Rating: 
Summary: Pure Magic, but far too short.
Review: As I was dozing off lightly while reading this book, I thought I sensed a fleeting glimpse of Richard Bach's editor. "Richard", I thought I heard her say, "We haven't had a book from you in five years and your contract says you owe us one more by the end of 2000." What happened next I truly must have dreamed, but I almost thought I heard Richard respond that he had something in the attic he had started, maybe they could just publish the first few chapters and call it a book...
Rating: 
Summary: Do not overlook power in simplicity.
Review: As the character Laura Bristol says of why she suggested leather, rather than steel cable, "...It seemed the simplest solution to your problem, and likely the most practical."I found this, my first introduction to Richard Bach's work, both a pleasant surprise and I suspect, something that will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely beautiful imagery! Not quite as plain, perhaps, as Hemingway, or as gut-wrenching, but it contains the same seed of powerful storytelling - not a word wasted. It was not surprising to see reviews both angry and defensive. Good writing pushes buttons. His work has obviously inspired and pricked. I understand the inspiration - whether you've found a soulmate, or in search of one - this hints not of the sadness of loss, but at the joy of meeting and experiencing. I found that unbelievably wise in this day and time of trying to catagorize, label, psychoanalyze and define love in our desperate attempt to catch and possess it. And the writing, simple as it is, evokes the pure emotions of attraction, curiosity, frustration and quiet acceptance with no more fanfare than the scent of fresh-mown grass or a geranium makes when you happen across it on a summer's day. I am not so sure I understand why the "pricking". It is a small book. Perhaps we measure value in volume? Perhaps we want tidy endings - we want a story, and a story that validates our own experiences rather than offering a different perspective? Perhaps it tugs too strongly at our own regretted and unfinished endings? I personally felt none - but then I have found my soulmate, and I live with the constant in-and-out of a relationship that is measured in the moment, only. To measure it by the future and past would be to destroy it. No tidy story. No assured future. Just the joy (and sometimes hurts) of now. Personally I think this book captures the brief moment of experience, the quickest flash of eternity, more beautifully than I could imagine described. I recommend it on a rainy, reflective day when your soul needs a little quiet.
Rating:
Summary: Do not overlook power in simplicity.
Review: As the character Laura Bristol says of why she suggested leather, rather than steel cable, "...It seemed the simplest solution to your problem, and likely the most practical." I found this, my first introduction to Richard Bach's work, both a pleasant surprise and I suspect, something that will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely beautiful imagery! Not quite as plain, perhaps, as Hemingway, or as gut-wrenching, but it contains the same seed of powerful storytelling - not a word wasted. It was not surprising to see reviews both angry and defensive. Good writing pushes buttons. His work has obviously inspired and pricked. I understand the inspiration - whether you've found a soulmate, or in search of one - this hints not of the sadness of loss, but at the joy of meeting and experiencing. I found that unbelievably wise in this day and time of trying to catagorize, label, psychoanalyze and define love in our desperate attempt to catch and possess it. And the writing, simple as it is, evokes the pure emotions of attraction, curiosity, frustration and quiet acceptance with no more fanfare than the scent of fresh-mown grass or a geranium makes when you happen across it on a summer's day. I am not so sure I understand why the "pricking". It is a small book. Perhaps we measure value in volume? Perhaps we want tidy endings - we want a story, and a story that validates our own experiences rather than offering a different perspective? Perhaps it tugs too strongly at our own regretted and unfinished endings? I personally felt none - but then I have found my soulmate, and I live with the constant in-and-out of a relationship that is measured in the moment, only. To measure it by the future and past would be to destroy it. No tidy story. No assured future. Just the joy (and sometimes hurts) of now. Personally I think this book captures the brief moment of experience, the quickest flash of eternity, more beautifully than I could imagine described. I recommend it on a rainy, reflective day when your soul needs a little quiet.
Rating: 
Summary: A short story which nobody needed
Review: First of all, I've read all but the early flying books from Richard Bach and enjoyed most of them (my favourites are Seagull, Illusions and Bridge). I've read a lot of the reviews here before buying it, and hence knew that Leslie wasn't there and that it was controversial. I think (pity as it is to hear about the divorce) that Leslie is not strictly necessary to make a book from R.B. a good book, so I simply ordered it out of curiosity. Anyway, it's a thin booklet, with large print, and lots of white in it. There are some "chapters" which are only one page long (which is half a page of text in a regular paper back). You'll read it in about 90 minutes. All this may not mean much ... I believe Seagull is about the same length and Seagull was simply terrific. However, it's disappointing. You could probably leave out a third of the text without noticing (in a book of that size I simply don't want to read three times about the slow breathing and relaxing necessary to get into a trance state) ... there are no ideas in it, no questions and no answers. It's a shadow of what was there in Illusions, it makes the impression of having been written in a hurry and without spirit. It uses ideas from "One" and "Running from Safety" they way one toys with cold food on a plate. Another reviwier pretty correctly and pointedly called it "Chapter one of what might have become a good book". In a nutshell: It gave me a tingling at the back of my neck one or two time (which accounts for the 2nd star in the rating) and may be ok (I'm not saying good), if you have just read Illusions or Seagull and skipped the later books. But if you're a Richard Bach fan and follower, it's simply disapointing (Read Jane Roberts if you want parallel universes, read Bob Monroe if you want out of body travel and read Jeoff Archer if you want good short stories [they even have a twist in the tale]).
