Customer Reviews (7)

This is a keeper
Gary gets better and better.If you're trying to establish a way to start the day on a positive note, but you're not a morning person, this is it.Every passage is only 1-1/2 to 2 pages long, incredibly profound but also understandable if you're not at your peak understanding in the mornings.Page 196 that addresses the question "How do I avoid being drawn into the chaos of others?" is worth the price of the book.Thank you, Gary, and keep up the good work!

Meat for the Soul
I have read all of Gary Zukav's books and I find Soul to Soul to be his best. It follows Seat of the Soul with nourishing meat for the Soul that is easy to understand and fills you with what is needed for your Spiritural Growth. What a journey.

Soulful
I am a huge fan of Gary's and this follow in his tradition of fabulous thoughtful books.I do not think it was as good as his other titles but it was an easier read for those who are starting to re-evaulate their thinking.

wisdom and compassion
I like the structure of this book; the chapter titles are honest, direct, and poetic.The "Soul Subject" discussion offers readers opportunities to connect with the themes without being didactic.The rich lyricism of the writing makes the reading experience fluid and reflective.I found myself skipping around in the book to read sections with topics I found intriguing and then going back to read the book in sequential order.The message of thinking, acting intentionally to develop authentic power and the reminder that we are all on a collective journey to develop wisdom and compassion weave through every analogy, narrative, and response.
The book's conversational tone is inviting, sincere, and powerful.

The Meat of the Soul
I enjoy reading Gary because he is an excellent writer, and he has interesting insights into what could be called the laws of the universe. I don't agree with all of his ideas, though. For example, Gary has been saying for years that emotions are the forcefield of the soul. In my experience, emotions have nothing to do with the soul. Emotions come from thoughts. It is my mind that makes me angry over something one moment, and it is my mind that has the ability to transform that anger into something else. My soul remains unchanged in the process. My soul is divine and connected at every moment of life. It is my mind that creates emotional ups and downs and fragments reality.

But a great deal of Zukavs perceptions/ideas do have a certain ring of truth. It is not necessary for one to agree with everything he writes in order to benefit. Read him with an open mind and an open heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thoughts from the Heart of the Soul
This book is an excellent source of meditative thoughts for those who have already read Gary Zukav's books, "The Seat of the Soul," "The Mind of the Soul," and "The Heart of the Soul."Carry it along with you to create moments of contemplation when you are held up waiting---for example in a doctor's office or some other appointment.

gary zukav's"thoughts from the heart of the soul"
using the philosophy from the "seat of the soul", he gives daily bits of most profound and direct wisdom. a treasure chest. an insightful and helpful companion for one on an upward spiritual path. part of my daily meditation, and a favorite gift to give.

Excellent Book to Heal Your Heart
Heart of the Soul is a gem of wisdom that brings clarity to your thoughts, old negative beliefs, and illuminates your mind with soul wisdom to help you rise above the negativity of the past in order to live from the heart center.
I found that each page carries wisdom that is relevant, illuminating, and will definitely awaken your mind to help you get un-stuck in any area where your heart might be blocked. Recommended from my heart,
Barbara Rose, author of "Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE" and 'If God Was Like Man'
Editor of inspire! magazine
... Read more

Amazon.com
We are all students in the "Earth school," according to authors Gary Zukav and Linda Francis in The Heart of the Soul. And the time has come to create a whole new lesson plan. For thousands of years we were outwardly focused, as we mastered the tasks of cultivating food and building shelter. Unfortunately, we are still outwardly fixated, obsessively accumulating more wealth, material objects, and power. "What enabled our species to survive so long is now bad medicine. In fact, it is poison," according to Zukav and Francis. What we need now is an inward focus, in which we cultivate the heart and live in alignment with our souls.

As it turns out, The Heart of the Soul is a timely guidebook, with a release date exactly three months after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. "The pursuit of external power produces physical violence and destruction between nations. You can see this in every newscast," the authors write:

Billions of people live in poverty, are hungry, and suffer oppression, and brutality. Changing these circumstances requires our hearts. It requires the ability to feel the pain and joy of others, and to take their needs as seriously as we take our own.

In The Seat of the Soul, Zukav brilliantly set forth his fundamental concepts, explaining how the expansion of human perception beyond the five senses leads to a new understanding of power as the alignment of the personality with the soul -- "authentic power." In Soul Stories, he showed how such concepts as harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life express themselves in other people's lives. Now, in The Heart of the Soul, he and Francis take the next major step forward in showing us the importance of emotional awareness in applying these concepts to our own daily lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Heart of The Soul
I read this book in 2002 and enjoyed it so much.It is very interesting and helped me acquire more information about myself and my emotions. I am more conscious of my behavior and emotions. I highly recommend this book and any books by the authors. I am a massage therapist and now I am able to share the life-changing information with my clients. The two authors, Gary Zukav and Linda Francis did an excellent job by delivering a simple, yet useful book for everyone to enjoy.The information may seem unrealistic initially, although when applied to everyday living, it works.
... Read more

Book Description

People make hundreds of choices every day, yet most individuals feel they have little control over their own lives. Now Gary Zukav, author of the monumental bestseller The Seat of the Soul, joinshis spiritual partner, Linda Francis, in a revolutionary look at the power of choice and how to use it wisely. They explain how changing our decision-making can help us avoid self-defeating patterns of thought and action -- and help us take control of our lives by creating authentic, positive power.

Whether your choices are large ones -- concerning work, marriage, parenting, or divorce -- or smaller day-to-day choices, such as shouting or showing annoyance when you are angry, they carry consequences for which you must assume responsibility. You will discover that in any situation one choice among the many that present themselves to you is the optimal choice -- to create harmony, cooperation, sharing, or reverence for life. When you make this choice, you gain the freedom to experiment with your life, learn to change yourself instead of blaming others, open your heart, and develop authentic power.

