Description
Donation Jan/03 Forward by Russell E. DiCarlo replaced Sept.05.
- Author: Eckhart Tolle
- Publisher: New World Library
- Published: 2004
- Pages: 258
- ISBN-13: 9781577314806
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
€13.95
Additional information
| Author | Eckhart Tolle |
|---|
What the internet says
Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.
Overall reception: Mixed reception
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle receives highly polarized reception online, with readers either finding it transformative or dismissing it as repetitive nonsense. Published in 1997 and catapulted to bestseller status after Oprah Winfrey's 2000 recommendation, the book has sold over 3 million copies and been translated into 33 languages. Positive reviewers describe profound personal transformations, praising Tolle's simple language and effective use of analogies to explain complex spiritual concepts about living in the present moment, letting go of ego, and achieving inner peace through awareness of thoughts. The book's core message—that watching your thoughts puts you in the present moment and that true peace comes from 'being' rather than just 'doing'—resonates strongly with readers seeking spiritual guidance.
However, the book faces substantial criticism for its repetitive structure, overuse of capitalized spiritual buzzwords ('Presence,' 'Being,' 'Now'), and lack of practical tools for achieving enlightenment. Critics describe it as 'gibberish,' 'mumbo-jumbo,' and 'spiritual hogwash' that describes what enlightenment is without explaining how to get there. Multiple reviewers note the condescending Q&A format where answers often belittle questioners, and the absence of citations for factual claims. One detailed review expressed frustration that the book offers 'a lot of bark and no bite,' providing excellent descriptions of enlightenment but failing to deliver actionable steps. The book essentially synthesizes elements from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism without clear attribution, leading some to view it as repackaged religious concepts rather than original insight.
What readers loved
- Provides clear, accessible explanation of living in the present moment using simple language
- Effective use of analogies to explain deep spiritual and philosophical concepts about consciousness, relationships, and the universe
- Describes practical meditative techniques for achieving awareness and inner peace
- Successfully articulates the process of letting go of mind-created fear and confusion
- Resonates with readers who have had similar spiritual experiences, offering validation and hope
- Core message about observing thoughts non-judgmentally is powerful and transformative for many
- Helps readers ground themselves and ease anxiety through present-moment awareness
Common critiques
- Extremely repetitive, restating the same concepts in multiple ways throughout the book
- Overuses capitalized spiritual buzzwords like 'Presence,' 'Being,' 'Now,' 'pain-body,' 'transmutation,' creating confusing jargon
- Lacks practical, step-by-step tools for achieving enlightenment—describes 'what' but not 'how'
- Condescending Q&A format where answers often belittle questioners with tones like 'you're thinking about that wrong'
- Makes factual claims without providing any citations or evidence to support them
- Re-interprets religious parables (particularly Christian) to fit the author's narrative without scholarly basis
- Meandering chapter structure that lacks clear organization and direction
Based on reviews from
- Goodreads - Main Reviews
- Review Centre
- Goodreads - Critical Review
- The StoryGraph
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