The Impersonal Life: The Little Book in Which Elvis Found the Light: Graceland Edition (Paperback)

~ Anonymous (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A Manual of Spiritual Teaching and Discipline. THE IMPERSONAL LIFE is the book that Elvis "had been looking for all his life." Why? Because as ALL Elvis biographers tell us, it spoke to him in such a clear understanding voice. It was so dear to Elvis that he began sharing it with the world by giving copies away by the case. It was ground zero for his self-explorationa and spiritual awareness. Here, Elvis found food for his soul, and he devoured it. We aptly call this the Graceland Edition of The Impersonal life "The Little Book in which Elvis Found the Light." Students of spirituality continue to find it so.

About the Author

The man who wrote this book preferred to issue it under the pen name ANONYMOUS. We have to admit to almost total ignorance of the person and life of this author, except we know that his name was Joseph S. Benner. His seems to have been indeed an impersonal life.

He also wrote 3 other books with the Anonymous pen name: The Way Out, Brotherhood and The Way to the Kingdom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: DeVorss & Company; Graceland Ed edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875167675
• ISBN-13: 978-0875167671
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,256,836 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A diamond of a little book (will move YOU like Elvis!), June 11, 2002

By	Joel L. Gandelman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Impersonal Life is being marketed by DeVorss & Co as "the Little Book in Which Elvis found the light." And for good reasons: it's a sound marketing move, it gets more people to read it....and this potent little book will truly help you find the (inner/spiritual) light if you are even slightly seeking it.

This book has little to do with Elvis, except that he loved it second only to the Bible, handed out hundreds of copies to friends...and it enlightened and inspired him. The Impersonal Life was written in the early twentieth century by the enigmantic Joseph S. Brenner, who wrote and published it under the pen name ANONYMOUS.

So what is it? Firstly, it is definitely a little but very profound book. DeVorss' special Graceland-authorized edition (with a young and thin Elvis on the cover) is tiny enough to carry in your pants or jacket pocket, purse, carry on luggage etc.

Secondly, it's basically an early 20th century version of Conversations With God, although it does not venture near some of the controversial areas that the later (and I think inferior) volumes of that contemporary book did.

The Impersonal Life is also seems like a first-person work(the author speaking as that spark of divinity he contends is within all of us) that could have been written by the great Ernest Holmes, author of the landmark Science of Mind writings. Its core idea is that your mind is linked to a Higher Power so a "Thinker is a Creator...(who) lives in a world of his own conscious creation."

Brenner, writing as the voice of God and appealing and explaining to each reader's own divine spark, writes that "every thing, every condition, every event that ever transpired was first an idea in the mind. It was by desiring, by thinking, and by speaking forth the Word, that these ideas came into visible manifestation."

Why did Elvis care and be influenced by The Impersonal Life -- and why should YOU? This little book, with each of its words as potent as literary dynamite blasting away earthly mental clutter and worries, stresses the importance of belief and nonshakeable FAITH...and argues that inspiration and intuitive flashes just don't happen. There's a reason. And if you follow these impersonal flashes you can live an impersonal life....uplifted from the personal human concerns and preoccupations, better focused on spiritual concerns and increasingly empowered with increasingly documentable spiritual power.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The words that comforted Elvis & ME!, February 11, 2002

By A Customer

This is the Elvis that few people have ever seen or known about--the Spiritual side. I truely enjoyed reading the SAME words that comforted Elvis in his times of need. The words contained with in this small, but powerful little book spoke out to me as if IT was written just for me. This must have been how Elvis felt while reading it too. This book is like an instruction manual directly from God, speaking from within. I will keep this book and read it many times as a reminder of the power of God, which is found within. It makes a great gift for those who are interested in the spirual side of Elvis, but most importantly for those who want to discover more of the spiritual side of themselves.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that caused Elvis to hear his call, August 1, 2001

By	Kathy Fernandes (Chico, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Of course I knew about Elvis but I hadn't read much about him. I wouldn't call myself an "Elvis Fan." Then I happened to get a chance to visit Graceland one day and after that visit, I knew that Elvis answered his life's call and was compelled by Spirit to be the legend that he was. So what would influence Elvis to become so great?

The answer is in this book. The book is not about Elvis. It has a little introduction about how Elvis used this book. "The Impersonal Life" was actually first published anonymously in 1916. The author has been discovered but little is known about the author. Elvis bought this book by the case and gave it out freely to friends and acquaintences. He read this book over and over and over, underlining and putting notes in the margins. He absorbed the meaning of the book and you know that is true after you read it.

The book's content is very spiritually fulfilling. It does not include religous language, symbolism or dogma but it is very spiritual. "I AM" is speaking to the reader. On page 122 it reads "I may be expressing through you beautiful symphonies of sound, color or language, that manifest as music, art or poetry, according to mortal terminology, and which so affects others as to cause them to acclaim you as one of the great ones of the day."

Does that not say what Elvis was about? This book contains the words that caused Elvis to hear and understand his call. The book is small and very easy to read. It is rich with Spirit speaking and it compels you to live out your life answering your call, whatever that may be. Wow! I am glad I discovered this book. I, too, will read it over many times. It's definitely worth more than its weight in gold.