The Mind of the Soul is packed with specific, and practical exercises that make you a participant in the process of responsible choice. The discoveries you make here will become a permanent part of your life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Useful, not much new, nicely written
Though I'm agnostic concerning the `new physics' (of which Zukav is an early advocate) I found this book to be very readable, almost simple. There is much for the choir here: after some short praise for science as a valuable tool `for the five senses' he jumps directly into `the science of the soul which is not limited to the five senses.' There is no explanation or argument here - maybe he does that in other books - and the reader is just expected to follow along. For those of us who don't follow along there is still good stuff here. His ideas concerning choice and responsibility are excellent as are his encouragements for self-understanding.

Still, though, there are such obvious and glaring inconsistencies that I think I must have missed something. Zukav takes an entire chapter, for example, to explain that you should give heed to you `inner landscape' and if something doesn't feel `right' or `good' then you shouldn't do it. (Horrible advice, I think. Feelings should be only one component of a decision and have been often known to lie.) This seems to be a recipe for a cloistered life, never moving out from what is comfortable. In later chapters he writes about how frightening it can be to move out of our comfort zones when our feelings are so at odds with our desires... I suppose this can be resolved with the New Age mantras that `There is no real good or bad,' or `There is no reality - it is all perception.'

All of the common themes are here - harmony, attention, attraction, the primacy of feelings - nothing new to the self-help reader but the `homey' spin and usefulness for reflection make it better than most.

Useful, more fodder for the choir
Though I'm agnostic concerning the `new physics' (of which Zukav is an early advocate) I found this book to be very readable, almost simple. There is much for the choir here: after some short praise for science as a valuable tool `for the five senses' he jumps directly into `the science of the soul which is not limited to the five senses.' There is no explanation or argument here - maybe he does that in other books - and the reader is just expected to follow along. For those of us who don't follow along there is still good stuff here. His ideas concerning choice and responsibility are excellent as are his encouragements for self-understanding.

Still, though, there are such obvious and glaring inconsistencies that I think I must have missed something. Zukav takes an entire chapter, for example, to explain that you should give heed to you `inner landscape' and if something doesn't feel `right' or `good' then you shouldn't do it. (Horrible advice, I think. Feelings should be only one component of a decision and have been often known to lie.) This seems to be a recipe for a cloistered life, never moving out from what is comfortable. In later chapters he writes about how frightening it can be to move out of our comfort zones when our feelings are so at odds with our desires... I suppose this can be resolved with the New Age mantras that `There is no real good or bad,' or `There is no reality - it is all perception.'

All of the common themes are here - harmony, attention, attraction, the primacy of feelings - nothing new to the self-help reader but the `homey' spin and usefulness for reflection make it better than most.

Bad form, Mr. Guru
More repetitive, predictable, miserable garbage from a man seeking only to make money with his new age iconography. Don't prey on other people's instability to work through what are clearly your own issues with your experience in Vietnam, Mr. Zukav.

I might believe his 'teachings' if it wasn't so obvious the goal was to make money. Zukav's organization's complete lack of charitable donation, community reachout, or any form of selfless action I can only write him off as a well versed hack.

Insightful!
Gary Zukav and Linda Francis contend, perhaps reasonably, that a decision and an opportunity confront you every instant. You can choose to remain bogged down in a rut of habit and fear, or to break loose and create a boundless new future. This book - the newest in their "Seat of the Soul" series, which the authors seem to assume you have read - urges you to liberate yourself from the burden of the past, which they maintain really need be no burden. Fear not, hate not, resent not. Instead, chose harmonious cooperation, love, freedom, reverence and peace, choices that lead to true happiness. The authors maintain that you truly are free to choose, and exhort you to take responsibility for your choices. Abundant hypothetical examples, personal anecdotes and exercises provide the intellectual foundation, such as it is, for their New Age-flavored advice. We choose to believe that people who appreciate confident self-help counsel will find much here to savor. Skeptics, who may find that so many upbeat pronouncements give them the jitters, have made alternate choices and need not apply.

Insightful!
Gary Zukav and Linda Francis contend, perhaps reasonably, that a decision and an opportunity confront you every instant. You can choose to remain bogged down in a rut of habit and fear, or to break loose and create a boundless new future. This book - the newest in their "Seat of the Soul" series, which the authors seem to assume you have read - urges you to liberate yourself from the burden of the past, which they maintain really need be no burden. Fear not, hate not, resent not. Instead, chose harmonious cooperation, love, freedom, reverence and peace, choices that lead to true happiness. The authors maintain that you truly are free to choose, and exhort you to take responsibility for your choices. Abundant hypothetical examples, personal anecdotes and exercises provide the intellectual foundation, such as it is, for their New Age-flavored advice. We choose to believe that people who appreciate confident self-help counsel will find much here to savor. Skeptics, who may find that so many upbeat pronouncements give them the jitters, have made alternate choices and need not apply. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This collection of 280 thoughts by Gary Zukav (inspired by hisbestseller The Seat of theSoul) is packaged like a one-a-day spiritual vitamin. The spiral-boundbook can be propped open on a desktop or a kitchen counter. Readers simply flipthe pages to find a quote to meditate on every day. Some of the quotes are truegems of wisdom, such as "The decisions that you make and the actions that youtake upon the earth are the means by which you evolve" or "If you strike withoutcompassion against the darkness, you yourself enter the darkness." Some offermore intellectual fodder than spiritual awareness, such as "Try looking at lifeas a beautifully well-organized dynamic." And only a few border oncliché, as in "No two people have the same reality." Nonetheless,Thoughts from the Seat of the Soul makes a great workplace or at-home companion--adaily reminder of why we're here and the true work we have before us. --GailHudsonBook Description

The Journey Toward Authentic Power

Thoughts from the Seat of the Soul is a beautiful collection of carefully chosen excerpts from Gary Zukav's celebrated bestseller The Seat of the Soul. Slip this lovely little book into your purse or bag and take it with you wherever you go. Turn the pages as you are drawn -- you can be inspired every day or once an hour, or you can meditate on your favorite thought all month. Use it as an oracle, or to stimulate deeper insight, joy, and appreciation of your life and the lives of others. This powerful volume is for those who are growing in consciousness and for those who want to. It is the perfect gift for someone you love or for yourself.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Thoughts From the Seat of the Soul
This book is an excellent meditative companion for those who have read Gary Zukav's other books--"Seat of the Soul," "The Heart of the Soul," and "The Mind of the Soul" as well as "Soul Stories" and "The Dancing Wu Li Masters."I keep my copy of this book in my car where I can grab moments of mini-meditation when I am stuck in traffic or waiting for my daughter to get out of school.

