I came across this book while cleaning up my bookshelf and decided to re-read it.

I'd last read it many years ago, and I'm sure 25-year-old Sumit would have rated it 4/5 stars. However, it didn't have any charm anymore.

I have no idea whether that is because the cruel realities of the world have battered my positivity and turned me into a bit of a cynic, or whether I had my head up in the clouds at that time.

I do believe in coincidences, and some of the ideas about spirituality made sense to me. However, the story is definitely underwhelming and is written badly.

In my opinion, the money paid to the editor of the book ought to be recovered because he/she was clearly slacking on the job. The characters are not developed properly, and they all sound the same.

The plot has major holes and whenever the author feels like introducing a new 'insight', you find yourself jumping from part of the story to another for no reason at all.

I wish I could award this negative stars somehow! The writing is so abysmal that the editorial team should be fired. The author seems to still have managed to laugh all the way to the bank by selling so many copies. What. A. Pity!

It's truly a shame that a book that once held some appeal now seems so lackluster. The poor writing, undeveloped characters, and disjointed plot all contribute to a very disappointing reading experience. It makes one wonder how such a book could have achieved any level of success. Perhaps it was a matter of timing or simply a case of the wrong audience. In any case, it serves as a reminder that not all books are created equal, and sometimes, even a book that you once loved can turn out to be a dud upon re-reading.

This was an awesome book to read in high school. It was a very easy read, and the spiritual insights it offered could be applied to any faith or religion.

However, the crappy part is how incredibly commercial the book has become. The movie adaptation was ridiculously bad, the subsequent insights seemed contrived, and all the experiential guides and meditation books related to it are a waste of money.

This book was more relevant and special when it stood alone, before James Redfield recognized it as a money-making machine.

Moreover, it's also a little shallow for adults. It is best suited for the 12 - 17 year old category. Many in this age group may just be beginning their own spiritual journeys and could benefit from the simple yet thought-provoking ideas presented in the book.

Despite its flaws, the initial charm and potential of the book still hold some value, especially for those in the younger age range who are exploring their spiritual selves.

This book was recommended to me by some dear friends during a period of my life when I wanted changes.

It is a book that requires a lot of concentration to read; otherwise, there is a risk of not fully understanding certain fundamental points.

The main theme of the book is the awakening of consciousness, which, according to the manuscript, will occur through the discovery of nine illuminations, each unique and different from the others.

Legend has it that the volume was found in Peru.

Over the years, the church and authorities have tried every means to hide it, persecuting for a long time anyone who tried to obtain it and justifying such censorship as a legitimate act to safeguard the protection of the Ancient Scriptures.

The manuscript shows us how everything is connected.

No encounter is casual; every event in our lives never happens by chance.

Everything happens for a reason, but to set this chain of events in motion, one must take risks and, above all, trust others.

By reading the book, one reaches a different awareness and begins to give meaning even to a small glance received in the crowd. The journey towards the rediscovery of the nine illuminations takes place through the adventures of an American psychologist who will be dazzled by the light of the Manuscript to the point where he can no longer abandon his "mission".

I believe that reading this book is an intimate and personal experience, and I think it has a different effect on each of us.

Although it is not an easy book to read, I recommend reading it at least once in a lifetime.

Growing up gay in a Catholic world in Texas was no easy feat.

I was constantly bombarded with the message that I was hated by God, which made me believe that I would never find any sort of spiritual outlet.

However, everything changed when my best friend Shawn introduced me to a particular book sometime after college.

At first, I was reluctant to read it, but I'm so glad I did.

This book opened my eyes and helped me to believe that there was a possibility for me to find spirituality.

It taught me that being spiritual is not the same as being religious and that I could define myself in my own way.

Since then, I have been able to shape my life and embrace my true self as a spiritual man.

I'm truly grateful to have read this book and to Shawn for introducing it to me.

Thank you, Shawn!

I read this book in the heart of the mania surrounding it. It was around 1995, if I recall correctly. Oh my, what a piece of shit it was. I vividly remember sitting down and devouring the entire thing in one go, all while sipping on a really cheap bottle of red wine, naively expecting a transcendental experience.

Suffice it to say, after finishing the book, I felt pretty cheated. Instead of being elevated to some higher plane of understanding, I was left with a sense of disappointment. I DO remember feeling really paranoid afterward, but I'm not sure if it was because of the wine or the book itself.

And did I mention that it was a piece of shit? I think I can't emphasize that enough. The story was dull, the characters were one-dimensional, and the writing was lackluster. It was truly a waste of my time and money. I would not recommend this book to anyone, unless they have a penchant for bad literature.

