Wisdom of the Ages: A Modern Master Brings Eternal Truths into Everyday Life

by Wayne W. Dyer

Wisdom of the Ages, by Wayne W. Dyer. Harper-Collins, c. 1998. Paperback. Bestselling author Wayne W. Dyer has crafted a powerful collection of writings, poems, and sayings by some of the greatest thinkers of the past twentyfive centuries. In succinct original essays, Dyer sets out to explain the meaning and context of each piece of wisdom, and, most important, how we can actively apply these teachings to our modern lives. A beautiful and thoughtful gift, this book shows us a window to wisdom and a door to greatness.

Genres: Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Psychology, Personal Development, Inspirational

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Wayne Walter Dyer was an American self-help author and a motivational speaker. Dyer earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Philosophy, a Master’s degree in Psychology and an Ed.D. in Guidance and Counseling at Wayne State University in 1970. Early in his career, he worked as a high school guidance counselor, and went on to run a successful private therapy practice. He became a popular professor of counselor education at St. John's University, where he was approached by a literary agent to put his ideas into book form. The result was his first book, Your Erroneous Zones (1976), one of the best-selling books of all time, with an estimated 100 million copies sold. This launched Dyer's career as a motivational speaker and self-help author, during which he published 20 more best-selling books and produced a number of popular specials for PBS. Influenced by thinkers such as Abraham H. Maslow and Albert Ellis, Dyer's early work focused on psychological themes such as motivation, self actualization and assertiveness. By the 1990s, the focus of his work had shifted to spirituality. Inspired by Swami Muktananda and New Thought, he promoted themes such as the "power of intention," collaborated with alternative medicine advocate Deepak Chopra on a number of projects, and was a frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Reviews

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 60%

I was recommended this author by my cousin. I have heard about this man for many years but never read any of his books until this year.

It started out pretty good but I gradually lost interest with the constant talk about himself, his life, his wife, kids..etc. I understand he was speaking about them and the events as examples, but for some reason it just felt to me that he was a bit, bragging?, IDK. It just turned me off. Sorry.

Don't get me wrong, I am very happy he has a perfect life. I am also glad to see he shares his wisdom of spiritual enlightenment with the world. That he spreads the knowledge. I just don't enjoy the way he executes it. It doesn't speak to me. I prefer Eckhart Tolle. I prefer a more educational..for lack of a better word..or cerebral..method of conveying it.

I suppose that since I am also not a fan of poetry, which he begins every chapter with, didn't help much either.

Perhaps one day I will come back and read it. Right now I have other books I need to read.

[Awdhesh Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read and enjoy the wisdom of great thinkers of ages. Most of the wisdom is in the forms of poems. I liked the books due to more due to its quotes and less due to its content. Don't expect much original ideas from the author except validation of the ideas of great thinkers.

[Momen ahmadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

این غبار نرم و بیصدا مردان و زنان بوده اند و دختران و پسران..
خنده بود و استعداد و آه حسرت.
و ردا ها و موهای مجعد
این مکان منفعل ،عمارت تابستانی بود
جایی که شکوفه ها و زنبورها بخش رو به شرق آن را در بر گرفتند
سپس پایانی بدین شکل یافت

👌امیلی دیکنسون

[Aurimas Gudas · Rating 2 out of 5]

„Drąsą praktikuodami taip, kaip „Fausto“ ištraukoje mini Gėtė, išbandykite šiuos pasiūlymus:

• Užsirašykite penkis dalykus, apie kuriuos jau kiek laiko galvojate, bet dėl kažkokios priežasties nesugebate jų įgyvendinti. Vien užrašymas jau ir bus pirmasis žingsnis.

• Dabar, kad ir kokį vidinį pasipriešinimą jaustumėte, tiesiog pradėkite pirmąjį darbą. Kitas keturias dienas lygiai taip pat imkitės likusiųjų. Neįsipareigokite sau užbaigti darbo, paprasčiausiai jį pradėkite. Jūs suprasite, ką turėjo galvoje Gėtė sakydamas, kad darbas įkaitina protą.

• Nebesiteisinkite, kodėl nepasiekėte savo gyvenime tikrai svarbių dalykų. Pagrindinė priežastis, kodėl neužbaigėte kokio nors darbo, yra tai, kad jo nė nepradėjote. Visi pasiteisinimai yra tik pasiteisinimai. Ir jūs savo širdyje tai žinote.

• Stenkitės būti tarp veiklių žmonių. Sukiokitės šalia tų, kurie demonstruoja savo drąsą. Ir priešingai – venkite tų, kurie skatina jus atsiprašinėti ir teisintis. Saugokite savo energiją neužterštą.“

[Kyriakos S Kyriakou · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://anotherlookforyou.blogspot.com...

