that they have witnessed or participated in for a future volume in his series.
Despite the fact that much of this book is a straightforward recounting of various transcendental encounters as well as encouragement to good deeds, the author is rather shrewd and canny in his approach, and holds some cards close to his vest. Although he quotes various praiseworthy statements by others, including one Bible verse on charity and openheartedness towards others, the author keeps his own religious beliefs rather quiet. He expresses a belief in God and angels, but his religious beliefs are certainly not Christian and most resemble some sort of moral therapeutic deism, and it is difficult to tell what exact brand of New Age religious thought, Gnosticism, or transcendentalist Eastern religious belief system that the author holds, because certain statements by the author only make sense in light of some sort of belief in reincarnation and karmic debt, even if the author is more subtle in expressing that belief than some [2]. For the example, the author has a vague conversation with the dying Ken where he says that he will no longer see him in this life, but there is no discussion of eternal life or heaven (21). Despite the general note of encouragement, though, that this book provides, the book also offers some quotes that are highly troubling and that only make sense when viewed in the context of karmic debt, like the author’s following statement: “Everything that happens to you, good or bad, is in some respect your own fault. Even so, you should never blame yourself for the negative things. When the odds are stacked against you is the time when you need to grab the reins of your life—because only you can change your fate. Always take a moment to shine in the beauty of yourself and what you are capable of (154).” There are a lot of things that can be said about this particular quote, but the fact that this statement appears to reflect the author’s high view of godlike personal responsibility and his adherence to a very rigid form of the law of attraction, it is clear that the only way, to use an example not at random, that this would apply to the horrors of abuse that some children have to endure as infants and toddlers is for the author to conceive of a karmic debt of suffering that has to be repaid for someone to enjoy the blessings of goodness. If one has bad things happen, then either one must have sinned in this life or in a previous one, for suffering is the result of a soul’s evil, pure and simple [3]. Although the author never explicitly discusses reincarnation and karmic debt, the author’s belief in these concepts can be inferred from what he writes.
It is in the view that our souls are on a journey to some sort of Nirvana that the title of this book and its thoughts make sense. The author perhaps realizes that many readers will likely be offended or alienated by a direct citation of chakras and whatever Eastern religious tradition the author follows, which is not said anywhere in this book, and seeks to appeal to a wider audience by advocating that the reader devote themselves to good deeds, to serving others, to being compassionate and avoiding judgment and prejudice, to smiling, to the power of positive thinking, to finding like-minded and compassionate company with kindred souls that lift our days as we lift theirs. This is done on as ecumenical a basis as possible, as the author appeals to the obvious service of such diverse figures as Dr. Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa. The author conceives of God in a very vague sense, not as providing a source of external standards to follow, but rather as a gracious but distant being who gives us the spark of divinity that allows us to trust and follow our heart and who weighs and balances our deeds with mercy, and who leaves us on our soul’s journey to seek happiness and to help each other out along the way so that we save ourselves and those around us in a world where our imagination is the most important part of our reality.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example, these not very subtle examples:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[3] This was the moral philosophy of Job’s friends, and the Pharisees of John 9. See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
This is a book that lives up to its subtitle, but whose full meaning and implication requires some unpackaging by the reader. A short book, at around 180 pages, this book is divided into small chapters based around experiences the author had with various people, often in ways that suggest a surprising reversal of expectations. There is the story of Ken, the effervescent and bubbly man who dies young of cancer and whose life was full of energy and drama, who the author had thought to fire from a position of volunteer leadership before learning to appreciate. There is a story of a bum who provides the author with an unexpected lesson on greed, and so on. This is the sort of material, for example, that would appear as part of a story song for a musician like Howard Jones or Duncan Sheik, with a dramatic reversal of expectations and a crystallization of the sort of wisdom that one would find in a fortune cookie. The book also contains various crystallized statements that encourage meritorious deeds of service on the part of the reader [1], and at the beginning of the book the author even makes an open request of the readers to provide examples of service and volunteerism that they have witnessed or participated in for a future volume in his series.
Despite the fact that much of this book is a straightforward recounting of various transcendental encounters as well as encouragement to good deeds, the author is rather shrewd and canny in his approach, and holds some cards close to his vest. Although he quotes various praiseworthy statements by others, including one Bible verse on charity and openheartedness towards others, the author keeps his own religious beliefs rather quiet. He expresses a belief in God and angels, but his religious beliefs are certainly not Christian and most resemble some sort of moral therapeutic deism, and it is difficult to tell what exact brand of New Age religious thought, Gnosticism, or transcendentalist Eastern religious belief system that the author holds, because certain statements by the author only make sense in light of some sort of belief in reincarnation and karmic debt, even if the author is more subtle in expressing that belief than some [2]. For the example, the author has a vague conversation with the dying Ken where he says that he will no longer see him in this life, but there is no discussion of eternal life or heaven (21). Despite the general note of encouragement, though, that this book provides, the book also offers some quotes that are highly troubling and that only make sense when viewed in the context of karmic debt, like the author’s following statement: “Everything that happens to you, good or bad, is in some respect your own fault. Even so, you should never blame yourself for the negative things. When the odds are stacked against you is the time when you need to grab the reins of your life—because only you can change your fate. Always take a moment to shine in the beauty of yourself and what you are capable of (154).” There are a lot of things that can be said about this particular quote, but the fact that this statement appears to reflect the author’s high view of godlike personal responsibility and his adherence to a very rigid form of the law of attraction, it is clear that the only way, to use an example not at random, that this would apply to the horrors of abuse that some children have to endure as infants and toddlers is for the author to conceive of a karmic debt of suffering that has to be repaid for someone to enjoy the blessings of goodness. If one has bad things happen, then either one must have sinned in this life or in a previous one, for suffering is the result of a soul’s evil, pure and simple [3]. Although the author never explicitly discusses reincarnation and karmic debt, the author’s belief in these concepts can be inferred from what he writes.
