Kahlil Gibran's Little Book of Wisdom

by Kahlil Gibran, Neil Douglas-Klotz (Editor)

One of the most popular and profound inspirational writers of all time shares simple wisdom for living a happy and fulfilling life.

This book is a collection of Gibran's words on how to live. Here are his thoughts on what it means to live in community and solitude and what gives life meaning, along with his often prescient views on government, organized religion, wealth, and commerce. Gibran's sensibility feels contemporary. He did not recognize any ultimate authority outside of the human soul:

"It were wiser to speak less of God, whom we cannot understand and more of each other, whom we may understand."

This is the essential Gibran, with 88 selections organized into 5 sections that elucidate answers to the questions that each of us face:

• Living a Wise Life
• Community Wisdom
• Wise Exchange
• Wisdom from Solitude
• Wisdom Beyond Words

This inspirational gift volume gently guides readers through life’s big issues: meaning and mortality, good and evil, and discovering an authentic spiritual path. Suitable for all gift-giving occasions, it is a book that delights, informs, and inspires.

Genres: Philosophy, Poetry, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Religion, Spirituality, Inspirational

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2019

About the author

Kahlil Gibran (Arabic: جبران خليل جبران ) was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.

Reviews

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little book to dip into with a wise thought on every page.

[Sowmya Sridharamurthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I wasn't ready to read this book; I gave it a 1 because I didn't enjoy it very much and because the tone was so obvious and uninteresting compared to the many other books I've read with a similar tone.

[Sarcastic Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Powiem wam, że trudno jest mi pisać o pozycjach takich jak ta. "Mała księga mądrości według Kahlila Gibrana" to na pewno ważna pozycja, z której można wiele wynieść, jeśli człowiek tylko się w nią odpowiednio zagłębi i nad nią skupi. Sama zaznaczyłam parę fragmentów i przypuszczam, że jeszcze nie raz po nią sięgnę. Ta książeczka skupia się na mądrości, ale odnoszę wrażenie, że nie tylko. Według mnie dotyka ona każdej sfery życia. Jest ona podzielona na parę rozdziałów, z których każdy dotyczy, czego innego. Nawiązuje ona w wielu miejscach do wiary chrześcijańskiej, ale mimo to dotrze to wszystko do każdego, ponieważ teksty skupiają się one na przesłaniu, a reszta stanowi jedynie subtelny dodatek. Poza tą małą księgą jest jeszcze "Mała księga miłości według Kahlila Gibrana" oraz "Mała księga życia według Kahlila Gibrana", po które także zamierzam sięgnąć, bo coś czuję, że będę mogła z nich także wiele wynieść.

[Kent Winward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Arun Philips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of poems and stories about life, wisdom, solitude, humanity and many more philosophies in a simple but thought provoking style.

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never been familiar with Kahlil Gibran, but a little bit of him goes a long, long way; more than that, I've discovered, is unbearable.

"Saccharine" is one word I'd use. It's overly soft, gooey, and sentimental—but without a sufficient amount of measurable wisdom to make it worthwhile in my view. Putting it another, more basic way: I find his work really, really, really cringe.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of the writings from one of the greatest writers of all time. It's always refreshing and soothing to read Gibran's work.

[Anna Baboura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ένα βιβλίο που αν δεν ήταν δώρο, κατά πάσα πιθανότητα δεν θα βρισκόταν ποτέ στα χέρια μου, αν δεν ήταν δώρο μαθητή μου, μάλλον δεν θα το διάβαζα… (η κίνηση και η προσφορά ήταν που με συγκίνησε, σε αυτό δεν υπάρχει αντίρρηση) 🩵
Στο δια ταύτα…. Το θετικό της υπόθεσης;;; Πέρασα λίγο χρόνο χωρίς να δω τηλεόραση… σαν βιβλίο … την σοφία του;;; δεν την βρήκα… ή μάλλον κάθε σελίδα που γύρναγα… είχα ήδη ξεχάσει τι είχα διαβάσει… λίγο καλύτερα από τα βιβλια του Coehlo…

[Ian Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another little book of daily thoughts and truths from Kahlil Gibran - alot of this can be found in his other works but that doesn't detract from the messages - sometimes it takes a few readings of the same thing in different places to get the message embedded - pocket sized but full of wisdom

[Md Akhlaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗞𝗮𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺

Editor: Neil Douglas-Klotz

Kahlil Gibran's little book of wisdom published by @amaryllispublishing is the newest gift edition. A Lebanese-American artist, poet and author who began his literary career, writing in Arabic and English. The Prophet was his world-famous inspirational fiction that includes a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭,
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 & 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫."

"𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠."

Kahlil Gibran's writing is phenomenal and full of wisdom and proficiency about society, government, organised religion, wealth and commerce. Gibran's writing is evergreen.

This is the essential Gibran, with 77 selections organized into 5facestions that elucidate answers to the questions that each of us faces:
1. Living a wise life
2. Community wisdom
3. Wise exchange
4. Wisdom from solitude
5. Wisdom beyond words

This book is a priceless collection of some of his most notable works. The third best-selling poet of all time after Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu, Gibran continued to enlighten his readers through his celebrated works. A prized collection for your bookshelf the choice of book cover design and quality matches very well with the aura of Khalil Gibran's writing.

