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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unpredictable journey through life towards a higher under, November 12, 2003
By A Customer
Reviewed by: Betsie of Betsie's Literary Page
Highly Recommended
5 out of 5 points
An unpredictable journey through life towards a higher understanding of "self".Mr. Daley shares with us his innermost thoughts and dreams to describe his journey to awaken from the slumber that we call life. A student of Henry Miller, Castaneda, Gurdjieff, and Krishnmurti for over forty years, Mr. Daley has written, "Tasting the White Water" as both a biography as well as an inspirational story. Like many of us, Mr. Daley takes part in many of the same struggles that we face today. He has a family and the normal obligations that we are all charged with. However, Mr. Daley feels that something is missing and that he has not reached his full potential. He documents his dreams in this book and tries to attach some type of value to them during the course of his day. At times he is overcome by a feeling that he has lost control and that he is not prepared, as his dreams switch from one scene to another. There are so many parts of his inner-self that crave attention as well as outside factors that need to be addressed. He and his friend Alex take up white water rafting in this stage of his life as a means of recapturing their youth and they discover a natural and legal high. At first, they feel their way down the rapids with little skill and some success. However, as the book progresses Mr. Daley conquers his fears and insecurities as he battles fearlessly through the rapids, and he begins to awaken from his life and reach towards his true potential. It is as if the worries of his life have vanished to be replaced by a true appreciation of life itself. Time has stopped, material things began to sloth away as every beam of sunlight and every part of God's creation teaches Mr. Daley about his inner-self and how he has evolved based on his experiences and dreams. He acknowledges the fact that we are who we make ourselves to be. Nothing in life is totally out of control, as it is perceived. If you tackle a series of problems in the same manner that you tackle the powerful current as you navigate through vicious rapids, you can achieve success. Sometimes you have to "roll with the punches" and prepare yourself physically and mentally for the unpredictables that fate and destiny assign to us. Perhaps that was not his entire message, but Mr. Daley's inspiration has awakened a part of my psyche to believe that this is what it means to me. I had some trouble placing the genre primarily because this book can mean so many positive things in so many ways. The imagery is vivid and you may find yourself gasping or holding your breath as you ride the rapids with Mr. Daley. He is a true artist well verse in the use of words and descriptions to take you to the places that he has been and to travel down the river that he has conquered. "Tasting the White Water" is a remarkable piece of literature free from any "fluff" or unnecessaries. Every word in this book and every scenario offered ties into his central theme that man is still truly asleep in his potential. To awaken we must first realize that we are asleep and then we are prepared to take the next step.
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