The Best Thoughts
Gary Zukav has really put together a great compilation of "Seat of the Soul" into this book. It is inspiring, and helps bring me back to center. I recommend this to anyone that cold use some inspiration combined with wonderful concepts that will help you in your life.

Gary's thoughts are wonderful
Gary Zukav has taken his book, The Seat of the Soul, and pulled out the best parts, the parts you would have underlined or highlighted or marked with a star, and put them into a spiral bound, stank-alone book that I think is very useful to me. I flip open a page and let it sit on my desk here next to my computer and every now and then I glance over at it and think about it. It's well worth the price.

The Seat of the Soul
Gary's openness allowed me to be at ease looking within myself. Page 99 of the book let me know that I will always have assistance.I now know I will never be alone again.Every Human should read this book it brings all you have learned about God and the Universe into a place where you understand ...what was missing ....I now know it's going to be ok..Thanks Gary for giving me this tool.

All encompassing approach to Life
I have only just started reading this book and I already find it all encompassing.The teaching so far is significant for me and enlightening for my life path. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Gary Zukav's American Book Award-winning The Dancing Wu Li Masters masterfully introduces the layman to quantum and particle physics, as well as Einstein's relativity theories. With a similar dose of amiable, easy-to-understand prose, Zukav guides readers into the spiritual realm in his bestselling The Seat of the Soul.

Zukav questions the Western model of the soul, alleging that the human species is in the midst of a great transformation, evolving from a species that pursues power based upon the perceptions of the five senses--"external power"--to one that pursues power based upon perceptions of the soul--"authentic power." He believes that humans are immortal souls first, physical beings second, and that once we become conscious of this transformation--once we align our personalities with our soul--we will stimulate our spiritual growth and become better people in the process. This insightful, lucid synthesis of modern psychology and new-age principles has been described as the "physics of the soul." Who better to explain such heady concepts than Gary Zukav?Amazon.com Audiobook Review
Ready to attain a higher level of understanding? Author Gary Zukav can help you evolve into a multisensory being, one who "values love more than the physical world." As shown in The Dancing Wu Li Masters, his bestselling exploration of physics, Zukav has a gift for presenting complex, even mind-boggling concepts in clearly worded and reasoned logic. In Seat of the Soul, he leads you on an inspirational and potentially life-changing journey into the seemingly intangible realm of the spirit. Reading in a calm, soothing voice he explains why increased sensory perception will mark the next phase of human evolution, how the power of choice can change your existence, and what you can do to infuse your life with more compassion, trust, and understanding. (Running time: 3 hours, 2 cassettes) --George LaneyBook Description
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This hardcover edition of The Seat of the Soul celebrates its tenth anniversary. The Seat of the Soul became a national bestseller when it was first published, but more people are buying it now than ever before. Why is this?

It is because a new species is being born. The Seat of the Soul is about this birth. This new species longs for harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life. It uses higher orders of logic and justice -- those of the heart. The number of people who are becoming aware of this birth is growing very fast, because the new species is being born inside all of us.

The Seat of the Soul provides a vocabulary for this new species -- a vocabulary of authentic power, the alignment of the personality with the soul. Human experience is exploding beyond the five senses, and The Seat of the Soul is about that, too. This is the most exciting time to be on Earth, and The Seat of the Soul describes why.

As we become aware of our new abilities and values, like a baby opening its eyes and stretching its arms and legs for the first time, we are also becoming aware of an entirely new potential that we have never had before. I have been writing a book about this new potential for nine years. I am looking forward to sharing that with you, too.

The tremendous growth of interest in The Seat of the Soul is humbling to me. I dream of a world where people respect each other and the living Earth, and spiritual growth is the first priority. I work daily to develop the awareness, compassion, and intentions that are necessary to create it. The extraordinary reception of The Seat of the Soul shows me, among other things, how many fellow souls are doing the same.

The more this happens, the more I see myself, with gratitude, as a traveler among travelers, an experimenter among experimenters, and a soul among souls.

Gary Zukav

1999

... Read more

Customer Reviews (393)

The Seat of the Soul
An acquaintance of mine gave me "The Seat of the Soul" with high praises. To accord any praise at all for this book is much more than I can consciously offer. The author presents a theory as if he were the sole owner of all that is in his book of "wisdom." There is absolutely no acknowledgement of others who have explored the nature of soul. No documentation and no definition of what appears to be one of the author's central points, the "authentic personality."

Having said all this, let me say that I have no problem with much of what the author propounds in this book. It is his notion of the "multisensory" person whose soul is guided by its soul-force ranging for generations back in history that leaves me at a bus stop waving goodbye; and wondering why I ever got on the bus in the first place!

No proof whatsoever
The author does not provide any proof of animals having "group souls", vs. humans who have "individual souls".I believe my cats, and all higher animals have individual souls. The "group soul" mentality may help people eat their meat and continue to slaughter innocent animals for food. Nothing the author writes is proven - we're just supposed to take his word for it. Well, I don't believe it.

Good inspirational read
Good inspirational read on insightful topics for people who are already on a spiritual journey. Others, may not connect as the language may not be simple to understand. Overall, I recommend it.

