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A little “Prophet” sharing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Everyman’s Library has brought out a new edition of “Khalil Gibran: The Collected Works,” which should prompt most people to ask: “Works? You mean Gibran wrote more than one?”
Yes, Gibran wrote a fair bit, but he is known as a one-book author for his unbelievably — and to some, inexplicably — popular book, “The Prophet.” Both the author and the book get a thorough and fascinating examination by Joan Acocella in the Jan. 7 New Yorker magazine.
“The Prophet” was published in 1923, and has sold like snow cones in Hell ever since. It’s particularly popular in prisons, Acocella writes, and I’ll bet a hefty percentage of high school and middle school students have warmed their sensitive souls in its sun-lamp wisdom over the past 80 years. I remember reading it around the age of 15, but my good friend Trance referred to Gibran as “Kellogg All-Bran” and mocked me for reading him.
Some wisdom from “The Prophet:”
“Prayer is but the expansion of yourself into the living ether.”
“Evil is good tortured by its own hunger and thirst.”
“Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love.”
“The Prophet” sounds at times like a religious book, with its echoes of Buddhism and Christianity, but isn’t really Christian or Buddhist. It also sounds a little like a self-help book, just a lot more vague than Dr. Phil. Acocella calls it “a warm, smooth, interconfessional soup that was perfect for 20th century readers, many of whom longed for the comforts of religion but did not wish to pledge allegiance to any church.” She calls Gibran a mid-wife to the New Age movement.
I re-read some chunks of “The Prophet” and, cynical old soul that I have become, found it just wretched. But there must be fans out there who will take issue with my heresy. Is anyone up for defending “The Prophet?” Has anyone profited from its wisdom?
Comments
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By Anne
January 10, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
I was given this book while still in high school and for the life of me, couldn’t understand it’s draw. I put it aside, thinking that maybe I was too young….but after picking it up again several years ago, still found it awful. For my tastes, the book didn’t deliver on the hype that came with it!
By Jeff
January 10, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
Never heard of this book, and from your description I can say that it is not one that I would generally be interested in.
Now, there is another book titled The Prophet by a guy named Frank Peretti that I’ve read a couple of times. I thoroughly enjoy THAT Prophet! (Basic storyline: News anchor’s dad is a self-titled ‘Prophet’. Dad gets killed. Son starts looking into it. Turns out, the state governor was involved. Also turns out a certain highly controversial topic was involved. Does news anchor go after the story? What is the issue? Good questions. Read the book!)
By DasV
January 10, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Jeff i am laughing at you posting a tantilizing descript of another book. that is fun-ny. and interesting. i might check it out.
on topic Gibran’s book was cleverly worded nothingness.
By court_fanatic
January 10, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
I bought The Prophet a few years ago after reading about it on the Internet. I think I’m a fairly spiritual person, although not overly religious. This book took my breath away. As corny as it sounds, it spoke to me, and I pick it up every so often and read through it again. It always refreshes me.
By kindred
January 10, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Don’t like it? Once an idiot always an idiot. Or maybe you’re just simple and lucky therein or once evil, always evil (to paraphrase Jeremiah 13:23 — it’s easier for a leopard to change his spots than an evil one to do good).
By ron
January 10, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
I found”The Prophet”to be boring as Hades.I’m probably evil too.I’ll stick to Ogden Nash.
By Anne
January 10, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
kindred, not liking a book does not make one an idiot, simple and lucky or evil. I gave it a chance and it did not “speak” to nor did it interest me. Jeff, Peretti is a pretty good read. Monstor and The Visitation are ones I’ve read….I’ll have to read The Prophet.
By Duke
January 10, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
During the mid-1970’s I spent three years living in my van along California Highway One, the coastal highway, seeking spiritual truth. This book had a profound effect on me. But I was very heavily into meditation, and in 1978 I had a terrifying encounter with Satan. I realized that the Bible is true after all, and the spiritual things I had been practicing had been weakening my defenses against evil. The heart of Gibran’s error, and of most modern spiritualism, is to think that “Evil is good tortured by its own hunger and thirst.” Thus instead of punishing the criminal, we try to love him. He claims as a defense that he was abused as a child, and escapes the consequences of his own choices and actions. We blame crime on poverty, or on the social system, rather than holding the individual accountable for his own actions. It reminds me of a popular song about that time:
Riders on the storm. We’re riders on the storm. Into this world we’re born. Into this life we’re thrown. Like a dog without a bone, it’s a house without a home. Riders on the storm.
Killer on the road. Seed that Satan sowed. If you give this man a ride, Pretty family will die, Riders on the storm.
By Jeff
January 10, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Anne:
I haven’t read Monster, but I have The Visitation as well as This Present Darkness/ Piercing the Darkness.
Peretti’s The Prophet is definitely an edge of your seat ride!
By kindred
January 10, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
Anne, You’re absolutely right that not all things speak to all people and thus having felt spriritually touched by Gibran led me to be judgemental of those not touched by him…..nonetheless whatever spiritual books I have read, new age or other, having only been supplements to my quest for continuing knowledge of the real true Most High God and his letter - the Bible.
By ed lorenzo
January 11, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
The book to read in 2008 is titled A MATTER OF ENERGY by Marco Miranda Sr. (Amazon.com) Why is not this book included in AJC’s lists? I have enjoyed it and learned a great deal. Highly recommended!
By bsuft
January 20, 2008 3:10 AM | Link to this
http://ezgwa.com/ugtytgty.html >Google
By bsuft
January 20, 2008 3:10 AM | Link to this
http://ezgwa.com/ugtytgty.html >Google