Book Review: Kabbalah: Key to Your Inner Power, by Elizabeth Clare Prophet

Kabbalah: Key to Your Inner Power
(Mystical Paths of the World's Religions)
Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Patricia R. Spadaro, Murray L. Steinman
Trade Paperback, 302 pages
Summit University Press
January 1, 1997
Judaism, Metaphysical, Mysticism, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality,Self Help, 
Theology, Theosophy

Book Synopsis:
This notable work explores the rich mystical tradition of Judaism, known as Kabbalah, and shows how to apply its extraordinary insights to one's own spiritual quest. It describes Kabbalah's Tree of Life and its theories on the creation, the origin of evil, the feminine aspect of God, the mysteries of the soul, and soul mates.

My Review

I've been interested in the Kabbalah for a very long time, although I have not read about it on a consistent basis. This book captured and held my interest throughout. The authors -- the main one being Elizabeth Clare Prophet -- quote from Kabbalistic texts such as The Zohar and the Sepher Yetzirah, as well as from the works of authors well-versed in the concepts of this fascinating mystical topic. The book is extensively annotated, which is something I greatly appreciated.

At first, I  wasn't sure about reading this book. Prophet was the head of a controversial New Age religion known as the "Church Universal and Triumphant", which is still in existence, although, from what I've read about it online, it does seem to be dwindling. It's basically been categorized as a cult. Even her own children have repudiated the church's teachings, and Prophet herself was mired in controversy during her lifetime, especially after her false prophecy about the coming of a nuclear strike on the U.S., back in the 90s. This so-called prophecy prompted the building of underground bunkers by the church, at the cost of millions of dollars.

I was therefore surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, in spite of the above, as well as in spite of some of the material included within its pages. 

Prophet doesn't limit herself to an analysis and explanation of the Kabbalah itself. She interweaves its insights with the teachings of her own church, which were heavily influenced by Theosophy. For those who are unfamiliar with this philosophical quasi-religion, it was founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, a 19th-century Russian mystic. She claimed to be in contact with "Ascended Masters" who regularly gave her messages, which became the basis for her books. 

Later on, Alice Bailey continued to channel the Ascended Master teachings, as did Guy and Edna Ballard, of the "I Am" Movement. Various so-called masters have been identified, such as El Morya, Saint Germain, Kuthumi, and even Jesus.  Prophet and her late husband, Mark L. Prophet, incorporated these masters, as well as some new ones, into their own religious philosophy.

Prophet does do a creditable job of making this bogus New Age "theology" fit in with the teachings of Kabbalah, but only to a point. I did not like her inclusion of these teachings, which assert that we all have a "Holy Christ Self", as well as an "I AM Presence". As a Christian, I would have to say that these teachings are totally heretical. They imply, or sometimes even state directly, that we are all gods. Paradoxically, Prophet sounds like a solid orthodox Christian in many parts of the book. However, she categorically denies that Jesus Christ is the "only" Son of God. Instead, she affirms, as many New Age gurus do, that we mere humans can someday attain "Christhood". Of course, I found this very offensive, as she's totally denying the work of Jesus as Savior of the world.

Still, something about this book called out to me, so I began to read it.

At the beginning of the book, Prophet ties together the theory of The Big Bang with Jewish mysticism. This is nothing new, however, as another author, Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, has done the same thing in her own book about the subject, A Kabbalah for the Modern World, which was first published in 1974, and has gone through several editions. Still, it was interesting to read Prophet's take on this correlation. 

Prophet also traces the beginnings of Jewish mysticism from what is known as "Merkabah Mysticism", which is based on Ezequiel's vision of the Throne of God in the Old Testament. 

She then goes on to discuss the Tree of Life itself, the Shekhinah (this is the feminine aspect of God), the three parts of the soul, and several other topics, all of which I found totally fascinating. She also correlates the Sefirot (the emanations of the Tree of Life) with the Indian system of chakras, something that was also fascinating. 

I found the last four chapters of the book very satisfying, in the spiritual sense. In Chapter 7, which is titled "The Practical Path of the Mystic, the authors (as mentioned above, Prophet co-wrote this book with two other people) describe the process of emulating the virtues of each sepfirah (this is the singular form of the noun "sefirot") in our daily lives. Chapter 8, titled "Prayer and the Power of God's Names", deals with the combination of prayer and meditation. Chapter 9, "The Mystic Ascent", and Chapter 10, "The Creative Power of Sound", are also very spiritually satisfying. These chapters discuss a method of "ascending" on the Tree of Life through prayers directed to each sephirah, which are all aspects of God.

