Book Review: ‘The Prophet’ by Gibran Khalil Gibran – Your Guide in Life

                                            

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There are plenty of books out there that give you insightful pieces of advice about life, its hardships, and how to successfully cope with them. However, you rarely find a book that is completely relatable to what you are undergoing. You rarely find a book that touches your heart, mind, and soul alike. Most of the books available tend to idealize some habits and teachings that cannot be applied to your life that easily because reaching perfection is only reserved for God. Yet, today's book might be different from all other books involved in human life dilemmas.

Book’s Name: The Prophet

Author’s Name: Gibran Khalil Gibran (aka Kahlil Gibran)

Genre: Prose, Poetry, Fiction

Language: English

About the Writer

Gibran Khalil Gibran is a Lebanese-American writer and poet. Kahlil Gibran became known thanks to his book The Prophet which was regarded as a bestselling book. The writer was at some point referred to as a philosopher for his deep and insightful writings that contribute to understanding and diving into life meanings, however, he didn’t like being called such. Gibran did not only express himself through writing but through painting as well. He is considered one of the most influential figures in Arabic literature and poetry alike.

About the Book

 The Lebanese writer Kahlil Gibran gave birth to his masterpiece The Prophet in 1923. The book was originally published in English; however, it was later translated into more than 100 languages. That granted the book a place among the best books of all time, the most bestselling books, and the most translated books throughout history as well. 

The Prophet came in the form of 26 short essays that highlighted the prophet or Al Mustafa's answers to people's questions regarding different aspects of life such as love, pain, sadness, religion, and others. That was done at the farewell Al Mustafa delivered when he was leaving home after spending around 12 years in Orphalese.

Major Themes

1. Work: Gibran pinpointed the importance of choosing a career that you deeply love and are passionate about so that you could dedicate yourself fully to it and could never be bored with it.

2. Children: Children, according to Gibran, are not your property. He insisted that you can offer your children love and care but you should never force them to be what you want, act the way you want, and think the way you want.

 3. Self-knowledge: Here, your heart is loaded with everything you need to know about yourself, yet these insights are kept silent though you have a great urge to make them voiced and turn them into actual words.

4. Teaching: A good teacher is described in The Prophet as someone who would show you how to think not what to think. Your mind should always be free and open to the wisdom you gain throughout the experiences you have in life.

5. Talking: His essay on talking revealed that the writer supports the viewpoint that says thoughts are killed by words. To Gibran, when you talk, you only say half of what you mean, while the other half fades away in the realm of talking.

Famous Quotes:

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

“I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.”

“You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link.

This is but half the truth.

You are also as strong as your strongest link.

To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of the ocean

by the frailty of its foam.

To judge you by your failures is to cast blame upon the seasons for their inconstancy.”

“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.”

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself”

The Bottom Line

The Prophet explored topics that may interest any of us since the central idea is knowing more about human life. Involving topics like work, family, self-discovery, teaching, and others, this book succeeded in transferring the writer's wisdom about life to the readers. It is a practical guide that directs you throughout life in the most entertaining possible way.

My ratings for the book: 4 on 5

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Written By Khawla ACHIT HENNI