Wisdom: Daily Reflections for a New Era

by Reynold Feldman

"Eternal life in these bodies is unlikely. The need for wisdom -- for deciding what to do during our limited stay on earth -- begins with this realization. The present collection of daily reflections... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0884896374
• ISBN13: 9780884896371
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Saint Mary's Press
• Length: 381 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 9.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

talking with a wise friend

Reading the book _Wisdom: Daily Reflections for a New Era_ , I feel I am being treated to a daily conversation with a wise friend, someone who has read and thought deeply and broadly. Each day's reading begins with a provocative quotation--it may be from Albert Einstein, from an alchemical text, or from the Book of Common Prayer; the range of materials is truly eclectic, ecumenical. Then what follows is a well-written and thoughtful consideration of the saying, with Reynold Feldman sharing not only his own broad scholarship but also his own personal experiences. The spirit of the work is human and humble, the words are those of one who is earnestly seeking for wisdom on his life's journey, one who has encountered many traditions, many persons whom he considers wise and worth sharing with us. And in these meditations he asks good questions, shows us the many paths toward wisdom, toward healing, toward further discernment of our own way. If the reader chooses, she may follow the Wisdom Journal suggestions for writing each day. I have found that even if I do not write, I am intrigued by the assignments enough that I learn just by pondering them through the day. There are memorable stories here, challenges and comforts, ways to healing, ways to learning what it means to become wise from a multitude of perspectives. This is a companionable and intelligent work, one I whole-heartedly recommend.

Anecdotal Wisdom

This thoroughly enjoyable book, filled with anecdotal wisdom and a diversity of wise quotations, is aptly named. Each day of the year has its own distinctive subtitle/topic, a quotation to focus us on the key idea, and a witty and engaging personal story. To close each page, we are asked to draw on our own experience and wisdom to reflect on the day's topic. In a deeply spiritual sense but in a light and charming way, we are led to use our daily reflections to become wiser. Recommended dose: daily, as needed.

Superb compilation of daily reflections from diverse sources

In Wisdom: Daily Reflections For A New Era, Reynold Feldman (founder and executive director of the World Wisdom Project) offers a book of daily reflections drawn from diverse sources of wisdom ranging from the ancient to the contemporary. These "wisdoms" relate to our own ways of living and adjusting to the world, with each reflection ending in a brief exercise enabling the readers to increase their own personal wisdom and ability to cope with a rapidly changing world. Divided into one chapter for each month of the calendar year and framed for daily twenty minute readings, Wisdom is highly recommended reading for those with an interest in reaping the benefits of diverse men and women who have thought about the world with insight, passion, wit and revelation.

a smorgasbord of wisdom

Reynold Feldman seves us up a rich smorgasbord of wisdom-many savory quotes on a vast arrray of topics as we travel around the year with him. He flavors every dish of this collection with wisdom gleaned from his own life experience. And so we readers are gently nudged by this kind and life-loving author to recognize our own sage moments and those of others. Through such means, wisdom is cultivated in us all.

Provocative essays drawing from many wisdom traditions

Open this book at random and you'll surely find an engaging brief essay and a practical way to bring it into your life through reflection and journaling. 365 one-page essays for each day of the year, but the book need not be read like that. It can be dipped into, which is how I have read it -- back to front and by letting a wisdom topic "speak to me" as I flip through the pages. Because I don't believe that any particular tradition holds the franchise on wisdom, I was delighted to find so much variety-- Eastern and Western, philosophical and mundane, scriptural, literary, and folk wisdom.A delightful adventure for reading and practical application in everyday life.