===
The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life
Thomas Moore
4.11
1,001 ratings51 reviews
Starting from the premise that we can no longer afford to live in a disenchanted world, Thomas Moore, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling classic Care of the Soul , shows us that a profound, enchanted engagement with life is not a childish thing to be put away with adulthood, but a necessity for one's personal and collective survival. With his lens focused on specific aspects of daily life such as clothing, food, furniture, architecture, ecology, language, and politics, Moore describes the renaissance these can undergo when there is a genuine engagement with beauty, craft, nature, and art in both private and public life. Millions of readers who found comfort and substance in Moore's previous bestsellers will discover in this book ways to restore the heart and soul of work, home, and creative endeavors through a radical, fresh return to ancient ways of living the soulful life.
Show more
Genres
Spirituality
Psychology
Nonfiction
Self Help
Philosophy
Religion
Inspirational
...more
416 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
Literary awards
Books for a Better Life Award for Spiritual (1996)
Original title
The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life
This edition
Format
416 pages, Paperback
1,686 people want to read
Thomas Moore is the author of the bestselling book Care of the Soul, Ageless Soul, and fifteen other books on deepening spirituality and cultivating soul in every aspect of life. He has been a monk, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist, and today he lectures widely on holistic medicine, spirituality, psychotherapy, and the arts. He lectures frequently in Ireland and has a special love of Irish culture. He has Ph. D. in religion from Syracuse University and has won several awards for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Lesley University and the Humanitarian Award from Einstein Medical School of Yeshiva University. He also has a B.A. in music from DePaul University, an M.A. in musicology from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in theology from the University of Windsor. He also writes fiction and music and often works with his wife, artist and yoga instructor, Hari Kirin. He writes regular columns for Resurgence, Spirituality & Health, and will soon publish Writing in the Sand: The Spirituality of Jesus and the Soul of the Gospels, The Soul of Medicine, and Hole in One: Stories about the Game of Life.
Sue
1,324 reviews
5 followers
Follow
May 11, 2011
I have read "Care of The Soul", "Soul Mates", and now "The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life", by Thomas Moore. He writes beautifully, and with such depth and understanding.The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life, explores restoring the heart and soul of work, home and other things.Good for the heart.
philosophy
13 likes
13 comments
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Pam.
Pam
75 reviews
54 followers
Follow
January 7, 2015
So I'm reading books that touch on the concept of living "spiritually" while not necessarily religiously. I started with a clear atheist's POV with Sam Harris' Waking Up and now I've traveled over to the other side with a former priest in training/monk/disillusioned catholic gone psychotherapist and "non-denominational theologian." Moore makes a case that all of our societal ailments are due to a loss of "magic" and "enchantment" in our lives. He draws on history, mythology and sociology to make his case which, for me, was about 50% "that's a cool angle" and 50% "fuck off, that is horseshit."
This guy believes in angels and crap, I don't.
He thinks we need more religion-based morality in politics and society, I don't.
He also at one point shunned sex and that shit is just crackers to me. I have a hard time trusting anyone that takes a vow of celibacy like...ever.
HOWEVER...I liked his carefully crafted prose and his outlook on the world around us. For example, he draws interesting parallels between the ancient idea of talismans and the jewelry and adornments we wear now. He suggests injecting a hot dose of magic into every day choices like what to wear by wearing things, colors and symbols that mean something to you. Same for the home, the workspace, etc.
Like most mindfulness manifestos, the big message here is to be present and create your own sacred routines that nourish the soul. This was a fast audiobook listen and, even for the religiously void, contains some nuggets of wisdom to carry with you. Even if it's as simple as lighting a candle before you sit down to write or paint, a little magical thinking can enhance life on this steaming pile of shit we call a planet.
Still don't believe in angels though, dawg.
12 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Megan.
Megan
119 reviews
13 followers
Follow
November 14, 2012
The first half of this book is of dubious quality. The author's criticisms of science are flawed by his ignorance of the fullness of scientific history, including the histories and thoughts of scientists themselves. He asks for more enchantment in science but it's there in the literature and essays - in short, Moore's criticisms of science appear to be based off of religious stereotypes of science rather than the field itself. (For some examples of enchantment in science, see the writings of Carl Sagan, Stephen J Gould, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.) (EDIT: Moore actually mentions Teilhard later in the better half of the book.)
Additionally, the author's ideas are further weakened by his ignorance of the subjects he speaks about. For example, at the beginning of the chapter on food, he states, "I have yet to see a study of the health effects of spices...." However, a glance through the spice pages on the World's Healthiest Foods webpage shows multiple scholarly references to the healthful effects of herbs and spices, and many of these sources are from this book's publication date or earlier, meaning the author didn't do his homework. Such mistakes are repeated throughout the book and lessen Moore's credibility.