Intuitive
In this book, Zukav's grammar is often appalling, especially toward the end of the book. Quite surprising for a national best seller. But the underlying insights and message expressed in this book are profoundly insightful and intuitive. Anyone with an ounce of spiritual awareness or psychic intuition will know that this book is clearly and wonderfully aligned with `What Is So'. This book is fantastic.

A spiritual journey in the realm of the soul!
This book was given to me as a gift some twenty years ago, and although it was highly recommended to me, I never read it. I have always been an avid reader, but I always found other titles more appealing--that is until I read `How to find God', by Deepak Chopra. Chopra mentions in his book that `The Seat of the Soul' is the best book he has read about the soul. Upon finishing Deepak's book, I plunged into `The Seat of the Soul', finally, and thankfully. I guess I need to send my friend a twenty years late thank you note.

There are many interesting concepts in the book.

According to the author, animals have a group soul. I found that to be extremely fascinating. For example, all horses share the same soul; all elephants share the same soul; all dolphins share the same soul; and so on. An animal does not have its own soul, but shares one soul with its entire specific species. There is only one soul for the hundreds of millions of cows in the world. This is why animals function on instincts.
Some group souls are higher spiritually than others. For example, the soul of dolphins is higher than all other sea creatures. In fact, many spiritual sects believe that a dolphin is the last stage of a soul before becoming reincarnated into a human being. So even in the animal kingdom, there are souls that are more evolved than others.

Every soul, whether human or animal, has a purpose. A dolphin, for example, has as a mission to bring beauty and love to the sea. But what if the soul cannot accomplish its mission or purpose? We have recently seen an increase in dead dolphins washing on beaches. Why is that? According to the author, dolphins are dying because they no longer can accomplish their purpose. It is not a mass suicide, but because dolphins are bringing onto themselves diseases that are killing them. Man is not respecting nature, and is killing the creatures of the sea, such as whales for example, at an alarming rate and for very selfish reasons. In other words, life forms are being massacred for profit! Other sea creatures are dying because of the pollution we are creating. As a result, the sea is no longer a peaceful, beautiful, and pure world, and the dolphins are no longer able to perform their duties as guardians of beauty and serenity to the sea. As a result, their soul has become diseased, and they are dying off.

The author uses the following analogy to describe disease and its effect on the soul. Imagine a piano and a piano player. If the piano is broken, it can be repaired. But no matter how perfect the piano is, if the player is sick, the sound or melody coming from the piano will be less than perfect. However, if the piano is less than perfect, with some faults in it that can't be repaired, but the player is in perfect spirits, the music played will be beautiful. Furthermore, if the piano breaks, the player can always fix it. But if the player breaks (so to speak), the piano cannot repair the player. In this scenario, the piano represents the body, and the player represents the soul. If our soul is healthy, we will always be healthy and we will be projecting positive energy. However, if our soul is diseased, we too will be diseased, and we will be projecting negative energy.

There are many reasons why our soul can become diseased. One of the main reasons is that we find no purpose to our life, or in other words, are unable to fulfill our soul's purpose. Disease and soul are therefore linked. Ever hear of miraculous healings, such as the paralyzed suddenly walking or terminally ill patients suddenly recovering? In their case, their soul was healed, which in turn healed their bodies. Now that's a really interesting concept. Instead of trying to find ways of healing the body, science must now concentrate on better understanding the soul and diagnosing and treating the soul, not the body. When the soul is healthy, the body is healthy.

Another powerful healer is Love (with a capital `L'). Love heals all. The soul is Love. In fact, when we die, we return to our state of pure Love. The soul cannot know anything but Love, and all its intentions are for Love. However, here on earth, our personality takes hold of us, and shapes our actions. At death, the soul and personality are separated, and the soul returns to its pure form.

It is really important that we, as individuals, aim to achieving the purpose of our soul. We will earn negative karma if we do not succeed. For example, a giving and caring person might have as a `soul purpose' the goal of making the world a better place by giving to the poor or by creating humanitarian organizations. However, such a person's personality might interfere with his soul's purpose, and instead of directing his kindness and caring to the world, he might direct it towards his loved ones only, which will be interpreted in the universe as a selfish act. This is the reason why our soul falls ill, and as a result, our body falls ill too.

Another interesting concept is the `Law of Attraction', which has become popular in the book `The Secret', by Rhonda Byrne. According to the law of attraction, the universe gives you what you want. For example, if you always feel anger, the universe will give you more anger. If you feel love, and are surrounded by loving people, the universe will give you more love. In other words, positive energy attracts positive energy, and negative energy attracts negative energy. By being positive all the time, you will be attracting positive people and situations around yourself. So be positive!

How does the author know all that about the soul? Is he making this all up? After all, writers can easily create imaginary and fascinating worlds. Take Tolkien as an example. Or is it all a play with words? For example, Chopra says in `The Book of Secrets', that on death, it is the body that leaves the soul, and not the other way around. Is this merely a play with words, or a truth? And how does the author know this?

This book is fascinating, but because the soul cannot be proven scientifically, it remains in the domain of speculation and faith. The soul, like God, depends on faith, and faith alone. But what splendid things can befall one in such a belief!

Read this book and be inspired, and get to know yourself...ergo your soul.
... Read more

Amazon.com
At an Esalen Institute meeting in 1976, tai chi master Al Huang said that the Chinese word for physics is Wu Li, "patterns of organic energy." Journalist Gary Zukav and the others present developed the idea of physics as the dance of the Wu Li Masters--the teachers of physical essence. Zukav explains the concept further:

The Wu Li Master dances with his student. The Wu Li Master does not teach, but the student learns. The Wu Li Master always begins at the center, the heart of the matter.... This book deals not with knowledge, which is always past tense anyway, but with imagination, which is physics come alive, which is Wu Li.... Most people believe that physicists are explaining the world. Some physicists even believe that, but the Wu Li Masters know that they are only dancing with it.

