Illusions

Rating:
Summary: One of the few books you will cherish forever
Review: I read this book for the first time several years ago. Remembering how I loved it so, I picked up a copy for myself. I read it and enjoyed the whole experience all over again. Then I passed it off to my dying uncle, encouraged him to read it... I don't know if he got a chance to do so before he passed away, but I wrote a note in the cover when I gave it to him to "read it and pass it along to another person who needs it". Now I need to find another copy. This book is something that everyone should have in their library, and a few extras to pass around to those in need.

Rating:
Summary: There was a Master come unto the earth...
Review: Richard Bach wrote in the introduction to Illusions The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah "... what if somebody came along who was really good at this... What if I could meet a Siddhartha or a Jesus came into our time... And what if I could meet him in person, if he were flying a biplane and landed in the same meadow with me?"

Illusions is an amazing story that explores questions like "Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? Why am I unhappy?" It provides answers to those questions in such an understandable and entertaining way that you will be unable to put the book down.

As the book says at the end, "Everything in this book may be wrong." but then again, maybe it's not! I found much in the book that appealed to my sense of rightness, it may not be the one and only truth but it sure felt right to me!

Buy a copy of Illusions, you won't be disappointed. Better yet, buy two and share it with your friends and family!

Rating:
Summary: A good book
Review: Anyone who reads this book with an open mind, will in all probability be left wondering.....What am I here for...and what am I doing to achieve it??? Please stay with the author through the joy ride and try applying some of his most outlandish suggestions... Believe you me...they actually work. Expect no answers, but definitely look to be full of questions at the end of this 80-100 page book. Anyone who is interested in reading a book that deals with some of the same issues read Paul Omeziri's Descent inti Illusions.

Rating:
Summary: All the catch phrases with no actual enlightenment
Review: I want to post a review contrary to every one I read here: I don't think this book is really going to help most people on their journey, one, and two, the holly rollers calling this stuff heretical is so ironic I wish I could sit down and chat with each one for an hour, just for entertainment.

Here's my gripe: Yes, the world is fully an illusion. We are all One, and all of this duality is just a big fat movie to occupy each node of existence with conflict/balance issues for eternity. Great, Rich has written a Hinduism for dummies. But he dumbed it down so much as to make it seem that, hey, all you need to do is REALIZE you're staring at yourself everytime you look at a fellow creature, rock, or phenomenon, and WHA-bam, you'll be able to manipulate the whole mess like Sim City 3000. Miracles, bug-free airplanes, impossible feats of yahda, yahda, yahda. I'm not saying that's impossible--I've witnessed a miracle or two in my time; I'm saying that WE, human beings, mere mortals, though we may perform the very miracles ourselves, cannot, do not, will not, can never do so at the demand of our conflicted minds. When we do something phenomenal, like an athelete, like a musician, like a messiah, it is simply through the QUIETING of the ever-chattering voices in our heads to such a point that the devine will, the will of the universe flows through us. When we flutter like a flag in the wind, rather than the rigid pole, we execute the impossible. We move with rhythms beyond our mortal selves. And without fail, the most unrestricted of these movements never fail to be biblical in their effect on our lives and of those around us.

This is my gripe with the book. It really doesn't address this issue of Self, and the chatter of our minds. In fact, I felt that it glorified, like a Hollywood movie, the X-man quality of enlightenment--just point your palm at the sky, and pow, you COMMAND a miracle! If you walk away from this book thinking, wow! enlightenment, what a thing to shoot for, I wanna be enlightened, I just have to remember: it's all just an illusion! then you're already turning away from what is ALREADY the entire power of the cosmos inside and surrounding yourself. To think of life as an illusion is to denounce just how REAL it all is as well. Sorry, ya'll, there's no 'easy out' for facing both sides of the equation in every respect. It isn't God, it isn't Illusions, and it isn't this book.

If you want a very powerful yet realistically inspirational story about miracles and how they come about, try the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, or for a philosophical breakdown that pretty much tackles every angle of human thought: try Cloud Hidden, by Alan Watts.

Rating:
Summary: What an Illusion
Review: Illusions: according to Don Shimoda, Richard's newly found friend, this is what life is all about. This is a book that not only shows a different view about life, but also offers quite interesting quotations that will make readers reflect about their actions. When reading the passages, you will see that many of them may apply to your daily life and may help you face it in a different way. This is certainly a pass it on book, and this is what I am doing right now: trying to make all of you read a book that will bring joy into you day!

Rating:
Summary: Don...
Review: Illusions was not only a bright and intelligable piece of writing but an enlightening and uplifting message of hope. The story of Richard Bach and his newly found friend, Don Shimoda will tickle your imagination and play with your mind. "The Adventures of a Reluctant Messaiah," this book is properly entitled, you will see why! The ideas that Bach's work envokes is really quite amazing, and the ending is pretty abrupt, but hopeful. Actually I cannot find a group of people to promote this book to, it's completely universal! It doesn't matter who you are, please, read this book.

-Keith Larson

Rating:
Summary: One of the most touching books i have read yet
Review: the book "illusions" was a very awsome book. it moved me in directions in my life i never thought id think about. this book is one of a few books i enjoyed reading, it helped open eyes and showed me that as long as you think about a dream or a goal, u didnt quit until it is forgotten. it takes just a normal guy, who is a mechanic and shows how even mechanics can help change the world in ways they never thought they could. this book can change the lives of many. If you have the book, pass it on to a friend so that they might read it as well, so it can help spread to everyone you know, and everyone you know knows....and so on.take care and God bless.
Peace in the valley,
brad

Rating:
Summary: Illusions Review
Review: I thought the book "Illusions" was an insighful piece that was both enlightening and interesting. While books with such depth, spiritually and religously are not what I am used to, I found that I was able to relate to this book and its morals. Through a simple story of two men, the author depicts ideas that with the help of others, anyone can believe, in themselves and others.
This story of two men, one a Messiah that helps the other along the way, shows the practical way in which we find help in the oddest of places. The books ideals are inspiring and show that we can find light in the darkest of places. Sometimes we spend too much time looking at the negatives and the good things in life may pass us by.
This book made me feel good because it helps the reader to look at their own life in a new light, with hope and encouragement. I would recommend this book to other readers looking for an upbeat, feel-good, inpirational book.

Rating:
Summary: It's No Illusion: This a Worthwhile Read
Review: This is a book for everyone, regardless of creed, religion, or lack thereof. It speaks, in the simplest of words (which is often times the best way to speak), of a notion that is at the heart of all of humanity. While the bigger picture may be trying to answer, "Can a messiah quit his job?" the bigger question really is, "Can I look within myself and find a messiah?"
The journey towards self-discovery in the life of Richard is speckled with useful and insightful quotes along the way. Perhaps the most intriguing quote is the very last line of the book. The open-mindedness of this line is a very important lesson for all of us to learn from, regardless of the absoluteness of one's religion.
Illusions provides a way to get one started on a path towards peace within one's self. This freeing peace is each of our own messiahs within ourselves.

Rating:
Summary: Messiah Flyer
Review: Illusions, by Bach was amazing. It really drew me into the Lives of these to me. I was inspired by the way the Messiah portrayed his "job". As if he wern't the only Messiah. When he says thatwe are all God's children and we all have the ability to do the things he does, I actually believed him. I have no dowbt that we cannot do exactly what we want to do. Whether it be cure an illness with good thoughts and ambition, or just keep bugs off my windsheild. It's all withing our reach, and this book made me think into that magic.
I highly recommend this book because it was one of those unnexpectedly great books. I wasn;t sure about this book at first, but I just say down to ake a peek at it and ended up reading the whole thing!