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Never Forget To Laugh: Personal Recollections of Bill Thetford, Co-Scribe of A Course In Miracles
This comprehensive biography integrates the facts of Bill Thetford’s life with Course teachings and the personal reflections of more than thirty friends, presenting an intimate portrait of his life and spiritual journey. As a brilliant and accomplished psychologist, he became one of the world’s foremost authorities on how the ego develops, then served as a conduit for A Course in Miracles, which provides a way to dissolve that ego. Bill’s own path to awakening provides a proven, timeless guide to successfully replacing grievances with grace and peace of mind.
- GenresSpirituality
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2010
33 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 10, 2022
In retrospect, as a long time student of ACIM, I find it quite remarkable that I did not get around to reading this biography before. After all, ACIM looms quite large in my life, and Bill Thetford was one of the pair that took down the work at the very beginning. He died only a few short years before I started my own ACIM journey, and he lived the last few years of his life in S.California just a few miles from where I spent my early years as a student. Some of the people I hung with in those days had probably met Bill, but in my distracted state at that time in my life I did not even know enough to ask.
This is a remarkable account of the remarkable life of a man who, if he were a Catholic, they would already be talking about canonization. Needless to say, this is a must read for an ACIM student (especially the final chapters, if you wonder if you are ever going to get "there") but I think is also very generally readable and well-presented as an unusually and deeply personal biography.
The book is an aggregrate of many first-person direct memories of the people who knew Bill when he was alive. Bill was a most determinedly private man, but by virtue of his charisma and his position in the ACIM community, he could not avoid being sought out and noticed by a lot of people. The result is, despite his personal privacy inclinations, a highly detailed account of his life.
This is a remarkable account of the remarkable life of a man who, if he were a Catholic, they would already be talking about canonization. Needless to say, this is a must read for an ACIM student (especially the final chapters, if you wonder if you are ever going to get "there") but I think is also very generally readable and well-presented as an unusually and deeply personal biography.
The book is an aggregrate of many first-person direct memories of the people who knew Bill when he was alive. Bill was a most determinedly private man, but by virtue of his charisma and his position in the ACIM community, he could not avoid being sought out and noticed by a lot of people. The result is, despite his personal privacy inclinations, a highly detailed account of his life.
January 23, 2019
Keep your difficulties.
There is no need to clean out the room in your mind to bring the Course in, it will find its on place and work to do it from within. This is the biggest thing I have learned. Keep your difficulties and they will slowly dissolve. We do little, and the reward is great.
There is no need to clean out the room in your mind to bring the Course in, it will find its on place and work to do it from within. This is the biggest thing I have learned. Keep your difficulties and they will slowly dissolve. We do little, and the reward is great.
January 28, 2022
Una historia del gozo posible
Lo recomiendo a todas las personas que imaginan una vida cercana a Dios como algo doloroso, como un sacrificio. La vida de Bill nos recuerda que encontramos a Dios en el gozo!!
Lo recomiendo a todas las personas que imaginan una vida cercana a Dios como algo doloroso, como un sacrificio. La vida de Bill nos recuerda que encontramos a Dios en el gozo!!
September 15, 2019
Magnificent
A true inspiration for anyone who has ever thought “ there must be another way.” Bill you are now permanently a part of me.
A true inspiration for anyone who has ever thought “ there must be another way.” Bill you are now permanently a part of me.
September 17, 2020
Short but sweet
Great insights into the life of ☝ of the scribes of A Course in Miracles, and the genesis of the work and resulting movement.
Great insights into the life of ☝ of the scribes of A Course in Miracles, and the genesis of the work and resulting movement.
February 14, 2025
An inspiring biography of the man who scribed one of the most significant mystical texts. It is the story of how an academic with a flourishing career became a vehicle for spiritual transformation
March 2, 2011
AMAZON BOOK REVIEW by Reja Janaki Joy Green
If you have read and enjoyed “The lives of Helen Schucman and William Thetford” by Neal Vahle then I recommend that you read Carol Howe’s book: “Never Forget To Laugh: Personal Recollections of Bill Thetford, Co-Scribe of A Course In Miracles“. Although Neal Vahle’s book is a well documented account of the lives of both scribes in which he includes Carol among the many people who had a major impact on Bill, Carol’s book adds the depth that comes from truly knowing someone, having personally participated in his life. Neal recounts how Judy Skutch remarked in 1979, shortly after meeting Carol, “I know why you are here. Bill needs to be socialized. I bequeath you Bill.” And thus began Carol’s friendship with Bill.
Even though some of the material in Neal’s book is also in Carol’s book, Never Forget To Laugh: Personal Recollections of Bill Thetford, Co-Scribe of A Course In Miracles is not simply a work of research. Carol brings a very unique perspective: Bill had been a house guest in Carol’s home; he had taken road trips with Carol, along with her husband Bob; and Bill had also participated with Carol at various Course events – as well as just simply meditating together.
Carol’s reflections gave me a very personal sense of Bill, as if I had known him all my life. If you are a A Course in Miracles student, then Bill has already touched your life. With this book, Carol has given all of us glimpses of another dimension of Bill. He is our Brother and our Friend and someone who will always be a part of our lives. Treat yourself to this gift from Carol and find your connection with the beautiful and gentle soul of Bill Thetford.
If you have read and enjoyed “The lives of Helen Schucman and William Thetford” by Neal Vahle then I recommend that you read Carol Howe’s book: “Never Forget To Laugh: Personal Recollections of Bill Thetford, Co-Scribe of A Course In Miracles“. Although Neal Vahle’s book is a well documented account of the lives of both scribes in which he includes Carol among the many people who had a major impact on Bill, Carol’s book adds the depth that comes from truly knowing someone, having personally participated in his life. Neal recounts how Judy Skutch remarked in 1979, shortly after meeting Carol, “I know why you are here. Bill needs to be socialized. I bequeath you Bill.” And thus began Carol’s friendship with Bill.
Even though some of the material in Neal’s book is also in Carol’s book, Never Forget To Laugh: Personal Recollections of Bill Thetford, Co-Scribe of A Course In Miracles is not simply a work of research. Carol brings a very unique perspective: Bill had been a house guest in Carol’s home; he had taken road trips with Carol, along with her husband Bob; and Bill had also participated with Carol at various Course events – as well as just simply meditating together.
Carol’s reflections gave me a very personal sense of Bill, as if I had known him all my life. If you are a A Course in Miracles student, then Bill has already touched your life. With this book, Carol has given all of us glimpses of another dimension of Bill. He is our Brother and our Friend and someone who will always be a part of our lives. Treat yourself to this gift from Carol and find your connection with the beautiful and gentle soul of Bill Thetford.
March 28, 2014
Excellent story of one Course student who also happened to be the co-founder scribe of ACIM. If you have ever had thoughts of how cool it would be to be chosen, after reading this you might have second thoughts. It is never easy at first to see the truth, much less to live it boldly. This is an inspirational and practical book describing how one man did just that.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews