Tying Rocks to Clouds

by William Elliott

With intrepid good spirits, author Bill Elliott interviews the world's foremost spiritual figures, acquainting us with their exuberant earthly charms as well as their insight and intelligence. Propelled since childhood by the untimely deaths of his parents, Elliott traveled the globe to meet with these luminaries and directly find out their answers to the fundamental questions of existence: What is life's purpose? What is God or Ultimate Reality? Why do people suffer? Does a part of us live on after death? The list of people he met is both diverse and impressive. Not only do they represent every major religious tradition, from Rober Schuller, Rabbi Harold Kushner, and Norman Vincent Peale to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Jack Kornfield, but also an exciting variety of perspectives, from Ram Dass to Mother Teresa to psychologist B.F. Skinner.

Time and again, the sages included here warmed to Elliott's heartfelt longing for meaning in the world. Their views are framed by Elliott's endearing voice, engaging and perceptive, and by his wonderfully warm sense of humor. Tying Rocks to Clouds is sometimes sad, often funny, and always filled with freshness and joy as it reveals wisdom collected from across the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Self Help, Religion, Philosophy, Book Club, Psychology

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

1788-1863

Reviews

[Yaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book of interviews with "wise and spiritual people" as the sub-title says. The author, William Elliott, seeks spiritual enlightenment and asks questions about life, meaning and purpose, and gets answers from souls with very interesting points of view. I enjoyed learning about what other people have to say about questions that I myself ask.

A note to the author/reader/seeker: "The one you are looking for is the one who is looking."

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more from this book based on the reviews. There were so many interesting people that he interviewed, yet there wasn't much substance in many of their responses. It felt at times more like responses I hear from many of my pothead friends than long-term practitioners of different ways of life/religions. However, there were a few gems scattered throughout the book.

[Mark DeGange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read on diverse spiritual figures from many traditions. It is a good primer for those trying to understand what spiritual paths are out there. A reader can make comparisons and see how seemingly different approaches to a spiritual life are all valid. The heart is always at the center of them.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine recommended this and I appreciate the different and similar points of view.

[Nancy Schalk · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting interview process with a divergent group of people. Did not find any deep insights or revelations.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a year-and-a-half to get through this book, but that was mostly because I wanted to get the most out of it so I didn't force myself to read it when I wasn't in the right mindset for it. It's a great book to read a chapter at a time. I marked my copy all up underlining all these great thoughts that I had never been exposed to before. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a glimpse into a wide variety of philosophies and beliefs in an interesting format: the author is simply putting his big life questions to these so-called wise people of the world, and they are simply giving their answers. I have my list of folks now whose belief systems and life stories I would like to further pursue and know which lines of thought didn't do anything for me personally. The author starts each interview with a bit of background regarding his travel or how he was treated or whatever other little conversational tidbits you might tell a friend when relaying an experience, which I think adds a nice touch. As an added bonus the author is from Madison, Wisconsin, a place very near and dear to my heart.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay, really. some of the questions were just all too common -- "what is the purpose of life?" -- i feel like process or experience should've replaced "purpose." i'm also weirded out by the circumstances that brought william elliot to complete this book - his apparent baldness around age 20 and seclusion from friends, life, etc. seems a little superficial to me - i mean, if someone thinks about that kind of thing all the time and wishes he didn't, i think a journey to find and cure the self is in order rather than an all-encompassing text that attempts to answer the questions of life. too broad to be meaningful in his life, in my opinion.

his pre-interview comments are jarring, at times, making me wonder if he actually enjoyed the presence of people like b.f. skinner and toni packer. the whole book seems to exude a certain expected quality - it's as if sir elliot wished his questions to be answered a certain way. is it just me?

nevertheless, i found the comments to be quite interesting, and the book introduced me to some pretty heavy thinkers of whom i wasn't aware.

<3

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every now and then I pick up something to read that answers to the part of me that gropes for something spiritual in nature to explain why people live and make decisions the way they do. This book has a pleasant narration and follows the authors attempts to understand "life" and "the world" and stuff of that nature. Interviews are interesting enough to spend time with and include a few worthy commments from the Dali Lama, Mother Teresa, Ram Daas,the author himself, and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross who wrote "On Death and Dying" and who was suggested to me by some elderly folks I used to work with. Inside Scoop: Elisabeth Kubler-Ross seems pretty hokey to me- she must be a good public speaker or something. I read it anyway.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, these are the same questions I want to ask people. William himself is hilarious and I wanted there to be more stories about him. My favorite parts were his own anecdotal stories more than the "great thinkers". He was at a retreat for a week or so focusing on being present in the moment, I think in Tibet. When he finally left after driving a few hours he realized he forgot his bag. I was laughing out loud.

[Izzybatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Elliott searches for answers to life's fundamental questions. For almost a decade Bill goes to speak with many famous religious leaders--Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, and others, and asks them these questions. Often funny and enlightening. It reveals the wisdom and humaness of highly spiritual people.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome read... love this quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: "The highest ideal we can reach is the orginal state in which we were created as children of God, with all the love, compassion, and creativity we used to have before we thought 'We can't do it without God.'"

This book is almost 20 years old, but the interviews are interesting. I enjoyed reading it...

[Kristenyque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep! This book showed me the commonalities that believers of different faiths can have (which they might not realize!). There were so many truly wise and encompassing thoughts regarding life in general and how powerful faith can be in someone's life. This book gives you a feeling of standing on solid, hopeful ground.

[Elyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by my aunt, who is a very progressive minister. You don't have to be religious to appreciate this book. It provided a wide array of perspectives and insights from different spiritual figures and appealed to my philosophical yearnings.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A seemingly perfectly average person interviews spiritual and wise people. It's a fairly short book. The reader is not expected to adopt any of the ideals presented, but simply be exposed to other perspectives on the purpose of life. Why not like it?

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Mr Elliott's writing style. I would love to see a follow up or newly edited version. Some of the chapter's were amazing, learned so much. Other's should be dropped as it has been a while and some have been proven to be well, not good people. Glad I read it.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

great quotes and interesting looks at life, faith and love.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will come back to the passages of this book again and again. The author's conjuring and thought-provoking are exquisitely artful and connect in a way that few other "new age" titles achieve.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful overview of the thoughts of various spiritual/philosophy leaders of different world religions on the meaning of life. It was a little dry at times, but very interesting overall.

[Ferdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guidebook to the gurus and spiritual ideas of our time, in the form of interviews conducted by a humble searcher of meaning. I keep re-reading it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books that I read while in the Dominican Republic. I felt like a slower paced life helped me absorb all the different perspectives this book offers.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

What you would expect in a spiritual book. Elliot interviews many different meditators, yogis and other religious people for the meaning of life. There are some good nuggets...

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful modern quest to an eclectic bunch of thinkers. Read it just to find out about Kubler-Ross's lieu;).

[Jill Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super! Loved it!

[PS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story of one mans odyssey to speak to great masters and gurus.

[Hollis Fishelson-holstine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't sure what I'd think of it, but I really enjoyed it