In short, this book presents a very beautiful, elucidating, and engaging presentation of the Kabbalah, in spite of its (the book's) basic shortcoming, in my opinion -- the mixing in of Theosophical concepts of "the Christ within" and the Ascended Masters. 

As with all of the books Elizabeth Clare Prophet has penned, whether alone or with other authors, this one is not only well annotated, but includes an extensive bibliography, as well. She references such Kabbalistic authors as Moses Cordovero, Gershom Scholem, who is the most important modern scholar on Jewish mysticism, Aryeh Kaplan, author of The Bahir, Daniel Chanan Matt, a modern translator of The Zohar, and Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi, a current teacher of the Kabbalah, who resides in England. 

For those interested in this ancient mystical philosophy and spiritual practice, this book offers much of value. Readers of different faiths can simply overlook those things they find jarring or even too ridiculous to accept, and plunge into the spiritual riches of the Kabbalah.

If I were to rate this book, I would give it four stars.

About the Author

 

 From Goodreads

Elizabeth Clare Prophet (née Wulf) (April 8, 1939 - October 15, 2009) was an American spiritual author and lecturer.

She was a modern-day mystic, author, lecturer and spiritual teacher. She has been featured on NBC's Ancient Prophecies, A&E's The Unexplained, and has talked about her work on Larry King Live. Her lectures and workshops have been broadcast on more than 200 cable TV stations throughout the United States.

Among her bestselling titles are Fallen Angels and the Origins of Evil, How to Work with Angels, Soul Mates and Twin Flames, Creative Abundance, Saint Germain On Alchemy, and Violet Flame to Heal Body, Mind and Soul.

Elizabeth Clare Prophet’s autobiography is entitled, In My Own Words: Memoirs of a Twentieth-Century Mystic.

Online Links

Wikipedia
Website
Goodreads
   Summit University Press 

    

   

Book Review: Magister Ludi, by Hermann Hesse

Magister Ludi: The Glass Bead Game
Hermann Hesse
(Richard & Clara Winston, translators)
Mass Market Paperback, 520 pages
Bantam, October, 1970
(Originally published as Das Glasperlenspiel,
1943, by Fretz & Warmuth Verlag AG,
Zurich, Switzerland)
Classics, Literary Fiction,
Philosophy, Science Fantasy, Utopian Literature

AWARDS: Nobel Prize in Literature, 1946

My Review

 

The great, German-born writer, Hermann Hesse, had a very profound impact on me during my college years. I am now trying to re-read the books that so fascinated me back then, although I don't expect I'll ever really be able to plumb their depths.  Hesse was much influenced by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, so his novels are full of symbolism and the hidden workings of the human psyche.  They also portray the workings of the archetypes -- those universal denizens of Jung's collective unconscious, which is shared by the entire human race.  Adding to this is Hesse's luminous, lyrical prose, which extends itself into long, descriptive passages of great literary beauty.

In other words, this is not an easy read.  It is, however, a rewarding one, if one is willing to invest the time necessary to savor the book, since it obviously does not lend itself to fast reading.  This is by no means the type of book that one "can't put down".  In fact, one must indeed put it down, and often, so as to ponder the things Hesse is saying.  Then one is inevitably drawn back to it.  At least, this is what happened with me. 

I would call this a rather unique hybrid of novel and philosophical treatise.  In that respect, it reminds me of the classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig, a book that, among others, was very influential in the development of the American counter-culture several years ago, and which I also intend to re-read.   Another book that comes to mind is Sophie's World: A Novel About The History Of Philosophy, by Jostein Gaarder, which I have yet to read.

These are books that use the format of a novel to present philosophical ideas.  Therefore, the plot, if any, is driven by such ideas.  Obviously, this is not the typical novel that contains the basic elements of fiction writing as we have come to expect them.   There's no heart-pounding suspense, no fast action, little to no character conflict.  At the risk of sounding repetitious, I must again state that we are instead presented with a banquet of intellectual concepts to be pondered and enjoyed for the sheer enjoyment of doing so.   So this is literary pleasure of quite a different order. 

