2023/06/11

50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose : Bowdon, Tom Butler: Amazon.com.au: Books

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Tom Butler-Bowdon

50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose Paperback – 31 October 2017

by Tom Butler Bowdon (Author)

4.5 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

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50 SPIRITUAL CLASSICS captures the diversity of life journeys that span centuries, continents, spiritual traditions and secular beliefs: from the historical The Book of Chuang Tzu to modern insight from the Kabbalah, from Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet to Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now.

The first and only bite-sized guide to the very best in spiritual writing, this one-of-a-kind collection includes personal memoirs and compelling biographies of such diverse figures as Gandhi, Malcolm X and Black Elk; Eastern philosophers and gurus including Krishnamurti, Yogananda, Chogyam Trungpa and Shunryu Suzuki; and Western saints and mystics such as St. Frances of Assisi, Hermann Hesse and Simone Weil. The last fifteen years have been a golden age in the genre of personal spiritual awakening, with names such as Eckhart Tolle, Neale Donald Walsch and James Redfield breathing new life into the literature.

50 SPIRITUAL CLASSICS showcases these newer works alongside traditional classics such as St Augustine's Confessions and Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, and conveys the great variety of spiritual experience. In its commentaries of both the conventional classics as well as new writings destined to endure, 50 SPIRITUAL CLASSICS makes universal the human spiritual experience and will inspire spiritual seekers everywhere to begin their own adventure.

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Print length

328 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Nicholas Brealey Publishing

Publication date

31 October 2017

Dimensions

14.61 x 2.54 x 21.91 cm

ISBN-10

9781473658387

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Product description

Review

What an uplifting journey I had... If you only ever read one spiritual book, let is be this one. - Susan Jeffers PhD, author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

A kaleidoscope of inspiration ...insightful commentaries on each classic and biographical information on the authors. A unique overview of Spirituality. - Watkins Review

Review

What an uplifting journey I had... If you only ever read one spiritual book, let is be this one. - Susan Jeffers PhD, author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

A kaleidoscope of inspiration ...insightful commentaries on each classic and biographical information on the authors. A unique overview of Spirituality. - Watkins Review

Book Description

50 Spiritual Classics captures the diversity of life journeys that span centuries, continents, spiritual traditions and secular beliefs: from the historical The Book of Chuang Tzu to modern insight from the Kabbalah, from Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet to Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now.

From the Publisher

Tom Butler-Bowdon is recognised as an expert on personal development literature. His 50 Classics series has been hailed as the definitive guide to the literature of possibility, and has won numerous awards including the Benjamin Franklin Self-Help Award and Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Award. A graduate of the London School of Economics and the University of Sydney, he lives and works in both the Oxford, UK and Australia. www.butler-bowdon.com

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1473658381

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Nicholas Brealey Publishing; 1st edition (31 October 2017)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781473658387

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1473658387

Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.61 x 2.54 x 21.91 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 128,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

154 in Religion Encyclopaedias

541 in Inspirational Spirituality (Books)

1,419 in Mental & Spiritual Healing

Customer Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

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About the authors

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Tom Butler-Bowdon

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Tom Butler-Bowdon

Through his award-winning "50 Classics" books, including 50 Business Classics (2018), 50 Economics Classics (2017), 50 Politics Classics (2015), and Philosophy Classics (2013), Tom Butler-Bowdon has devoted his life to “more people knowing more.”

Tom’s work is based on the idea that every subject or genre will contain at least fifty books that encapsulate its knowledge and wisdom. By creating a list of those landmark titles, then providing intelligent commentaries on them, readers are led to great writings they may not have discovered otherwise.

Tom was working as a political adviser in Australia when, at 25, he read Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Captivated by it and other books in the personal development field, he left his career to write the bestselling 50 Self-Help Classics, the first guide to the personal development literature and a winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award. This book was followed by 50 Success Classics (2004); 50 Spiritual Classics (2005); 50 Psychology Classics (2007); 50 Prosperity Classics (2008); and 50 Psychology Classics (2013) all published in the US and UK by Nicholas Brealey. Bringing important ideas to a wider audience, the 50 Classics series has sold over 500,000 copies in English and is in 23 languages.

Tom is a graduate of the London School of Economics (International Political Economy) and the University of Sydney (Government and History).

Visit his website www.Butler-Bowdon.com

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Products related to this item

50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose

Tom Butler-Bowdon

50 Spiritual Classics captures the diversity of life journeys that span centuries, continents, spiritual traditions and secular from the historical The Book of Chuang Tzu to modern insight from the Kabbalah, from St. Augustine’s Confessions to Rick Warren’s phenomenon The Purpose-Driven Life . The first and only bite-sized guide to the very best in spiritual writing.

GenresSpiritualityNonfictionReligionSelf HelpPhilosophyAudiobookPersonal Development

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2005

Original title

50 Spiritual Classics

Series

50 Classics

This edition

Format: 328 pages, Paperback
Published: March 10, 2005 by Nicholas Brealey
ISBN: 9781857883497 (ISBN10: 1857883497)
Language: English

PaperbackNicholas Brealey2017

Audible AudioGildan Media, LLC2006

Kindle EditionNicholas Brealey

Kindle EditionNicholas Brealey2010

Kindle EditionNicholas Brealey Publishing2010

Show all 35 editions

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Book statistics

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About the author

Tom Butler-Bowdon

57 books282 followers

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1,012 reviews

Since I was in high school, one of my hobbies has been to read and study religious and spiritual writings from all over the world throughout history.

I have not studied all religions nor do I plan to, for I am not drawn to all religions. I study religions that I am interested in and fascinated by for their traditions, history and to build my own faith.

