Most useful for readers schooled in spiritual thought but won’t alienate neophytes.
A spiritual philosophy book that delves into the realms of existence.
The debut work starts with the feel of a memoir but is far broader in scope, looking at everyday existence through the lens of spiritual thought. But although its title may suggest otherwise, it has nothing to do with spirituality in a specific world of minivans and housing tracts, and unlike many other books in the spirituality genre, it’s refreshingly not centered on the author. Indeed, when professional life coach Mallard occasionally speaks of herself, it’s only to make one of her points easier for the reader to grasp. There are references to familiar subjects, such as karma and death, each of which gets of its own chapter; however, the author effectively manages to explain them in concrete terms. Karma, for instance, is described as a “buffer” that functions as “your Michelin Man suit.” These two chapters, which appear midway through the book, contain the most thought-provoking and surprisingly pragmatic passages, as Mallard presents her concepts in a tone that’s never breathless or awestruck. She offers a thoughtful, well-reasoned view of the transition to death, for instance, by dividing it into four types of “realms,” noting that a decedent may have “crossed over” into a realm that’s almost formless or into one that has more form, or unsuccessfully crossed over and entered a realm of confusion and doubt or one that’s still “attached to the incarnation.” Overall, this is a deep-thinking, philosophical book that, for example, expounds on the “non-dualistic reality” of “Oneness” and explains why, in the author’s view, it’s practically impossible to go to hell or ascend into heaven. In order to alleviate any possible confusion regarding concept definitions, she provides a glossary, which adds useful insights. In fact, the glossary is an integral part of the book, lending additional layers of explanation to commonplace ideas, such as “apparent,” “content,” “crutch,” and “energy.” Mallard also quotes sage sayings from various historical sources (including the Bible and the work of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi) but doesn’t advocate any particular faith.
Most useful for readers schooled in spiritual thought but won’t alienate neophytes.Pub Date: June 22, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5043-1356-8
Page Count: 284
Publisher: BalboaPress
Review Posted Online: June 1, 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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