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Book review: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

09 May 2022 •

By: Kohle Reviews

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle explores this simple truth: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment.

“The moment you realize you are not present, you are present. Whenever you are able to observe your mind, you are no longer trapped in it. Another factor has come in, something that is not of the mind: the witnessing presence.” - Eckhart Tolle

In today’s blog post, Kohle shares with us how this book transformed his life.

The Power of Now.jpeg

Source: Oprah.com

Q: What attracted you to this book?
A:

I found this book during a period of turmoil in my life - where a combination of stress, anxiety and depression had taken control and rendered me unable to find joy in just about anything. As an “over-thinker” I was desperate for a fresh perspective - a way to calm the constant noise and manage my compulsive thinking.

I first heard about The Power of Now when I came across Eckhart's teachings on Youtube. While I generally don’t gravitate towards “self-help” books, I felt in-need enough to try it, and I’m so happy I did!

Q: What is the basic storyline?
A:

My brother says the reason dogs are so happy all the time is because they live in “Now Town”, i.e. they live in the present. They have no concept of the past or future, and simply relish the moment. This is the core message which The Power of Now aims to get across.

I think the most common association many people have with The Power of Now is purely that of spiritual enlightenment. Spirituality is indeed a prominent ongoing theme in the book, but it is also largely based on how one views themselves relative to the world around them and discusses the concept of ego, and how our constant need to prove ourselves to others results in the creation of much of our own stress and sadness. Most importantly, the book teaches basic principles and exercises for practicing self reflection, mindfulness, quieting of the mind, and remaining in the present - all of which are extremely useful skills to have when dealing with the numerous adversities we face throughout our daily lives.

Q: What were some highlights?
A:

My top highlight of the book is where Eckhart breaks down the concept of ego and separates the “self” from the conscious mind. Understanding the difference between who you really are, and the illusion of who you so desperately make yourself out to be, almost forced a kind of introspection which I truly wouldn’t have achieved on my own.

I also appreciated Eckhart’s take on “perspective”, and his explanation of how our reality is shaped by one's own mind. Anything past or future is theoretical, and the idea of how pointless worrying about what can’t be changed (the past) and what may never happen (the future) made a lot of sense to me… especially considering this is where 90% of my stress came from.

Q: What insights have you gained?
A:

The most important insights I gained from The Power of Now are the skills and lessons taught throughout the book. I’ve learnt to take life less seriously, manage my stress better, gained a deeper understanding of who I am and how to live a conscious, appreciative, and present life.

Q: Who do you think should read this book?
A:

I believe anyone and everyone should read this book.

Some of the concepts in the book may seem vague, and the strong theme of spirituality is not for everyone, but if you are able to open yourself up to what The Power of Now has to offer, I feel it is a deeply rewarding read.

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09 May 2022
By: Kohle
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