The "new physics" of Zukav's 1979 book comprises quantum theory, particle physics, and relativity. Even as these theories age they haven't percolated all that far into the collective consciousness; they're too far removed from mundane human experience not to need introduction. The Dancing Wu Li Masters remains an engaging, accessible way to meet the most profound and mind-altering insights of 20th-century science. --Mary Ellen Curtin Book Description
Particle physics is a science that few of us really understand.Indeed, it can be an intimidating, confusing study.Or it can be, as it is in The Dancing Wu Li Masters, a comprehensible, awe-inspiring world of absolute wonder and enchantment.In beautifully clear, often poetic language, with no mathematical equations, Gary Zukav presents this carefully abridged edition of his bestseller to open our minds to ideas that embrace the nature of the universe, and to help us gain intellectual and spiritual access to this often-baffling world.With the skill of a Zen master -- who, rather than tell us about a subject leads us to understand the experience of it -- Mr. Zukav discusses the essence of physics with the sense of fascination and inspiration we all feel when we look at the vastness of our universe.He probes its simplicity and its magic -- the universal dance of everything from stars and immense galaxies to invisible, sub-atomic particles -- and leads us to see and appreciate all of it with new eyes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

A classic in this genre
One of my favorites along with The Tao of Physics. If you like discussions bringing Western physics and Taoism together you should enjoy this.

Quantum Mechanics for the layperson
He says that QM without the math is pure wonderment at the Universe.Fascinating book.I read every book I can find on QM, now, because I first read this book.I am listening to it on CD right now.I see a lot of criticism of this kind of popularization of difficult technical material.To those people, I say, do a better job.SInce you haven't done that better job to date, I am reading this book, and enjoying every minute of it. Reading this book is an exercise in fascination.If school was taught the way this book is written, there would be no absenteeism.

Quantum discoveries and insight into conciousness
Bought this book from "Borders" though i normally buy from Amazon. Wonderful book for laymen like me to understand the course of modern Physics. Many experiments were very lucidly elaborated which helps us understand their conclusion in an easy way. I liked especially the Special Theory of Relativity section. Author clearly seems to indicate that "sense" perception does not lead to "complete truth". Perception is specific to "observer" and what is "intended to be observed".

A man and woman walking at a distance may be thought about as many things by many observers like a child may think it is its parents, a lover may imagine two lovers, a homosexual may think of the peculiarities of the world whilst a social worker may wonder how to make marriages successful and so on and so forth.

A holistic picture of the whole universe may be gotten by "intuition" rather than observation.

That the author suggests that the world is already perfect is a very rewarding observation. Everything is perfect in its own way. That we project our ideas about perfection onto the world and hence its "imperfection" is a sure statement and also avers the religious doctrines which suggest that imperfection cannot come from perfection... viz. God

The book is highly recommended for scientific but open minds which allow the magic of the world to trickle into their conciousness.

The whole world is filled with divine consciousness and miracles, paranormal phenomena, unadulterated love, extra sensory perception, vision, intuition are some of its attributes. What activates the senses, what projects the world into the mirror of the mind, what likes and dislikes, lives and dies, what fears and what is eternal are some questions that need to be asked. Consciousness is the answer.

Do particles like photons, sub atomic ones have consciousness? Looks like they do. The whole world is filled with it... why not them?

Read this one without fail and open yourself to the extraordinary spectacle called "WORLD"!

Physics for Dummies
Probably the best science book Ive ever read, and certainly no better way to explain quantum physics than this. Stripped of all the math related to it, you'll have fun with this one!!!!

understandable to normal people
Read this book a few years ago and just bought it recently for my wife so she could understand what I was talking about sometimes, and to tie in with other reading she is doing that mentions quantum physics. It explains the basic concepts in clear terms, making much more sense out of a VERY abstract field. If you want to understand what it is about, this is a good place to start. ... Read more

Book Description
Gary and Michael explain how we create the events in our lives with our thoughts and intentions, and he puts us in touch with our ability to transform ourselves and our planet by accepting our own inherent, authentic power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Interesting
Interesting CD. In the other reviews, I also found it interesting how people pervceive things so differently. He is NOT saying that violence, the Holocost, etc is OK, he is saying to look at these horrific events and learn from them and see what HAS come from them. It is too bad that someone would be so limited minded to not even finish the cd before it was done, and to try to understand where he is coming from. This reaction, is exactly what he is speaking about: limited thinking, opinions, beliefs, negitive agendas, etc, has got us in this pickle we are all in TOGETHER. The CD is rather unlike other audio cd's, but still has valuable content-I guess it just depends on the spiritual (not religious) level one is on to
be able to actually understand where he is coming from. I enjoyed the conversation between the two men. I didn't think it seemed "staged", but I was more into what was being said than how it was said.

Drivel
Run do not walk away from this tape. This man has no idea what he is talking about. The world is more compassionate because of the Holocaust? We have moved away from brutality and violence as a result? Political prisoners and victims of genocide, war crimes and mass murder around the world for the past 60 years will be greatly relieved to find this out. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of women and children who have been sold into slavery in the booming international sex trade in the last decade alone. It is outrage to suggest that there are no victims, and that these people are simply reaping what they have sewed in a previous life. Even if true, what an invitation to self congratulatory and heartless indifference. When I reached the point where Zukav was about to say that we "do not know what contract children who are victims of sexual abuse may have made" (regarding their experiences in this lifetime), I popped the tape out of the player and tossed it in the back seat. If it didn't belong to the local library, I would have tossed it a lot farther than that.

A must have !!!
I listened to this tape while traveling from Europe to the US a few weeks ago and although english isn't my native language I really enjoyed it. My favorite part is where Gary tells us how he himself became convinced of the existence of other dimensions than the physical one. An open mind is a good starting point before reading or listening to any of Gary's works. I saw a reviewer of one of the books who complained about Gary not including God in his visions, well you should propably come back in your next incarnation and read the book again and hopefully you will see the light. So this is definitly a must have just like all of Garys work! (sorry for my poor english...)

Don't Waste Your Time and Money
This single tape is a one hour radio interview.It is not an abridgedreading of a book.There is very little content. And the recording is notprofessionally done.I found it annoying listening to these two men wheezeand swallow for an hour while expounding on meaningless new age jargon. There was nothing thatwas helpful about obtaining Authentic Power.

A Real Treat
This is the audio tape of an interview Gary did with New Dimensions Radio many years ago. Anyone who is enthusiastic about Gary's ideas will enjoy hearing him answer these difficult questions. Even if it were"staged" (which I don't believe), the questions are pertinent andthe answers are deep and interesting and make you reflect on your ownbeliefs. If it doesn't resonate with you, put it aside, but it definitelyresonated with me! ... Read more

Amazon.com
One of Gary Zukav's many gifts as a speaker and bestselling writer is his ability to present complicated metaphysical and spiritual themes in a way that is simultaneously down-to-earth and spine-tingling. How does he do it? Through story--the oldest and most powerful form of teaching the mind and touching the heart. As a frequent guest on Oprah, Zukav has also discovered that the American public is starved for grounded information on ethereal topics such as intuition, soulful relationships, and nonhuman teachers.

Soul Stories is a collection of true tales that speak to themes such as "Reincarnation," "A Higher Form of Reasoning," "Psychic Archaeology," "The New Female," and "Universal Humans." Some stories come from Zukav's personal experience, like his sister's auto accident and his mother instantly knowing that her daughter was hurt even though they were 100 miles apart. It is tempting to view these 52 tales of fate, coincidence, and sixth sense with an air of doubt. "You have to decide," Zukav warns. "That means thinking about it and, even more important, discovering what you feel about it. Eventually, you might find that what you feel about a Soul Story is more important to you than what you think about it." No matter what you feel about the individual tales, you will leave this book trusting that the best way to understand the meaning and mysteries of life is through story. --Gail HudsonBook Description
Writing with profound psychological and spiritual insight, prize-winning author Gary Zukav has had a major impact on the consciousness of our entire generation. His number-one national bestseller. The Seat of the Soul, has been a life-changing experience for millions of Americans.

In Soul Stories, Gary Zukav shows how this new understanding of power -- authentic power -- transforms lives in countless ways.

Here too, is the story of Zukav's own personal evolution. He writes openly and intimately about periods of his life when he felt jealousy, competitiveness, fear, anger, and about how his understanding of these emotions changed with his awakening consciousness and recognition of a Universe that is alive and compassionate.

Soul Stories is filled with marvelous true stories that show how intuition, harmony, sharing, and forgiveness actually express themselves in people's lives. Best of all, the stories lead to practical advice on how you can discover your own Soul Stories and the truths they reveal about the deepest sources of your being. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (83)

Understanding Soul
Great read when your feeling down, The best explainations of love and life and easy to understand and read... Thank you Gary .. Nicole Author Rainy day poems and more 1 and 2

A touching book that makes one think!
As an avid reader of Brian Weiss, I had thought that I would have another dose of past life stories because of the title "Soul Stories". I was surprised, instead, to find several short stories that brought home the fact that many concepts including those of intuition, harmony, forgiveness etc. express themselves in our day-to-day ordinary lives, each and every day. We simply need to look within ourselves in order to find our own stories. A touching book that makes one think!

Starts off well, then turns to pee-cee mush
I read one of this author's earlier books and found his karmic theories both creative and interesting but not entirely convincing.I recently acquired his THE DANCING WU-LI MASTERS and will read it next.

Now as for SOUL STORIES, the first part was done very well I thought.It borrows very heavily from Buddhist cosmology which is a major interest of mine and there is nothing original by Zukav there, but it was good to read nonetheless because he synthesizes it in a very clear and readable manner.

Then the rest of the book becomes the usual trendy, politically correct, pop culture nonsense.Artificially reversing gender roles, categorizing all humans as individually 'special' but as 'the same' in value, rejecting 'earth suits' as having no inherent value whatever, etc.Each of us being so special and unique but of the same worth, it is similar to the trendy thing where everyone celebrates their birthday on the same day in order to force-feed equality and make everyone feel good - and thus eliminiate the REAL special-ness of the individual and REAL birthdays and their celebration.With this kind of touchy-feely formula, everyone who is 'special' and 'unique' winds up in a vast, gray, boring mass.

I personally much prefer the more noble Vedantic philosophy of a Nature inherently without any equality but in which individual humans are each given the opportunity to set themselves on a path towards the godhead/truth, their individual value and uniqueness predicated on how far they have moved themselves towards enlightenment and service to God.Most people are too materialist and selfish to get on the path at all and thus their value/uniqueness is low, others begin ascending but don't get very far.Yet a tiny few progress well and nobly and courageously upwards - THEY have great value and genuine uniqueness.THEY have risen above that boring gray mass of non-value.

I doubt if Zukav would really understand any of that.He is just too pee-cee, period.AND is isn't the sort of thing people like to read as it doesn't make them feel good.

This author has an interesting background but how he wound up immersed in all this New Age silliness is beyond me.Perhaps he is just cynically cashing in, as it is the sort of popular stuff people want to buy nowadays.Authors like this are a dime a dozen.As in, stick with the herd, feed the herd, and fatten on their stupidity.

Author of Suicide/The Explosion Within
I found Gary Zukav's Soul Stories well written and very enlightening.I believe that there are several ways that our higher power makes its presence known to us, bringing forth knowlege, as well.There are many religions in the world and many thoughts of what soul, spirit and awareness is, forcing us all to think of each other's level of consciousness, before passing judgement.Depending on each person's level of consciousness, one could argue the credibility of what is written. I believe that each person seeks God, or his/her higher power, according to an individual personality. This is a book that I have and will continue to read, over and over again with each time finding out something new about myself.

