The Greatest Spiritual Secret of the Century

by Thom Hartmann

When Paul Abler, a young newspaper reporter, risks his own life to save that of a little girl, he begins an adventure unlike any he could imagine. Down in the echoing tunnels underneath Manhattan,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571741666
• ISBN13: 9781571741660
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

The Greatest Spiritual Secret of the Century

Thom Hartmann is a psychotherapist and internationally known speaker. He's written numerous books and short stories. The Greatest Spiritual Secret of the Century is his first novel, and in it he takes both his characters and the reader on a transforming journey. Paul Abler is an ordinary person, living an ordinary life filled job stress, past-due rent, and a girlfriend who jilts him. Then one day, he throws himself in front of an oncoming car, in a successful attempt to save a little girl who had darted in front of it. He himself is saved from serious injury by an extraordinary man named Noah. Noah, who is a shape shifter and time traveler, takes Paul on a journey where he receives his first lessons in the School of Wisdom. Paul later is approached by a street person named Jim, who takes him beneath the city streets, where he meets a group of homeless people led by Joshua. But like Noah, his new acquaintances are more than they first appear to be. Paul continues to have fantastic adventures and experiences, all the while increasing his knowledge of how things truly are. When he learns the greatest spiritual secret, he knows that he can never revert to being the person he had been. A modern-day parable, The Greatest Spiritual Secret of the Century, is written in "the story-telling tradition of Og Mandino and Richard Bach. . .Paul's voyage is a journey that all of us would like to take, and provides answers each of us had hoped to find."

Amazing the accuracy of the research for this book

This book is a great, fast-moving story with a deep, spiritual theme. Even more amazing for me was the depth of the research the author put into it. The scenes describing ancient Sumeria and Uruk and the gods of that time and the nature of the temples (from the statuary to the costumes to the traditions) are impeccably accurate. On digging through the book carefully, I find that all of the words attributed to the female deity he meets in space are the (few) actual words put in a female "voice of God" in the Bible (mostly Song of Songs, but other places, too), and all the words of Joshua are verbatim from the Gospel of Thomas. It's an amazing dip into the esoteric history of the Jewish/Christian tradition...and its predecessors...as well as a fun read. Just the info on mysticism is worth the price of the book. Enjoy!

Amazing Story

The story Spiritual Secret's exciting plot kept me up, reading, until two in the morning. It's spiritual message has me determined to persuade my kids to read it. My oldest has already agreed. Spiritual Secret is a precious gift. Thom Hartmann says, "Nothing has meaning, save the meaning you give it. What you call your culture is nothing but the stories you all decide to agree are true, whether or not they are." So Thom has created a story which helps our culture. He creates new meaning with a clear vision-- one based on what Jesus and Moses and Buddha and Mohammed taught, rather than the institutional religious teachings which, over time, became distorted and twisted by greed, ego and the desire for power. This story offers us us a new story to embrace as our spiritual reality, one closer to the bone, with truths which, though always available to us, shout out through his words, with clarity and soul. While it has many incredibly inportant messages, it reads like a cross between an action thriller and one of Daniel Quinn's idea adventures, like Ishmael. Beware. Reading this book will permanently change the way you see your life and the world

A timely and profound lesson for us all

I read this wonderful book in one session while sitting in the sun during a trip to the Alps. The combination of crisp mountain air, majestic scenery and the beautiful message of Thom's novel gave me a tremedous feeling of joy and hope.For Thom is one of those rare authors who can deliver powerful and universal truths within the format of a fast-moving and entertaining novel. Through the character of Paul we are able to experience the damaging effects of the Western lifestyle; and then undertake an exciting journey of awareness, learning and change towards a more spirtual and rewarding way of life."The Greatest Spiritual Secret of the Century" develops the themes of Thom's two other superb books "The Prophets Way" and "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight", and I would recommend all three. Indeed I have a library of over 500 "mind,body and spirit" books and Thom is one of the most congruent, enlightenting and relevant authors in this field

A Real Gem!

I was indeed curious to read Thom Hartmann's first novel. I am a great fan of his non-fiction, particularly LAST HOURS OF ANCIENT SUNLIGHT and PROPHET'S WAY. But facility in one genre of writing does not necessarily guarantee quality in another, and I have been disappointed before when writers attempt the crossover from non-fiction to fiction. But the transition here has been a grand success. Good writing, exciting story, and wonderful spiritual truths are all presented in a way that address the pervasive malaise of our society today and what can be done about it. Mr. Hartmann has done his research and does not hesitate to present the truly radical teachings of the mystical path. So do not be put off by the title. This book is a real gem and I am buying it for all my friends.