Illusions : The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

Rating:
Summary: Still a classic after all these years
Review: When I read the one star review of David R. Aamodt dd Jan 27, 05, I thought to myself: "What a wonderful world"; how diverse us human creatures assess this reality.

I picked up my copy of Illusions dating back to Dec 1977 and browsed through it again, to see what I have missed. My copy is full of comments and underlined inspirational thoughts that grabbed my mind every time I read from the book.

All I can say to David is : The saddest day in a mans life is the day they kill your Fairies and Puff the Magic Dragon and Don Shimoda. For in this real World of stainless Steele and Plastic and God -Dollar we need these characters of mystical powers, albeit how "bizarre", to keep us connected to our ultimate power:: The ability to fantasize.

Having somehow survived life since the birth of Illusions I often still swim in the dirt, revive insects from the windshield and do all kind of silly things like "pushing my arm through the wall" etc. I am so happy you reminded me not to forsake the child in me.


Rating:
Summary: Truly amazing
Review: I read the book several times and suggested this to many of my friends and most of them loved it. It's a timeless book. Worth having though published more than 25 years back.

Rating:
Summary: The worst book I've ever accidentally read.
Review: Okay. So it has been a while since I've read Bach's ridiculous little story about some airplane flying Saviour. But... in an attempt to dissaude young innocents from getting seduced by its metaphysics I am compelled to make a statement. As far as I can tell, this book is about how you can do anything you want if you just try and feel good. Okay, I'll go with that. But is it really necessary to have ten page passages about how you can fly if you just 'free your mind' and get all into magical creatures? I don't think so. Even under the assumption that it is an enchanting narrative about self-esteem and enlightenment through Om, it still seems to crash and burn miserably (you know, like an airplane). It reminds me of a community college student I heard asking "how do you know you can't stick your arm through a wall? huh? Its just because *they* tell us we can't, that we can't not stick our arm through a wall, or something." I don't know about you, but as far as I can tell, that actually doesn't mean ANYTHING. I think that might be a direct quote from the book actually. You get the idea.

Rating:
Summary: illusions
Review: This book easily is one of my favorite books ever. It is a beautifully written piece about a messiah much like Jesus that turns his back on the future chosen for him. Because of his hatred for all the attention and responsibility he walks away from it all and goes into seclusion. He takes a man under his wing and teaches him all there is to know about this world. They have many discussions between the times they make their wages by taking townspeople for rides in their airplanes. They hop from place to place like nomads. Along the way the messiah teaches the man how to perform miracles and telling him that everything in the world, all that is around us is illusions. There is no real, there is no truth it is all illusions

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic book for youth, and everyone!
Review: I teach metaphysics and this is one of my all time favorite
books in the world. I particularly would recommend it for a young
teen who is confused about spirit/religion or for anyone
leaning towards atheism (which I did for awhile), or anyone
struggling with spiritual and religious concepts in general.....its a book that rises above all the dogma and gives you Wonder, Straight Up, full of delight!
Its a joyful story in and of itself. It also teaches in a
lovely way. I can't count how many times I've read or it
how many people I've given it.


Rating:
Summary: A repeatedly satisfied reader and fan of Richard Bach
Review: Everyone on the planet should read this book. I've read it many, many times and refer to it often. It has been my Bible for many, many years.

Rating:
Summary: It doesn't have to have special meaning
Review: This book was recommended to me by a very christian friend who thought I might get some enlightenment from it. I didn't reach nirvana by reading this book, but I did enjoy the story, and I liked the overall format. It was a good quick read and entertaining. I can see how the simplicity and conciseness of it can lend it to being a good assignment for grade school english classes.

Rating:
Summary: Great book about the reality
Review: I've been a fan of Richard Bach's for many years now and somehow missed reading this book until just recently. As with Jonathan Livingston Seagull, he puts alot of information in a rather short book. What is reality, is really the question here. Science is beginning to realize that we create our own reality as experiments show that expectations change results. Bach goes further to show we can manipulate reality to our wants and needs. The only problem I have with this is that he makes it seem a little too easy. (But then if I believe that it has to be difficult, than it will be difficult for me!)The book is an easy and entertaining read. I was sorry when I got to the end of it. If you've never thought you had control of your life, this book will change your mind.
Another book that has some of the same ideas that I also recommend is "The Destiny of Miro."

Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I read this book at age 12/ 13- about a month after reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Illusions... was awesome. Not only is it ( I think) based on some real life happenings in Bach's life, but it can be a great philosophy book as well. He takes you to a place many don't go to in their lives- a thinking mode! It would do anyone good to read this, regardless of belief or lack of! I have to say, some of the things in this book can really be applied to your life! When the main characters "messiah" taught him that in all the chaos going on, you can sit down, open almost any book, ask a question to be helped, and put your finger on the asnwer. I tried this in my life in a couple of instances, and it worked! I really learned alot from Mr. Bach! This is a must have for your personal library! I also recommend "Eternal Undying Love" by Brett Keane