It is in the view that our souls are on a journey to some sort of Nirvana that the title of this book and its thoughts make sense. The author perhaps realizes that many readers will likely be offended or alienated by a direct citation of chakras and whatever Eastern religious tradition the author follows, which is not said anywhere in this book, and seeks to appeal to a wider audience by advocating that the reader devote themselves to good deeds, to serving others, to being compassionate and avoiding judgment and prejudice, to smiling, to the power of positive thinking, to finding like-minded and compassionate company with kindred souls that lift our days as we lift theirs. This is done on as ecumenical a basis as possible, as the author appeals to the obvious service of such diverse figures as Dr. Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa. The author conceives of God in a very vague sense, not as providing a source of external standards to follow, but rather as a gracious but distant being who gives us the spark of divinity that allows us to trust and follow our heart and who weighs and balances our deeds with mercy, and who leaves us on our soul’s journey to seek happiness and to help each other out along the way so that we save ourselves and those around us in a world where our imagination is the most important part of our reality.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example, these not very subtle examples:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[3] This was the moral philosophy of Job’s friends, and the Pharisees of John 9. See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
March 10, 2016
Take a moment. Pick up this book. Relax. Enjoy a chapter with your coffee, lunch, or during your private-time. It’s nice to be reminded that the good deeds you do for others are noticed and appreciated even if you don’t think so at the time. It’s also important to remind ourselves to take time to allow others to contribute to us. As we give and receive we learn to trust, experience joy, grow into our best selves and ultimately experience an extraordinary life.
Robert Clancy shares a variety of short real-life stories in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Soul. Each shows us what unexpected compassion, love, support, enthusiasm… offers another person. He suggests a life in service to others is very rewarding and that wonder and pride will show-up for us every day we keep our hearts open. His stories show that volunteering, in a frequent personal way or in more formal-traditional settings, will get us out of ourselves and participating in life.
Share this book with friends and family — young adults to retirees will warm to the message and quotations it contains. It will be life-affirming for folks already living in service to others, and inspiring for those who may need a little nudge to share more of themselves with the people who cross their path.
Robert Clancy shares a variety of short real-life stories in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Soul. Each shows us what unexpected compassion, love, support, enthusiasm… offers another person. He suggests a life in service to others is very rewarding and that wonder and pride will show-up for us every day we keep our hearts open. His stories show that volunteering, in a frequent personal way or in more formal-traditional settings, will get us out of ourselves and participating in life.
Share this book with friends and family — young adults to retirees will warm to the message and quotations it contains. It will be life-affirming for folks already living in service to others, and inspiring for those who may need a little nudge to share more of themselves with the people who cross their path.
April 8, 2016
To better understand the Hitchhiker's Guide and the agenda of Robert Clancy, one must first know and understand the concept of a soul hitch. This can occur during any interaction, of any size, whereupon your concepts of self, a particular event or of the world itself are changed. Powerful!
We understand the concept well. We had a lot of our own ideas changed when we viewed, "He Named Me Malala." There were a lot of soul hitches during that time!
The included stories are the one's that the author has experienced, via the people that Clancy has run across during his journey. However, he does give the reader the opportunity to be included in further publishing endeavors. These are very uplifting.
If you agree with the idea that the only way to truly live a meaningful life is to be kind to others, then, you will get this book. You will understand the contents and the chances to grow and evolve.
We understand the concept well. We had a lot of our own ideas changed when we viewed, "He Named Me Malala." There were a lot of soul hitches during that time!
The included stories are the one's that the author has experienced, via the people that Clancy has run across during his journey. However, he does give the reader the opportunity to be included in further publishing endeavors. These are very uplifting.
If you agree with the idea that the only way to truly live a meaningful life is to be kind to others, then, you will get this book. You will understand the contents and the chances to grow and evolve.
Read
March 3, 2016This book resonates with me completely. I love the stories, all true and all moving. As I read the book I found I could relate to each story as the content triggered various events that occurred in my own life. Sometimes we don’t see how special each moment is until we look back and are reminded. This book does that. It brings up feelings that open heart to the goodness in life and the resulting gratitude for all that we have and all that we are. Taking the reader along his journey, Robert Clancy is opening hearts, sharing love and making life brighter and better for all those who read his work. Being of service is something we all do each day but do not realize. Becoming aware of what that means is key - this book speaks to the little ways we all serve without knowing it - and raises our awareness so that we know it and do it more often.
August 31, 2012
Loved it!!! Very inspirational! After every story, I couldn't wait to read the next!!!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews