Out on a Limb

by Shirley MacLaine

Her most controversial book is one you will never forget. An outspoken thinker, a celebrated actress, a truly independent woman, Shirley MacLaine goes beyond her previous two bestsellers to take us on an intimate yet powerful journey into her personal life and inner self. An intense, clandestine love affair with a prominent politician sparks Shirley MacLaine's quest of self-discovery. From Stockholm to Hawaii to the mountain vastness of Peru, from disbelief to radiant affirmation, she at last discovers the roots of her very existence. . . and the infinite possibilities of life. Shirley MacLaine opens her heart to explore the meaning of a great and enduring passion with her lover Gerry; the mystery of her soul's connection with her best friend David; the tantalizing secrets behind a great actor's inspiration with the late Peter Sellers. And through it all, Shirley MacLaine's courage and candor new doors, new insights, new revelations-and a luminous new world she invites us all to share."A stunningly honest, engrossing account of an intimate journey inward. Shirley MacLaine's discovery of a new sense of purpose, joy, energy, and love will touch and astonish you."-- "Literary Guild Magazine" .

"An immensely appealing woman-bright, open, straightforward, sincere."-- "The New York Daily News"

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Spirituality, Memoir, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, New Age

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Shirley MacLaine is an actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed, and eccentric women, she has received numerous accolades over her seven-decade career, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, six Golden Globes, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from acting, MacLaine has written numerous books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a New York Times bestselling memoir, Out On a Limb.

Reviews

[Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little life we're living
Is mighty hard to beat -
You get a thorn with every rose -
But ain't the Roses sweet?

Sixties Wall Plaque

You know, I loved this book... Heh, heh - well at least my bipolar 35-year-old ego did, and the four stars are from him. I was a battered and beat-up psych ward veteran, and Shirley - or so she claimed - had achieved the ineffable state of ego transcendence.

Or had she? Think again. Ms MacLaine, precisely which PART of you successfully transcended your ego?

Let T.S. Eliot answer: "the conscious waking life of our ego is a perceiving." Get it? A perception of your transcendence is actually and only an (imagined) perceiving. And your percipient ego does not transcend itself - for the percipient is merely ego.

To the young though, alas, such transcendence is a perpetual possibility. And Ms MacLaine back then was still young.

But that's all it is, as evinced by my workplace buddy Peter's chuckle after he asked me the name of this book. (You gotta know that Peter, a fellow bibliophile, had successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Canada's most prestigious campus on the inner complexities of Paradise Lost)!

Whoops. I turned bright crimson. I put the book hastily aside.

To us manic-depressives, self-transcendence is a high. And Peter's chuckle dealt me a big self-abasing low.

Nice play, Shakespeare, I said to my crushed ego.

It's a Heartache -
Nothing but a Heartache!

That's the full dope on self-transcendence, kids.

Take it or leave it.

But, if you take it -

You can Relax and Smile - and Smell the Roses.

You get a thorn with every rose -
But ain’t the roses sweet?

Say, who needs transcendence anyway?

Bearing our pain with love is all the transcendence we need.

A plain, pain-ridden Little Life is all you've got, and will ever have. And it will give you peace in the end.

Take your meds, kids!

[Charissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I admit it. Back in the day I haunted new age crystal stores, hoping to find the long lost spirituality that I never had. Here in Northern California there were plenty of them, believe me. It was the 80s and crystal worshipping was the new fondue. Shirley had all the answers. And who wouldn't have believed her, what with all her hobnobbing with the Rat Pack, and wearing a miniskirt in a Broadway musical. I figured anyone that successful in Hollywood must know what she was talking about.

So, when Shirley wrote about taking a hot bath every morning and placing her quartz crystals at all four corners of the bath to "replenish her energies" I went straight down and bought myself some crystals. Of course, not having a personal servant to cook me breakfast was a problem, but I figured if I just concentrated on enough crystals, I would be as wealthy and successful as Shirley in no time. Who needed acting classes? Who needed an agent? Who needed to live in LA? I was going to get to the top by magick!!!

I devoured her chapters hungrily, searching for the secret clues to her fame and lack of boobs and hips. It was all going so well, until...

There she was in Peru being beamed up by aliens.

WTF???

ALIENS????

SHIRLEY YOU WINGNUT!!!!!!

Goddamnit. Now I felt stupid for having stood out on Stinson Beach and chanted "I am God" over and over again. That ho biscuit.

So I went back to doing musical comedy and vaudeville. I started smoking Camel non filters and drinking Jim Beam straight from the bottle. If crystals weren't going to make me famous, I may as well resort to the techniques of the greats. Maybe I looked nothing like Humphrey Bogart, but dammit I could still pass out like him at the end of the night.

[Davis Aujourd'hui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for someone who has a thirst for spiritual experience. Shirley MacLaine has written another beautiful autobiography that brilliantly captures her own spiritual quest and adventures. All that you will need in order to enjoy the book is an open mind. You will not be disappointed.

As the author of a spiritually-themed book, I appreciate any book that provides food for the soul. This was definitely a book that did it for me. It was a delightful read that intimately connected me with the engaging personality of Ms. MacLaine.

Having already had my own out-of-body experience, I was easily able to relate to the author's experience. It was also helpful to me that I had previously developed a belief in channeling and reincarnation. You may just come to those beliefs for yourself after reading this book. Out on a Limb only served to affirm for me that there is much more to this life than I could have ever imagined.

The book is highly readable. I did not want to put it down. It also sparked my interest in her succeeding books. I trust that it will do that for you as well.

Davis Aujourd'hui, author of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude"

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the New Age Years (by my reckoning, from 1980 until the Shift into the Age of Awakening, on 12-21-12) I ADORED everything Shirley MacLaine.

When it came to showing the courage of her convictions, she went all in. "Out on a Limb" was an understatement. This was my favorite of her highly entertaining memoirs from that time.

So I've given this book *****, in that context.

HOWEVER, THESE DAYS I DISTINGUISH PSYCHIC FROM SPIRITUAL

Just as I know enough to tell that ASTRAL Vibrational Frequencies are altogether different from the DIVINE Vibrational Frequency.

No longer am I in love with the romance of the astral. Yet I fondly remember how much I enjoyed this book by intrepid Shirley MacLaine.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley Maclaine the actress takes us on her journey towards spiritual enlightenment a thoughtful take on her quest to know why we are all here and have we had ‘outside’ influences along the way…. 

I remember reading this book when I was 17… looking back I see what a huge influence it has had on my life… I know Shirley got a lot of flack when this originally came out in 1983, but as the years have passed so many more people have actually written on this subject, I believe this book should be given another look. The other great thing about it was that at the beginning of each chapter Shirley quoted some of the books that she had devoured on her quest, so I then sought them out also and read the likes of ‘Plato’ Edgar Cayce’ Aristotle and so many more whom I would never have even heard of… 

The basic premise of the book is that Shirley hit her early 40’s, she had everything she could desire, a great career a lovely daughter, relationships but she felt that something was missing, I think an awful lot of us feel like that…. But luckily for Ms Maclaine she had the funds with which to seek out her answers… and living in California she had the people to guide her as well. 

Her main guide is a chap called David, whom she meets at an art gallery, then after that he keeps popping up. Other coincidences occur that she looks into instead of ignoring, and they take her on a wonderful journey all over the world, Peru, Stockholm, London, Hawaii. I particularly love the way she juxtaposes her ‘normal’ life alongside that of her spiritual journey. It is a very well written readable book… I recommend it, if for no other reason that to open your mind to the alternatives out there.. And as a great reading list for future books…

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this long ago possibly when I was living in NM. I found her ideas fascinating.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nederlandse vertaling: Op glad ijs.

[Dorothy Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when i read it 18 years ago. Shirley has written a lovely book describing a period of time when experiences of an esoteric nature were dominating her life. She went through that period of time where seeking out those experiences outweighed many other considerations, including how she was viewed by her peers and the public.

This is a simple book that manages to have a magical quality as she describes some telling moments in her life. Anyone opening up to the subtle energy fields will recognize the phases she explores, when i read this book i was at the beginning of my journey and lapped up any information about the experiences of others, not because they were always well written or thought out, but because they resonated with something deep inside and offered a glimpse of something i desperately wanted to experience for myself.

[Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I went through my "new age" phase because I really admire Shirley Maclaine as an actress and as a woman. She took a lot of heat for this book and it was the butt of many jokes. I often wonder if she were a man if it would have been so derided. Having said that, the problem with the book for me was the style of the writing. It was almost like a comic book script and sort of along the lines of a Danielle Steele type book so I can't give it a real, huge like. However, it is entertaining and a fun read. I put it in my bon-bon category for those days you need to lie on the sofa.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and was drawn back to it once again. I got even more out of it this time around, especially given my recent reading in religion, its history and philosophy.

This is the first in her series on spirituality, reincarnation and UFOs. Remarkable, amazing things happened to her to lead her into this study/search… She is describing things that actually happened to her and that she saw first hand so it is hard to not believe what she shares.

There was one questionable moment when she was talking to someone who claimed that Moses had access to the Akashic records and that is how he could write the story of the creation. This cannot be true. Most scholars now agree that Moses did not write the five books of the Torah. They were written hundreds years after he died. Plus there are actually two versions of the creation story in the bible. Why would the Akashic record have two different versions?!

Dec. 2025
With all my reading of trance channeling lately I was drawn back to this great book by MacLaine. We are learning so much from the spirits that come through trance channelers and what life is like in the spiritual world. It does not match what I was taught as a kid in a baptist church. What we are learning is better. MacLaine points out that in 553 CE the council of Nicaea struck all references to reincarnation from the bible. She write that they did this in order "to solidify Church control.” p.235 I have read about this council in other books. The council of Nicaea was made up of bishops from all over Europe and Africa, and over the years they made a number of radical declarations that changed the church’s beliefs and increased their control over the commoners.

[Paula Dembeck · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book published in 1983 was MacLaine’s third memoir, a book quite different from her first two that consisted largely of recollections about her life as a dancer, actress, world traveler and socially conscious citizen. In this book she continues her journey of self-discovery during a period in her life that was particularly stressful. She was in the midst of an affair with a married British politician and found herself struggling with many life questions.

The period of time she covers is from the mid to late seventies when she was divorced and in her mid-forties. She knew her affair will the politician she calls Gerry Spence would not go anywhere as he was devoted to his wife and children and had already told her he felt he could not live up to her expectations. She predicts that once again she will be left alone and wonders why.

Maclean’s good friend David (a composite character) who has shared his beliefs about spirituality with MacLaine, introduces her to New Age books and encourages her interest in reincarnation. She expands her reading to include books about mediums who help people understand their past lives, including one about Edward Cayce, who helped people deal with their medical concerns. She travels to Stockholm to visit a medium who does similar work, meets Sture Johanssen and watches as he channels a man named Ambres and discusses spirituality with his guests.

After returning to Los Angeles, she invites a medium named Kevin to her home where he channels two spirit companions who tell MacLaine that two people in her present life, David and Gerry, have also been part of her past life. Overwhelmed by this information, MacLaine explores more of the literature on reincarnation while she is traveling with her stage show. When she arrives home, she and David go off to Peru where MacLaine has an out of body experience that makes her more receptive to David’s spiritual concepts. He also shares with her his experience with a woman named Mayan who told David she was from outer space, insisted the soul was real, immortal and eventually returned to physical form to work out some form of karmic justice. She predicted that David would meet up with MacLaine and told him to share his knowledge with her, so MacLaine could write about it and share it with the wider world through her writing and celebrity. Initially MacLaine found this all illogical, but the more time she spent with David the more she was taken in by his ideas. She returned home and wrote this book.

Whew!!

This book, the first in which she publicly shared her search for her spiritual self, received a wide variety of reactions. Some, drawn to her journey, applauded MacLaine for openly and honestly sharing her journey of self-discovery. Others, ridiculed her and she became the butt of many jokes. Her brother Warren Beatty distanced himself from her and many of her friends urged her to not go public with her beliefs, fearful it would affect her reputation. Even her publisher required she tone down what was originally submitted to them before they agreed to go ahead and put out the book. .

Interestingly there was a respectfully sized audience for her writing and the book sold well, which may have been due to the name of the author rather than its content. Sales were vigorous enough that the publisher re-issued MacLaine's past memoirs as readers expressed interest in going back to see what else she had written. The book became part of the surge for what has been called New Age literature, a surge fueled in part by Baby Boomers.

