The Madman

De: Khalil Gibrán

Narrado por: Arthur Brown

Kahlil Gibran's The Madman was the first book he penned in English. Beautifully written, it is a short collection of parables on God, animals, human nature, and life's big questions. Not as well known as his classic The Prophet, but some would say just as inspirational, or possibly more so.

Read the first verse here and decide for yourself, or better still, listen to the sample of Arthur Browns' beautiful narration. You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen, the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives, I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves." Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me. And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house top cried, "He is a madman." I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, "Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks." Thus I became a madman.

And I have found both freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief.

©1918 White Crow Productions Ltd (P)2009 White Crow Productions Ltd

Madman indeed

Classic reflection of life itself, and the interpretive meaning attached to individual perception of value. Deviance is the foundation to innovation.

Excellent read!

I wish I owned the book, now. I want to go back and review some of the short stories again

The madman in us all

The Mad Man is a beautiful short book of poems and parables that are thought provoking and nuanced. Gibran looks at the multiple fronts we display to the world versus the inner essence of which we are and how the mind struggles to deal with the ambiguities inherent in that existence. Favorite quote: “My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear-a care-woven garment that protects me from thy questionings and thee from my negligence.”

Great Tales

This book was brought up in a discussion about a wrestlers character change (Jonathan Gresham) and I felt that this was a book I had to hear. I can honestly say that I made the right decision. Sean D. James

Artful mystical narration!

Profound spiritual teachings with masterful narration. The Madman ponders the depths and purpose of human existence.

An Interesting, if Somewhat Dark Series of Short Vignettes

I am intentionally differentiating between the reading performance and the work itself. I rate the performance as "five stars" as the reading is professional and accurate. I read while listening. The work itself is a series of seemingly metaphorical and allegorical vignettes, almost like a prosaic form of poetry. Much of this work seems dark to me. There is much need for interpretation and contemplation, without which the exercise is not as valuable and may in fact prove pointless. Personally I did enjoy the experience and am interested in studying the author. Think You...

The Narrator is awesome.

Awesome Narration, I enjoy the reading and will be listening to this audio again.