An illustrated, fast-paced view of the world as a happy struggle to achieve enlightenment.
A spiritual view of the universe that encourages people to battle to uncover their true selves.
In his nonfiction debut, Kolavo acknowledges that people tend to ask the same big-picture questions of life: “Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? What is the purpose of creation?” In the expansive and inventive worldview put forward in these pages, the answers to these and other questions revolve around how well each person perceives what Kolavo calls the “universal law” that says: “All of life’s experiences happen for a reason and the Universe does not make mistakes”—a law he refers to as “God’s Game Plan.” In his view, all humans are naturally a part of the “School of Life,” with a “Bodyguard” that is their ego and a “Sleeping Giant” that is their soul, and they can choose whether or not to awaken to their true potential or continue to be mired in the shallow day-to-day details of life. We’ve all “been sleepwalking for generations,” the author contends, but we are essentially spiritual beings encased in flesh. “When Body and Soul reunite as one, you will be transformed,” Kolavo writes. In one fanciful sequence after another, Kolavo describes the process of transforming your Sleeping Giant into a guardian angel, of awakening to your true spiritual potential and thereby becoming a “Supernatural Human” right here on Earth, or someone who sees reality for what it is, not merely what science instructs it to be. The narrative is peppy and involving throughout, and Kolavo, borrowing strategies from popular self-help gurus like Wayne Dyer, frequently asserts things for which there is no scientific evidence (that all humans are born with souls) or makes statements that others will see as self-evidently false (such as that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger). Experienced self-help readers will know to navigate such sentiments with care, and they'll find plenty of good material to warrant the effort in these pages, playfully illustrated by Jensen (Pablo and Koji: Best Friends Forever, 2019, etc.).
An illustrated, fast-paced view of the world as a happy struggle to achieve enlightenment.Pub Date: March 8, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-982223-14-4
Page Count: 158
Publisher: BalboaPress
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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