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admittedly like pretty much anything Dr. Dyer writes. This is the one book of his that I turn to almost daily. I bought it about 10 years ago and it still has something new to tell me. My brother recited from memory "When You Are Old" by Yeats at my Grandmothemr's funeral and I hadn't ever heard it all the way through. It was as if Yeats was writing about a woman he would never meet...Byrd Douglas Smith Moore. Dr. Dyer explains that Yeats married late in life and this poem was his declaration of love not just for romance but for admiration of your love's "pilgrim soul and the sorrows of your changing face." I read one section every couple of days and it has amused me how different poems have meant something different to me as I age and life shows me new challenges each year. Like Michelango's "the greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." Never meant much untill each birthday reminds me of the low level of my aim. What I love about this book is I really feel Dr. Dyer's admiration and love for each author. He listens, reports and opens up the reader's mind to interpret these writings for the self.

[Wout · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it” - Goethe
Just one of the many beautiful quotes that reside in this book, and the one that inspired me to take action towards making this summary.

By lumping in several quotes by our history's greatest teachers (Buddha, Gandhi, Emerson,...) Dyer combines the "Wisdom of the ages" to show us a different world, an enlightened world, and especially, one that is lived through the heart.

It was a great book to make me aware of some of my blindspots, but also realigned me with all that is good in me. It's a pleasant way to get to know the greats of our history, what they represented and the gifts they gave to the world.

[Melanie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great selection of poetry and sayings by poets, artists, spiritual seekers etc. (Walt Whitman, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa etc.) and short little entries on what it means. It's divided up into sections such as Patience, Knowing, Leadership, etc. and you can read it all the way through or you can jump to a section you'd like to read about. I suggest reading it all the way through and then jumping to a section if you'd like to learn about something for that day. Overall, great insights!

[Reem]

بكتب عنه بالعربي حتى يسهل على الجميع القراءه..
كنت مرهقه وفتحت الكتاب المسموع منه ، جدا جدا اندمجت!..
من جد بعدها مضيت ساعتين أفكر بالكلام، كان بسيط جدا ... أبسط من أفكاره المعتاده وأبسط من أسلوبه المعتاد .. لكن سبحان الله!
لي عليه ملاحظات..لكن بكمله في الليالي القادمه : "اخترته ككتاب الأرق" .. وأضيف على الريفيو لمن أخلصه ^^

[Helen Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found many of the essays in this book to be helpful, but I felt that Dyer, in some of the presentations, was rather exclusively concentrating on one group of humanity: those in the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Self-realization. For example, when he advises that if a person hates their job, he/she should get a different one, those individuals in the lowest levels, physiology and safety, often have no choice. On the other hand, perhaps the book was never intended for those readers.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s a cheese ball but I loved this book! Every chapter takes a great piece of writing (like a famous poem) and then he offers his take. So much inspiration!! And it reawakened the very latent college English major in me to reread many of these poems. Definitely recommend.

[Aditya Buch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I had almost completed a month ago but due to exams left it in continue reading. This book his 60 chapters and according to my grandfather it's essence could only be felt if I would read just one chapter a day.

This book is the guideline for living the best life. But it's speciality is that it isn't based on any restriction or rules or any type of bias. This book shows us the way to find the best life for ourselves. This book shows the path which has been written beautifully by one of the greatest writers who was early for his time but sadly today 'late ' word is used with his name.
I believe everyone has a part of God inside themself and they just need to channel it. But when I read Wayne Dyer I think that he himself is no less than a God!

Must read for everyone only not for ones who do not want to change...

[Jeff Maziarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Dyer references the works of 60 of history's most renowned spiritual teachers by providing insight into their teachings, and applying them to every day life. I found great value in this work, and as such, highly recommend it. Here's a really great quote from it:

“To see the absurdity of impatience in your life, set your watch ahead several hours and tear off several months on you wall calendar. Then see if you have advanced time! The failures and frustrations, along with the immediate successes, are a part and parcel of the perfection of it all. By observing nature—your nature and the natural world around you—you will see that you must allow a wound to progress at its own pace; to eat a fig you must first let it flower, put forth fruit, and ripen. Trust in your nature and let go of your desire to have things done quickly.”

[Erfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب های فوق العاده زیبای ، وین دایر
همیشه روح آدم را جلا می‌بخشد

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Love this book and it's wisdom. Wayne Dyer's teachings will live on through all of us that continue to read his work.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

. . . let it come alive, let it shimmer in your mind and then take that inner awakening and put it to work. All of us are deeply grateful to those who make life throb to a swifter, stronger beat. These great teachers from the past have done that for me, and I encourage you to apply this language of the heart from the wisdom of the ages to your life.
God bless you, Wayne W. Dyer - Introduction

The measure of mental health is the disposition to find good everywhere.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured and far away.
- Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I found Wisdom of the Ages to be an inspiring collection of great thought.

