Talk:The Power of Now

Did some copy-editing
I haven't really read the book (my mom recommended it to me, is all), but I think my copy edits have reduced ambiguity. OTOH, having not read it, I may have mis-represented some things, although I doubt this (mostly I fixed paras, not content within). I didn't remove redundant "Tolle"s or "The book"s, however, since I'm not aware whether a sentence is contingent on the one before it or on the book generally. That can be fixed by a reader. Xavexgoem (talk) 22:54, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Theme
I have read the book, and will be working on a clarification of the section on its Theme, which I hope to post shortly (after Christmas hopefully!).

For now, it seems to me that the final paragraph in that section is out of place here. The book is far more original than merely a restatement of the Buddhist principle of dukkha It is an original work on spirituality. Tolle, as the page says, is not part of and promotes no one religious point of view. Of course, many influences can be discerned in his writings, including Buddhism. Actually I find there are strong Christian influences in his works, not least in his concept of Surrender. The reference to Buddhist principles has had no citations added since it was inserted some months ago, and I have therefore deleted it. In its place a section on Influences on Tolle's thinking might be appropriate, but probably in the main article on Eckhart Tolle rather on this page which is devoted specifically to just one of his writings. Silence-is-infinite (talk) 21:35, 20 December 2008 (UTC)

Publication date
In the lede it gives 1997 as the publication date and uses the book as a source. In my version of the book (Hodder and Stoughton, the English version) it says 1998. Can someone with the New World Library version check if it actually says 1997 or 1998? Should be on the first page of his preface. 122.111.224.134 (talk) 11:57, 24 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I've changed the lead wordings to represent the correct issue about publication date. Thanks ▒ Wirεłεşş ▒ Fidεłitұ ▒ Ćłâşş ▒ Θnε ▒ ―Œ  ♣Łεâvε Ξ мεşşâgε♣ 12:08, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

NPOV
This article is written by followers and sheeps. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.91.9.189 (talk) 02:29, 24 May 2010 (UTC)

True or not?
Either the above statement in the lead came true or not. In any case it should be updated to reflect the current situation.-- — Keithbob • Talk  • 21:33, 19 October 2010 (UTC)
 * It has been estimated that by 2009 The Power of Now had sold 3 million copies in North America.
 * No, it was estimated in 2009 that at that point it had sold 3 million copies. It was not a prediction.  If you like, you can read the relevant part of the cited and then change the phrasing to make it clearer.  Gregcaletta (talk) 00:37, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * You are correct, my mistake, it was not a prediction. I'll look at the source and see what can be done to clarify the sentence. Thanks for you input.-- — Keithbob • Talk  • 18:53, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

Removed subsection and quote from the Reception Section
Removed Tolle quote from the Reception section per this Discussion -- — Keithbob • Talk  • 21:52, 19 October 2010 (UTC)
 * That was a discussion over whether it belonged in a different article. HelloAnnyong agreed that it belongs here.  Gregcaletta (talk) 00:41, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * It's true that the discussion took place on a different article but the principles are the same ie. an editor choosing a quote by Tolle and presenting it as a response to info from secondary sources. I'll post a note on HelloAnnyong's page and see if he/she wants to clarify what they said about the quote being put in this article.-- — Keithbob • Talk  • 18:45, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Probably better to request a neutral third opinion from WP:3O. Gregcaletta (talk) 22:57, 20 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Oh you are clarifying what he actually said, fair enough. Gregcaletta (talk) 01:55, 21 October 2010 (UTC)
 * If there's any place to put that text, it's here. But I don't like the idea of having it in a blockquote and in its entirety. Can we take part of it and put it into a sentence that fits in with the rest of the reception section? Something like, "In the 2004 edition of the book, Tolle wrote that 'the urgent need for a radical change in human consciousness' is necessary, and that the 'readiness in millions of people for the arising new consciousness' is how the book should be perceived. Something like that. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 12:30, 22 October 2010 (UTC)
 * OK, I've cut it down as much as I can and taken it out of the block quote format. I don't think it's really possible to cut it out further with out misrepresenting what he actually said.  Paraphrasing should be avoided because it adds our own interpretation to what he actually said.  Gregcaletta (talk) 12:58, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

