A collection of anecdotes and quotations from Socrates to Native American Coyote legends that features the lighter side of enlightenment. 2 cassettes.
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Irreverence, multiple perspectives, absurdity, cosmic unity, accepting circumstances, getting along--Crazy Wisdom, a cult classic on the wild side of philosophy is more than just a romp through titillating ideas. Wes Nisker actually hits on a string of similarities East and West that unites the visions of the poet, philosopher, artist, and guru. This book will take you on an enchanting and mind-expanding journey, liberally seasoned with quotations from Mark Twain, Chuang-tsu, various Zen masters, Albert Camus, Allen Ginsberg, Rumi, and other crazy fools gushing with wisdom.
Review
"CRAZY WISDOM is deeply wise . . . wonderfully insightful and delightfully humorous. . . . "a good place to begin . . . its strength lies in its wonderful assemblage of life-changing quotes and stories."-Utne Reader"A dim sum feast of perceptive and amusing morsels. Nisker succeeds in fashioning an original pattern from motley patches of wisdom."-San Francisco Chronicle"The author . . . takes us on a wild and lively ride through Eastern and Western philosophy and spirituality. Along the way, there are plenty of humorous sidebar quotations. . . . Now more than ever, we need this brand of wisdom that opens us to wonder and hospitality."- Spirituality & Health
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If it makes sense, then its not philosophy.,
By photondan@aol.com (San Francisco Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Crazy Wisdom (Paperback)
Our world is plagued by rigid, intolerant religions, dogmatic "truths" and people who take themselves and their ideas too seriously. Then along comes Wes Nisker with his humble little paperback that can hold its own next to The Bible on the bookshelf. This book explores everything that is central to true enlightenment: the ridiculous, the blasphemous, the paradoxal, the rebellious, the foolish. This book embraces all that society rejects, and in doing so, unearths the very missing link to our spiritual evolution. There's no reason to fear. Journey with Wes and his troop of clowns, poets, mystics, thinkers and fools as they explore the philosopies of East and West with a grain of salt the size of a boulder. Along the way he points out that the world's greatest and most revered thinkers, prophets, poets, scientists, artists and activists were all considered "crazy" in their day and viewed as outlaws and criminals by their contemperaries. Partake in this humourous and easy to read exploration of the absurb side of philosophy, and see that the various spiritual and philosophical traditions of the world have more in common than they'd probably like to admit to each other.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
provocative,funny journey through the Crazy Wisdom landscape,
By cynic observer (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Crazy Wisdom (Paperback)
Romp with Wes through the world of clowns, jesters and fools while you unearth the paradox that is present in our daily lives. This irreverent look at the world from the mindsets and customs of both the Eastern and Western world will make you laugh and realize that what you you will eat for breakfast is the most important thing in the world. For those who enjoy seeing esoteric views of our world and enjoy humourous examinations of our many follies, pick up your pack and join the archetypes as you travel down the road.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
"Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma",
By Parkerhear (Left of Central) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Essential Crazy Wisdom (Paperback)
To whomever stole the guts from Wes Nisker's original 1990 publication titled, "Crazy Wisdom" could you kindly return them?
With the original version out of print, I bought this one as a gift. Alas, when this sad imposter arrived, I searched the pages for my favorite chapters and quotes but found that, even the tricksters were missing from this dummed down version. Like Chicken Soup for the Souless. How sad.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence:
A special kind of wisdom is loose in the world. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
crazy wisdom masters, foolish fool, holy fools, great fool Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Essential Crazy Wisdom, Crazy Eastern Wisdom, Cold Mountain, Mark Twain, Crazy Western Wisdom, The Cast, Albert Einstein, Old Man, Jesus Christ, Old Woman, Francis of Assisi, Indian Buddhist, The Existential Get Down New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
A special kind of wisdom is loose in the world. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
crazy wisdom masters, foolish fool, holy fools, great fool Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Essential Crazy Wisdom, Crazy Eastern Wisdom, Cold Mountain, Mark Twain, Crazy Western Wisdom, The Cast, Albert Einstein, Old Man, Jesus Christ, Old Woman, Francis of Assisi, Indian Buddhist, The Existential Get Down New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 41
books:
See all 41 books this book cites
35
books
cite this book:
See all 35 books citing this book
- Tales of the Hasidim: Book One: The Early Masters and Book Two: The Later Masters (v. 1-2) by Martin Buber on page 91, and page 92
- Eastern Wisdom: Zen, Tao, & Sufism (The Little Wisdom Library) by Zen; Tao; Sufism on page 67, and page 68
- Zen and the Comic Spirit by M. Conrad. Hyers in Front Matter, and page 74
- The Psychology of Consciousness (Arkana) by Robert E. Ornstein on page 133, and page 146
- The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud on page 211
See all 41 books this book cites
- Living Kindness: The Buddha's Ten Guiding Principles for a Blessed Life by Donald Altman on page 150, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Life, Myth, and the American Family Unreeling: The Spiritual Significance of Movies for the 20th Century by Jeffry John Stein in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Courage to Laugh by Allen Klein on page 17, and Back Matter
- You Already Know What to Do: Ten Invitations to the Intuitive Life by Sharon Franquemont on page 143, and Back Matter
- Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us by Kate Bornstein on page 89, and Back Matter
See all 35 books citing this book
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