Rating:
Summary: A short story which nobody needed
Review: First of all, I've read all but the early flying books from Richard Bach and enjoyed most of them (my favourites are Seagull, Illusions and Bridge). I've read a lot of the reviews here before buying it, and hence knew that Leslie wasn't there and that it was controversial. I think (pity as it is to hear about the divorce) that Leslie is not strictly necessary to make a book from R.B. a good book, so I simply ordered it out of curiosity. Anyway, it's a thin booklet, with large print, and lots of white in it. There are some "chapters" which are only one page long (which is half a page of text in a regular paper back). You'll read it in about 90 minutes. All this may not mean much ... I believe Seagull is about the same length and Seagull was simply terrific. However, it's disappointing. You could probably leave out a third of the text without noticing (in a book of that size I simply don't want to read three times about the slow breathing and relaxing necessary to get into a trance state) ... there are no ideas in it, no questions and no answers. It's a shadow of what was there in Illusions, it makes the impression of having been written in a hurry and without spirit. It uses ideas from "One" and "Running from Safety" they way one toys with cold food on a plate. Another reviwier pretty correctly and pointedly called it "Chapter one of what might have become a good book". In a nutshell: It gave me a tingling at the back of my neck one or two time (which accounts for the 2nd star in the rating) and may be ok (I'm not saying good), if you have just read Illusions or Seagull and skipped the later books. But if you're a Richard Bach fan and follower, it's simply disapointing (Read Jane Roberts if you want parallel universes, read Bob Monroe if you want out of body travel and read Jeoff Archer if you want good short stories [they even have a twist in the tale]).
Rating: 
Summary: Where is the rest of the book??
Review: I have been a fan of Mr. Bachs for over 25 years. I gave his books as gifts to every one I knew, but this book "Out of My Mind" was such a disappointment. I finished the book in about an hour and wondered where is the rest of the book? I immediatly noticed the absence of Leslie and the build up to the new women in his life and put it together that he had found a new muse. It was not the divorce that floored me, but the complete absence of a a story!!! I thought this was just a primer for the real book, so I went to his web page to get info and found that he was selling photos of a pasture and raggedy scarves that had previously flown on his plane for an exorbitant amount of money. It was then I relized that Leslie must have gotten a tidy settlement and Mr. Bach was perhaps in great need of funds. I wish him well and thank him for the memories, but will wait for the reviews for his next book. The title sayed it all "Out of His Mind".
Rating:
Summary: OK, I give, what's with this Richard????
Review: I looked forward to reading "Out of My Mind".....I look forward to reading anything by Richard Bach and I have most of his other books, but when I sat down to read this one, I wondered where the rest of the book was? There has to be more to it? Was this just a tease? Chapter 1 of more to come? Richard, what are you doing? Is this part of a strategy? Needless to say, I was left wanting to read the rest of the book. The concept of "mind travel" was introduced in ONE. I loved it there, I try to practice it, I love it here..........but this new book seems somewhat out of context....or maybe I just don't know what context it is in??? Need help! Send cookies!!
Rating:
Summary: Short & Sweet, and it's still Richard Bach
Review: I'm very glad I read some of the reviews here on Amazon before I began reading this book; I hadn't known of Richard & Leslie's divorce, and I would have cast about for her in the story - sadly, she's not there. Alas. I suppose even good and perfect-seeming marriages sometimes end. But this story itself is a tiny little treasure - I passionately love Richard Bach's writing voice, and his absolute love of flying, and those are here in this little book. He hasn't lost his sense of wonder, joy or amazement, despite potentially difficult and heart-rending personal trials - his emotions and his soul come shining through wonderfully. Though it's only a very well-spaced-out 101 pages, _Out of My Mind_ still made my heart soar in the 45-odd minutes it took to read it. My mind thrilled thinking of such beautiful parallel universes as Saunders-Vixen's, and the story lifted my soul. Perhaps it's not for everyone, as some of the reviews here sound very disappointed; so, you may want to keep your expectations low. For me, though, it was exactly what I was looking for right now, in this particular moment...
Rating:
Summary: Out of his inspiration?
Review: Richard Bach is the most inspiring writer alive. Or he just was the most inspiring one? The alternative explanation to much of the disappointment that seems to be common to Bach fans after reading his latest book, is a very humane one - not eveything that one does could be a master-piece. If this was his first book, I would say he was a promising author. But after books and books of wonder-ideas, this can at best invoke sympathy for the Richard struggling to reestablish the lost connection with Tink. At its beginnig, Out of my MInd suggests that the story will elaborate on the factory of ideas story from One (my personal favorite; both the book and this particular episode). However, it appeared that Bach was not able to elaborate on this or any ohter idea. I am still hopeful the real Richard Bach will be back. However, reading Out of my Mind, the thought of Leslie kept coming back. Bach had an almost spiritual connection to his fans. We believed him, as you believe a teacher and a leader. I still believe in parallel present times, but do not have the courage to reread The Bridge Across Forever. Out of my Mind did not convince me that Bach himself believes in his ideas any more. Leslie is not just just a divorce case... Two stars just because everyone has the right for error.
Rating:
Summary: Richard Bach has finally learned to fly
Review: The Icarus who wrote One (I'm so glad I never read Bridge) came crashing and burning to the sea and has redeemed himself with this little gem. The notion of Soulmates DESTINED to be together should be called "how to find your Cellmate"! How can something that you did not choose be so wonderful? What if it changes or something goes wrong? I think that is what this book is all about. Leslie Parrish IS in this book, couldn't it be that she (or their relationship) represent the door latch ("the problem was the door") or the oil cap (a free flying canary?) of this otherwise perfect flying machine? No one is perfect, but some people just aren't compatible. Why should you be forced to remain with something you are not happy with? Simply because you believe he/she is YOUR SOULMATE??? Even the Catholic church allows annullments!!! Anyway, the last line says it all, "I'm glad I have a choice." I am too and I am glad that Richard Bach is not flying so close to the Sun anymore.
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