A major criticism I have for the first half of this book is its apparent classism. Moore's ideas seem most beneficial and appreciated by the middle class, who can afford luxurious travel and to slow down time. For the economically oppressed, many of the ideas in this book are laughably beyond reason, in the realm of fantasy.
Despite all this, the book is useful and refreshing. Moore shows great imagination in each section, as he takes his ideas to fanciful (and often impractical) extremes. However, I don't fault him for this as it works to involve the reader's imagination in his ideas, which leads to more fruitful communication and engagement on the reader's part. The first 4 chapters (Nature-World) are mediocre, but the last half of the book is intelligent and engaging. Perhaps the best chapter of the book is the one on dreams, where Moore argues convincingly that dreams can be approached not as windows to the inner workings of the psyche, but as mysterious aspects of ourselves we can tend and enjoy without dissecting. While not an amazing book, it is inspiring and stimulating.
non-fiction
philosophy-theology-and-religion
3 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Jennifer.
Jennifer
778 reviews
39 followers
Follow
April 24, 2015
As I've been pondering the nature of spirituality, I've been reading some new things, but also returning to books that have moved me in the past. This re-read was particularly helpful, as Moore touched on some things that have been percolating in my own thoughts. Again and again he returns to some key concepts with regard to mystery and sanctuary (or temenos, sacred spaces) that resonated with my own concerns and desires. One element of this is the idea that to be open to creating and loving others, we need to be open to not having easy answers, and not just accept that, but embrace it. As Moore talks about the ways in which modern life has not just obscured the idea of enchantment, but vilified it, I find myself nodding my head. And thinking, more deeply than ever, about ways to make a sanctuary for myself and those I care about, where we can feel free not just to exist as ourselves, but create.
psychology
re-read
religion-spirituality
3 likes
Like
Comment
Diana
65 reviews
1 follower
Follow
August 13, 2013
The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life is one of those rare books that makes you really think about how you view yourself, your world, and your spiritual life. Thomas Moore helps you to see that enchantment is everywhere around you (past, present and future) if you just look. In our effort to explain everything away scientifically or to tie everything to a specific religious practice, we have lost that magical connection with the stars, nature, and ourselves. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel more deeply and passionately. Initially, I got this book from the library but after reading it, I knew there was a lot I needed to highlight and re-read!
3 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Monica.
Monica
765 reviews
Follow
February 22, 2010
I don't know if this was good or not. I just didn't want to read a long refrigerator magnet.
donation-pile
3 likes
2 comments
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Mehrsa.
Mehrsa
2,234 reviews
3,659 followers
Follow
December 22, 2019
I’m on a Moore kick and I love his stuff. This one is a short reflection on how to bring “soul” back to our personal spaces, architecture, community, etc.
3 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Vanessa Sumner.
Vanessa Sumner
87 reviews
Follow
November 24, 2021
About 2/3 of this book is 5 stars. Utterly delightful, highly intelligent, secure in deep enchantment. The other 1/3 is a hot mess. Perhaps it is because I am reading it so long after it was originally published in the 1990’s. I understand books don’t always stand the test of time. But I’m simply not sure if it is dated or if it was also a hot mess back when it was written. Either way, I’m glad I read it, I thoroughly enjoyed 2/3’s of the book, and I’m also glad it’s over!
2 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Steve Arthur.
Steve Arthur
5 reviews
Follow
December 26, 2012
Have you ever felt stuck?
Everything has gone wrong in your life?
You have no friends?
Your life is nothing more than a faded smudge
of something even you don't have the time to try and explain?
...Until you come not to the grip of life...no...
Enter into the re-enchantment of life!
Remember the magic is you!
2 likes
Like
Comment
Profile Image for Abner Rosenweig.
Abner Rosenweig
206 reviews
19 followers
Follow
October 20, 2014
I stubmled onto this at a library book sale having never heard of Thomas Moore. It's one of the most serendipitous discoveries I've made. "The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life" is poetic, vivid, wise. It offers insight into the sickness of the modern psyche and describes a variety of practical steps we can take, collectively and individually, to recover a more holistic, healthy, enchanting experience of life.
I group Moore with Loren Eiseley, Thoreau, and Montaigne. His prose is grounded yet soulful, never pedantic or pretentious -- it speaks directly to the reader's heart and nourishes deeply.
Many self-help or prescriptive books today call for the reader to adjust to our disenchanted, dehumanized world. Moore is unique in calling for the reader to reject dehumanization and to carve out experiences of profound meaning in our lives. In his discussion of the enchanting, where he honors at times the numinous, the sacred, interiority, intimacy, irrationality, eros, nature, mystery, and reverence toward all things and life in general, Moore identifies what makes us truly human and he helps us to reclaim our alienated humanity.
