Customer Reviews

Exchanges Within: Questions from Everyday Life

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There are now hundreds of books about the Fourth Way and about the people who have influenced and contributed to it over the years. There are also other books about the practical aspect of work on oneself. These written endeavors often times face the almost inescapable limitation of being merely a dry menu listing of ideas on the subject. And from a practical pov, clearly missing is the essential person-to-person contact a student only receives with direct relationship with a teacher. However, as far as these books can go in giving a taste of Work toward Being, this one does and is a very positive contibution to the canon of the Fourth Way literature. Rarely does one encounter a book of the depth this one embodies. If you imagine that the working with these ideas is basically an intellectual exercise, then this book will probably disappoint. But if you are interested in peering deeper into the actual experience of the ideas and Work on Being, then this title can be of value. Not meant to be read as a "normal" book, each reading is a wealth of insightful thought and perspective and calls for the reader to look deeper within their own experience.

I was given this book by an friend in passing, not knowing that Pentland had been published. I had the fortunite opportunity to hear Lord Pentland speak at Seminar quite a few years ago and was touched by what he spoke about in a most extordinary way. He had ability to use the english language in such a percise and focused manner, it was as thought he was talking with you personally. I walked away feeling as thought something very quite and diffinent had been deposited in me. Half way though the book I began to experiance that lost feeling so long ago forgotten begin to araise. I could hear him speak again as though I was back at the seminar. His ability to hear a persons question and start a dialoge from what seems to be exactly where the the individual ends in amazing. This is a book that should be kept close by to be read question by question, its richness is too much for one sitting

Lord Pentland directed the Gurdjieff Work in the US for a great many years until his death. This book offers some of his insights collected at group meetings, where he was responding orally to queries from people of varying levels of understanding. His responses are NOT "formative ramblings", as one reviewer of limited understanding suggests, but flow directly from Lord Pentland's presence in the moment of response. This is a wonderful book, particularly for those involved in the Gurdjieff Foundation who are familiar with the formof a group meeting. Those who are not may be put off by the format, unless they take the trouble to establish a contemplative state in preparation.

While John Pentland's answers to the many questions from everyday life are themselves interesting, one may gradually begin to feel that the answers are not the point. Through the exchanges it appears that a work is being shared which could possibly influence a new direction of living. To absorb this material, to ponder it a topic at a time in light of one's own life experience can be a help to any serious seeker. The questions are mostly human and sincere. We are given a rare opportunity of access to group meetings in the Gurdjieff tradition and the chance to hear John Pentland exchange with students on many subjects of vital interest.

Pentland worked with Ouspensky, then with Gurdjieff, and for more than three decades directed the Gurdjieff work in America. He meets each questioner with a special quality of intelligence and shows an uncommon capacity to search within the present moment as he guides students toward an attitude of deepening and living their questions rather than reducing or settling them down by solutions and final answers.
The following is an excerpt from the book's introduction:
"...Gurdjieff stressed the need to work with others of varying experience. The pupil remains connected to the source of the teaching through a network of exchange between youngest and eldest that enlarges the perspective of the traditional teacher-pupil relationship. The group meeting was a principal form of this exchange and during Gurdjieff's life such groups formed in many countries."

This might not be an appropriate book from which to first approach Gurdjieff's ideas. For anyone who might be interested, "Toward Awakening" by Jean Vaysse Toward Awakening: An Approach to the Teaching Brought by Gurdjieff is an excellent short introduction. For those with a background in Indian religion or philosophy, "To Live Within" by Liselle Reymond To Live Within: A Woman's Spiritual Pilgrimage in a Himalayan Hermitageis a wonderful biography by a woman who was a leader in The Work for decades. Rene Daumal's Mont Analogue is a delightful read, certainly the most literary introduction to Gurdjieff, without ever mentioning his name. And Fritz Peter's Boyhood with Gurdjieff is a warm human portrait of Gurdjieff the human being; maybe a good read for a young person.

this is a very good book worth exploring. an earlier review gave this book two stars and made reference to this material having lost its freshness. not true. the ideas are the same and still allow the reader to think more carefully about life.

it is alway easy to find excuses not to read...don't ignore the truth.

This book only needs to be understand by Gurdjieffans, it does not suppose to be for everybody, that's the way it is

When "Exchanges" was first published, I scanned it quickly looking for reminders of Pentland's talks and conversations, and for solutions to my own issues of the moment. Finding nothing memorable, I set it aside.

Several months later in a moment of distraction I noticed it in a stack of books on a table, pulled it out, and opened it. Voila! It was as if someone had changed all the words in the book!

This book does NOT solve or "redefine" problems, but rather encourages you to rediscover YOUR VERY OWN problems again and again and again, in a way that you alone will ever find.

If you dare....

I couldn't believe this book was reprinted by Tarcher.

It does capture perfectly the vacuity that has existed as

the Gurdjieffian "teaching." I felt awfully sorry for those

poor souls who earnestly try to understand the responses of the

group leader (Pentland)in these sessions.

Sometimes people are very good at saying nothing because they

don't actually know anything. Overall, a very sad reminder of

"the blind leading the blind."