#readwithak
#kahlilgibran

[Avani ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭,
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 & 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫.


Khalil Gibran's Little Women of Wisdom by Amaryllis Publishing is this beautiful book yet added to another collection of Khalil Gibran's work. This is my first time reading his work and I am resenting not picking up earlier.

This book has selected collection of his work on wisdom and inspires us with his writing to the core. It focuses on living a happy and fulfilling life. The book is divided into 5 sections and consists of 77 selections of his work. However, I do not agree with all his views and writing, some truly touch my heart.

It focuses on bigger issues and its meaning like mortality, good and evil, living in solitude yet within a community, etc. I'm more than half way through the book and reading it slowly and savouring each word the author has written.
____

Thank You @amaryllispublishing for the copy

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a compilation of his famous works. It's a good, short, simple book containing wisdom relating to topics at individual level, inner wisdom and awakening, thoughts on government and community, short wise stories, solitude, silence and it's attributes.

Some of the lines that i liked:

'Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too full of its self to seek other than itself.'

"We often borrow from our tomorrows to pay debts to our yesterdays."

"Contentment is nothing but heartfelt, but the eternal soul is never contented. It ever seeks exaltation."

'But the hunter was also the hunted, for many of the arrows left my bow only to seek my own breast.'

"Though the wave of words is forever upon us, yet our depth is forever silent."

"If you can see only what light reveals and hear only what sound announces, then in truth you do not see nor do you hear."

[Karla Dueñas · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was once a man who had many pomegranate trees in his orchard. And for many an autumn he would put his pomegranates on silvery trays outside of his dwelling, and upon the trays he would place signs upon which he himself had written, "Take one for aught. You are welcome."
But people passed by and no one took of the fruit.
Then the man bethought him, and one autumn he placed no pomegranates on silvery trays outside of his dwelling, but he raised this sign in large lettering: "Here we have the best pomegranates in the land, but we sell them for more silver than any other pomegranates."
And now behold, all the men and women of the neighborhood came rushing to buy.

[Lara Amro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book for Khalil Gibran, I have heard so much about his books, his writings and unique thoughts. People swore by his words, but I never managed to pick up his books before as you need to be in the right head space. I could not believe what I was listening to, every sentence has a million meanings behind it and every line is quotable and can be applied to a thousand scenario. I am glade I picked this book later in life, as if I was younger I would not have appreciated his words of wisdom.

[Christine Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pride is taking less than what you need"

The book is full of thought-provoking quotes and anecdotes that give critical perspectives of our actions and thoughts.

Taking less than what we need is not generosity but our own pride and ego wanting to look humble, or the fear of others judging us as selfish. Take what you need, and don't heed others who are too proud of themselves to know the humility in self-respect.

[Edwin Setiadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming little book

This is a glimpse of Kahlin Gibran’s work, the gems of his wisdom. Some are one liners, others are more like his deep thoughts, and the rest are delightful short stories. It covers his thoughts from living in solitude to living in a community, from religion to government, from wealth to health. It’s compact enough to be read in one sitting, but impactful enough to inspire us for a long time afterwards.

[Reba Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've never read Gibran's short poems "On Children" and "My Friend", please Google them right now. I don't usually choose to listen to poetry on audio, but I enjoyed this author's translation and the narrator's performance a lot. Gibran's admixture of the Sophic & Christian traditions was interesting, even if some of the references were lost on me.

[Μαρία Κυπιρτίδου · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ένα απλά καλό βιβλίο.
Με κούρασε αρκετά και ελάχιστες στιγμές ένιωσα συνεπαρμένης από το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο.
Κάποιες ιστορίες και φράσεις με ενθουσίασαν αλλά ήταν ελάχιστες σε σχέση με το μέγεθος του βιβλίου.

[Fajri Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's a very decent book for a light read. Some poems (or writings) are easier to understand than others, and some might make you think. But nevertheless, this was fun to read. However, some parts seem trickier to trail, and sometimes the train of thought is repetitive.

[nehir]

“Cover me with soft earth, and let each handful be mixed
With seeds of jasmine, lilies and myrtle; and when they
Grow above me, and thrive on my body's element they will
Breathe the fragrance of my heart into space;
And reveal even to the sun the secret of my peace”

[Ashik Uzzaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one from Kahlil Gibran. There are a few verses from his famous The Prophet as well.

[Lynn Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting 😁

[Bryan Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his books. Very wise, and well written. Thought provoking l

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, much to ponder from this book and the words wash over you like poetry

[Patucha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Não sendo o meu estilo de escrita/leitura, reconheço que são textos que nos fazem pensar.

[Jaafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The i in me dwells in silence.

When you no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you dwell in your lips and much of talking is thinking half murdered.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Palorossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked these beautiful poems a lot. Not all make sense, but then when do little ditties like these ever do. However, the ones that resonate, resonate deep

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first introduction into the work of Kahlil Gibran. There was a lot of good stuff in this quick little read.