Mike's Reviews > The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
51775290
's review

did not like it

What a piece of shit. While I'm sure some people can find something about it to enjoy and enrich their lives, I kept thinking what a charlatan this man must be.

First, the book is about 170 pages too long. This thing could have been condensed into about 20 pages and nothing substantial would have been lost. Actually, even more egregious, he did not walk the walk. Tolle's so called "enlightenment" came from a nervous breakdown, not from following the ideas in his book. Not that he could since his lecture is so vague in its methodology.

Another issue is that he changes the definitions of words to fit what he needs them to mean, which is especially annoying since he sometimes uses the proper word he should use in a sentence on whatever topic he's rambling on.

Reading this made me think Tolle spent a day in a few science, philosophy, and psychology classes and missed the actual details of those that make his book utter crap. I've brought some quotes which show his lack of understanding of the world.

"Many times of illnesses are caused by the ego's continuous resistance, which creates restrictions and blockages in the flow of energy through the body." I'd like to test and see how ill he can get when properly exposed to bacteria/viruses.

Since he uses a question and answer format and paraphrases the questions, I thought this stood out. "Would a man still feel drawn to a woman? Would a woman still feel incomplete without a man?" Nice sexism. Men are drawn to women but women feel incomplete without a man. In fact, all of his writings on love and relationships read like a man who has never been on a date or never got over a bad breakup.

In one of the questions posed to him he answers "You cannot ask such a question." That's reassuring.

My favorite. "Is there any scientific evidence for this? Try it out and you will be the evidence." Which is to say no. It's something he made up and it can't really be replicated.

"Even a stone has rudimentary consciousness; otherwise, it would not be, and its atoms and molecules would disperse." Just shitting all over science here.

There is some decent stuff here, like don't dwell on the past, but it is bogged down by garbage and his need to hear his own voice. That he has so many fans surprises me.
28 likes · flag

Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read The Power of Now.
Sign In »

Reading Progress

April 25, 2016 – Started Reading
April 25, 2016 – Shelved
May 5, 2016 –
page 100
43.67% "Good lord, what a piece of shit."
May 13, 2016 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-1 of 1 (1 new)

dateDown arrow    newest »

back to top