Favorite Passages:
Introduction
Many of these profound teachers were considered troublemakers, and some were even put to death for their beliefs. Their teachings, however, could never be silenced, as evidenced by the variety of topics from differing historical eras that are in this book.

LEADERSHIP - LAO-TZU
I am frequently amazed at how many contemporary politicians refer to themselves as "leaders" by virtue of the fact that they hold public office. Historically it is clear that public office holders are seldom the true leaders causing change.

PATIENCE - CONFUCIUS
Impatience breeds fear, stress, and discouragement. Patience manifests in confidence, decisiveness, and a feeling of peaceful satisfaction.

TRUTH/BEAUTY - JOHN KEATS
So what is your truth? First and most important, your truth is what is real for you. And what is real is what you experience with emotion or feeling. Thus, if you feel it, know it, and experience it, it is more than true, it is beauty made manifest. Your feelings of accomplishment are true and beautiful. Your appreciation of a loved one is true and beautiful. Your inspirations are true, and thus beautiful.

NONCONFORMITY - HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Refuse to evaluate yourself as sane or insane on the basis of how you fit in with the expectations of those around you. If you feel it, and it harms no one, then it is authentic, and very sane.

SELF-RELIANCE - RALPH WALDO EMERSON
"Whoso would be a man [or woman], must be a non-conformist."
I suggest the best way to employ this profound truth from Emerson is to learn how to be quietly effective in your life. That is, have no need to make public pronouncements about how you refuse to conform, and instead take solace in the comfort of your own inner strength, and proceed as a silent individual who knows how to rely on yourself.

PRIVACY - GANDHI
The two divisions of our one reality are ego and spirit.
________

"If you follow the pack, you are going to end up stepping in a lot of what they leave behind."

[Emad · Rating 3 out of 5]

اگر بتوانی گردن فراز داری
آنگاه که پیرامونت همه
شکست ها و ناکامی های خود را از تو می دانند
اگر بتوانی شکیبا باشی و در شکیبایی ات پایداری کنی
یا در روزگار دورویی ها و ریاها،
دورویی نورزی و از ریا بپرهیزی
یا منفور باشی و نفرت نیافرینی
و نکوشی خردمندانه تر سخن بگویی
و بیش از حد برتر و خوب تر جلوه کنی
اگر رویایی در سر بپروری
ولی بردۀ حلقه به گوش رویایت نشوی
اگر بتوانی بیاندیشی،
اما فقط اندیشیدن را هدف زندگی ندانی
اگر بتوانی در برابر کامیابی ها و ناکامی ها
این دو شیاد فریبکار زندگی، بی اعتنا باقی بمانی
اگر بتوانی تحمل کنی و بشنوی که نیرنگ بازان کلام حق تو را
برای فریب ساده انگاران تحریف کرده اند
یا نظاره گر ویرانی همه آن چیزهایی باشی که عمری برای
ساختن آن ها کوشیده ای
و آن گاه با همان شکسته بسته ها، آن ها را بازسازی کنی
اگر بتوانی همۀ دستاوردهای زندگی ات را یک جا جمع کنی
و در یک چشم بر هم زدن همه را ببازی و دیگر بار از نو
بیاغازی
اگر بتوانی قلب و روح خویش را پس از آن که دیر زمانی از تو
گسسته اند
به فرمان آوری و هم چنان به فرمان داشته باشی
هر چند که جز اراده ات که می گویدت "بمان" هیچ برایت نمانده باشد
اگر بتوانی با فرو دستان با فروتنی سخن بگویی،
با پادشاهان همگام شوی
بی آن که زیر دستان را از یاد ببری
اگر بتوانی نه از دوستان و نه از دشمنان رنجشی پیدا کنی
اگر بتوانی متکای همگان باشی و به کسی اتکا نکنی
اگر هر دقیقه بازنایافتنی ات را با شصت ثانیه تلاش ارزشمند پر کنی
آن گاه همه دنیا و هر آن چه در آن است از آن تو خواهد بود
و فراتر این که فرزندم تو را "انسان" می توان نامید
رودیارد کیپلینگ