MacLaine was in the spotlight which led to interviews on late night TV talk shows, an ABBC mini-series and seminars she gave to interested audiences.

What was also fascinating was the field day people were having trying to guess the identity of the British Parliamentarian she called Gerry Spence. Up until the publication of the book, it had been a well-kept secret.

This book, which explores the concepts of reincarnation, meditation and mediums sounded all a bit strange to me. I felt MacLaine had been influenced by people ready to take advantage of a woman during a stressful period in her life. I applaud her curiosity and her willingness to explore the unconventional, but I found the narrative awkward, as if she had forgotten to take some much-needed medication.

I just found it all a little surreal, as if MacLaine was not only “Out On A Limb” but also “Out Of Her Tree”.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shirley's Cornucopia of Books :

I think I read some of Shirl's books after teaching in Athens for about a year, the year of 1978. I've trawled through my Annual Reading Lists and there she is in early 1979 with "You Can Get There From Here". and then in 1987 with "Dancing in the Light".Think I read two others, yet to be located.

In Athens, in 1978, one of the teaching staff got me to read Lobsang Rampa's books.Two was more than enough.And later I heard that he lived in an English suburb, so who could blame him.

Before that,in 1977, in Sydney I read a Carlos Castenada, and wasted money on two other books of his,but at least it wasn't compulsory to read them!!!
But happily I was reading Sheldon Kopp, Viktor Frankl and loads of poets like Cavafy, Elizabeth Bishop, Wordsworth,Primo Levi and excellent novelists like Colette , Marcel Proust, Isaac Bashevis Singer,Henry Handel Richardson.

Shirley REappeared in my Reading Life in 1987. A very good friend from Athens days was really into Reincarnation and Previous Lives. Why not?
So I launched back into Shirl with "Dancing In The Light."
Was she delusional or just pretending to be delusional for the sake of delusional others ie., her readers.
I found her intensely Entertaining.
I guess, after all, that was her profession...pretending to be somebody else...in the movies. So why not extend it out side that. Keep you busy, rake in the dough, enjoy the fantasy, even believe in it or at least enjoy it.

Some have called Shirley: candid, courageous,an explorer,independent,a feminist, inspiring, honest, open, profound etc.
Others on the other hand have written: shockingly racist,extremely tedious,lazy, sloppy, extremely overconfident etc.
Myself?
Entertaining, for sure. Amusing, creative, outrageous, fascinating, entertaining (even twice isn't enough!!),assured of a good read !!

She did not raise my hackles. She made me wonder about her, worry a little, be astounded by her bravado.Or was it sheer gullibility or stupidity?? Surely Someone had to wear those Adjectival Labels?
If not Shirl, then her earnest readers? Her publishers? Defnitely NOT.
Well, I am passing no judgements, because people have enjoyed. Joy in a Life is not to be Judged.

But finally, although I never did, she ends up on my Books-I've-Thrown-Across-the-Room Shelf. Just view it as a Metaphorical Title.
As some fans have suggested, Shirley is not lying just being Symbolic.
And I am quite prepared to read another book by Shirley
Fine...and Fini.

[Aria · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment. How is it that celebs are so freakin' vulnerable to this sort of mess?

--

Writing style was kinda meh. I've read worse. Starts off about her being someone's mistress, then veers hard into weird territory. Ends up at what amounts to, "aliens, b/c jesus." well, okay then darlin'. Bless your heart.

-----

honestly it might have been hilarious if i hadn't already come across this road through (so freakin' many) other reads. no matter how it starts, it's always the same, once you know the pattern. this one started off w/ reincarnation, which is fine, b/c that's really just a bit of philosophical thinking, and i've no more problem w/ that than i do any other bit of philosophical thought. then they got to edgar cayce. oh, boy. i stopped right there, thinking, "i know where this is going." so, i took a trip hopping through the book and reading a bit every few pages until i got to the end. yep. as usual, they covered all the same mess, claim (falsely) that science supports some of it, and misrepresent the nature of energy. Typical western bastardization of some very nice eastern thinking....b/c that's what we do, ffs. *sigh.*

