A few people have recommended the book. Some have even said that it changed their life. I just want to get the opinions of Dopers who’ve read it.
I only read the first chapter, but it was so poorly written I couldn’t force myself to continue in spite of a friend’s recommendation. Honestly, it read like it was written by a thirteen year old…and not a particularly bright thirteen year old. Made L. Ron Hubbard seem like a deep thinker.
My girlfriend, however, has read it all the way through, and while she concurs on it being very poorly written, she thought it raised some interesting philosophical questions.
It raises some good points.
But the writing…ay yi yi.
If there was a Mystery Science Theater 3000 for books, they would definitely go after this one.
Granted, there are some great philosophical points raised, but, truthfully: “Is the Celestine Prophecy worth reading?”
NO.
If you want to read a well-written book with some philosophy thrown in, may I recommend M. Scott Peck’s “People of the Lie”
Especially relevant right now.
It is very poorly written, but if you appraoch it with an open mind, I think it will enlighten you. It certainly did NOT change my life, but I really appreciated some of the points. I think the fourth or fifth prophecy deals with energy flow - there’s a lot of good stuff in there about giving and taking energy, and how others steal your energy and dominate you.
I keep a copy at work for break reading.
Let’s see…read a poorly written hash of new-agey pop-psychology ideas conveniently packaged and boiled down, or study actual philosophical works and scriptures, and exercise that grey matter myself?
I read The Celestine Prophecy when it came out, and was not impressed in the slightest. I’d place it a notch or two below Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, as it fails to introduce anything new or particularly interesting. It presents metaphors for basic human interaction, but nothing revolutionary.
Well, I forced myself through to the end of it, but I can’t say that I got anything out of it, either as fiction or philosophy. I did find myself wondering if the author was saying anything that would have made any sense, or held any validity, if he had come right out and said it. What points was he trying to make?