For all the ground Moore covers, I wish he would have spoken more to the principle of eros and how we treat each other in daily life. Our relationships with friends, family, co-workers, even strangers in the community and beyond are one of the greatest victims of the desiccated spirit in contemporary society, and repairing these could go a long way toward re-enchanting our lives. I was also hoping Moore would say a few words about death, as our mortality is too often neglected in the modern world while, when honestly confronted, it provides us with another anchor to our humanity and authentic living.
At times the book feels too long and repetitive, but this is also part of its charm -- it's not direct or efficient, like the cold objectivity of modern life that Moore critiques -- it meanders, like a path through a forest, occasionally looping back on itself. It enchants, like the tide pulsing on the beach, like a symphony returning to central themes and motifs.
It's a restorative, healing read, one of my favorites, one to return to again and again.
1 like
Like
Comment
Displaying 1 - 10 of 51 reviews
More reviews and ratings
===
Product description
Review
"Moore turns from internal spirituality and developing relationships to the natural wonder of everyday life--in trees, food, home, garden, art, furniture, stories, sex, business, politics, and ritual. To live without feeling magic or enchantment in external things, he believes, is to tumble Iinto a long-term 'loss of soul' in modern life.""-- San Francisco Chronicle""[A] profound yet practical sequel to Moore's massive bestsellet "Care of the Soul" . . . [T]his important book will dare many to believe that life is full of enchantment.""-- Publishers Weekly "(starred reviews)[A] worthy sequel to "Care of the Soul" and "Soul Mates."""-- New Age Journal"
From the Back Cover
Starting from the premise that we can no longer afford to live in a disenchanted world, Moore shows that a profound, enchanted engagement with life is not a childish thing to be put away with adulthood, but a necessity for one's personal and collective survival.
With his lens focused on specific aspects of daily life such as clothing, food, furniture, architecture, ecology, language, and politics, Moore describes the renaissance these can undergo when there is a genuine engagement with beauty, craft, nature, and art in both private and public life.
Millions of readers who found comfort and substance in Moore's previous bestsellers will discover in this book ways to restore the heart and soul of work, home, and creative endeavors through a radical, fresh return to ancient ways of living the soulful life.
===
From other countries
Donna King
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing food for the soul
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 17 October 2014
Verified Purchase
Thomas Moore's beautiful, poetic way of explaining his ideas gives me new faith in the things I have always felt. His chapter on Nature is right on, giving important validation to the restorative power of spending time with trees and sentient beings, the need to preserve and protect nature for its value to the human spirit, and the soul's need for regular forays into enchantment. In our busy, distracted world, the loss of soul can be seen in so many areas, but Thomas Moore's words revitalize and reawaken a vision of the better life that is possible when we take time apart from our busy-ness and give value to what matters most - the feeding of the soul.
12 people found this helpful
Report
kim d
4.0 out of 5 stars Finding Enchantment
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 9 August 2016
Verified Purchase
Half way through this book and like it so far. Mr Moore's vision of life is eye opening and helpful to me on my own personal life journey.
One person found this helpful
Report
Michael Q. Willis
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book which will nourish your soul and ...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 4 June 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a book which will nourish your soul and jump start your creativity if you have ears to listen and the courage to open your eyes to the wonder all around us. Read it in small chunks to give yourself time to digest and the ideas time to compost.
11 people found this helpful
Report
Happy Gal
2.0 out of 5 stars Not his best writing
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 14 May 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm an avid reader, but had a really hard time staying with this book. His writings can become very convoluted and "out there" and can be hard to follow. I've tried to read this book twice with no luck, I'd get halfway through a page and have to start over because I'd find myself having no idea what he was talking about. Maybe it requires a much higher level of concentration than I have, I don't know, but I gave up.
7 people found this helpful
Report
Monica H. Hagen
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites of all time!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 25 November 2018
Verified Purchase
Inspiring, timeless, joyful. Also just a beautiful read. Loved every minute with this book!
3 people found this helpful
Report
Morningwing
5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing book.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 13 February 2014
Verified Purchase
I carry this book everywhere. Have given a dozen copies away to friends and family. Finding enchantment even in the gloom of one's foggy days is the gift this author brings to the table.
5 people found this helpful
Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 20 October 2016
Verified Purchase
An essential Reminder of what Life is at it's fullest !
Ah ! to grasp this mystery is grace.
Report
Carrie S
3.0 out of 5 stars Not Sure
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 29 March 2013
Verified Purchase
Have not read entire book yet, it's just a little deep or abstract. Will continue to muddle through, hoping it will become more interesting.
One person found this helpful
Report
Michele
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an absolutely wonderful book! I read it a chapter at a ...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 23 December 2014
Verified Purchase
This is an absolutely wonderful book! I read it a chapter at a time with breaks in between to lengthen its enjoyment and enchantment.
One person found this helpful
Report
Joe
3.0 out of 5 stars I was disappointed in much of the content but enjoyed his classical ...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 28 October 2015
Verified Purchase
Too preachy. I was disappointed in much of the content but enjoyed his classical etymology.
Report
===
