Magnificent Obsession

Rating:
Summary: An Appropriate Title!
Review: This book about obsession actually became an obsession for scores of readers. Lloyd Douglas later wrote about the deluge of mail he received from readers who literally wanted to live out the principles of the novel in their own lives. The book itself, set in the midwest in the prewar years, is the absorbing story of the transformation of a young man. A spoiled, wealthy college youth is inspired, after a brush with death, to follow in the footsteps of a renowned surgeon who was killed in a simultaneous, related accident. This endeavor leads him, reluctantly, to an unexpected life of full-immersion philanthropy. Ultimately the burdens he consents to bear are instrumental in leading him to his highest goals. No review can do justice to Douglas effortless skill in bringing spirituality face to face with practical everyday affairs. Deservedly a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Watch out for this!
Review: This is a nice love story. I enjoyed it for that aspect. However the "magnificant obsession" turns a Christian concept into a new age philosophy. Don't be fooled. This is definetly an anti-Christian book. The concept is that in order to gain power in ones personality one must do good deeds towards fellow man and demand that the recipient tell no one about the "gift." That's fine. However, the book refers to a Higher Personality rather than God, and Jesus as "The Galilean" represented as some some of genius, not God incarnate. There are many other aspects that closely resemble the occult. This suprised me frankly as I loved the movie. If you are well grounded spiritually and wish to overlook these aspects, enjoy the book. But be careful not to buy into the philosophy/religion that is suggested by the author. Strange writing coming from the author of "the Robe." (However, I haven't read that yet).