Soul Stories
Gary Zukov is a completely different person, apparently, than he once was. It's hard to imagine Mr. Zucov being anything other than the poet, the empathetic, the authentic author of The Seat of the Soul. In this, Soul Stories, he speaks of his past experiences and behaviors and in the changes that have taken place as he grew into his true nature. The reader is compelled to evaluate his own self as the author entertains with his traditional poetic style. This book was a gift to me from my daughter, and no one knows me better. I love this book. I turn to it often, and I trust others do as well. A nice companion to The Seat of the Soul. ... Read more

Book Description
Gary Zukav has written the bible for those who are curious about the mind-expanding discoveries of advanced physics, but who have no scientific background.

Like the Wu Li masters who teach wonder for the failing petal before speaking of gravity, Zukav writes in beautiful, clear language -- with no mathematical equations -- opening our minds to the exciting new theories that are beginning to illuminate the ultimate nature of our universe...quantum mechanics, relativity and beyond.

"The most exciting intellectual adventure I've been on." (The New York Times) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Changed my Life
Pay no attention that one person who gave this book a bad review. It has probably been the most important book I have ever read. I have given more copies of this book to other people than any other book. After reading it, the world made sense to me for the first time.

#1: I LOVE science and this book explained things I've always wanted to understand.

#2: It keeps the beauty and mystery and magic in the explanations, so that the science is not dry, but exciting, making one want to learn more.

#3: Though it is a book on physics, it probably made me more convinced there is a God than any religious book I've ever read.

Mind Expanding to the fullest extent
This book is THE book to read for those who are not familiar with complex math, but are interested in the basic principles of quantum physics. First, I must say that anyone who gives this book a bad rating has either not understood any of the material or not read the book at all [...]. It covers all aspects of basic quantum theory from the first beginnings of it (Plank's constant, discovery of quanta through study of Black-body radiation; wave-particle duality, Heisenburg's uncertainty principle, Schrodinger's wave equation & wave functions, etc...) to relatively newer quantum theory (the Space-Time Continuum, Black Holes, Bell's theorum, quantum logic, etc...) as best as english (combined with articulate diagrams) can describe WITHOUT MATH. This book contains the best desciption and examples of Einstein's Special and General Theories of Relativity that I have ever UNDERSTOOD. Coupled with Zukav's amiable style this book is an extreme pleasure to read. One thing I found foresightful was that many parts of the book have footnotes that are written by physists who previewed the book and expounded upon the writing therein with by clarifying concepts for those who are familiar with physics and math already. 95% of this book is about understanding these new ideas (more specifically being led upon the road to experience and understanding rather than having things crammed into your brain just to be regurgitated into nothingness) and 5% (in the introduction and last chapter mostly) about how this "New Physics" coorelates to eastern religious views (NOT NEW AGE RELIGION) that have been in practice for thousands of years. The book comes complete with bibliography of all the literature Zukav has referenced in his own quest to understand quantum physics and the nature of reality and a extremely complete index that is very useful when you need it. Over all this book was relatively very easy to read (when it comes to science books) and I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about how reality is defined.

the prologue alone is worth the whole book!
Zukav gives us a sterling example of quantum physics in layman's terms with this book. Well written. He guides the reader through the amazing concepts of his subject with prime example, steadily stretching our imaginations to begin to grasp the principles that underlie our Universe, as currently understood. His prologue to Dancing Wu Li Masters is masterful in and of itself; artfully weaving mythos into current scientific standard, the summation of which is breathtaking: simple and true. I have handed this book to my friends and said, "Just read the intro...". They are hooked. This book is a 'standby' for me; always handy to pick up and open to any passage and have plenty to think about. It rests with Hawking, Capra, Castaneda and Chopra, all 'my' re-readable inspirations! It can be read en toto or in sections after the first reading. I am not a critic or a scientist, just an avid reader, and I had to contribute. Thanks!

How appropriate this monster was written by Finkelstein.
Oh, my mistake I thought this was stitched together by Frankenstein not Finkelstein. Talk about gluten for punishment I read this twice. I swear the person that wrote this does not have a TV. I noticed that some reviewers refer to the "New Physics" is that like "New Age"?

90% of the matter must be missing from this book. Or how else can he take physics out of context and make such fantastic leaps to religions that he knows little of. He even twists the religion around to serve some unknown purpose.

Many people say they did not understand physics until this book. Surprises, you still do not. You now know what Zukav wished physics was. Take anti-mater for instants that does not mean the opposite of mater. And the relationship between particles has no correlation with the relationship of dogs and cats.

At least get it straight before mixing it up. Try some to these:

The Ascent of Man by Jacob Bronowski ISBN: 0316109339

The Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran (Editor), Michael N. Nagler (Photographer) ISBN: 0915132397

Or just about any mainstream material on physics and religion.

Then if you still want to mix worlds into one read someone saner:

The Tao of Physics : An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism by Fritjof Capra ISBN: 0877735948 ... Read more

Product Description
At an Esalen Institute meeting in 1976, tai chi master Al Huang said that the Chinese word for physics is Wu Li, "patterns of organic energy." Journalist Gary Zukav and the others present developed the idea of physics as the dance of the Wu Li Masters--the teachers of physical essence. Zukav explains the concept further:The Wu Li Master dances with his student. The Wu Li Master does not teach, but the student learns. The Wu Li Master always begins at the center, the heart of the matter.... This book deals not with knowledge, which is always past tense anyway, but with imagination, which is physics come alive, which is Wu Li.... Most people believe that physicists are explaining the world. Some physicists even believe that, but the Wu Li Masters know that they are only dancing with it. The "new physics" of Zukav's 1979 book comprises quantum theory, particle physics, and relativity. Even as these theories age they haven't percolated all that far into the collective consciousness; they're too far removed from mundane human experience not to need introduction. The Dancing Wu Li Masters remains an engaging, accessible way to meet the most profound and mind-altering insights of 20th-century science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Idealistic...But...Not Realistic
I think the first thing, that one needs to relay about this book, is something Zukav says, at the very beginning. In the Forward, he in no uncertain terms lets the reader know that the thoughts he shares throughout this book, are how HE sees life, and he may not expect everyone to share his views. So after reading the entire book, I remembered those early words, and thought, what a clever way to say he has no proof of his theories on human behavior.