OK, I'm willing to compromise and allow the quote in the reception section. And thank you for cutting it down Gregcalletta, but it is still much too long and gratuitous in my opinion. I support Annyong's suggestion of saying:
 * "In the 2004 edition of the book, Tolle wrote that 'the urgent need for a radical change in human consciousness' is necessary, and that the 'readiness in millions of people for the arising new consciousness' is how the book should be perceived.-- — Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 15:58, 22 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Do you see my problem with this though? When you say this is "how the book should be perceived", these are our words not Tolle's.  So it is our interpretation of what he said; it's not what he actually said.  So this kind of paraphrasing does actually constitute original research.  Thank you for being willing to compromise.  Gregcaletta (talk) 23:29, 22 October 2010 (UTC)
 * The original quote says 'perceived'. I think 'seen' is fine there. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 13:04, 23 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Just to clarify our principles. Original Research is when an editor takes information from a source and creates his own conclusion. Usually he combines info X with info Y and comes up with conclusion Z. However an editor could also just extrapolate from a single source and create an OR situation that way as well. At the same time Wiki policies do allow, and in fact encourage, editors to summarize and avoid the use of quotes in most circumstances WP:QUOTE. This is an important distinction to keep in mind for future discussions.  And by the way, thank you everyone for working together in a collaborative manner to improve the article.--<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> •  Talk  • 16:34, 23 October 2010 (UTC)
 * I have to strongly disagree here. WP:QUOTE is an essay, not even a guideline, and certainly  not policy.  In any case, it doens't say anywhere in that essay that paraphrasing is generally considered better than direct quotation.  It is impossible to paraphrase without inserting one's own interpretation and opinion (whether consciously or unconsciously).
 * What Tolle actually wrote is that "this is the context within which the success of The Power of Now must be seen and understood" and you paraphrased this as "this is how the book should be perceived". The first is what he actually said, and the second is your interpretation of what he actually said, which is very different to what he actually said.  Gregcaletta (talk) 06:36, 24 October 2010 (UTC)
 * What the WP:QUOTE essay does actually say is this: "Quotations are a fundamental attribute of Wikipedia. Quotations ... provide information directly; a brief excerpt can sometimes explain things better and less controversially than trying to do so ourselves."  Gregcaletta (talk) 06:27, 24 October 2010 (UTC)

Bold face type in the article
According to WP:MOSBOLD, bold is to be used only for a list of defined terms, and is not appropriate to create emphasis for words in the middle of a sentence. However, italics can be used instead.--<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 19:31, 26 October 2010 (UTC)

Resources for critical reception
It seems the article focuses mainly on the positive presentation of the book. Does anyone have critical resources, e.g. from the Critical Inquirer. As far as I know scientists have also dealt with the topic of common grounds of religion. How does that compare?

Thanks for further information MelchiorG (talk) 16:11, 8 June 2012 (UTC)

Rewrite of article using secondary sources
Per this discussion above I'd like to begin a rewrite of this article. At present it is subjective compilation of quotes from primary sources (the book reporting on itself). This is a flagrant violation of WP:PRIMARY and needs to be rectified. It is especially egregious because the book has so many secondary sources that have reported on it. Some are listed below. The Independent (London, England); June 21, 2008; 700+ words ...unquote tolle in his own words The Power of Now " The pain-body consists of...Jivamukti centre in New York. chose The Power of Now as her other book (apart from...another devotee, who also chose The Power of Now as her Desert Island Book...
 * The Independent (London, England)--Tolle in His Own Words the Power of Now

Telecommunications Weekly; August 11, 2008; 586 words ...of its latest production, "The Power of Now, A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment...certain that Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power of Now' will be one of our bestselling...of two of Tolle's titles: "The Power of Now" and "A New Earth." The latter... Small Press Bookwatch; June 1, 2007; 312 words The Power of Now in Your Life Tangela B. Pierce Morgan...author Tangela B. Pierce presents The Power of Now in Your Life, a self-help guide...s spirit comes directly from God, The Power of Now in Your life blends spirituality...
 * Telecommunications Weekly--FonoLibro Releases Spanish Audiobook of International Bestseller "The Power of Now" from Eckhart Tolle.
 * Small Press Bookwatch--The Power of Now in Your Life.(Brief article)(Book review)

WAM - United Arab Emirates News Agency; April 1, 2010; 700+ words ...Eckhart Tolle, 'A New Earth and the Power of Now', translated into Arabic...New York Times bestsellers: 'The Power of Now' (translated into thirty...and Spanish. In addition to 'The Power of Now' and 'A New Earth', Eckhart...
 * WAM - United Arab Emirates News Agency--KALIMA publishes Eckhart Tolle's 'A New Earth and the Power of Now' in Arabic.