Through the fictional character named Joseph Knecht (whose last name in German means "servant"), Hesse presents the theme that dominates all of his books -- the intellectual life as contrasted with the active life.  Knecht undergoes an evolution in this novel, coming to the point of accepting that the intellectual life alone cannot satisfy completely, if entirely divorced from life in the sensory world.   In the process, the reader is given an intimate look into Knecht's -- and therefore, Hesse's -- inner world.  

The novel's predominant metaphor is the Glass Bead Game, invented by Hesse.  He never provides a clear picture of it, however, although he does say that, in its beginnings, the game was, indeed, played with glass beads.  Eventually, it evolved into a complex interrelationship of ideas, taken from certain fields of human knowledge, such as music, mathematics, languages, and science.   The purpose of each game is to find ways to link core concepts in these fields into one grand, symphonic whole.

There are at least two important sources of conflict in the novel, although said conflict is on a strictly intellectual level.  It's not of the action-oriented variety.  Instead, it's a clash of ideologies.  Knecht has two opponents here -- Plinio Designori, a guest student in the fictional province of Castalia, where the Glass Bead Game was developed, and Father Jacobus, a member of the Benedictine Order, whom Knecht meets when he is assigned to tutor monks in the basics of the Game.   Designori, who eventually returns to the outside world, represents the active life; he later becomes involved in politics.  Jacobus, on the other hand, represents the life of the spirit.  He is concerned about the fact that Castalia has no religion or belief in a Supreme Power.  Both of these men have a great influence on Knecht, who will eventually make the decision to fully integrate his intellectual life with that of the senses, of action.  This is despite the fact that he had been chosen to be the Magister Ludi -- the Master of the Glass Bead Game, at the age of 40.  As Magister Ludi, one of his duties includes leading the annual celebration of the game, an occasion of great ceremony in Castalia, attended by heads of state and other influential people in Hesse's futuristic world.

The novel also includes several poems "written" by Knecht in his student years, as well as three fictional lives he was required to complete as part of his studies.  These further demonstrate Hesse's power as a lyrical writer.  I only wish I knew German, so I could read this book in the original, thus getting the true "feel" of the work!

The perfect culmination to Hesse's literary work, this novel will repay the reader with some very interesting, profound concepts that will indelibly imprint themselves in his/her mind.  I would especially recommend it for those times when one does crave something to really engage the intellect.  Not that there's anything wrong with reading less challenging works, however.  It all depends on what the mind and the emotions are open to at any given point in time.  At least, this has been my experience, although I'm sure I'm not unique in this respect.

About The Author

(From Goodreads)

Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. His best known works include Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The Glass Bead Game (also known as Magister Ludi) which explore an individual's search for spirituality outside society.

In his time, Hesse was a popular and influential author in the German-speaking world; worldwide fame only came later. Hesse's first great novel, Peter Camenzind, was received enthusiastically by young Germans desiring a different and more "natural" way of life at the time of great economic and technological progress in the country.

Throughout Germany, many schools are named after him. In 1964, the Calwer Hermann-Hesse-Preis was founded, which is awarded every two years, alternately to a German-language literary journal or to the translator of Hesse's work to a foreign language. There is also a Hermann Hesse prize associated with the city of Karlsruhe,Germany.

Online Links

Hermann Hesse: Wikipedia

The Glass Bead Game: Wikipedia

Webmagister Ludi and The 

Glass Bead Game

The Glass Bead Game: Cosmic

Play in a Symbolic Universe

Book Review: Understanding Roman Catholicism, by Rick Jones

Understanding Roman Catholicism: 37 Roman Catholic Doctrines Explained
Rick Jones
Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Rick Jones (Print Edition formerly published by Chick Publications, October 1, 1995), November 18, 2013
Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Theology

Book Synopsis: Are Roman Catholics REALLY Christians? This eye-opening book examines 37 main Catholic doctrines, quoting from the official Catholic Catechism, then compares each doctrine with the Word of God. Written in a loving style, yet without compromising, this book clearly shows the eternal destiny of those who follow the pope of Rome. If you want to talk intelligently with Catholics about their salvation, you first must know what they believe. If you are like most Christians you will be shocked when you learn what Catholicism really teaches. Must reading for every Christian who knows or talks with any Roman Catholics.

My Review

The title of this book is rather misleading, unless one reads the synopsis. The title leads the reader to believe that it's a concise, clear explanation of Catholicism for non-Catholics, or for those Catholics who would like to refresh their knowledge of Catholic doctrine. This is not the intent of the book, though. Instead, it's an exposition of Catholic doctrines that are in direct contradiction to Bible teachings. 

