EQReader

Ok, so there are parts I am going to have to go back and listen to again. There's a lot of detail here about this era across the world. Karen tracks the big religious ideas across four cultures: Judea, India, Greece, and China and she doesn't skimp when providing the context. I have found it an immensely satisfying relatively "short" history of man's relationship to the idea of God and Ultimate Reality at the (again, relative) beginnings of the big cultures that shaped the last coupla thousand years.Easy enough here to see how those ideas have changed in accordance with and often to accommodate--but also to shape--the social and political landscape. Karen narrates her own book easily and with a great pace. I thought I would get tired of her British accent (I often do with Brit narrators) but found her nicely bass voice even and pleasant.

So many good reviewers were not wrong. This is an exceptional book, and I'm thrilled there are so many more in this series. I don't even ever want to see what they did with these characters on TV. George Guidall is masterful at the many characters, and I especially enjoy his rendition of Henry Standing Bear--who gets the best straight man lines. George hits it pitch perfect.

This is a great treatment of a common Buddhist topic. Most meditation retreats take some time for Metta (translated as Lovingkindness), and it's a good practice as one of many. What was inspiring about Sharon's story is that she went on a retreat for something like six weeks and only practiced Metta. This is the stuff of deep transformation especially in one's attitude toward the self. When you start meditating and, I guess, for a long time thereafter, who you're hearing is your self, after all, so it's good if you can cultivate some gentleness and friendliness towards your self, because otherwise you'll just be annoyed all the time. Sharon Salzberg's voice is perfect for her own work. Some Buddhist authors/narrators sound a little spacey and slow, but not so for this author. I really liked that I could listen to the whole book on one drive. Satisfying and not schmaltzy.

Ok, so I agree with many other writers that Jerry is not as fabulous to listen to as Esther. However, with this book, I don't think it matters, and Jerry's very sweet spirit shines through. I so appreciate that Abraham/Hicks took the time to offer detailed examples of upstream thoughts on a topic vs downstream (better vibration) thoughts on a topic. Jerry was particularly amusing as he talked through the example of being on a diet and wanting to eat a cookie. I am grateful and will listen again when I find myself thinking "yeah--I get the whole law of attraction thing but how the heck do I think differently about this rotten situation?" I think of Jerry now as just the coolest uncle I never had.