In "The Seat Of The Soul", Gary Zukav, presents some thought provoking ideas. He presents his theory that people are multi sensory beings, as opposed to 5 sensory. That we have a higher self, that not all of us can reach. Another is that we have souls, that live many life times. We have lessons to learn, and our soul will inhabit as many bodies as it takes to learn this lesson. It could be 5 life times or 50. He believes in universal love, in being reverent, and that love conquers and heals all. And further, there is nothing that love cannot heal. That we can empower ourselves by the choices we make.

These are all great ideals, and I think that Mr. Zukav has thought these things out and presented them for us to consider in a detailed manner. However wonderful it would be if everyone in the world, all the billions of people could love one another, the ideas are just not realistic. Who could possibly love Osama Bin-Laden? Yes, we make choices everyday, that lead out lives in one direction or another, and we should consciously make choices for the good. But there were times where Zukav seemed to me to contradict himself. He says, we should step in when we see a child being abused, but then he says, we should not send Armies to defend ourselves. This even though, I know he is not offering proof for any of his ideas, just did not make sense to me.

Toward the end of the book, he speaks of love. How Love can heal ANYTHING! I took quite offense to this part. My own son, had been diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma. I love him, as only a mother could, but it was not my love(alone), that has my son in remission for 3 years now. It was Chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and one heck of a great doctor.

This book would serve as a good look at how wonderful the world would be if everyone could act in the manner or strive for the qualities that Zukav describes. It's just not realistic. And what's more, I think it may be dangerous to anyone who may take it too seriously. I have a friend, who highly recommended this book to me. He swears by it, and lives by it. He tries to follows Zukav's ideals, and when he fails at it,gets angry and punishes himself for failing.

If you think you may be interested in this type of "self-help" book, it's probably worth the read for a few good ideas on trying to improve yourself.You maythink about the ideas given and incoporate those the few doable ones into your life. However, I think the best bet would be a borrowed copy to check out.

For me, a good Yoga session, will bring me to a better level of consciousness, and it took one of those, to clear my head after this read....Laurie

... Read more

Book Description
The journal that transforms a reading book into a life-changing personal experience.

The Self-Empowerment Journal is the perfect companion to Gary Zukav and Linda Francis's The Mind of the Soul: Responsible Choice, a groundbreaking new book that explains how to take responsibility for the choices you make in life and to liberate yourself from the illusion that you are victim to your own circumstances. The journal contains empowering new material specifically developed to help you to actively apply the authors' suggested exercises and discover for yourself new ways of being that will bring satisfaction and wholeness into your life.

There is a special magic to journal writing. It is not enough to merely read about ways to improve your life. Working through the practical exercises and recording them in your journal becomes a genuine process of self-examination and self-discovery, a way of asking yourself meaningful questions and keeping track of your progress in spiritual growth.

By looking deeply into yourself, you can determine what works best for you. You will discover countless new opportunities and develop the freedom to experiment, decisively taking charge of your actions. You will also find ways to overcome the problems that hold you back, and practice new ways of achieving authentic power and spiritual growth. The journal is a crucial tool that will keep you focused on your journey, helping to make wise and empowering choices in life.

... Read more

Book Description
In Soul to Soul, Gary Zukav addressed some of the most fundamental questions about the human spirit -- from "Why is life so difficult?" to "How can I learn to trust?" -- with meaningful answers of universal and enduring value. Now, with Soul to Soul Meditations, Zukav provides 365 inspirational excerpts, one for each day of the year, with each page offering penetrating spiritual and psychological insights for reflection and enrichment. These meditations serve as passageways through which soul-to-soul communications can enter your life and transform it. Wise, often poetic, and profound in its simplicity, this empowering collection invites us to look within ourselves to discover how to make these insights our own. Small enough to fit into a bag or purse, it is a book to take with you and read whenever you wish. It makes an ideal gift for a friend, someone you love, or simply for yourself -- a book to cherish and return to again and again.

Among his many bestselling books, GARY ZUKAV is best known for his celebrated #1 New York Times bestseller, The Seat of the Soul, as well as for The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics, which won The American Book Award for Science. His books have sold well over 5 million copies and have been published in 24 languages. A graduate of Harvard University and a former U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) officer in Vietnam, he lives in southern Oregon with his spiritual partner, Linda Francis. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Gary Zukav, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1500 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Customer Reviews (4)

This is soooo awful
Man, oh, man. I love Gary Zukav, and I really hate to have to say this, but.....THIS IS SO BAD!!! It isn't Gary's fault, though. The interviewer guy is *the* most annoying human, ever. And, well, also, this tape does not contain anything new. If you have read any of the "Soul" books, you already know all of the info presented here. Save your dough.

Igniting Your Soul Life
Everybody:here's your chance to hear Gary Zukav talk without being constantly interrupted by Oprah!!!!!He's even more terrific on tape than on television.He's magical and I hope they make more of these tapes available.

Interview with Gary Zukav
This is an hour-long interview Gary did with New Dimensions Radio, and it is excellent. Anyone who is enthusiastic about Gary's ideas and Gary himself will enjoy it.

The Earth School
I enjoy all of Garys work and this is a great view ... Read more