Epictetus’s Handbook of Conscious Living
The Book of Life:
Gay Hendricks and Philip Johncock
Hardcover w/CD, $17.95
Hay House

Greek philosopher Epictetus (A.D. 55-135) was born a slave. In his youth he was allowed to study philosophy, and he went on to found his own school of conscious living. Epictetus’s quotes, as recorded by his students, have been edited and interpreted by Gay Hendricks, the author of more than twenty-five books on personal and relationship transformation, and Philip Johncock a coach, consultant, and author of Dream-Making to Billions.

Although written in first-century Rome the wisdom of his quotes are timeless, “Whatever commitment you make to yourself, abide by them as you would a law,” and “When you live to please others, you waste valuable time and energy on that which is beyond your control.”

The Book of Life is presented in three parts. Each part offers the clear meaning of Epictetus’s beliefs and how those beliefs translate in today’s world. He states his core philosophical belief for happiness as: “Some things are within your power to control and some things aren’t.”

The CD that accompanies this book is narrated by Hendricks. It is a bonus! There are interpretations of specific quotes and exercises for applying Epictetus’s philosophy to daily living.

If you are seeking peace of mind, serenity in your life and understanding of what is within your power to control and what is not, you will want to read this insightful translation of The Book of Life by Hend­ricks and Johncock.

Mary Porter

Science and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos:

The universe is not a world of separate things and events, of external spectators and an impersonal spectacle. It is an integral whole.” So states scientist and philosopher Ervin Laszlo in the introduction to his latest book, Science and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos. This fascinating book traces the latest scientific experiments and discoveries that point to a universal medium that connects the whole cosmos, creates visible matter from itself and retains the record of all that transpires in this universe.

Moreover, consciousness is revealed as the force responsible for this creation. Laszlo names this medium the Akashic Field after the concept intuited thousands of years ago by Hindu mystics and called the Akashic record. By weaving many strands of inspired thought into a new vision of an enchanted cosmos, Dr. Laszlo reveals a universe at odds with the mechanistic model presented by science in the past; a universe truly alive with consciousness. This is a cosmos we can call home.

The author goes on to tackle the implications of this new view of the cosmos for the big philosophical questions such as good and evil, and immortality. New concepts of physical reality and spirituality emerge that bring scientific theory and mystic intuition closer than ever. But this is only the first half of the book.

In the second half of the book, Dr. Laszlo has invited some of the greatest minds of our time to comment on the implication of his theories within their field of expertise. We are treated to wonderful essays by astronaut Edgar Mitchell, psychologist Stanley Krippner, and evolution biologist Elisabet Sahtouris to name a few. Each of these authors brings their own special gift and viewpoint to the subject of Laszlo’s work, giving the book a thorough exploration and an unusual depth.

This book not only opens a whole new world but a whole new library of wonderful scientific and philosophical resources. Once readers have experienced this book they will no doubt want Ervin Laszlo’s other writings and those of the featured essayists as well.

—Patricia Gentry

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