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Rating: 
Summary: just found the book amazing really
Review: for me, for the first time, it was quite amazing to "meet" or be introduced to so many spiritual gurus, thinkers and so forth from all traditions. I found many of them very moving - and very true. I think a book like this that looks at the spiritual marketplace (as its so yukkily called) with a wide and deep vision can only be helpful to those who are seeking and who are / or have encountered problems whether it be false teacher, disillusionment etc. Also, many of the quotes are inspiring and intriguing.
Rating:
Summary: just found the book amazing really
Review: for me, for the first time, it was quite amazing to "meet" or be introduced to so many spiritual gurus, thinkers and so forth from all traditions. I found many of them very moving - and very true. I think a book like this that looks at the spiritual marketplace (as its so yukkily called) with a wide and deep vision can only be helpful to those who are seeking and who are / or have encountered problems whether it be false teacher, disillusionment etc. Also, many of the quotes are inspiring and intriguing.
Rating:
Summary: A most excellent book!
Review: Half Way Up The Mountain provides the insight that students and teachers of spiritual studies need to keep them grounded and going in the right direction. For those who are willing to dedicate themselves to a lifetime of study and discipline, this is a MUST READ!
Rating: 
Summary: Erm..not quite as brilliant as the others say it is
Review: I found this a rather messy collection of quotes from various spiritual teachers, (many of whom have books promoted in the back pages of the book) rather than a continuous narrative. The 'quote' aspect of the book makes for an uncomfortable stop/go kind of a read. This uncomfortability however could well be my fault as opposed to the author's. However in truth there isn't much authoring going on here. This book is more like a collection of pieces by other folk. I read many spiritual texts for inspiration but didn't pick up much in this volume apart from a general feeling of negativity. A similar theme is tackled with much more (ahem) insight in Jack Kornfield's 'After the Buddha, the laundry' which is a terrific read and very inspiring.
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Summary: I wouldn't want to be on the spiritual path without this boo
Review: If you have spiritual aspirations (or pretentions!) this book will smoke out the inner work you have yet to do! At the same time, it provides a revealing glimpse into the hearts and spirits of some hearteningly honest and modest spiritual teachers worthy of our attention. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to advance spiritually -- and particularly for those who want to (or watch out!) are already teaching!
Rating:
Summary: This book will slap your ego
Review: If you're a person craving for spiritual experiences and looking for the hand of God in your life, you will not enjoy the head blow your ego with get from this book. Even better than John of the Cross does, it will point out within yourself what Thomas Merton called: "the birds of appetite", which is the ego circling and searching for spiritual experiences so that it may prove its false existence to God. This is book shows in great detail how spiritual people, even humble and well-meaning spiritual people, fall to the conscious and subconscious tricks of the ego. The tricks are many and this book seems to hit them all.A big plus of this book is that it quotes from teachers in all the major spiritual traditions of the past 3000 years. But my "birds of appetite" don't enjoy this, because the book demonstrates that all major religions present a very similar purpose of spiritual practice, which is the removal of the ego. This book, like no other except Scriptures or other public relevation, is merciless in turning over stones in your ego mind, so you can see how false and hollow your spiritual life really is. A previous reviewer complained that this book was too dark. My view on is: the darker and more hopeless you feel after reading this book, the more your ego has been unmasked. If you don't have a very qualified spiritual mentor, or even if you do, this book could supply your need for spiritual direction. And if you are serious about your spirituality, you need to buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A precious gift
Review: Ms. Caplan presents a mindful and thought provoking manuscript essential for anyone interested in the process of spiritual evolution and healing. The ideas and experiences of Masters and students of many different spiritual paths are engaged in the effort to provide a rarely seen road map of the indefinable.
Rating: 
Summary: you've seen the light, now what?
Review: spirituality is evolving and running over and leaking out and popping up its ecstatic head here, there, and everywhere. and you have felt, seen, heard things beyond the normal range of human experience and knowledge. now what? are you enlightened? must you tell all who will listen? time for you to save humanity? ms caplan has given us here a fine book of words to the wise. odd as it may seem: as the ego is transcended it comes rushing back as the "new improved better than ever one of a kind ego" and thereby tightened its grip on you even more. your "experience" is unique only to you. learn from it. thank God for it. forget it and return to your practice. the true realization and religion is the true transformation of the inner self, heart, soul, and mind. if ego runs amok, you've fallen off the track. this book is a very good and timely warning.
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