A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles" [Paperback]

Marianne Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 15, 1996

Back by popular demand -- and newly updated by the author -- the mega-bestselling spiritual guide in which Marianne Williamson shares her reflections on A Course in Miracles and her insights on the application of love in the search for inner peace.

Williamson reveals how we each can become a miracle worker by accepting God and by the expression of love in our daily lives. Whether psychic pain is in the area of relationships, career, or health, she shows us how love is a potent force, the key to inner peace, and how by practicing love we can make our own lives more fulfilling while creating a more peaceful and loving world for our children.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This book is based on Williamson's discovery of A Course in Miracles , a self-help guide whose provenance she doesn't explain. Age 26 at the time and feeling lost and desperate after indulging in the excesses of the 1960s, the Jewish author had no real hope for inspiration from the course because of its Christian terminology. But, she writes in this guide to the guide, the program works "miracles" for herself and for others who adopt its principles. Her extrapolations may appeal to readers in need of spiritual sustenance, but one questions Williamson's advice to the gravely ill. When she encourages them, for example, to "write a letter to AIDS or cancer or whatever illness they might have, and tell it everything they feel"--even to fabricate "replies" from the disease--readers are likely to consider that a serious situation is trivialized. Williamson is founder and president of the Los Angeles and Manhattan Center for Living, a support service. BOMC alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This book is based on the author's experiences as a teacher and lecturer on the self-study guide A Course in Miracles (Foundation for Inner Peace, 1975), the students of which attribute its authorship to Jesus Christ. Using humorous personal narrative, Williamson explains how applying love to all difficulties, as advised by "The Course," can aid in healing. Some may find the theories and practices presented here somewhat off-putting (e.g., Williamson counsels people with AIDS to write letters to the disease, rather than use fear and hatred to fight it). However, New Age followers or fans of Gerald Jampolsky ( One Person Can Make a Difference , LJ 11/1/90) or Louise Hay ( You Can Heal Your Life , Hay House, 1984) will enjoy this title. Purchase by demand. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/91.
- Linda S. Greene, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; Reissue edition (March 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060927488
• ISBN-13: 978-0060927486
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (287 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health
  • #95 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality

More About the Author

Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed spiritual author and lecturer. Six of her ten published books have been New York Times Best Sellers. Four of these have been #1 New York Times Best Sellers. A paragraph from A Return to Love, beginning "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure..." - is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers.

Marianne's other books include The Age of Miracles, Everyday Grace, A Woman's Worth, Illuminata, Healing the Soul of America, A Course in Weight Loss, and The Gift of Change. Her newest book, THE LAW OF DIVINE COMPENSATION: On Work, Money and Miracles, was published in November 2012 by Harper Collins. For more information on Marianne, please visit www.marianne.com

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#50 in Books > Self-Help

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

430 of 476 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book January 7, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Marianne Williamson takes Course In Miracles concepts and shows how they apply to her personal life. The book is honest and inspiring. I enjoyed the book. I would also highly recommend the book An Encounter With A Prophet for more honesty and inspiration derived from personal spiritual experience.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent inspiring book! February 6, 2013

By Patricia Castellanos

Format:Paperback

A Return to Love is an excellent, inspiring book. Williamson points out that happiness is a choice and then shows how to make that choice. There are detailed steps about how to change our thoughts and therefore our experience of life. Reading A Return to Love helps to increase the sense of self-worth.

Williamson's writing is easy to understand. She points out how the ego blocks our experience of love and happiness and that loving ourselves is just as important as loving others.

A Return to Love provides an excellent introduction to the teachings in A Course in Miracles. A Course in Miracles is also excellent, however, in my edition of ACIM the text portion of the book is 669 pages. That is a huge amount of information and for some people that can be a bit confusing. It is nice to start with A Return to Love, work with the principles in A Return to Love and then when you feel you have gotten everything there is to gain from A Return to Love, move on to A Course in Miracles.

One of Williamson's fundamental points is that only love is real. Everything else is illusion.

She points out the great advantages of forgiveness instead of blame.

She reveals some of the obstacles she has had to overcome in her own journey.