I think this is a pretty sneaky move on the part of the author, but I don't condemn him for it. Indeed, this little ruse might have drawn many an unsuspecting Catholic to the book, and have then perhaps stimulated them to question Catholicism. This is exactly what happened to me, although I had already begun to question my Catholic beliefs before coming across this book. However, it did help me to see exactly how Catholic doctrines were in total opposition to what is taught in the Bible. 

Jones uses the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994 edition) and compares quotes from it side by side with Biblical quotes. He clearly shows how each Catholic doctrine differs markedly from what is actually taught in the Bible.  

The biggest contradiction is also the key concept of Christianity: salvation. Just how are we humans saved, according to the Bible, and according to the Catholic Church? Jones shows that, according to the latter, one must be a member of the Catholic Church in order to be saved. Furthermore, one must also perform "good works". 

In regards to salvation only through the church of Rome, Jones quotes: "For it is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained." (Catholic Catechism, paragraph #816) Jone contrasts this with the following Biblical quote: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13, KJV) He also points out that Jesus repeats this message in John 3:16, 3;18, and 6:40. He also references Romans 10:9-10, in which Paul states that if one confesses out loud, and believes in one's heart, that Jesus rose from the dead, one will be saved. Jones mentions other verses, as well.

In regards to "good works", which include such things as baptism and the other sacraments, Jones emphasizes that salvation is a free gift of grace from God, and can never be earned through the performance of any type of "good works". He references Ephesians 2:8-9, as well as Titus 3:5, Romans 3:28, and Galatians 3:8 and 3:26. These are not the only verses he mentions, but they are the most important ones.

Each chapter in the book examines a specific doctrine, contrasting quotes from the Catholic Catechism with relevant quotes from the Bible. At the end of each chapter, Jones summarizes his point, and then challenges the Catholic reader to decide whether s/he will choose to believe God, as quoted from the Bible, or the Catholic Church.

The doctrines examined by the author in this book are precisely the ones that set apart Catholics from other Christian denominations. They are also the very ones that are huge points of disagreement between Protestants and Catholics. Some of these doctrines are: the Catholic Church is the one true church, baptism saves, the Pope is infallible, the sacraments save Catholics, there are venial and mortal sins, the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ during the Mass, indulgences can help get souls out of Purgatory, and the Virgin Mary is Co-Redemptrix and Co-Mediator, together with her son, Jesus.

The entire book is laid out in a very straightforward, simple manner, with each Catholic doctrine clearly explained, and then juxtaposed with the Biblical teaching it contradicts.

Jones is a former Catholic himself, so he never talks down to or attacks Catholic readers. In fact, his tone is even loving and respectful. In spite of its simplicity, the book should be studied by any reader -- whether Catholic or not -- who would like to be better informed about the differences between Catholic teaching and what is taught in the Bible. 

Having stated all of the above, I would also have to point out that it seems to me that Jones has carefully selected the verses he uses, ignoring those that might be used by Catholics in support of the teachings of their church. For instance, in the chapter titled, "Confessing Sins to a Priest", Jones clearly leaves out a key verse used by Catholics in support of this particular doctrine: John 20:21-23 (KJV), which states the following: "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you, as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

Clearly, the above verse is a powerful one to use in support of the Catholic doctrine of confessing sins to a priest. Why, then, does Jones fail to address it? True, he does give several verses that show that people in the Bible confessed their sins directly to God, but still, he should have addressed the verse above (as well as others that seem to justify the Catholic position). Just what did Jesus mean in this verse? What teaching was He attempting to convey?

It might seem that I'm either playing devil's advocate here, or trying to find ways to criticize the author of this book. However, what I'm simply trying to do is to remain objective, although I was raised in the Catholic Church myself. Tt seems to me that Jones could have done a more thorough job of refuting any verses that might be used by Catholics in counter-arguments with him. 

To summarize, although I do think that this book presents a very clear, easy-to-read exposition of the author's position, I don't think it goes far enough in proving that his position -- which is the one take by most Protestants -- is the only true one. Therefore, I would regard this book as a sort of primer for those who are beginning to question Catholic teachings. 

In this regard, I would like to read another book which  I believe will be a more thorough, more in-depth examination of this highly-important (to anyone interested in theology) issue. That book is titled The Gospel According to Rome: Comparing Catholic Tradition and the Word of God, by James G. McCarthy. I happen to own this book, so I will be delving into it in the very near future. Hopefully this book will clear up some of the issues that Jones's book has left unresolved in my mind.   