In the distant past, aeons ago, during the first age of Aquarius, when the world was a monochromatic expanse of black and white, and dinosaurs ruled the earth with their mighty presence, I existed as a simple seed, gently floating in the wind.

It was a profound thought, indeed. But then, I snapped back to reality and realized it was just the author James' dream. Had I become too carried away in that moment, like a cork adrift in a rapidly flowing river? It was a captivating tale, a searching and exploring adventure set in the heart of South America, deep in the bush and up in the jungle. There were terrifying creatures, both imagined and real. Ancient temples held secrets that remained only partially revealed.

The ending was something I had to spiritually reimagine. It was super deep and super weird, yet it has stayed with me all these years, buried deep within my soul. Anyway, it left me completely floored, lying flat on the ground. That's all I have to say about that, and then I woke up.

20th book of 2020 (144 Books read overall)


Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Love is not something we should do to be good or to make the world a better place out of some abstract moral responsibility, or because we should give up hedonism. Connecting with energy feels like excitement, then euphoria and then love. Finding enough energy to maintain that state of love certainly help the world, but it most directly helps us. It is the most hedonistic things we can do.' Loc. 1865  


Rating - 5 Stars


Plot Summary - The Celestine Prophecy contains secrets that are currently changing our world. It draws on ancient wisdom and shows how to make connections among the events in your own life right now. It also lets you see what will happen to you in the years to come. This book has been passed from hand to hand, from friend to friend, since it first appeared in small bookshops across America. It's a gripping story of adventure and discovery, but it's also a guidebook that can crystallize your perceptions of why you are where you are in life and direct your steps with new energy and optimism as you head into tomorrow.


My Review - It's extremely challenging to understand such a substantial book, and even more difficult to review it. These kinds of books don't come to you easily; rather, they seem to find you at the right moment. On the surface, it's the story of an American who loves to uncover mysteries and discuss Eastern cultures. However, he chooses a career that he thinks will help him change people, but unfortunately, he feels unfulfilled. So, he takes a vacation in his lake house. One strange day, an old friend calls him after years to meet while she's in the country for a layover. She tells him about a mysterious artifact called 'The Manuscript' found in Peru that has the power to change the entire human race for the better. But the Peruvian government and the Church don't want this document to be made public. What these documents are, how they hold the power to change society, and what he discovers on his adventure to Peru are all things that need to be read. But on a deeper level, this book is much more than just an adventure tale or a work of fiction. It's a guidebook for a spiritual seeker on their journey. It provides insights on how to become more conscious. The book is filled with wisdom and knowledge for those who are open to it. I read this book on Kindle and have also ordered a paperback edition to keep in my collection and read again and again. There's so much in it that it can't be fully grasped in a single reading. If this book has so much to offer, I can only imagine how amazing the next three books will be. I'll definitely read them as well, but first, I need to go through this one again. It's highly recommended for both spiritual seekers and thriller lovers.


Conclusion - This book is truly a gem that should be in everyone's collection and passed on to friends and the next generation.


Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker

A Mea Culpa for Me and Ruby!

Once upon a time, in the distant past, I was an Entertainment Insurance Underwriter for AIG, albeit a junior one. I had the privilege of reading numerous scripts, interacting with many famous people, and receiving a handsome paycheck. It was a period filled with excessive partying, cocaine use, an expense account, 1.5 assistants, and daily hangovers. One fateful day, I discovered that I had written a movie policy so successful in its clever exclusions that it deprived an entire family of any AIG benefits after a tragic helicopter crash. I learned this when the current CEO visited the San Francisco office and decided to stop by and share the "good news" with this promising young underwriter. That was the day I realized the evil within me. Looking inside, I saw very little of value. Soon after, I quit my job and became a counselor for homeless kids, thus changing the course of my life.

During this time, I had an associate named Ruby. Our relationship was complex, revolving around sex, drugs, and a long trip to Turkey. Ruby was a Crisis Management Underwriter, writing policies for those working in danger zones. Her policies included kidnap insurance, explosion insurance (for cars, buildings, and homes), insurance that incorporated services from high-tech spy and security group Kroll and information brokers/hostage negotiators Pinkerton, and insurance that allowed one to insure various limbs and appendages for a financial return in case of kidnap and torture-amputation. Her promotional materials included an empty swing with a teddy bear (for kidnap insurance), the world on fire (representing global coverage), and some cute little gray styrofoam bombs. No kidding. Later, she too quit her job and moved on to buying and selling condominiums.

