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50 Spiritual Classics  By  cover art

50 Spiritual Classics

By: Tom Butler-Bowdon
Narrated by: Richard Poe
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Publisher's summary

Discover the books that have already changed the lives of millions. This unabridged guide to the literature of the spirit surveys 50 of the all-time classics, giving you their key ideas, insights, and applications - everything you need to know to start benefiting from these legendary works.

From Eastern philosophers (Krishnamurti, Thich Nhat Hanh) and Western mystics (St. Francis of Assisi, Hermann Hesse) to inspiring memoirs (Ghandi, Malcolm X) and current blockbusters (The Purpose-Driven Life, The Power of Now), these are the authors and books that have already guided millions on the journey of inner discovery and enlightenment.

As you are introduced to landmark works ranging from the classic (The Prophet, The Alchemy of Happiness) to the contemporary (The Four Agreements, Conversations with God), you will learn how to:

  • Fulfill your potential through life-changing stories of spiritual awakening
  • Expand your perception
  • Achieve a deeper sense of purpose
  • Gain insights into life's biggest questions.

Spanning centuries, spiritual traditions, and secular beliefs, 50 Spiritual Classics is a comprehensive course in inspiration for all spiritual seekers.

©2006 Tom Butler-Bowdon (P)2006 Gildan Media Corp
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about 50 Spiritual Classics

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

useful as review or starting point

This is a good memory aid for books you may have read long ago, or books with which you want a nodding acquaintance for cultural literacy. While it's OK for helping you pick future reads, the compendium itself is getting a little dated. Also, I'd classify some of the works covered as more as "self-development" than spiritual. There are few theolgical-spiritual or Buddhist infused selections - more the well-known (old) classics and more recent pop-psych spirituality types.

It is dry - not meant as a relaxing or indepth coverage of any of the authors. What you see in the product add is what you get. If you are heading for a desert island, better to pick one good book on spirituality and take that instead.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A Little Dry

The technical coverage of the 50 texts was good - what would have helped was a little more colour or emotion by the reader to help make the various messages come alive. It was much like hearing a thesis covering 50 popular works -- so was sometimes a little dry. Still a good reference for one who wants to know about various spiritual works.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great review

This book reviews 50 of the most interesting Spiritual Classics and serves as a platform from which to select the books to read to help Self development. Without the followup of the original books, this would just be a mere expression of the desire to improve one's self without doing much about it.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

What a Spring board

For anybody interested in seeking the truth this recording is just wonderful. With a brief narration of 50 spiritual books it has really helped as some of my deepest beliefs aren't foolish, they are shared by others who have written books. I have purchase 3 of the 50 books since listening to this tape. Also, if you are a "cut to the chase" kind of person then this will blow you away.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth the Credit

I liked this book because it was a great introduction to other books and authors that I had never heard of. Then it suddenly became an opportunity for me to discover a lot of new and wonderful things. I love when that happens...one great thing leads to another. And for that reason alone - the book is worth the credit.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite narrator!!

Richard Poe nails it again with his electrifying tone, clarity and emotion. Other than that, the book was amazing!

Mr. Bowdon’s books are excellent and I’m determine to read all his work! He truly has that amazing paraphrasing Touch! Thanks

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING!

Great summaries that are understandable and applicable. I couldn’t stop myself from listening to this.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvelous companion to the faithful

I love the voice or the narrator & the stories shared of religious experiences across 50 very different books was marvelous.. these overviews inspired several purchases for the actual books.. it’s a must listen to anyone who longs for a sense of spiritually in their life or already has a strong spiritual core - they book is an absolute joy .. I’ve gone in many walks and listened to various chapters. The nice thing is, these stories aren’t sequential so you can listen from any chapter and still be moved by the stories therein :)

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

51 Chapters - no table of contents information

Individual segments are quite interesting, but there is no master list with individual writers and works discussed in each chapter. Some individual chapters are worth a re-listen, but no way to find them again. 50 classics without an index or detailed table of contents is practically useless. Why doesn't this at least have a PDF list online?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

how can you not read this?

Great abstracts from a wide selection of spiritual literature. heavily emphasizes eastern thought yet provides eye opening reviews in an understandable presentation.

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