About the Author  

(from the Amazon Author Page)

 At the age of 20, while in the US Navy, Rick Jones thought he was a Christian because he belonged to a religion. But one warm August evening in Ventura, California, he learned the difference between religion and Christianity. His life was transformed when he received God's free gift of eternal life by trusting Jesus Christ by faith alone for his salvation.

Rick's life's calling soon came into razor-sharp focus - to help others find that same salvation. It began with Bible college, followed by six years at a Christian home for troubled teens. That calling continued during his years working at a Christian publishing company. It is also the thrust of the six books he has written, as well as his website.

Online Links

Website

Book Review: Why We Can't Wait, by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Why We Can't Wait
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Trade Paperback, 193 pages
Beacon Press (Reissue Edition)
January 11, 2011
Classics, African-American Studies, American History, Civil Rights Movement, Memoir, Nonfiction, Politics, Social Justice

Book Synopsis

Dr. King’s best-selling account of the civil rights movement in Birmingham during the spring and summer of 1963.

Often applauded as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most incisive and eloquent book, Why We Can’t Wait recounts the Birmingham campaign in vivid detail, while underscoring why 1963 was such a crucial year for the civil rights movement. During this time, Birmingham, Alabama, was perhaps the most racially segregated city in the United States, but the campaign launched by Fred Shuttlesworth, King, and others demonstrated to the world the power of nonviolent direct action. King examines the history of the civil rights struggle and the tasks that future generations must accomplish to bring about full equality. The book also includes the extraordinary “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which King wrote in April of 1963.

My Review

This was the first book by the great civil rights leader that I have ever read, and it was not only brilliantly-written, but evocative and poignant. It's not only a detailed narration of facts, but an incisive exposition of the African-American soul.

There are two introductions. The first was written by Dorothy F. Cotton, who was the Education Director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference at the time, and worked closely with Dr. King.

The second introduction was written by King, and is an unforgettable picture of the abject conditions of many African-Americans in a segregated society. It's heart-breaking reading, and also feels like the beginning of a novel. Had he wanted to write fiction, I believe Dr. King would have done a brilliant job; he was as eloquent a writer as he was an orator.

King's central theme in this powerful book is that the year 1963 was a very significant one for the American Negro, as it marked the 100-year anniversary of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. He found it highly ironic that conditions for African-Americans had not changed all that much in the years since President Lincoln signed this famous document. In eloquent, visceral prose, he paints a picture of what he terms "The Negro Revolution: "Why was it this year that the American Negro, so long ignored, so long written out of the pages of history books, tramped a declaration of freedom with his marching feet across the pages of newspapers, the television screens and the magazines?" (pg. 8) 

King decried the slow pace of integration in Southern schools, despite the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that ordered integration be implemented as quickly as possible. The Supreme Court itself contradicted its own ruling by approving the Pupil Placement Law, which "....permitted the states themselves to determine where school children might be placed by virtue of family background, special ability and other subjective criteria." (pg. 10) This law had the unsurprising effect of slowing down the process of school integration. 

One of the  important points made by the author was that conditions in the North were not much better; Negro victimization was simply more subtle. 

King's philosophy of nonviolence was rooted in his Christian beliefs; he was, after all, a Baptist pastor. In the second chapter of the book, he references the nonviolence of the early Christians, which eventually wore down the mighty Roman Empire. This was also the reason he opposed the Vietnam War, and was accused of being a Communist as a result. Although he makes no mention of this war in the book, I have done some research on the subject. King's contention was that the war against communism would be much better fought with the tools of democracy. 

Dr. King also admired the example of Ghandi's nonviolent movement, which eventually brought about the end of British colonialism in India. 

In pointing out these examples -- he also referenced the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee -- the author emphasizes that the philosophy of nonviolence goes against the grain of what is considered "American manhood". He admits that this is not an easy philosophy to follow and implement; however, he insists that it takes as much bravery as the easier, time-honored response of violent retaliation. According to Dr. King, the force of moral courage can be just as effective, if not more so, as the force of violence in achieving justice.

At the time King wrote this book, segregation in many Southern cities was not limited to public schools, but extended into every area of public life. Lunch counters in stores and restaurants, for instance, were segregated. Water fountains and public restrooms were, as well. Even churches were segregated; African-Americans were not welcome in white churches. 

