The first half of this book is great - I sat down, read the first hundred pages or so, got up to make myself a snack, and thought about what had been said so far. Though I had problems with a lot of the words he chooses to use, (his use of the term "knowledge," which he never quite seems to define or use congruently) it was a really interesting and wise dissertation.

Sitting back down to finish the book, these minor issues grew ugly. Ruiz' writing style is very informal; second person, lots of repeats and rephrases. Unfortunately it just seems like he's talking down to the reader, not being clear enough about what he's saying, and failing to define most of his terms in clear language. I feel that the main gist of the book, the useful information/advice/perspective that is contained herein, could have been condensed down to about 50 pages instead of 200.

The author and editor could have taken some lessons from the Dhammapada, or Think and Grow Rich, or any tome of wisdom that doesn't torture each point it makes by expanding on it, spinning it out, twirling it into beautiful patterns, analyzing each individual part, "building on it like a bit of foundation," et cetera...let ME do most of the thinking, thank you.

This book has the potential to be REALLY GREAT, but it never quite gets there. Every moment of ecstatic "I know what he's talking about! He's right!" is immediately clouded by a follow-up statement that sounds ridiculous...not because it's stupid, but because the author simply doesn't seem to be informed about the general philosophical terms used to define the commonalities between schools of thought.

Oh, and Ruiz takes some pretty incredible liberties with the Christian myths, along with some extreme generalizing of Buddhist and Islamic thought.

Here's what it comes down to: Ruiz clearly has some really cool stuff to share...but I wish he would just write it out the way he learned it. The examples he draws on are often flawed, or sound absolutely silly, or are REALLY far-fetched. Just say what you're trying to say and stop worrying about whether or not I'll get it!!!!!!!

Frustrating. A very low 3 stars, only because the essence of the material is really cool.

-Dave

Don Miguel Ruiz has a knack for taking complex concepts and simplifying them into basic principles that are easy to digest. In "The Voice of Knowledge", he describes how, as we move from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, we gradually accumulate unconscious filters through which we interpret everything and everyone we encounter in life. Those filters -- or lies, as he calls them -- color our perceptions, not only about others but about ourselves. We bury our authentic self in layers of interference and succumb to our "inner voice", the critic who convinces us we are not enough. As a result, we feel inadequate, but more importantly, we lose our sense of connection with the Infinite.

When I first cracked open this book and began reading, I felt disconnected from the book's true intent due to the description of knowledge as the primary source of our problems. There were many references to what Ruiz calls our "voice of knowledge," all pointing toward what most would consider the inner critic, and what some might even consider the ego -- not what most of us would first imagine when hearing or reading the word "knowledge." I tend to feel that knowledge together with experience breeds wisdom -- wisdom of the self, wisdom of our incredible potential -- and, through that process, assists us in ultimately realizing our infinite nature. As such, I have never viewed knowledge as a bad thing. Therefore, the usage of the word "knowledge" in such a negative sense did not resonate well with me, but in the end it was a small matter of semantics, as on page 58 the clarification was made: "The problem is not really knowledge, the problem is what contaminates knowledge." This I could certainly agree with.

The book eventually finds its footing, and then lands steadily on very solid ground. Ruiz distills practical, everyday wisdom about conquering your inner critic and reestablishing your authentic self. As mentioned above, he has a knack for presenting things in a very straightforward manner and making everything quite easy to understand, yet the true depth of the material is never in question.

Some of the book's major points touch on the source of problems most of us encounter on a day-to-day basis: the tendency to distort what we perceive in order to make it fit our preconceived notions, the ingrained patterns that cause us to take things personally when we shouldn't, and the unconscious habit of trying to change others rather than change ourselves.

The book's foremost message is about learning to control the inner voice that feeds us a continuous stream of negative self-talk. Though the book contains only basic instructions in how to accomplish the task, by simply making us more aware of that inner voice, it inspires us to rise to the challenge. Overall, "The Voice of Knowledge" presents a valuable lesson in overcoming self-judgment, making it worth the read.

Much of the teachings of Miguel Ruiz is put into a clear, understandable and absorbable form. There is a sense of empowerment that radiates from these simple concepts and this book has become an often read addition to my readings of the spirit and guidance of these principles that can add so much to living a life well lived.