We were two heartless individuals. Ruby's favorite book in the entire world was The Celestine Prophecy. It shaped her view on life and how to live it, "teaching her so much." She read it multiple times and loaned it to me. I loved it as well. "It spoke to me," giving me a perspective on the world that had my empty little head nodding in agreement repeatedly while reading. Good grief! This must have been an extraordinary book indeed if it could provide such toxic, horrible individuals with a strange, personalized spirituality and a host of new agey life lessons to cling to desperately. Sometimes, you can judge the value of a book by the readers who love it.

http://www.kroll.com/

https://www.pinkerton.com/

  

GAG! PUKE! BARF! This is pure drivel. It's just more of that poorly written New Age claptrap that seems to be all over the place these days.

The language used is so convoluted and the ideas so muddled that it's almost impossible to make any sense of it.

It's as if the author is trying to sound profound by using big words and making wild claims, but in reality, it's just a bunch of nonsense.

I can't help but wonder who would actually believe this stuff. It's so far removed from reality and common sense.

Maybe it's people who are looking for something to believe in, something that gives them a sense of purpose or meaning in life. But surely there are better ways to find those things than by reading this kind of drivel.

In conclusion, this is just another example of the kind of garbage that gets passed off as "enlightenment" or "wisdom" in the New Age movement. It's a waste of time and energy, and I would highly recommend that you stay away from it.

The first time I heard of this James Redfield book was in our English 13 class.

We came across a paragraph which talks about “synchronicity”. Though I forgot the rest of that paragraph, I could remember that it explicitly mentioned this book’s name.

It was not until our psychology class months after that when I heard of this book again. Our psychology teacher told us how great this book is and advised us to read it. He even showed us his copy. The book was “The Celestine Prophecy”.

This book is about a nameless protagonist in search of nine insights to life itself from an ancient manuscript found in Peru. It starts with the protagonist meeting an old friend, Charlene, who just came from Peru, telling him about the manuscript. Left curious about its contents, he sets forth on a journey to Peru where he later found himself caught in a life-and-death chase. In his quest, the nameless protagonist meets persons who coincidentally are important in making him grasp the insights.

I really had high hopes for this book but when I started reading the first ten pages, I knew I was wrong. In the cover, the book says it is an adventure, but I would not call it an adventure at all. I remember the time I bought it, I finished three chapters and then I stopped. Two months later, I resumed the reading and I tell you, I really struggled to finish it.

I found “The Celestine Prophecy” to be more of a book of doctrine than a novel. The book is overloaded with what Redfield is trying to teach his readers. The dialogues are excessively long that you will find it already unrealistic. In addition, these excessively long dialogues are often made when they are caught on a chase, making it more unbelievable.

There are also parts in the novel that are twisting known facts – which I honestly find senseless! The said manuscript found in Peru, dating back to 600 BC, was written in Aramaic, the language Jesus grew up with. How did it get there from the Middle East to the western coast of South America? As far as I know, people that time were yet to create seaworthy vessels that could cross the Atlantic. Another was the idea that the Mayans had also settled in Peru and was said to have disappeared after they were able to vibrate at a higher level of energy!

I could tell you it is a painstaking, if not annoying, read, but I am not discouraging you to read it though. But if you do, think twice.

"Um livro que surge uma vez na vida para mudar a vida para sempre".

This sentence appears right below the title and I don't know why the word "life" is repeated twice in such a short sentence

This was an extremely interesting adventure story! The exploration of how humans could potentially evolve was truly a remarkable and great creative concept. It really makes one wonder what the sequel(s) might be like. This has the potential to develop into an incredibly cool fantasy/sci-fi futuristic series. I really liked the message that people exist for a reason, which is to better themselves, others, and the future. In a time when there are an abundance of nihilistic or dystopian stories with bleak politics-driven landscapes, it is truly refreshing and positive to read a book where the core idea is that life and humanity are moving in a positive direction! I also liked the message that every encounter we have with people is meaningful, and that active engagement and appreciation of the world is the best way to live.

The idea of "energy" (which seems to be the main fantastical aspect surrounding the book's attempts to simplify psychological truths) I interpreted as a blanket term for the ways we nurture ourselves and others. For instance, the claim that people are always in competition for energy (the 4th insight) didn't quite sit well with me. It seemed like an oversimplification because it appears unrealistic to think of every single human encounter as a power struggle. However, when I broadened my interpretation to be less literal, I realized that the concept works better when you open it up and think of "seeking energy" as the various things people need: attention, love, care, rest, knowledge, etc. - all the things that nourish the spirit. People seek energy in different ways, such as how introverts recharge with alone time, and extroverts gain energy from social engagement. The Celestine Prophecy also made the main point that spending time in nature, especially in forests, is the ultimate way for humans to regain energy, and that is excellent advice as people generally feel more rejuvenated from contact with nature and appreciation of its natural beauty.

Overall, this is a very thoughtful book and a great read!