The segregationist authorities in Alabama had even succeeded in keeping the NAACP out of the state by declaring it "a foreign corporation", thus making its activities within the state illegal.

It was very obvious that the ugly hate of prejudice blanketed the South. Perhaps nowhere was this more evident than in Birmingham, Alabama, the city targeted by the civil rights movement as the one in which nonviolent demonstrations would be most effective. King called it "the most segregated city in America". In fact, he goes on to state that the city appeared to have been frozen in time. This was in large part due to George Wallace, the segregationist governor at the time. It was also in large part due to the then Commissioner of Public Safety for the city of Birmingham, Theophilus Eugene Connor, commonly known as "Bull" Connor. In the Wikipedia article about him, Connor is labeled as "a fascist and racist American politician". Ironically, he was a registered Democrat.

During the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Birmingham campaign, which King described in this book, Connor ordered the use of fire hoses, set to the highest pressure, against civil rights protesters. He also ordered that police attack dogs be let loose on them. Children were not excepted from these horrible tactics, and many were injured by the hoses and dogs. 

King recounts how the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who had organized the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights in 1956, was himself knocked down by the force of the water from a fire hose during a demonstration. He was injured, and taken to the hospital. When told about this, Bull Connor expressed regret that Shuttlesworth had not been carried away in a hearse. Connor died in 1973; he will only be remembered as a hate-filled segregationist who was fortunately unsuccessful in detaining the inexorable movement of history toward full racial equality.

The activities of the movement involved marching, sit-ins, and singing freedom songs, as well as negotiations with the white city government and business owners of the city. Many of these owners had Jim Crow signs posted on their store windows, which King and his associates demanded be taken down. Other points of negotiation, with the business owners as well as city authorities were: better jobs for the African-American population, release of demonstrators jailed during the campaign, and ongoing "diplomatic relations" between black and white leaders. An agreement with the city government was finally reached on Friday, May 10, 1963, in which the government agreed to implement desegregation within 90 days.

Sadly, not long after this agreement was reached, an assassination attempt was made on King's life, by the local Ku Klux Klan. This resulted in violent rioting, and the National Guard was eventually brought in. The home of Dr. King's brother, the Rev. A.D. King, was also bombed. Fortunately, neither Dr. King nor his brother, or his brother's family, were injured in these attacks.

The book includes the famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail". This letter was King's reply to a public statement made by eight fellow clergymen in an Alabama newspaper. In responding to their criticism of the Birmingham campaign as "unwise and untimely", he emphasizes that they should be more concerned with the causes that brought about the demonstrations.

The most famous quote from the letter states: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." In the letter, King insists that people have a right to take nonviolent, direct action to oppose unjust legislation, rather than wait for the courts to decide the matter.

The book also describes the August 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which Dr. King delivered his famous, and stirring, "I Have A Dream" speech. He was pleased by the participation of many white churches, but very disappointed with the lack of support from the AFL-CIO.

The book concludes with the hope that civil rights legislation will be the primary focus of the Johnson administration, and stresses another important theme -- African-Americans want those rights that are already theirs through the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Judeo-Christian moral values. King stated: "We need a powerful sense of determination to banish the ugly blemish of racism scarring the image of America." (pg. 152) He further stated: "The shape of the world will not permit us the luxury of gradualism and procrastination. Not only is it immoral, it will not work. It will not work because Negroes know they have the right to be free. It will not work because Negroes have discovered, in nonviolent direct action, an irresistible force to propel what has been for so long an immovable object." (pg. 153)

This book is a work of immense power, as well as of dignity, honor, and beauty. It reflects the greatness of a people shaking off the shackles of psychological slavery to stand tall, proud, and free, as members of a pluralistic society that needs their valuable input, their integrity, their commitment to American democratic values. In short, this book is a testament to the inviolability and greatness of the human spirit, and should be read by everyone who holds such values dear. I give it five stars, although it really deserves ten!  

About the Author

(From Goodreads)

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the pivotal leaders of the American civil rights movement. King was a Baptist minister, one of the few leadership roles available to black men at the time. He became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956) and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957), serving as its first president. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Here he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Online Links
Wikipedia: MLK
Website
Wikipedia: Why We Can't Wait
History.com: MLK
Nobelprize.org: MLK 
NAACP.org: MLK