Breakfast at the Victory: The Mysticism of Ordinary Experience (Paperback)

by James P. Carse (Author) "ERNIE CERTAINLY didn't leave the army with the intention of setting up a mystical luncheonette..." (more)
Key Phrases: higher ignorance, shared silence, deeper consciousness, Lake Michigan, Don Hutson, Bonne Pecheur (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This thought-provoking book turns ordinary experiences on their heads, almost forcing readers to find the mystical in their own subjective engagement of daily events. Carse ( Finite and Infinite Games ), who is director of Religious Studies and professor of the history of literature at NYU, interprets his own life with the help of the Sufi poets, Aristotle, Descartes and Freud. Drawing parables from daily experience (a golf match, a Halloween party, a mouse eating a grain), Carse gently prods us to see beyond the obvious in the world and in our lives. In so doing, he brings the profound within the grasp of everyone. The engaging and insightful stories reconsidered here also explain why Carse has gained an almost cult-like following on his own campus as well as beyond it.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Part memoir, part spiritual meditation, this plainspoken yet brilliant consideration of manifestations of the divine in everyday existence distinguishes between the ego and the soul and celebrates life's one constant: change. Carse draws upon personal experiences to illustrate his insights, beginning with his observations of the proprietor of the Victory luncheonette in the East Village. A vet who lost a leg in combat, Ernie serves his customers with fluid energy and grace, working and cajoling his way through life with a minimum of resistance or resentment. As Carse recalls his own Wisconsin youth, including an unforgettable description of sailing Lake Michigan by starlight, he ponders the speechlessness of animals and the verbosity of humans, the roles of teacher and student, and the fact that there is no end to knowing. As he remembers the deadhis wife of 37 years and his brotherCarse muses on how easily we confuse religious practice with God, knowledge with understanding, and our visible, public selves with inner truth. Donna Seaman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 203 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (June 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062511718
• ISBN-13: 978-0062511713
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #180,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "bible" for today - and tomorrow., November 27, 1997

By A Customer

My uncle had given me a copy last Christmas. We discussed the book, and its impact upon our lives, fairly often. When he was hospitalized late this year with what turned out to be fatal colon cancer, he insisted upon having his copy with him in the hospital. When you read Breakfast at the Victory, you'll understand why. Its one of those once-in-a-decade books that affect you for the rest of your life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the ten best books I have ever read!, June 17, 1997

By A Customer

This is truly one of the ten best books I have ever read! It draws us into thinking about the fact that there are no ordinary experiences, and to reflect on the magic in everyday life. The essays are memorable, but you will want to read them more than once, and share them with your friends. This is a great gift book, but you will also want to keep your own copy

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an eye-opening experience to the joys of everyday life, December 30, 1996

By A Customer

I had the pleasure of taking a philosphy course with James Carse at NYU, and "Breakfast at the Victory" truly captures his quest for day-to-day miracles. Moreso than his other writings, "Breakfast" reflects his spirit and fervor. A very inspirational and enjoyable read.