The Eye of the Prophet [Hardcover]

Kahlil Gibran (Author), Margaret Crosland (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 13, 1995

The Eye of the Prophet is a startling new collection of Gribran's writings translated from Arabic into French and now to English. Here Gibran is the poetic, philosophical moralist, grounded in Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity, questing for the best in humanity, refusing to separate man from the natural world. The ordinary work and life of man has the potential to be inherently noble, Gibran believes, if man could only enact his affairs with the sublimity of nature's creations. The Eye of the Prophet is a treasury of wisdom, lyrical joy, and inspiration. With its forceful and rhythmic language, it speaks to our challenging times as a worthy companion to the The Prophet.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gibran, author of The Prophet, here offers reflections on such varying topics as life, love, courage, liberty, truth, and understanding that are designed to uplift the soul in everyday living. This edition contains illustrations by the author.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

No book of twentieth-century inspirational literature has been more successful than The Prophet by the Lebanese Christian U.S. immigrant Kahlil Gibran (1883^-1931), but no other of Gibran's books has been nearly as successful. Chances are this one, made up of selections from writings not previously translated into English, won't be, either. Gibran's mundanely florid way of uttering sentiments full of the kind of radiant, sometimes pointless universalism now satirized by the likes of Al Franken's terrifyingly bland self-help guru Stuart Smalley has never been bettered, though, and his fans will want to peruse this "new" strand of his pearls of wisdom. Ray Olson

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: Frog Books (December 13, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883319404
• ISBN-13: 978-1883319403
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.8 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,367,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars mysticism, poetry, and religion, May 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Eye of the Prophet (Hardcover)

Kahlil Gibran's "Eye of the Prophet" is a collection of meditations on religion and life. Gibran's writing is both mystical and lyrical as he comments on truths he's learned throughout life. Although he believes in an inexplainable God, Gibran also posits that religion has a practical side. For example, "to be closer to God, be closer to people." Although God exceeds our understanding, we can approach Him through other human beings. In this book Gibran also explains that people often obscure their true, divine, selves; this leads to misery. This concept is explored in the following story: "I saw a young man trying to seduce the heart of a young girl with tender words, while the true feelings of both were half asleep and they were very far from their divine nature." The same theme of human nature being basically good, despite self-corruption, continues throughout the book. Gibran's ideas will likely not shock those readers who are familiar with mainstream religions and the Bible: Gibran himself drew heavily on the Bible. Although I enjoyed the book, I found I had to break it up and read small sections at a time. Too much "Eye of the Prophet" at once made me feel simultaneously overwhelmed and skeptical. Overall, I found the book provocative and beautifully-written, if at times a little repetitive.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great companion to "The Prophet", February 27, 2008

By 

Reader "cvrcak1" (Boca Raton, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eye of the Prophet (Paperback)

Anyone who has read Gibran's book "The Prophet" should read "The Eye of the Prophet". While the first book is the masterpiece of philosophic poetry, this one is it's great companion in prose. Both books prescribe philosophical view on love, marriage, death, beauty -- things and topics that encircle all of our lives and experiences. The best thing one can do it to have both of these books as a tools to use and reflect in times of need, doubt and inspiration. I have read the hardcover copy of the book. I wish that hardcopy edition of the book had as many illustrations by it's author as "The Prophet". But alas, we only get to enjoy the one on the cover. For readers new to Gibran it is helpful to know that he was a wonderful painter in addition to his excellence in writing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful..., January 9, 2008

By 

Hanna H. Jacobsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eye of the Prophet (Hardcover)

This is my number one favorite book...Gibran's words are beautiful, and his thoughts on every subject resonate powerfully with my personal feelings....