I am very knowledgeable about several major religions traditions as well as many minor ones.

All that said, though I am very firm in my own beliefs, I am also very tolerant of other people and their beliefs. What you believe is none of my business.

I say all this as an introduction to my review of this particular book so that the person who reads this review will understand where I am coming from.

Basically, this book provides an okay general survey of world religions throughout time but this is not a book that I would recommend to a sincere religious seeker.

I would not recommend this book to a sincere religious or spiritual seeker because I feel that some of the people and ideas included in this survey are not spiritual at all and this book claims to contain "50 Spiritual Classics."

A basic dictionary definition of spiritual: "of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things."

I do not consider the so called "Harvard Psychedelic Club" (Timothy Leary, "Ram Dass" & Andrew Weil) to be spiritual whatsoever-- especially in light of the above definition.

I do not consider LSD, "magic mushrooms," and the like to have anything to do with the soul, God or spiritual matters of any kind.

Not only were these men given credence in this book but so were others who used drugs to "achieve self/ God realization" (aka self worship).

This false belief that our culture promotes that "mind expansion" is real, can be achieved through narcotics and psychedelic drugs and that it has something to do with God and the soul has no place in a legitimate book on spirituality.

reference spiritual-inspiration

Steve

7 reviews1 follower

March 11, 2019

Gandhi and Mother Theresa are two famous people I had heard of, but never read any of their works. The author allows me to access some of their stories, without the need to source books. When I look at the other 48 names in the contents, I dip in and get a brief, but informative idea of the theorists views, giving me the choice to either follow up or not.

If you are looking for an overview of 50 spiritual classics, this is the book to read.

Kenneth Ferber

7 reviews1 follower

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April 21, 2013

Ahhhhh-mazing is perhaps the best way to describe this series. I am currently re-reading it and its amazing how these 50 spiritual classics can assist me in relating to anyone, and not just in some religious, spiritual sense. Yes, the format is not a novel but 10-12 minute vignettes (on my audio book series, extremely well narrated) but any and every kind of spirituality or NO SPIRITUALITY is available for the seeker. And these are sooooo diverse, from The Road to Mecca, to Black Elk Speaks, Carlos Casteneda, Jonathon Livngston Seagull, to St Augustine's Confessions and Rick Warrens "The Purpose Driven Life."
Just yesterday my sister asked me if I knew of the Buddhist Nun Pema Chodron. Though I'm ignorant of her vast body of writing, I was able to relate to her style and meditative process from number nine of the 50 classics and her book "The Places that Scare Us."

Perhaps being a "Mirror" may be this series best asset, assisting the reader in delineating their own spirituality. And perhaps it's greatest gift is to know that ALL IS SPIRITUAL.

Jayme

149 reviews8 followers

May 2, 2009

This is a nice overview for those who are interested in books on spirituality. The author covers all the major religions with a heavy focus on modern New Age books. The author gives a basic summary of each book and autobiographical information which is perfect for my ADD. I also enjoyed the fact that the author describes the less-than-enlightened thinking of some of the authors.

Wise Fool

250 reviews27 followers

April 1, 2016

This is just a book filled with reviews of other books! Although the reviews are good. They are just a collection of reviews! personally I think spirituality is too personal for someone else to tell you what is good to read. A thing that touches one person, may not touch another. Hope you enjoy it if you get it!

Javatis Midget

38 reviews3 followers

November 5, 2011

This book is a must read for anyone who's interested in spitituality. It opened my eyes to so many thing until I'm frustrated! I have a new respect for philosophy. There were 5 or 6 books that I'm going to read in the future because of this book! Very good book!

Kerry Hennigan

497 reviews12 followers

January 20, 2013

If you have ever wondered what the spiritual best sellers of past and present decades have to teach you, 50 Spiritual Classics could provide the answers you are looking for.

The third in a series by Tom Butler-Bowdon (considered an expert in personal development literature) 50 Spiritual Classics gives a fascinating glimpse at some of the great books that have stood the test of time.

The works feature range from the lives of saints to autobiographies of modern inspirational leaders such as Gandhi and Malcolm X. But the majority are books that pass on tips for living a more balanced life, one in tune with the Creator and creation.

Mini biographies of each author whose work is featured give fascinating insights into some of the varied minds and personalities that have passed on their usually hard-won wisdom.

Mother Teresa, Teresa of Avila, St Augustine, Black Elk and Ram Dass are just a few whose lives and/or teachings are delivered here in glimpses sufficient to whet the reader’s appetite for more.

And this is the best thing about this sort of book – while not pushing its own self-help agenda, it suggests a variety of methods from which the reader may find one that rings true for them. In that case, the original work is probably as close as their local library.

Stuart Hargreaves

100 reviews6 followers

February 3, 2018

What an excellent book, having read the 50 Self Help Classics I was looking forward to reading this one, I was not disappointed. I am fortunate I have plenty of time being retired, but these types of books are always best to read over a long period of time. Read a chapter digest and then another later. Some of them I read on several occasions. I do admit I did not quite understand some of the logic and thoughts, but then that's what I want "something to think about and ponder". Try it you will enjoy.

1,876 reviews

August 22, 2008

This was great. I've read a few of the books in this work, and I think they were described very well. What I really enjoyed was biographical information about each book's author. Essentially most spiritual works emphasis the same points: live simply, forgive, take time to reflect but live in the present, and reject materialism.

I also read the 50 Psychology Classics by this author and liked it a lot. Both were very uplifting:)

philosophy

2023/06/11