 Live in the NOW
I could resume this book in one sentence: Live in the NOW and feel... (ready?)... the power of NOW! Even though E. Tolle is sometimes repetitive I like this book. He gives a good lecture on something essential: by focusing on the present you can let go of the past and not fear the future. This is timeless advice.
 Psychologically unsustainable
This book will only lead you to pain and more suffering as his philosophy is psychologically unsustainable. He talks about not reacting to content. If someone raped and murdered his family would he just accept it saying "oh there is only one moment and everything is wonderful" I'd hope not but it appears as though he would. I remember in an interview of him where he said he never feels sad. I also remember reading in his book that humanity is in a time of crisis and needs to "evolve" ... then Meister Eckhart why, if you really DO care about humanity are you charging people for your books instead of giving them out to everyone??? hmm. oh no he couldn't do that. how would he afford his expensive condo and nice infinti?!? He even charges people ridiculous amounts to attend his seminars. Everything about this book screams cult and authoritarian. He wants you to stop your thoughts and become an apathetic emotionless flower who is in a constant state of sedation...why? so you can buy all his books and videos. I mean come on!!! he has hundreds of merchandise items on this site and he's even endorsed by Oprah!
Reading this book is like reading the word "Now" and "ego" "stop your mind" 5000 times. It is the most redundant mess of brainwashing I have ever read. I'm sorry, but this book is just dangerous. He talks about how we should forget our past and then in the first chapter goes into a whole scenario about his past. Oh but wait, one night he magically woke up and was enlightened. If anything, that's just offensive to the people who actually have spent years working to attain enlightenment through "AUTHENTIC" practices. He is extremely condescending and makes you feel bad about yourself and your...thoughts. If you do not want to be left with no emotions/thoughts/aspirations/goals then I suggest you don't order this book. Just because Oprah endorses him doesn't make it right.
Convincing...
This is a convincing book from the very start with the author's
introduction re: his personal experience to explain his theories.
The writing on deeply philosophical and religious type content
is effective because of his question-and-answer method of
explaining his thesis as he moves along. The reader becomes immediately involved in finding the answers to the proposed, and
often objecting-type questions in each part of the book. I have sent the book to a relative, I am so impressed with the thoughts and concrete examples in his explication. The discussion of space, time and the "Unmanifested" e.g., may take slower reading. The book intelligently challenges a reader's beliefs and personal philosophy.
 Excellent information for self insight
This is one of the best books I have read for personal growth. IF you only read one book this would be it.
 The Power of Oprah Winfrey
The title of this book should be: Buddha, Vedic Scripture, Sufism, and Jesus: a Compilation
Tolle, whose birth name was Ulrich, had an unhappy childhood in Germany and at the age of 13 dropped out of school while living with his father in Spain. At age 19 he moved to London where he graduated from London's University in psychology and writing. In his search for self he changed his name to Eckhart after Meister Eckhart, the 14th century German theologian and Christian of the Domenican order Meister Eckhart: The celebrated 14th Century mystic and scholastic: A central source and inspiration of dominant currents in philosophy and theology since Aquinas, w/the text of his historic Defense. Approaching suicidal depression at age 29 a voice told him to "resist nothing." This brought him to his core from which he experienced life as a newborn. In this state he lived as a vagrant in Buddhist monasteries and off friends for two years.
The dichotomy here is that he proposes a path by which we can arrive even though this is NOT the path which brought him to his awakening. His spiritual renewal is one that all humanity desires but, as he has proven, is arrived at only through intense personal crisis and suffering. The "Now" is all, yes, but to arrive at that realization one must have a path. That path is different for everyone and through prayer: ie. direct connection to the "knower," it will ultimately be reached.
We are time-bound beings. This is our reality. The life force, call IT what you will, that created this reality had a reason; time is a tool for the assimilation and direction of our energy. Energy can "be" but it also "is" and what we feed it directs it to where it can ultimately "be."
After his awakening he "got it:" the path of life is in the teachings of all great spiritual leaders. And with that knowledge he compiled borrowed spiritual traditions, wove them together in a narrative with question and answer sessions (brilliant idea, they could very well be his own questions and his own answers). What he has compiled are self-evident universal truths.
Dogmatic religions have become so entrenched in "right" and "wrong," in picayune details of spelling, interpretations, translations, bickering, and control, not to mention setting an example contrary to what they preach, that they have driven many away.
Into this fertile ground Ulrich (Eckhart) Tolle has planted the seeds of many ancient spiritual practices. It is my fervent hope that the multimillions he has reaped from his harvest will be directed to alleviate those in need.
Elizabeth Wallace author/illustrator of Jesus Christ In His Own Words
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