Customer Reviews

Pythagoras: The Mathemagician

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When I first heard about the book, I didn't give it much attention. Of course I was excused, because in my opinion, the author's previous book titled "blooming planes" was a disaster. It is true that Karim's debut with "Reflecting Unitas" was excellent, but it was very depressing with the second one.

Anyway, the author is a friend of mine, and I had to buy the book just to see what's inside. But when I started reading, I was kind of amazed because this book was very different from both its predecessors.

Storyline:
The storyline is well built. The life of Pythagoras is astoundingly described based on historical facts. No doubt Karim has made lots of research and interpreted tons of history books before writing this book. The events are accurately placed in the chronological timeline. Furthermore, the story is of an exploratory nature in a way that the reader is always yearning to read more.

Style:
The writing style is firm even though it is written in simple English, no complicated expressions, just simple and clear with good descriptions and dialogues. Simplicity and solidarity are both present in the author's script.

Conclusion:
All in all, a stunning book that really deserves all the awards it has won. And a must-have to every person interested in Greek or Middle Eastern history.

While reading this book, my surprise and delight went increasing. My surprise first, for discovering Pythagoras represented much more than his well known theorem as he also was a philosopher, a great traveller through space, time, spirits and dimensions. The author Karim, like Pythagoras a seeker of harmony, provided me with great delight as sweet thoughts wandered in my imagination when his book made me dive back into ancient civilisations and traditions described so precisely and so charming, in a state where these two worlds of reality and mysticism brush against each other often and mix with each other sometimes. A great thank to the author and to his thorough and complete research and work in its description of what was Pythagoras life.

When I first read this book, I felt an extreme sense of spirituality and belonging to the Phoenician great civilisation. The author beautifully described the ancient time where Pythagoras lived and taught his great social and religious reform that he imposed on the Greeks and all around the Mediterranean.
I really don't think that there is a book narrating the life of this great philosopher better than Karim's complete and clear vision he presented in his book.
I advise everyone to get a copy of that book.

Regarding Pythagoras and his teachings, Karim El Koussa takes the numerous, independent strands of knowledge that literature has inherited from antiquity and weaves them all into a rich and multidimensional tapestry that reveals the truly engaging story of a man called Pythagoras. Prophesied by the Oracle of Delphi to be a great man for humanity, he is born into a family of wealth and to parents--loving and brave enough--that aid him in the fulfillment of his destiny. The reader embarks on the journey of a lifetime filled with adventure, strife, grief, hope, resilience, love and compassion, and witnesses the process of transmutation through which Pythagoras becomes the Mathemagician.

A one-of-a-kind achievement worthy of praise! El Koussa has managed to fuse into his storytelling, in a simple and unobstructed way, some of the more complicated concepts of Pythagorean thought. This is not a cold and scientific treatise on geometry, mathematics and astronomy. This is a journey of self-discovery that is prompted by the teacher when the student is ready to become.

If you are interested in history, philosophy, the ancient mystery schools, the life of Pythagoras, Pythagorean thought, or magnetic historical novels, then this is the book for you.

The first question I ask myself when I face a book on Pythagoras: "did the Author subjectively limit Pythagoras to a particular specialization like math, music or philosophy? In this book on Pythagoras, the author has succeeded to present Pythagoras as a "polymath"... breaking the bonds of subjectivity to reach a global view... In this context, the familiar image that often presented the "scientific" and the "spiritual", the "tangible" and the "subtle" as diametrically opposed, is replaced with a view that unites both in the oneness of knowledge and the Love of Wisdom - the ultimate Philo-Sophia.
Someone attached to numbers, like the Pythagoreans, would have felt comfort if they read page 7 which elucidates the "spiritual royal purple color" - the 7th ray... Even if we neglect the page numbers and count the pages from the beginning of the book up to the special number 33, we will find ourselves in front of the famous quote graved on the plate above the entrance...: "Man, know thyself...", and the author did not hesitate to proceed at the end of the same page with "... you will know the secrets of the universe and the gods"
WATCH OUT! The book may grab you by the thought and leads you to the "Pytha-Goras" concealed deep in each of us... You start reading a book on history and philosophy and you end up - somehow - I do not know how - hearing the music of the spheres...

First and foremost, Karim is a wonderful person to interact with. He is one of the ONLY authors I know who actually takes the time to discuss his work on a "peer to peer" level. He organized this book in a way only he can, and you can REALLY tell that his research has came a LONG way. It is hard for us today, familiar as we are with pure mathematical abstraction and with the mental act of generalisation, to appreciate the originality of this Pythagorean contribution. And whats best is that Karim is able to deliver this message in a way that everyone can understand fully without being confused by terms or words that are somewhat to complex to comprehend.

I really enjoyed reading this book from cover to end (especially because the cover is so rich in color and detail!) I learned so much from Pythagoras that I never knew before and I FIRMLY believe that if it was done in a style that was NOT Karims, I would of not enjoyed the book at all.

BUY THIS BOOK, you will NOT regret it. Especially if you wish to learn about the foundations of our world and math today.

Thank God for this book and the excellent writing style of Karim El Koussa min ehden!

Merci ktiir 5ayye!

As a Lebanese I have always been told to be proud of my Phoenician heritage and while I had a decent understanding of the Phoenician culture, it was very nice to dive in more depth. I enjoyed reading this book and the style by which it was written brought me into the heart of the story and allowed me to relate to it. I would recommended, a great read especially if you want to know more about the Phoenician culture.

This is a brilliant read! If you're thinking - dry, dull historical - think again! I'm mesmerized by the brilliance of characterization, the depth of genius in the writing that makes us think and feel - all without beating readers over the head. I can't wait for the next book by this talented young author. I highly recommend!

Astrology and numbers. Math and magic. The path of ancient Phoenician philosopher Pythagoras the Mathemagician is brought to life in novel form by author Karim El Koussa. El Koussa's writing style provides an easy flow of comprehensive text, and segways into each chapter in a manner that leaves the reader wanting more.

Pythagoras began his path to achieve wisdom, peace and harmony in Saydoun under the watchful eye of friend and mentor Thales, who's message to Pythagoras was "To know thyself-the most difficult thing in life". Author El Koussa takes the reader through this path which included the dangers of initiation, temptation, love and attack in the quest for wisdom. The author follows Pythagoras through his travels in Asia Minor ending in the White City. It was here that social and religious reform was taught and brought to reality by Pythagoras, spread to the Greeks and the whole Mediterranian area.

This reader found the connection between astrology and numbers to math and magic to be enthralling. Magic brings things to life; numbers bring on a new meaning as the reader continues through this descriptive style of writing. One could almost smell the salt air, feel the emotions being experienced with each page. Mysteries of gods are revealed one by one as the reader progresses. Author El Koussa has a rare gift of capturing the readers attention, and never letting go in this extraordinary work, a must-read for anyone with a preferance towards ancient history of the Middle East, or Philosophy. This reader is eagerly anticipating El Koussa's next book. "Stay in Peace"

In Pythagoras: The Mathemagician, Karim El-Kousa has written a delightful story about a great philosopher. But he has also managed to convey vibrant details of a great civilization that I am most proud to be one of its descendents: The Phoenicians. Having lived the first twenty one years of my life in the great Phoenician city of Byblos and being the grandson of a Saydounian family makes this story really personal.