The Oculatum: A Book of Great Insight for Those Who Wish to See [Hardcover]

Butler Yates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2003

First invoked during the great fire of 1666 that turned London to ash, spread by word of mouth, quoted in early pamphlets and almanacs, scribbled on paper and hidden in bricks, The Oculatum has been shared by generations who have discovered sanctuary and wisdom in its unique teachings since medieval times. Now, Butler Yates, has collected the teachings of The Oculatum in one place: a book of great insight for those who wish to see.

It is not important to remember the phrases found within or to understand their meaning at first sight, rather this book with no beginning, middle, or end may be read in either direction. The secret of The Oculutum lies in the power of individual choice. YOU must decide which is the front and back of this book, which is the top and bottom of the page. YOU must choose which section to start. And in six days, greater clarity of thought, increased self-awareness, renewed focus, and inner strength will be YOURS.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Each page of this high-concept compendium contains a four-line proverb (usually under 10 words), with another one beneath it printed upside down. Thus the book has, according to Dutton's introduction, "no beginning and no end;" it may be read front to back, or, upside down, back to front. Format, then, trumps content, for "it is of no consequence that the reader remember, understand or comprehend the phrase; it matters only that it be read." The proverbs are the basis of an incantatory ceremony that promotes "clarity." Each day one is to be chosen at random, and read or uttered six times in succession three times in the day; six days of this should heighten one's "focus and awareness." Said to descend from 16th-century antecedents, the book is motivated by a mystical sensibility that eschews linear narrative, imputes hidden significance to random processes and draws meaning from ritual practice rather than cognition. But although written in a rather archaic syntax, the proverbs are not at all mysterious. Such fortune-cookie aphorisms as "From dark night comes dawn light," "Discard not the old till the new is proved" and "Loan no coin to friend save you lose both," are all too easy to comprehend after just one reading, let alone eighteen.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Butler Yates is a designer who was born in England and educated in London. The Oculatum is Yates's first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (February 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525947175
• ISBN-13: 978-0525947172
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,147,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic but Worth a Glance, June 16, 2003

By 

Kort "Art, Music, Book & Movie Enthusiast" (Boca Raton, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Oculatum: A Book of Great Insight for Those Who Wish to See (Hardcover)

As the Great Fire of London burned the city to ashes in 1666, this book was read to distraught onlookers by a man named Jospeh Van dar Lippen. It is said he inherited it from his great x2 grandfather and that it orginated in medieval times. It is a book of wisdom intended to give people insight into their life's situations. It has an interesting layout as described above.
It is valuable as a curiosty and nothing more. The "pearls" of wisdom are mostly common sense--though it is good to be reminded of them sometimes--and are easily understood despite the archaic phrasing. You will probably read through it once and put it on the coffee table as a discussion peice. I can't see how it can be used as a tool to help you with your every-day life.
If you collect things of this nature, then I say it's worth the purchase. Othewise see if your local library has a copy.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of wisdom handed down from the ages., July 19, 2007

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Oculatum: A Book of Great Insight for Those Who Wish to See (Hardcover)

This is a very unusual little book of Wisdom,Proverbs or whatever name one wants to give these words that the sages have used to teach people what values are important. The unusual thing about this book is that it comes to us from at least the period of the Middle Ages. Even then, it is likely that many of these thoughts came from centuries before that. The ideas in this book are not particularly new,but what is important is they ring as true today as they did so long ago in the past.
The other interesting point is that these words of wisdom are expressed in the language of the day;but say essentially the same as similar proverbs today.Here are a few examples;

"Better to light a candle than to stumble in the dark."
compares to,
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

"'Tis but another plate will satisfy the glutton."
compares to,
The poor man always has plenty,but the rich man never has enough."

But some are new,at least to me;

"Look to the light and shadows fall behind."

"Stones build walls but so to bridges."

"The evil lie is the word not spoken."

"Down no man's faith that your own is better."

"A good anvil shall not fear the hammer."

and one of my favorites;

"Truth shall not fear question."

A wonderful little tome to own,leave around for others to peruse,and some pretty wise ideas that are applicable today as in the "days of yore".