The Prophet

By Kahlil Gibran

Thought-provoking, comforting and wise, the simple truths of The Prophet remain compelling and rewarding to this day.

Complete & Unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

Utterly unique and beloved around the world, The Prophet is a collection of twenty-six poetic essays by the Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer Khalil Gibran. Telling the story of the prophet Al-Mustafa and his conversations with various acquaintances as he returns home after a long absence, the book touches on subjects of universal concern, including love, friendship, passion, pain, religion and freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Release date: Jul 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781509826834

Kahlil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese-American writer, poet, and a philosopher best known for his, The Prophet. Born to a Maronite-Christian family in a village occupied by Ottoman rule, Gibran and his family immigrated to the United States in 1895 in search of a better life. Studying art and literature, and inevitably ensconced in the world of political activism as a young man dealing with the ramifications of having to leave his home-land, Gibran hoped to make his living as an artist. With the weight of political and religious upheaval on his shoulders, Gibran's work aimed to inspire a revolution of free though and artistic expression. Gibran's, The Prophet has become one of the best-selling books of all time, leaving behind a legacy of accolades and establishing him as both a literary rebel and hero in his country of Lebanon. Gibran is considered to be the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao Tzu.

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Reviews for The Prophet

[danielstj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a surprisingly good read. The pithy statements are full of wisdom and poetic grace and the entire whole is abounded by a sense of care and compassion towards the reader. Although I am not religious, I found this to be a particularly gripping book that held my attention from start to finish.

Great read. Recommended for poets, scholars, those with religious reasons, and curiosity-seekers.

[hollybdurso · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An absolutely beautiful little book filled with poetic wisdom that I believe people from every faith and background can draw from.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

his is a very interesting listen. The Prophet is not so much a story as treatise on Gibran's understanding of philosphy and religion. There are some beautiful points made, but others that seem confusing. The narration was rather odd. Paul Sparer has an amazing voice, but it would work better in an epic fantasy, and therefore gave the whole work a feel of the fantastic.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

20 years ago my sister passed away and a professor at my university handed me this book to read "On Joy and Sorrow". It stayed with me for the next 20 years until I finally tracked it down to this book. The message in "On Joy and Sorrow" is one I've tried to pass on to a friend or two when it seemed it would be helpful.

Having just finished the whole book, there are many passages here that are as thought provoking. Just about every aspect of life is covered in this small tome, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys looking at the deeper meanings in everyday life.

[hvg-13 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's ok, not earth shattering or anything. May require re-reading.

[pdxwoman_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the seventh grade I learned teachers didn't know as much as they led us to believe. I'd read The Prophet and wanted to talk about it with my Tag English teacher. He had no idea who Kahlil Gibran was. It took me at least a week to wrap my brain around that fact.More years later than I'd care to admit, I still remember the impact the book had on me and, while I've never read it a second time, several passages and the overall impact stick with me.

[stevenjohntait · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this years ago. I'm not a religious person in the slightest. I might consider myself spiritual. This book was to me what I suppose the Bible or Koran, or Torah or whatever is to people of religion. It's a go-to book for learning how to be a better person. Provides insight into emotions, and ideas about work and life.

[mfassold_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite books of inspiration. I gave my Friday crew the book before they left for college. One of my favorite memories will always be sharing the book at Starbucks this summer.

[eldang-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I feel like I'm supposed to love this book, but it just didn't do much for me. At its best the writing is quite lyrical and there are some wonderfully quotable passages, but taken as a whole it felt like Gibran had tried to find universals among world religions and that road had just led him to rather obvious truisms.

[jessljones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Humbling, inspiring, and definitely a book to keep on your bedside table...

[marqpdx_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is priceless. If you haven't done so, read it soon. So much wisdom so sweetly and lovingly put forth.

[melydia_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is an interesting piece of philosophy, well worth a couple rereads. Basically this prophet comes to town, and the people of the town ask him all kinds of questions, and he answers them. There's some good advice about infusing your every action with love and stuff like that, and some confusing advice that may be encouraging nudity and/or anarchy. Like I said, it's worth multiple reads. And it's short enough that rereading is no burden. A good choice if you're in the mood to ponder the Big Issues.

[goofyocean110 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read The Prophet perhaps way way too quickly - its short enough to be read in a few hours, but deep enough to take years to digest. There's lots in there that would be good quotes to remember. It reminded me a little bit of the song 'Best of all possible worlds' in Candide(?) where this one know-it-all explains his unrelenting optimism.