[Laura Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last two sections of this book took my rating from 4 stars to 2 stars.
My admiration and respect for Wayne Dyer withered with the following passage: “My wife had been either nursing or pregnant for the previous eight years-“
I can’t imagine subjecting myself to endless pregnancy for almost a decade to soothe the ego of this supposedly saintly man. I felt even further anger at this man conceiving eight children with this poor woman even after she underwent the removal of one of her ovaries and went on birth control. Then to my surprise this supposedly educated man (Wayne Dyer had a friggin doctorate) said he was using the pull out method, which even high school students know doesn’t work.
I feel like this man I respected tore himself off of the pedestal especially with this weird pro-life turn the book took when he talked about his youngest child choosing to create herself. It sounds outlandish and now so much makes sense about Wayne Dyer.
I saw him speak a few months before his death and it was so inspirational until he started spouting crazy esoteric beliefs about being able to cure himself of his cancer (newsflash: it didn’t work). Now I believe that he was a pretender, someone who faked his saintly beliefs for money and power. This will be the last Wayne Dyer book I ever read.

[Mohamed Mansouri · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب سافر بي عبر عصور مختلفة تلك التي عاشها أشهر الحكماء والفنانين والملهمون في مختلف المجالات، وإن اختلفت أفكارهم وأعمالهم وحتى معتقداتهم، إلا انها كانت في خدمة الإنسان والبشرية. الكاتب واين داير يذكر في الكتاب اهم فكرة أو مبدأ لدى شخصية من
الشخصيات التي اختارها، ثم يقوم بشرحها بشكل مبسط فيه كثير من الإبداع، اضافة إلى تطبيقاتها في حياتنا اليومية ما يجعل من الكتاب عملي بامتياز.
رحلة الكتاب تنطلق من محطة فيثاغورس 500 سنة قبل الميلاد وصولا إلى الام تيريزا أوائل التسعينات، كما تتخلل هذه الرحلة الطويلة عدة محطات للراحة حتى يسترجع القارئ المسافر أنفاسه وهي فرصة ربما لشرب القهوة مع دافنشي أو شكسبير.

[Poppet the Book Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful composition of ancient philosophy and thought brought into more modern times and places. Wayne shares his insight on the quotations he chose in well written thought, essay, and interpretation. The realities suggested to me that human beings have always been just that, human. Complex and simple, deep and enjoyable, a good book to read through, then return to for further insight or inspiration, or just to revisit specific chapters or thoughts that arise when reading this type of literature.

[Chris Caskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and vulnerable analysis of some of the greatest writings of history. The author instructs you to read one 3-4 page passage each day, for sixty days. A great complement to a morning meditation and leaves you with a concept to play with and carry for the day. I could see myself coming back to this book again and again and reading it from start to finish. Even the content will be the same, our interpretation of each passage will change as we do, with each new experience and life event. Highly recommend!

[Angela Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. Each individual chapter was filled with wisdom. Wayne Dyer has a great voice and wonderful way of breaking down quotes written by such wonderful minds as Leonardo DaVinci to Mark Twain; he shares them in a way anyone can understand and relate to. Wayne Dyer writes with humor and a gentleness that you are left thinking about long after you've set his book down. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by him.

[Holly Hollingworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of inspirational teachings from a cross section of writers, philosophers, sages, gurus, through out history with the authors explanation how these pieces of wisdom helped him along his journey to forgiveness for his father after his death. I really enjoyed it particularly as it introduced me to the work of some people I had not heard of before like Rumi.

[Jaq {Gwen} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il Club del Libro / DRS
Libro del mese Dicembre 2020

Tema del mese successivo
Contemporaneo

Letto per le sfide
1. Esimio sconosciuto 2020 - (COMPLETA!)

[Viswanatha Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good compilation by Mr. Wayne Dyer

I think Mr. Dyer choose to make life easier for us by throwing light on numerous topics that matter to any one interested in living a decent life. One needs to be patient and read one topic per day. If one does that , you become ready for peaceful existence.

[Diane Newbill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisdom of the Ages by Wayne Dyer was a good read. In this book he used poems and poets to help you see life in a different way. At the end of the chapters, he provided several bullet points for you to apply to your own life. I am a Wayne Dyer fan, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to bring a little peace or tranquility into their life.

[Donald Lanham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author selects quotes from some of the most recognized artists and philosophers in history, mainly poets, and discusses how we can apply the wisdom in these quotes to make improvements in our own lives.

[Blanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Audio, Wayne Dyer has a voice I could listen to all day. This book had so many treasures. I never realized that I enjoyed poetry! Not everything was to my taste but it was a treat all the same and one that I will definitely revisit

[Nicole Ambrosino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was like taking a literature class on great writings throughout the ages. It was great because Dr. Wayne Dyer then tells how you can put all these great works to use in your own life by taking advice from these great writers.

[Book_journal_gr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although there are many interesting self-help books this is not one of those. I really enjoyed the quotes in the beginning of each chapter but the rest of felt like superficial advice/repeating phrases and ideas.