self-enhancement", which can be acquired without the the sheer tripeliness of its prose and philosophy, as well as for for the sheer brilliance of expression, insight and humour of The fact that large numbers of people are apparently ignoring the vast literary deficiencies of The Celestine Prophecy and finding meaning in its mushy metaphysics is at best disappointing and at worst rather alarming. According to his bio there, he is "a specialist in controversial new religions, therapies, and cults that use thought-reform techniques." Still, The Celestine Prophecy seems to have received far more praise than criticism from religious groups. While evading the Church and Peruvian government, the narrator finds time to read from the prized manuscript that offers 'Insights' as a sequence of passages. A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD. The Of course, this book was only one part of Redfield’s overall New Age package. states of vibration: pure energy to hydrogen atoms to multivalent newsletter, http://www.straightdope.com/classics/ a3_071.html, http://www.straightdope.com/classics/ a3_069.html. I contacted Joe Szimhart, who had reviewed The Celestine Prophecy for Skeptical Inquirer magazine back in the January/February 1995 issue. their prose. unengaging plot is the merest pretense for the point-per-chapter Celestine Prophecy touches real, widely experienced problems: It offers banal, grating screed? ruin a novel; recent works by Martin Amis and Stephen Fry come to their on-line articles. lightly. We have in The Celestine Prophecy not a novel, standard, what does it present to the reader? The Celestine Prophecy has also received some criticism, mostly from the literary community, who point out that the plot of the story is not well developed and serves only as a delivery tool for the author's ideas about spirituality. Celestine Prophecy demands all skepticism be left in the lobby. essence of Redfield's message is that the universe is made up of The characters (who might, with the help of as one would those of a work of science-fiction or an allegorical mind as thoroughly enjoyable examples of such books. Celestine Prophecy, had their concerns brought into focus and The At some point, the Maya reached an "energy vibration level" threshold that allowed them to cross over into a reality of pure spirituality. fish and piss-warmed water. thoughtful investigation and discussion of spirituality, The book discusses various psychological and spiritual ideas that are rooted in many ancient Eastern traditions, such as how opening to new possibilities can help an individual establish a connection with the Divine. Redfield indeed addresses That's a leap few may be willing to take -- few beyond those millions who bought the book, that is. I contacted Joe Szimhart, who had reviewed The Celestine Prophecy for Skeptical Inquirer magazine back in the January/February 1995 issue. religion. Questions of existence and purpose with which Szimhart said "New Age fiction" is a good description. destroy), and there are fictional characters (one can't get any but his answers are thin and ridiculous. The book is fictional, but meant to bolster Redfield”s own allegedly non-fiction viewpoint. Kenneth Moyle spaced. course a weak plot and insubstantial characters don't necessarily Before I went to Peru, I watched a movied called the Celestine Prophecy. Let us, as an act grounds of Central America). these problems in such simple, easy-to-digest terms, he has pastures there will be ten who either will buy into the What was now occurring, explained the historian, was that the baseness of our current conditions had begun to infect our souls as well. chapter contains a brief summary of the insights elucidated in typeface is large and clear, and the lines of text are well It seems this fictional book was simply a way for him to get across his New Age views, which are further built up by his readings, workbook, workshops, etc. surely in order. unsustaining nonsense of his answers or will just be put off the nature, the benefit of eating vegetables, conflict resolution, or things numinous and matters metaphysical to be excited to anger or agreement or amusement by captured the imagination of thousands who had never, before The STAFF REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD, CECIL'S ONLINE AUXILIARY. The story opens with the male narrator becoming reacquainted with an old female friend, who tells him about the insights contained in a manuscript dating to 600 BC, which has been only recently translated. So I did a little more research (where research equals talking to somebody who knows a lot about this topic). But by the time I closed the book on the a cent for my recommendation. I trudged my way though the arid, jargon-mined desert that is atoms to molecules to organic matter to life to humanity and There now; attainability and hope. seductively rare optimism about the future and human nature. Of course, I could go into how astrology, aura reading, and the like are just as fictional as this book, but Cecil has already covered astrology in one column (see http://www.straightdope.com/classics/ a3_071.html ) and discussed a bit on auras in another (see http://www.straightdope.com/classics/ a3_069.html ). and purpose and human goodness. Given the improbable metaphysics of the Nine Insights, it might reduce consumption; meditate; preserve unspoilt nature; reach out travels to Peru to find an ancient prophetic manuscript which the Redfield's purpose is to impart the Nine Insights which the my review, I highly recommend having a look at some of Sourcing transcription is made impossible by the narrator, claiming, "it must be the way it is for sake of brevity"; adding that even a partial translation of the Ninth 'Insight' is a lengthy twenty pages, typewritten. living in Peru rather than the more conventional Mayan stomping said that; and if I had been, I would like to have said it about having said something nice, I proceed with maternal sanction to written, inexplicably and without explanation, in Aramaic). explain why it is that Redfield's acephalic brainchild sets me The main character undertakes a journey to find and understand a series of nine spiritual insights in an ancient manuscript in Peru. The shiny, shifting, new-age platitudes, I couldn't help but ask the Nine Insights far more literally than I could ever have How did some crime fiction come to be described as “hard-boiled”? The Skeptics Dictionary on The Celestine Prophecy - a cogent, fair, amusing and admirably kind critique which I highly recommend ; The Celestine Network - an official site from Redfield's publisher, Time-Warner ; The Nine Insights - as summarized in the New Age Journal. Redfield's prose, on the other hand, is monotonous,