[barblibrarian_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I originally read this book in high school over 30 years ago and found it beautiful. Today I find it enlightening, calming, and a constant source of re-examination. I actually keep a copy with me at all times to read whenever I need to wait somewhere and want a quick reminder. Very thought provoking and very new age.

[ricardob-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"The Prophet" is a book that by it's own religious nature will vary in quality depending on one's personal views.
I say this because as someone who has completly step back from any religious belief, I struggled with some of the book's content; some "truths" presented are those shared by many religions and therefore are completly dependent on belief.
That being said, I would still recomend this book because of the beautiful imaginery recalled by the Prophet to deliver his teachings; most are so rich that there were parts I re-read several times because understanding the simple images felt many times like an ephifany in the sense that it gave order to some portion of the human experience without simplifying it.

All things considered, it was worth reading since this is a small and well written book whose effect is more likely than not to bring some more perspective on religious beliefs.

[jennifersalderson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful, amazing, spiritually-lifting little book that I have been flipping through for 25+ years! I highly recommend it - to everyone!!!

[spiritedtruthseeke-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

another MUST read for EVERYONE

[benuathanasia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not very religious, but this had some great and beautiful thoughts and advice in it.

[katie_h_11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Prophet" is a beautiful and timeless work of art. From the mouth of an old man about to sail away to a far off place, we hear the simple and lyrical wisdom of life and all its components, such as love, work, materialism, crime, freedom, friendship, pleasure, and death. This is a classic guide book for life, full of philosophical eloquence. It is a profound and poetic serman that puts much into perspective without feeling dogmatic or religious. Especially poignant were the writings on Marriage, Children, and Joy and Sorrow. The book can be read in less than an hour, but I'd suggest spending more time with it, allowing yourself to fully absorb this masterpiece. Ten stars.

[thestrawberrymoon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I picked up a First Edition copy at Thrift Store! The Greatest Find of My life!

[mariosantamaria_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author creates a prophet to deliver their wisdom to an audience. Talks many subjects full of wisdom. They are not attached to any specific religion. It is short lenght but you need some time to digest any chapter. It is a great reading.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wijsheidsliteratuur op en top. Toch begrijp ik die Tagore-idolatrie niet echt goed.

[cate88_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Timeless in its wisdom. Less is definitely more in this slim volume. Excellent guide for living.

[keylawk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gibran is the one of the most popular poets gracefully standing in this vale of tears. Only Shakespeare and Lao-Tze are more often quoted and published. The Prophet is not Jesus -- for there is no crucifixion, no salvation in blood. The Prophet is not Mohammed -- for there is no war, no jihad, no vilification, no second-class sex or tribe, and no obsession with "being clean" in an impure world. Possibly, he is Manes, because there are revenant themes of Christic Persian mystery -- but there is no hard line drawn between the infinite possibilities of Good and Evil. It is all about grace, seeing inside, understanding outside.Gibran is one of the diaspora of great men and women who fled and flee from the Middle East (Lebanon). Thousands of great poets are still fleeing the persecutions and the stifling monopoly of Islam. In the West, his talent for grace was appreciated. He flourished, and so will any reader.

[sitaraa_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

a treasure.. i keep going back to it

[trgllylibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty quick read with some wise insights into human nature and our relationship with God. Some favorites:

"Verily the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral."

On search for freedom:
"And my heart bled within me; for you can only be free when even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you, and when you cease to speak of freedom as a goal and a fulfillment."

On the mystery of death and afterlife:
"In the depths of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity."

[uptownbookwormnyc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read this when I was 10 & it stayed with me forever. My buddy in college used to tease me that it was my bible :-p

[dms02 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

a great look at life. a spiritual read on all topics of life. it has taken on a new meaning every time I read it.

[jvioland_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reminds me of Wisdom and Proverbs. Very insightful and soothing to wounded souls.

[sturlington_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just now got around to reading The Prophet. A lot of what's in here is common sense, easily recognized truths. One wishes that human beings would live by these sentiments, rather than just nodding their heads when they read them and then forgetting them in the context of real life. Some of the talk about God didn't appeal to me, although I recognize that Gibran seems to be talking about God more in the sense of a benign force in the universe rather than a being to be worshipped. Other bits flew right past me and would require rereading and further thought. And the ending bit about reincarnation--well, isn't it pretty to think so?Even though this reads like an early version of the New Age self-help books that are now ubiquitous, Gibran certainly had a gift for poetic language and simple but evocative imagery, which elevates his writing above all that other claptrap. This is a book that I can see myself returning to often. Read in 2014 for the RandomCAT Challenge.