Spiritual Notes to Myself: Essential Wisdom for the 21st Century [Paperback]

Hugh Prather (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1998

The long-awaited follow-up to the classic "Notes to Myself," this book provides a primer of inner wisdom for those whose attention has turned to spirituality. Like a modern Book of Proverbs, "Spiritual Notes to Myself" offers essential material for the journey to a more satisfying inner life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Methodist minister Prather dedicated his 1970 book, Notes to Myself, to Carl Rogers, the father of the human potential movement. The book went on to sell five million copies. Now, 27 years and several books later, Prather renounces such "preoccupation with ego enhancement." He preaches instead a life of selfless service to others and a sense of "oneness" with all other people. While claiming that his way requires no religious affiliation or practice, he refers often to God and Jesus. Like Notes to Myself, this is a collection of brief musings, some lovely, others humorous. Despite the overall wisdom of Prather's message, a few of the musings reveal what seems to be an underlying anger and impatience toward people struggling with such problems as codependency, addiction and divorce. Perhaps if Prather had fleshed out his thoughts in longer sections of prose, his points would have been made in a more complete and understandable way. It is not helpful to simply proclaim that "love does not participate in madness," without explaining how one might identify madness, or to instruct readers to "Forget this doormat stuff," ridiculing the terms "enabler" and "codependent," or to announce that healing one's inner child and nurturing one's own child can't be done at once. These are complex issues deserving of more compassion and respect than Prather provides, particularly as he preaches universal love. 40,000 first printing.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Best known for writing the self-actualization notebook of the Seventies, Notes to Myself (LJ 7/71), Prather is back with the same quirky sense of humor, now coupled with a more mature wisdom that takes the self lightly and gently laughs at the ego's demands. His latest reflections turn away from the theme of self-fulfillment to the awareness that love and service are the way to heal our separation from God and one another. The Methodist minister touches briefly on issues such as gossip, money, marriage, parenting, prayer, and dying with thoughtfulness and humorous practicality. Sure to please many readers with its timeless wisdom presented in a fresh, simple manner.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: Conari Press (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157324113X
• ISBN-13: 978-1573241137
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #541,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A feeble shadow of his first book ~{!0~}notes to myself", August 19, 2001

By 

(Ms) Danit Teler-Shteiman (Ashalim, Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Notes to Myself: Essential Wisdom for the 21st Century (Paperback)

I was really disappointed with this book. His previous book ~{!0~}notes to myself~{!1~} was really beautiful, simple, authentic and felt very true to me (see my review). So I hurried to buy the book ~{!0~}spiritual notes to myself~{!1~}, and expected it to be the same, but instead, I found just the opposite. This book sounds more like preaching, or like lip service. I got the sense that these thoughts didn~{!/~}t flow directly from his heart, like in the first book, but instead, they were chewed, repaired and mended to fit a presupposed ideal about altruism, love and relationships. There are many other books that cover these aspects more authentically than this one.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Library Journal wrote a great review of this book, May 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Spiritual Notes to Myself: Essential Wisdom for the 21st Century (Paperback)

Before I share the review with you, I want to say that all the reviews I have read of this book have been very positive, except for the Kirkus Review.

Library Journal "Hugh Prather, best known for writing the self-actualization notebook of the seventies, Notes to Myself (LJ 7/71). Prather is back with the same quirky sense of humor, now coupled with a more mature wisdom that takes the self lightly and gently laughs at the ego's demands. His latest reflections turn away from the theme of self-fulfillment to the awareness that love and service are the way to heal our separation from God and one another. The Methodist minister touches briefly on issues such as gossip, money, marriage, parenting, prayer, and dying with thoughtfulness and humorous practicality. Sure to please many readers with its timeless wisdom presented in a fresh, simple manner."

This is a more balanced review of Spiritual Notes to Myself than the review posted above.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A source of inspiration, insight and calm, March 26, 1999

By 

Jeff Bierer ([e-mail]) (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Notes to Myself: Essential Wisdom for the 21st Century (Paperback)

My wife brought me "Spiritual Notes..." from the library. I'm not much of a reader but I found Mr. Prather's writings to be profound but very accessible. Not content to read a library book, I bought 2 copies from Amazon. One to allow me to underline and reread and a second to share. I think Mr. Prather delivers great wisdom. Each time I read his book I feel calmed and more confident. My thanks to the author!