We have all had the experience of wishing we had done some things differently. Williamson provides examples of how we can completely change our lives and actions by looking at people, things and situations from the perspective of love and forgiveness.

Out of all of the hundreds of spiritual books I have read the book that has helped me the most to experience true happiness, peace and love without limits is com/EXPERIENCE-YOUR-PERFECT-SOUL-Goldsmith/dp/1937995844">EXPERIENCE YOUR PERFECT SOUL

Experience Your Perfect Soul is also the book that has touched my heart most deeply and has allowed me to directly experience and live from the spiritual heart. Read more ›

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Choose Love December 27, 2005

By John P. Morgan VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

For the last six years of my life I have been a co-facilitator in an ongoing study group based on A Course of Miracles. A lot of the people that come to the class have not delved into the actual ACIM book but know about it due to this marvelous gem of a book. In fact, it was what brought me to studying the Course and eventually getting up the courage to start up a study group at my church.

People underestimate the Power that Love is. People think that Love is fluffy and lightweight; that there is no real strength to Love and that's because we have reduced the Power of Love to a mere sentiment expressed in a Hallmark card.

But True Love, when harnessed and consciously directed can not only change the life of the individual, it can change the world because what is the world but a collected group of individuals? And to those individuals who are willing enough and daring enough to let Love transform their minds, renew their hearts, and uplift their souls everything can and will be made possible to them.

Marianne stresses the need for forgiveness in this book. Forgiveness is not for other people as much as it is for us. Coming out of this recent holiday season a bit bruised and scraped up reminds me of the need to extend True Forgiveness to those I thought harmed me in some way. When we know that we are Love Itself, nothing can harm us. Jesus knew this of his persecutors. He knew that they could crucify the flesh but they could not destroy the Love that created the flesh in the first place. In the Course in Miracles as well as A Return to Love there is an emphasis on the resurrection rather than the crucifixion.

The future is in this moment. There really is no such thing as "the future". The future is what we are deciding to do in this new now moment.... Every moment has gotten us to right here and right now and if we do not like the way our life is going we are always free to "choose again". The more we choose from a place of Love rather than from a place of fear, the more we are in agreement...in allignment with our Higher Selves...our Deeper Natures. Of course there will be some reading this review that think that God is all about fear, punishment, judgement, and condemnation but to those who have really seen the Light...figuratively as well as literally...they will know that in the Light there can never be any darkness.

May your heart be at peace. Read more ›

154 of 182 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Changing September 21, 2000

By Lisa M. Brown

Format:Paperback

I first discovered this book 2 ˝ years ago. I specifically say discovered, for it's like unearthing a treasure. I can't begin to express the impact this book made upon my life & continues to do so. Williamson explains in vivid detail how thoughts & perception can literally alter your life. Happiness isn't something we're innately in contact with, it requires cultivation, something we actively choose every moment of everyday. Anguish & suffering is a part of the human condition, but it doesn't have to consume your life. Oftentimes modern society is so consumed with success, competition, and acquiring material things, we forget the concept of joy is also a part of the human condition. We have a right to anticipate it, but it doesn't just saunter up & plop in your lap. It's labor intensive. I found concrete steps on how to redirect my energies & thoughts, and eventually my reality. What value does life hold if we can not love, permit ourselves to be loved, & be joyful? This book is the ultimate "how to" improve your consciousness book. I refer to it every time I feel a bit blue. It's really my blueprint of reaffirming or correcting my thought patterns. I've highlighted points crucial for my life & refer when necessary. Most importantly it works without fail. That is indeed the true litmus test. I also strongly recommend Williamson's various cassette lecture series. If you're weary because of some negative things you may have read about Williamson I urge the reader to disregard them. Truthfully I don't care if she has some inconsistencies in her life, don't all humans? You're not moving into her home, you just want to benefit from some profoundly wise & inspiration advice. The basic truth is, the principles she details quite simply work.... I am forever grateful to her & have purchased this book for my friends. If you desire to live & not just exist, this is a great gift for yourself & loved ones. Enjoy. Read more ›