Customer Reviews

From Beginning to End

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The only parts of my own wedding I regret are those I didn't personalize enough; I wish this book had been around back when I was doing my planning. Fulghum doesn't provide concrete suggestions, so much as great stories, illustrations of the impact of ritual on our lives (in which he stands firmly with Jossepoh Campbell) and a wonderfully outrageous attitude toward making those rituals fit us, not the other way around. You won't take away exact ideas of what to do for your own ritual, but you will get the inspiration to make your own ritual fit you as perfectly as some of the ones described fit their participants.

On another level, the book is also worth reading just for the stories. As other readers have commented, the one about the second wedding is just beautiful.

This book differs from Fulghum's other excellent works in actually having a subject, and a fairly serious one at that. I therefore approached it with apprehension, afraid that this novelty might mar his jovial air and amusing style. I need not have worried: his love of life is as contagious as ever, and his church background (one of his many varied backgrounds!) offers fresh insights into the scenes none of us can really avoid. From the gruesome act of waking up in the morning, through weddings, and funerals, to all the little things in life we never seem to notice, Fulghum continually points out the lighter side of everything, and usually one we wouldn't think of ourselves.

This book, like any other Fulghum work I've read, made me smile the whole time I was reading it, and for a good while afterwards, and probably even raised my average amount of smiling per day for ever after.

It comes highly recommended.

...and not for any insight into the role of ritual in everyday life. Robert Fulghum is a sort of Winnie the Pooh of expository writers: he is the reader's loyal friend with a heart as big as outdoors, but when it comes to organizing his thoughts and presenting them clearly, he is 'a bear of very little brain.'

He tells great anecdotes and excels at bringing a tear to your eye. This book is almost worth buying for one chapter which describes the absolutely perfect nontraditional wedding. If you aren't sniffling audibly by the end of it, you aren't human. And there are several other narratives of equal sentimentality.

On the other hand, if you want advice on how to use ritual to add richness to your daily life, or your family's life, you won't get much help here -- just encouragement.

For a truly practical book on family ritual with many, many practical suggestions you can apply immediately, see Susan Lieberman's NEW TRADITIONS -- which Fulghum recommends in his bibliography.

Fulghum usually has written thought provoking stories that were entertaining. From the beginning of this book, one can see that Fulghum has gotten serious about provoking thought about existence and life in general.

This book takes reading and re-reading and it may change your life and the way you look at your place on earth.

This book has so much hope, and exudes respect for human experience. In essence, rituals are spiritual and they are found all the time in the lives we lead. Until we recognize this we will be less aware of the spiritual magic of being alive each and every day. Fulghum illuminates this page by page. He has a very philosophical view of life that is quite contagious. His presentation style is much like Garrison Keillor in the audiotape of this book I listened to. Soothing, but it jolts us awake with spiritual truths time and time again. I also like his sense of humor and his accepting of life and death.

You will respect your own life more after reading this book.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Rituals takes on a more serious tone than Robert Fulghum's previous books. He delves deeper than most of his previous essays on everyday life. Fulghum seeks to enlighten us on why we do the things we do. Since I am contemplating marriage to someone I truly care for his essay on second marriages was very thought-provoking. Although Rituals is not as light-hearted as his ealier works, it is a delight to read. I feel there are new discoveries about myself to make as I read each essay. For anyone who likes self-discovery, Rituals is a must

I own every book Robert Fulghum has written and was looking forward to reading this one. I found it as compelling as the others, and more. More thoughtful. More gentle. Reflecting more life experience. I read it more slowly than the others, savouring it, returning to some sections again. I particularly liked the opening section about morning rituals. This book covers things we all know about, all experience, think about. It is inspiring me to be more mindful. I will reread this many times in the coming years.

As someone who is a spiritual "searcher", I found this book acknowledged my basic need for rituals despite not belonging to a formal religious group. It talks about the existence of rituals in our lives and the need to acknowledge milestones that we all pass by. Fulghum has made all rituals accessible everyone, even those once thought to be possessed by formal religions. He gives us permission to celebrate even if we don't agree with the doctrines of man made religions. Robert Fulghum has given spirituality back to the people!

I loan this book to couples as they make plans for their wedding. I hope that they will also look at the other major events in life that appear in the book. Many see that it offers much more than inspiration for the wedding alone. Some ask me where they can get their own copy. At least one copy was not returned... so we purchase another copy.

This book is a great book to remind you of why we do certain things in life but moreso, to stretch your imagination to think of how you could bring new meaning to significant points in your life. There is an exceptional chapter on weddings. I've read and reread this book a couple of times! a great buy.