Cape Times (South Africa); March 26, 2010; 205 words ...lecture, Finding Your Life's Purpose, will be screened at Labia on Orange on Sunday at 6.15 pm. The author of The Power of Now, finds humour in the absurdity of our lifelong lessons this time round, cutting something of a Mr Bean figure... Leisure & Travel Week; August 20, 2011; 575 words ...tickets go to: http://www.eckharttolletv.com/four-inspiring-events/af/small. Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now is one of the most influential spiritual books of our time. A #1 New York Times bestseller, translated into 33...
 * Cape Times (South Africa)--The Power of Now'.(Entertainment)
 * Leisure & Travel Week--Transformations Into Remarkable Men: "The Power of Now" Meets "The Power of Intention".

Daily Mail (London); February 27, 2012; 700+ words ...Eckhart Tolle, and so many of the spiritual teachers who have tried so hard to talk sense into the rest of us, in 'The Power of Now'. It's all about the here and now. Trying to undo the past simply drives us all half- crazy. Similarly, visualising...
 * Daily Mail (London)--'Cody Time' Is All about the Power of Now

M2 Best Books; October 2, 2009; 281 words ...Tolle and Robert S. Friedman. The book, Milton's Secret: An Adventure of Discovery through Then, When, and the Power of Now, is being adapted as an action family film, with Donald Martin writing the screenplay; Tolle, Friedman and Constance...
 * M2 Best Books--Peace Arch acquires screen rights to Milton's Secret: An Adventure of Discovery through Then, When, and the Power of Now.

Risk & Insurance; April 1, 2010; Weiss, Neil; 700+ words summary * New claims technology brings new opportunity for continuous improvement. * To maintain a high-performance claims operation, insurers need the ability to generate and leverage real-time information. * Best results can be achieved when the capabilities are native to the claims
 * Risk & Insurance--The power of now: monitoring claims performance for continuous improvement depends on information that is current, relevant and clear.(SPECIAL REPORT: CLAIMS)

The Spectator; March 19, 2011; Phillips, Peter; 700+ words Whatever lay behind Radio 3's decision four years ago to reduce the number of live concert broadcasts to a mere handful, it cannot have been the recent phenomenal success of 'live' relays from the Met in New York to local cinemas. Even the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's has been a
 * The Spectator--The power of now

The Irish Times; May 4, 2013; Cleary, Catherine; 700+ words S o how did the Somedayers do? We had 10 people with 10 projects and 30 days in which to crack them. Each person was trying something they had always said they'd do "someday". They started at the beginning of January. We had three writers, two piano players, two singers, a table tennis player, a
 * The Irish Times--Someday Stories of Success ; Ten People with 10 Things That They Had Always Said They Would Try 'Some Day'. Catherine Cleary Helped Them Harness the Power of Now

Chicago Sun-Times; April 3, 2005; Cathleen Falsani; 700+ words NEW YORK -- This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. . . . As a rousing version of the gospel song blasts through the dimly lit yoga studio in lower Manhattan, the Godfather of Hip Hop is standing on his head, eyes closed, feet swaying to
 * Chicago Sun-Times--WE GET WHAT WE GIVE . . . IT'S A KARMA THING' Russell Simmons: "I never liked religion very much. I never had faith in anything that I couldn't see. And yoga really helped me feel more comfortable [with] the idea of being present, the simplest idea of spirituality, the power of now." Series: THE GOD FACTOR

The Independent (London, England); June 21, 2008; Walker, Esther; 700+ words ...publication of his first book, The Power of Now, which has since been translated...of the Bible - and one copy of The Power of Now; the former X-Files actress Gillian Anderson f chose The Power of Now as her other book (apart from... AP Worldstream; August 13, 2003; 360 words ...is author of the best seller "The Power of Now." "Two editors within Penguin independently gave me `The Power of Now' as a gift," Penguin President...2000 after Ryan recommended "The Power of Now" to Winfrey, who gave the book...
 * The Independent (London, England)--This Man Could Change Your Life
 * Chicago Sun-Times; December 5, 2010; 610 words ...pals have come up with what looks like a parody of “spiritual workbook” sensations such as Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now and Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. But upon closer inspection, one might actually learn something about oneself...
 * AP Worldstream--German-born spiritual teacher agrees to one-book deal

