I did a quick search on this topic and encountered one thread which dealt with the question of whether or not it was fiction or non-fiction etc.
Putting that aside, I on the other hand just finished reading this book and for the time being am willing to say that I can definitely see/agree/understand some of the points that J. Redfield is trying to make in explaining the “insights”.
I really enjoyed the book up until the part (around 3rd last chapter) where somehow all this evolution that humanity is supposed to reach is tied up to God, Jesus, and Heaven. Not being religious myself (at all), i was very interested in the book up until that point. Tying all these insights back to God, heaven etc, really put a bitter taste in my mouth for the ending of the book.
Having said that, I still think that this book was very entertaining, and I admit, i find the first insights (coincidences, engery) to be very interesting to think about.
so basically, I’m just looking to discuss the book, as well as the ideas it presents with anyone who is intersted.
>>>to continue on…where I stand on this is basically, that some of the points that are made in the book (ie. the struggle for energy, coincidences that really arent coincidences) whether or not they are fact, at the very least present an interesting point of view of why some of these things happen in our everyday lives.
I’m not gonna lie that I do wonder now if meeting someone, or not being able to go somewhere, was a ‘coincidence’ that occured so that I may run into someone that i needed to see and so on.
The other thing is, that being around plants/trees/mountains definitely makes me feel better. I have 4 plants in my little University room, and even rainforest wallpapers gallore that definitely make me feel better when I’m down. So whether it is for other reasons that I am unaware off, or maybe for some of the reasons put forth in the book…blah I dunno…just thinking out loud here
I read the book back when I was in university, about 8 years ago I guess. All I remember is that I was incredibly relieved to be able to finally close it after reading the last page. What an utter piece of rubbish that book was. Sorry.
I read it when I was about 18 and I remember being puzzled as to how true it was supposed to be. It was transparently obvious bunk, but it seemed to take itself so seriously.
I read it along with the sequels when I was about 12 or 13. It was the closest thing to a religious experience I’ve had, which isn’t saying much at all. It was much more of an “ooh, shiny!” type of feeling than anything profound. I couldn’t tell you a thing about the books now and I imagine if I re-read them I’d be much more cynical and dark about them.
I think that the author is an amazingly poor writer - he bored me to tears. Having said that, I agree with you - I really liked some of the insights. One in particular stuck out - the one about loving everything and everybody because doing so is the most hedonistic thing we can do. By loving others, we energize ourselves.
I dunno if that is true - I’m not so good at the loving thing.
But I know that hate and anger is very draining.
Don’t remember too much else about the book, other than I was disappointed in the ending.
being disappointed with the ending is an understatement. The one I liked the most I guess somewhat coincides with what you said, the whole energy thing. To calm yourself and ‘re-energize’ yourself when in a bad situation. I think that can really help
I read it a while back, and saw some interesting viewpoints that made me think about life and nature. I never saw it as an attempt at non-fiction. It seemed to meld some Eastern religious concepts with Christian ones fairly well.
I read this book when it first came out (when was that? the '80’s?), and I loaned it to someone and never got it back. I’d like to read it again. Our views, knowledge, and opinions change as we grow and learn, so a re-read might be more enlightening. But I’ve believed for some time that “there are no accidents.” (Who said that - Jung or some philosopher?) Anyway, that’s about all I remember of it, and I believe that things happen for a reason, even bad things. We learn and grow from them. It may sound simplistic, but I believe that what is, is meant to be. Not that a Supreme Being determines what happens to us, but that WE create our reality, and everything that happens to us happens for a reason.
you said that a supreme being doesnt determine what ultimately happens to us, we do. So if everything happens for a reason, and what is meant to be, will be, then who organizes/plans this ‘destiny’???
“Who organizes and plans our destiny?” I believe we do. I’m not prosyletizing – simply elaborating on how my beliefs have evolved and what influence the book in question may have had. It’s a theory. I believe in a Supreme Being, but I don’t believe that he/she/it “controls” us and determines our destiny. I prefer to think that we have control over our actions and suffer the consequences (“hell”), and learn from our errors.
A few questions for those of you who have read it (whether you liked it or hated it):
Do you think it would make a good film, and why or why not? And will you see it when it comes out?
(Filming completed a few months ago, and its being edited now, though they’ve yet to pick up a distributor, last I knew. I have a bit of a personal interest in the film, so I’d be grateful if you could share your thoughts with me. Thanks.)
wha??? :eek: , theyre making a movie??? Is the trailer available anywhere?
And as far as if it would make a good movie, it depends 100% on the cast. A great cast can make almost anything worth while watching
Yup, mostly shot in Florida – the cast is pretty good, though I’m a bit biased. Here’s the IMDB listing, and Redfield has some info about it listed at his site. No trailer yet, AFAIK.
I read it a few years ago and identified with just a few of the experiences described. But the writing was so poor that it pissed me off rather than bored me. Because of that, I did not read any other of his books.
I had much rather rewatch the film Mindwalk with Sam Waterston, Liv Ullman and John Heard. There is no plot, really, only thoughtful conversations that are worth thinking about.
Those who put a lot of stock in coincidences teach that one should pay careful attention to them when they happen. I’m not sure what that means. I just enjoy coincidences. (My life was so interwoven with my husband’s that it is a wonder we aren’t the same person. Yet, we didn’t actually know each other.)
The book is fiction but not all of the descriptions of the experiences are crap. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the author experienced them himself.
