Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul [Paperback]

Richard Bach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2004

In Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, Richard Bach met Donald Shimoda, a fellow pilot with the keys to the universe who barnstormed the Midwest in a Travel Air biplane. Part of Shimoda’s secret was a small book, bound in what looked like suede: Messiah’s Handbook, Reminders for the Advanced Soul. “Open it,” he said, “and whatever you need to know is there. ”Lost for decades and rediscovered, here it is in print at last—reminders for those who have outgrown cynicism and doubt.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Readers of Richard Bach’s Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, will recall that said messiah, Donald Shimoda, carried with him a small book entitled the Messiah’s Handbook. According to Shimoda, all Bach had to do was, "Open it, and whatever you need to know is there." Now, decades after Illusions was first published, Bach has made the handbook available to all of us "advanced souls in training."

Rather than reading it cover-to-cover, Bach counsels us to close our eyes, focus on the question we want an answer to, then open the handbook at random, open our eyes and read what’s on the page. In this regard, Messiah’s Handbook can be likened to a 21st century version of the I Ching or The Book of Runes, with the same appeal to readers who enjoys such works. Each page is composed of a single, thought-provoking aphorism.

As with all of Bach’s books, at the heart of Messiah’s Handbook is his encouragement to his reader to follow the drumbeat of their dreams without compromise or apology, knowing that we can have what we desire so long as we believe we can. Used as directed, Messiah’s Handbook is a delightfully insightful guide for making those dreams come true.--Larry Trivieri Jr.

Review

Richard Bach's at it again with Messiah's Handbook, having established himself as a significant spiritual voice for the masses. -- Magical Blend Magazine, October 2004

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing; First Edition edition (August 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571744215
• ISBN-13: 978-1571744210
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.5 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #488,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Bach's inspirational classic Jonathan Livingston Seagull is one of the few books that dominated the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List for two consecutive years. With humor, wisdom and insight that could only come from one of the world's most beloved authors and an accomplished pilot, his most recent book, Travels with Puff, recounts Bach's journey from Florida to Washington state in his small seaplane, Puff. With over 50,000,000 copies of his books sold, Richard Bach remains one of the world's most beloved authors. A former USAF fighter pilot, Air Force captain and latter-day barnstorming pilot, Bach continues to be an avid aviator-author, exploring and chronicling the joys and freedom of flying, reporting his findings to his devoted fans. His website is www.richardbach.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

129 of 131 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Small but Powerful Book of Wisdom September 12, 2004

By Cathy A. Pulsifer

Format:Paperback

The book that disappeared, coincidentally reappears and Richard Bach has now published it. It is a book filled with wisdom and thought provoking statements that will make you stop and think. It is a book that you can read all in one sitting (exactly what I did when I received it!). Or, it is a book that you can open to any page, and read that page, and reflect on it.

Have you ever read a book where throughout the book, there is wisdom that you wish you could capture and refer to later? Well, this book does just that.

To give you a small sample of the wisdom in the book, below are some quotes:

"Life tells you nothing, it shows you everything."

"There's a reason you chose what's happening around you. Hang on, live your way through the best you know, and in a bit you'll find out why."

"If it's never your fault, you can't take responsibility for it. If you can't take responsibility for it, you'll always be its victim."

"Having climbed certain peaks you'll descend no more, but spread your wings and fly beyond."

"You do not exist to impress the world. You exist to live your life in a way that will make you happy."

"You're master of what you've lived,

artisan at what you're living,

amateur at what's next to live."

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.

You may have to work for it, however."

In Richard's forward there is a quote from the book,

"Every person, all the events of your life,

are there because you have drawn them there.

What you choose to do with them is up to you."

I would highly recommend this book. And as you read the above quote, I hope you choose to read Richard's newest book, Messiah's Handbook.

The book is a wonderful motivator, one that you can refer to on a daily basis.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "They give you a book to read" October 4, 2006

By Reading my way thru life

Format:Paperback

I keep this book on the shelf with my favorite books. I think of this as a wisdom or oracle type book. It's the 'lost' book from Richard Bach's Illusions. I usually pick this up when there's something bothering me, or something big is going on in my life. Sometimes I open it up, and get nothing (or so I think at the time). Then, there are times when I open it up and amazed at what I find! For instance, I was trying to decide WHY I should go into a certain career. I was back and forth over "should I do it or not?!" -I picked up this book, and this is what I read:

"If God looked directly into your eyes and said, "I command that you be happy in the world for as long as you live,"
What would you do?"

Hmmmm. Think about that!

I like this book. Even the times when I flip it open to something and think that it doesn't apply to me, or maybe I didn't like what I read in reference to what's going on with me, I think it's a cool book. I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you're giving someone the book "Illusions" by Richard Bach as a gift, consider really treating them, and give them this book too!

When I first got the book, I think I may have read it thru, just to see what it was like. There is a short paragraph on each page.(the pages are like parchment paper, but not as thin) Now, I just pick it up and see what pops out at me.

This is an excerpt from the paragraph on the back of the book:
"Don't you get any formal training to be a master?"
"They give you a book to read."

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A small book of aphorisms and quotations September 22, 2004

By Psyche

Format:Paperback

I adored Richard Bach's Illusions, so I was rather excited when notice came that a review copy of the Messiah's Handbook was on its way. I'm not sure what I was expecting, perhaps an expansion on Illusions, or something more obviously related to it, however this is not the case.

Messiah's Handbook is a tiny book of aphorisms and quotations taken from some of Bach's other works, notably Illusions, One, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Out of My Mind, and The Ferret Chronicles.

It's intended use follows the example of other bibliomancy tools of this type: `Hold a question in mind, please. Now close your eyes, open the handbook at random and pick left page or right' (from the forward). The results tend to be more interesting than traditional books of this type, of course, being Richard Bach, they're a little quirkier, and occasionally with some spice: `Spacetime is a fairly primitive school. But a lot of folks stay with the belief of it even when it's boring, and they don't want the lights turned on early.'

It's small, it's cute, and underneath the dustjacket the covers of the book are blue suede as in Illusions, but unless you're already a big fan, at 12.95$US it's an expensive countertop impulse buy at the giftshop