Deseret News (Salt Lake City); February 3, 2008; Hillel Italie Associated Press; 407 words ...author of the million-selling "The Power of Now," as her latest book club selection...whose other books include "The Power of Now" and "Stillness Speaks...endorsed Tolle's work, citing "The Power of Now" on her Web site as among...
 * Deseret News (Salt Lake City)--Winfrey's latest pick is Tolle's self-help guide

Winnipeg Free Press; January 31, 2008; Anonymous; 323 words ...author of the million-selling The Power of Now, as her latest book club selection...Tolle, whose other books include The Power of Now and Stillness Speaks, is a native...endorsed Tolle's work, citing The Power of Now on her website as one of ...
 * Winnipeg Free Press--Oprah picks self-help book by B.C.-based writer

Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque); February 5, 2008; The Associated Press; 324 words ...author of the million-selling "The Power of Now," as her latest book club selection...whose other books include "The Power of Now" and "Stillness Speaks...endorsed Tolle's work, citing "The Power of Now" on her Web site as among..
 * Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque)--Oprah's selects 'A New Earth' as top book
 * <span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 19:41, 30 June 2013 (UTC)

More:
 * USA Today
 * CNN
 * USA Today
 * The Independent
 * NY Times
 * --<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 20:10, 30 June 2013 (UTC)

I agree with Keithbob
I agree with Keithbob that the article needs to be re-written without citing the book itself. Keithbob has done an excellent job of assembling sources. The Summary section of the article (now called "Topics contained in the book") needs to be gutted and trimmed down to the maximum allowable Summary word-count in WikiProject:Books. It should probably mainly quote secondary sources, not the book itself.

Then the Reception section should be bumped up with real reviews and quotes from reliable sources and major media. Then, some sort of Impact or Legacy section should be added, or perhaps included in the Reception section ("Reception and impact"), that traces the book's rise to intense prominence and its influence over the years. Plus some negative reviews should be quoted if they haven't been. Plus the citations to the reviews and mentions need to be fixed, filled out, and wikilinked.

Hope that helps. I'm not sure I have time to collaborate. I have the PON book but I haven't looked at it in 11 years, nor have I read any of Tolle's other works. Softlavender (talk) 23:49, 11 July 2013 (UTC)

Publication history?
What about this section? I haven't seen this before in a book article on WP. It seems unnecessary to me. Comments anyone?--<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 22:41, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Yeah, that should go. It's incomplete (if the book has been translated into all those languages), and I've copied the main point (its original publication) into the body text. Softlavender (talk) 23:22, 12 July 2013 (UTC)
 * Well done! --<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 23:32, 12 July 2013 (UTC)

Thank you
Thank you everyone, for your help in overhauling this article and making it WP compliant.--<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS,sans -serif"> — <b style= "color:#090;">Keithbob</b> • Talk  • 22:35, 13 July 2013 (UTC)

Article Critics
Hello, I have heard a lot of good things about this book and I am planning on buying it. However I have some recommendations about the article. First, I think that the article should be unbiased by using articles, reliable ones, rather Celebrities such as Oprah or Paris Hilton as references for future readers. It sounds not only bias but it does not really provide information about what these people standards and definition of what "a great book" is. It can also be a distraction from the articles, having three or more celebrities as a reference shades more attention on the celebrities than the article itself. Also, I do not understand the reason why the four chapters had been selected. Is there any specific themes they are following? or Is it a way of summarising the book? I would recommend a brief summary of the book under the overview sections. If on the other hand there is a reason of the selection of these chapters then it should be mentioned in the beginning of the section "Selected Chapters". Another of my recommendation would be the sources. I believe that rather than newspapers, having a variety and wide range of references would be more reliable. All the articles are only supporting the books, I think that in order for someone to make a choice, it is important to have pros and cons, or even neutral articles about the book. For instance the reference "http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/eckhart-tolle-this-man-could-change-your-life-850872.html" /ref> that clearly states that the author could change your life as a title, is making sound like a marketing article to sell the book rather than an informative one. Finally, I have two questions regarding the articles. It is mentioned in the first line of the overview, "One reviewer", who is the reviewer? I am also curious to know which bookstore actually sell this book, since I am planning to buy one. Other than that, great articles, and very well organised, and easy to read--Hananbechir (talk) 00:13, 23 January 2017 (UTC)