Tying Rocks to Clouds [Paperback]

William Elliott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996

With intrepid good spirits, author Bill Elliott interviews the world's foremost spiritual figures, acquainting us with their exuberant earthly charms as well as their insight and intelligence. Propelled since childhood by the untimely deaths of his parents, Elliott traveled the globe to meet with these luminaries and directly find out their answers to the fundamental questions of existence: What is life's purpose? What is God or Ultimate Reality? Why do people suffer? Does a part of us live on after death? The list of people he met is both diverse and impressive. Not only do they represent every major religious tradition, from Rober Schuller, Rabbi Harold Kushner, and Norman Vincent Peale to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Jack Kornfield, but aslso an exciting variety of perpspectives, from Ram Dass to Mother Teresa to psychologist B.F. Skinner.

Time and again, the sages included here warmed to Elliott's heartfelt longing for meaning in the world. Their views are framed by Elliott's endearing voice, engaging and perceptive, and by his wonderfully warm sense of humor. Tying Rocks to Clouds is sometimes sad, often funny, and always filled with freshness and joy as it reveals wisdom collected from across the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Would you like to talk about the meaning of life with Mother Teresa, Norman Vincent Peale, the Dalai Lama, B.F. Skinner, Ram Dass, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Pir Vilayat Khan, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Jean Houston, Brother David Steindl-Rast and other world-renowned spiritual leaders and experts in wise living? In this ecumenical volume, "ordinary person" Bill Elliott asks 20 such people essentially the same set of questions: "What is the purpose of life?" "Why is there suffering?" "Do all religions lead to the same place?" "If you were on your deathbed, what advice would you give to your son or daughter?" What emerges from this process is nothing less than a snapshot of our planet's philosophies at the end of the millennium. In perfect counterpoint, Elliott also surfaces in the course of the book as a wise, humorous, spiritual person himself. This invaluable record deserves to be a bestseller, not only for its inherent wisdom but also for its clarity and respect for the many ways there are to be and to believe.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This is an utterly winsome book, one that will win a special place in readers' hearts. Elliott was not a particularly wise or spiritual person when he began the search he reports upon. He was simply unhappy, having lost both parents as a child and lacking any trust in the universe thereafter. To begin healing his inner wounds, he wrote to people he believed might have answers to help him: Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, B. F. Skinner, Jean Houston, Ram Dass, Elisabeth K{}ubler-Ross, and a dozen others. When they agreed to talk to him, he traveled from his trailer home in the Midwest on his own funds. The result is an endearing book in which it's not just the wise and spiritual things his respondents say that make it sing--it's the search that Bill Elliott undertook and his bold idea of finding wisdom by simply asking. By book's end, Elliott is wiser, more spiritual. So will be many of his readers. Pat Monaghan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Image; First Edition, Highlighting edition (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385481918
• ISBN-13: 978-0385481915
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Spirituality Down to Earth ..., June 2, 2003

By 

Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tying Rocks to Clouds (Paperback)

The author, William Elliot is someone you might know, the boy living next door, who went away to the University, whose parents died when he was young, someone who was raised by loving parents, that is, until they died when he was a teen. He keeps alive the values and love his parents showed him but he is searching for something. He is looking for meaning - meaning to their death and his loss. He was a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin when he conceived of interviewing the "wise and spiritual" people who are alive today. His method was deceptively simple ... he sought answers to 25 - 30 questions that might unlock the secrets to his dilemma. Questions such as, "What is the meaning or purpose of life?" "Do you believe in G-d or Ulitmate Reality?" "Why is there suffering, evil in the world? and What is its cause?" "What is important to you?" "What are the three most important problems in life?" He was dissuaded from pursuing this endeavor, to write a book about his conversation with the "wise and spiritual" people whom he interviewed. He overcame challenges and obstacles to interview the people on his list, all the while holding firmly to his goal. He met and interviewed: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ram Dass, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller, Jean Houston, Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Rabbi Harold Kushner, psychologist Albert Ellis, psychologist B.F. Skinner, Pir Vilayat Khan, Frances Vaughn, Stephen Levine and even Mother Theresa. He interviewed a total of 21 high-profile persons deemed 'wise and spiritual' by modern standards. The author does not interpret the answers for us, instead he writes out the answers given to him by each person interviewed. In some cases, he writes an introduction prior to the interview, letting the reader know how he managed to get an appointment or interview with the "important" person or else he describes some interesting event or circumstance concerning the interview. He seldom makes a judgement about the person or what they said ... his writing style is matter-of-fact and straight forward. This style of writing makes the book a valuable and worthwile reading experience. It is as if, you, yourself, decided what questions to ask and took the time to write out the answers, sometimes, in utter amazement, that you snagged the interview with his or her eminence ... The author also made a trek to Nepal to meditate and visit one of the most spiritual climates and areas of the world. We learn of his experiences and interactions with people he met there. This book is recommended for anyone who has any interest in spirituality or has read any book by the persons whom the author interviewed. It can be said the author found the truth which he was seeking ... Erika Borsos (erikab93)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent Seekers of the Heart, Come Hither!, April 28, 2000

By 

Devorah Miriaam (Pasadena, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tying Rocks to Clouds (Paperback)

The fact that those who were willing to be interviewed by this sincere "nobody" with a yearning ache speaks for their specialness as well as his. Varied in outlook from the Scientific-Practical to the Expansive-Otherwordly the range is surprising and profound, the similarities enlightening, while Elliott's reflections augment! You will find a human salad of ideas and emotion and be inspired to explore some folks you've never heard of. Of great value to share with friends and family at all passages of life. Some of the Illuminated Souls include Jean Houston, Pir Vilayat Khan, Stephen Levine, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Includes Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Mystics and those who foreswear association and question the questions. If you've ever wondered about life, don't miss this opportunity!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touches the Soul., June 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tying Rocks to Clouds (Paperback)

This was one of the most beautiful and touching books I have ever read. I have given it to 3 others as gifts - 2 people that had experienced a difficulty with death, and 1 on their own spiritual search in life. I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm about to read it again for the 3rd time.