I Was Carlos Castaneda: The Afterlife Dialogues [Paperback]

Martin Goodman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2001

“A marvelous book with rich teachings that particularly touch the heart of death -- and, thus, life itself.”--Thom Hartmann, author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

Carlos Castaneda comes back from the dead in a true-life spiritual adventure story set in the French Pyrenees, Machu Picchu, the Peruvian Amazon, and the American Southwest.

Four months after his death, the world-renowned writer, anthropologist, and mystic Carlos Castaneda turns up in the French Pyrenees. He meets with writer Martin Goodman. His purpose? To lead Martin beyond the fear of death and the confusions of mortality, and to offer a clearer understanding of the ultimate wisdom -- the wisdom to live the rest of our days in full and conscious harmony with the living earth.

Martin Goodman is a gifted storyteller who has infused I Was Carlos Castaneda with literary verve and humor. When, at their first encounter, an incredulous Goodman confronts Castaneda with reports of his recent death, Castaneda replies wryly, “Details. . . mere details.” And so the story begins.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A marvelous book with rich teachings that particularly touch the heart of death--and, thus, life itself."--Thom Hartmann, author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Inside Flap

"A marvelous book with rich teachings that particularly touch the heart of death -- and, thus, life itself."--Thom Hartmann, author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

Carlos Castaneda comes back from the dead in a true-life spiritual adventure story set in the French Pyrenees, Machu Picchu, the Peruvian Amazon, and the American Southwest.

Four months after his death, the world-renowned writer, anthropologist, and mystic Carlos Castaneda turns up in the French Pyrenees. He meets with writer Martin Goodman. His purpose? To lead Martin beyond the fear of death and the confusions of mortality, and to offer a clearer understanding of the ultimate wisdom -- the wisdom to live the rest of our days in full and conscious harmony with the living earth.

Martin Goodman is a gifted storyteller who has infused I Was Carlos Castaneda with literary verve and humor. When, at their first encounter, an incredulous Goodman confronts Castaneda with reports of his recent death, Castaneda replies wryly, "Details. . . mere details." And so the story begins.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (April 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609807633
• ISBN-13: 978-0609807637
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,180,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Carlos Castaneda Here, March 12, 2002

By 

daledude (Sedona, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Carlos Castaneda: The Afterlife Dialogues (Paperback)

I was very excited to see this book, and bought it immediately.

I started reading Castanedas books back in the mid 70's, and I have read every book that he has written multiple times over. They always bring back to me the realization of the magical in Life.

As I was reading this book, it reminded me of watching a bad movie. The kind where you keep thinking that it's got to get better soon, but it never does, and when it's over you finally realize that you've completely wasted your time. If you have not read Castaneda, and are not expecting to find him here, you may enjoy this book more than I, but of course I can't say.

I don't find Castaneda in this book - neither in person, nor in writing style. I personally found it to be particularly badly written compared to Castaneda's writing, and hard to follow at times. Castaneda's actions in the book also do not ring true to me. It's kind of like his character is a mix between a weak Don Juan and a selfish Castaneda, and a Rodney Dangerfield who doesn't *deserve* any respect.

Of course, I can't really say whether Martin Goodman actually experienced the presence of Castaneda (or maybe his inept double). All that I can say is that it didn't feel like it to me. I came away wondering whether Martin just made the whole thing up just to make money. After all, he admits in the book that when he was given a wish, he unashamedly chooses money. All that I can say is that it would surprise me more if it were actually true than if it were not.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Castaneda as I knew him, July 9, 2001

By 

Raul (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Carlos Castaneda: The Afterlife Dialogues (Paperback)

I am surprised at the grudges some readers here hold ... maybe envy? I knew Carlos Castaneda from two weekends of his teachings and from studying all his books and am very pleased to have this addition. It speaks to my life, and my dreams, in the way he has always done. More than ever perhaps. The teachings continue. Why does everybody have to deny everything Castaneda has ever done? Please do not deny yourselves a chance to read the lessons he has brought back to us from the other side of death.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars sketchy...very sketchy, October 4, 2001

By 

Author Brian Wallace (Mind Transmission, Inc.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Carlos Castaneda: The Afterlife Dialogues (Paperback)

From the standpoint of marketing genius in the title and cover design (overall concepting the book) this work is admirable.

From the standpoint of revelling in the glory of an icon's memory to propel a mediocre writer's career, the work is disappointing.

I'm of the opinion that negative reviews should only be reserved for the most extreme cases, works like this - that leave such a bad taste in the mouth.

If I had written a book entitled, " I was Timothy Leary: The Afterlife Dialogues by Brian Wallace, Timothy Leary " I'd have trouble sleeping at night.

Castaneda had many personalities, and I'm convinced that Martin Goodman's was not one of the them.

Sorry.

Brian Wallace/author/Labyrinth of Chaos