Customer Reviews

Betty Book

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

 

 

Stewart Edward White recorded information from his medium wife Betty until her death and then purportedly continued to receive such information from her thereafter. At least he isn't claiming it's from God like Neale Walsch! My review of Walsch's "Conversations with God" are appropos here as well. BUT...the words of this book resonate far better. Furthermore, White followed it up with one of the great classics of metaphysics, "The Unobstructed Universe." The "Betty Book" is a fine (almost necessary) introduction to "The Unobstructed Universe." The world view presented in these works (wherever they actually came from) is profound, logical, and fills in many a void in other metaphysical systems. So, if you are turned off by the stated source, just ignore it and read on. Frankly, almost all the books I read are replete with the author's personality, predispositions, assumptions, etc.--it's hard to read between the lines and to separate the wheat from the chaff. In this book, however, that only applies to the source. The material (and, especially in the following volume) is first rate. White also wrote 5 or 6 additional spiritual works which are lesser lights but worth reading. Be aware, however, that he was a professional writer of Westerns. The other spiritual books of his I've read are: "Anchors to Windward," "The Job of Living," "The Road I Know," "The Stars Are Still There," and "With Folded Wings."

As someone who works with deep trance channeling as a profession and who has a strong interest in the subject of consciousness, I found this book to be extremely interesting, as it parallels my own experience with a very talented open deep trance channel. It is also not that far from the experiences of Jane Roberts and Robert Butts. The "group" of two channels that formed is enlightening for students of trance channeling and somewhat rare as a published account. Betty's friends, who wrote "Our Unseen Guest" under a pen name make the dynamic all that more interesting.

If you have a serious interest in trance channeling, this is a good book to add to your collection. It was written so many years before "Seth Speaks" that it is almost amazing that Jane Roberts and Robert Butts may never have seen it. If they had, it may have accelerated their own experiences.

This book was a little hard to follow since the concepts being presented were new, or rather, given in a different way than would be today.The group of people who investigated this phenomena which was happening to and among them, really gave it - and each other- the benefit of the doubt, and produced written records of what most of us may never personally experience (the "may" is subject to discussion). I found the subject matter very interesting and challenging to the imagination. I ordered The Unobstructed Universe after reading this book (forgive me for not being able to recall the book before this and after The Betty Book by the same author), and I think the information - barring what I don't know of the second book - flows in a coherent way. To say how one book gave way to the other would give away something to the reader which may be to the detriment of the story's credibility, so I will just say that it is our good fortune that Stewart E. White continued "their" work together. If you are a believer in a parallel universe,physical man and spirit,or just curious about it,this book will be right for you.

A most influential book for those who are seeking answers about spiritualism in this life and information about the next. The book is clearly written by a professional writer who has provided a concise and understandable account of the processes, methodologies and experiences of one woman's travels within and beyond the boundaries of the astral plane as a spiritual medium. It is a rare chronicle which stands above other such accounts on the subject which I have generally found to be poorly written by spiritual mediums themselves who, unfortunately, do not have the objectivity, skillful organizational and writing abilities found in this book. The 'writer-husband and medium-wife' team have written what I consider to be a classic account of spiritual ability, experience and testimony, and have done so in a simple, economical and deeply moving manner. The book has been a favorite of mine since I first read it over 40 years ago - this purchase was a gift for a friend, and is perhaps the 10th such gift of this book that I have given to others over the years.

This and White's follow-up books Across the Unkwown and the Unobstructed Universe are extremely objective yet cover the deepest levels we can ever hope to understand. Written so that even a beginner can follow yet amazingly profound. I'd also consider it the best self-help book around, as the importance and long-term signifigance of even our smallest acts is stressed throughout. These books focus on YOU and a METHOD OF LIVING, and don't even discuss reincarnation, etc. They focus on the most important issues.

(This reviewer is an expert in metaphysics and is available for consulting/counseling/grief counseling. Also interested in meeting SWF 25-35 with interests in metaphysics)

I was so taken by an online description of this book that I impulsively ordered The Unobstructed Universe and Across the Unknown, part of a sequence, with it. I got so bored with The Betty Book--and it is in my favorite genre of reading--that I could not finish the second half. Writing in the pre-1940s was a lot more cumbersome, I guess, and the revelations of the book were less than clear and less than astounding. I almost always finish books I have paid for, but it looks like these three will be exceptions. For me the most interesting part of the book was its cover illustration.

I wanted to love this set of three books. It will be surprising if I even open the other two. That doesn't necessarily mean The Betty Book is poorly written and edited--the mechanics of the writing are fine--and someone with more patience for the writing of an earlier time may enjoy this book.

Oh well, sometimes you take a chance and it does not work out as expected!