It wanders through past lives, spirit guides, mediums & psychics, twin souls, ESP, and even manages to screw up DNA, all to arrive at aliens, b/c jesus. basically this turns into a solid mash-up of every new age idea out at the time of writing. This is around the same time scientology started up, I'm pretty sure, and I'm glad she didn't get caught up in that. I hope she hasn't since then. I had her 5th book, It's All in the Playing, sitting here also. After coming upon all this I looked in it to see if she had pulled back at all. Nope. In that one she goes to Peru & communicates w/ aliens, so it seems she was pretty ripe for scientology to scoop up. Still hope she managed to avoid that lot.

I thought this was going to be some partial auto-biography/memoir. I didn't realize she was going to go out on that limb and do a blind high-dive. Here we are, though.

[Rick Ludwig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give Shirley MacLaine top marks for honesty and I still enjoy her writing style very much. I know you think I'm going to hammer her for buying into reincarnation and UFO's, etc. But I'm not. She's an explorer and she was exploring a new take on reality. Like all of her explorations, she threw herself into it and tried her best to keep an open mind. Some of what she came up with was very inspiring; an eternal soul, the chance to continue to improve as an entity, the possibility of life beyond this earth. She had trust in some people for whom I had none, but she knew them personally and I didn't. No all of that stuff was fine. I just didn't need to go into the bedroom with her. She certainly has the right to write about that aspect of her life and it was important to aspects of the larger story. But I just got bored with her British MP lover and was surprised that she didn't. Her pal David was the beneficiary of too many coincidences for me, and I like coincidences. Maybe, he was a composite of multiple real people. If so I'm being too hard on Shirley. I still find her an inspiring individual and will read the next in her series of memoirs, but I did like the first two better than this one.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her hesitations, second guessings, and yet full on curiosity into this journey of hers. The book also holds a lot of sentimentality to me since I grew up with my mom and sister loving the movie already and reading it now while being on a similar journey as she was. If you're into learning about the metaphysics of life and are in the process of really getting into it to the point where people are starting to look at you like you're nuts then definitely read this.

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked Shirley as an actress. Which is why I picked this book up at a used books sale.

Huge disappointment. New Age nonsense.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Very interesting to hear about some of her life experiences and how she learned to open up to the universe’s treasures

[Karen Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually 4.5 stars, rounded up! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the first of Shirley Maclaine's books I've read. I appreciated her thirst for knowledge of spirit and the universe.

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this book is by the very funny actress Shirley MacLaine. Despite that, it is a very serious undertaking. At a pivotal time in her life, she began to want answers to the question of what life is all about. This book is about her thought processes and rather amazing experiences during that time.

Highly metaphysical in nature with visits to mediums, conjecture about UFOs and out of body experiences, the book is earthed by a mind that had an aversion to such things and preferred to be totally pragmatic rather than prone to flights of fancy.

At the time, it was really brave to publish the book. The author was warned it would be the end of her career. Instead, it fascinated a new audience and became the first of a stream of spiritual memoirs. Whether you believe them or not, the books are entertaining and really do make you wonder about meaning behind coincidences in life.

The only weakpoint is that the memoir format allows Shirley to go on a little too much about her love affair of the time - obviously this had more significance to her than the rest of us. The book was later turned into a mini-series, the first part of which also suffered from this over-emphasis. Nevertheless, both are great for challenging the way you look at life and making you more curious!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have learned so much from this book. This amazingly talented woman whom I have idolized since a child, has become a permanent guest to my fantasy celebrity dinner.
The struggle between a woman and lovers, friends, god and herself is exemplified in such an honest simple way that I found myself nodding with agreement at how similar our opinions are. I think everyone should read this book, an understanding of some sort, be it naturally, sociologically, religiously or spiritually will definitely dawn on you.
There were too many quotes I loved from this book, but here is one that stroke me today:

"Sometimes I wanted to go home, back to America, back to the familiartiy of my old world with its fast-paced involvement, its clanking relationships, its unrealistic romance, all the rushing with no seeming purpose... I was used to it. I had survived in its colorful confusion, and I missed it. But I didn´t want to be unfulfilled in it anymore"

[Tristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shirley, Shirley, Shirley, SHIRLEY! What happened? Don't Fall Off the Mountain was such a wonderfully written, sweet book. You shared your story with such authenticity and humility - I was totally charmed! But this infamous book is just awful. It really should be called "What My Friend David Told Me" because that's all this book is..."David told me to read these books..." "David says I need to meditate..." "David says I need a high colonic..." And I didn't even make it to the Alien Are Real section, which everyone says is the best part, because I could not handle another "David says..." sentence! Oh well. I still have five more of your books to read in my scavenged pile. I am looking at them with trepidation. Time for a Shirley MacLaine break, I think...

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Shirley...

Read as part of a book club, and selected as an autobiography by one of our other members, this book is one of many in Shirley's prolific writing repertoire and therefore never delivers her origin story, upbringing, her influences or rise to fame. I was rather disappointed by this, but none of us knew when it was chosen! Instead it charts a certain period in her life where she explores spirituality through spirits, mediums, past-life recall, and aliens too. Too much quackery for me!

I will say, that in spite of all the shortcomings of this book (which I diligently finished if for no other reason than then being qualified to tear it to pieces on book review night!), the greatest redeeming quality is Shirley's inspiring storytelling as a traveller. I now desperately want to visit Peru and experience some off-the-beaten-path adventure just like Shirley did!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book-written in 1980! Maclaine writes about her travels, experiences, thoughts and readings on reincarnation and spirituality. She has a unique way of thinking about things-just like her personality-not afraid to ask questions or just state her thoughts about what is happening around her and what she might not fully understand. She seeks answers by reading, talking to others, traveling to sacred places and by taking quiet time to listen within herself. I like how she takes time to soak in a hot bath to review her thoughts! Her fame and wealth allow her to travel and do what she wants when she wants-but she seems to use and share what she discovers in ways that benefits herself as well as others.

[Kyle Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's taken me two years to finish this book. While I'm not on the same page as Maclaine when it comes to the after-life, I do admire her as a great writer. I think she's been written off as a nut, except when she's acting, and then you can't argue with her talents. But as someone who is writing, content aside, she's great. The beauty of this book is not only the chronicling of her spiritual journey, but this love story she shares between a married U.S. Senator (anonymous) and herself. The moments they share, the secret hideaways, the touching notes and longing looks....during parts of this book you almost feel like you're reading a love story. You are actually. I don't know, the whole thing is weird and compelling and it does make you think "what if?"

[María Greene F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya, sé que este libro fue motivo de crítica popular (al menos según ciertos programas repetidos del año uno que veo en la tele, jaja), pero a mí me gustó mucho. Me pareció sincera, me pareció interesante, y aprendí cosas tan diversas como la técnica adecuada para no pasar frío cuando se aloja en las montañas andinas.

Me gustó que ella tuviera el coraje de contar su historia. Quién sabe si es o no cierta, pero ¿por qué no? Ella no es de las que tiene que ir a inventar el cuento del tío para ganar plata, porque todos sabemos que es ricachona. ¿Qué ganaría ella? Yo le concedo, al menos, el beneficio de la duda.

Me encantan las autobiografías y me gustan esos temas. No puedo saber, claro, si es verdad, pero... me encantó leer esto, que además estaba bien escrito. Mis honores a Shirley.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that just came along at the right time. It was a significant part of my intellectual journey as it demonstrated that there were things beyond easy scientific explanation - provided you could believe Shirley Maclaine was not fibbing. My view was (and is) that she was telling of real experiences she had had.
She certainly put herself out on a limb writing as she did.
It is in no sense a mystical book but it does undermine the position of the naive realists who judge that what you can see and measure is all that there is.

[Natasa Tovornik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley keeps surprising me with her life stories. One does get a feeling she is an energetic and fun-having person. This is a journey to her inner-self and to openness to more intangible things (reincarnation, soul,...) in life. Describing all the conflicts that this causes in her as well as the thorough analysis makes this book a pleasure read and a good learning tool. I guess it could also be reading list for the topics mentioned as the reader would get quite a lot of information about different authors and books.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. I've read it many times - often the book to reach for when the libraries and bookstores are closed. I found it at a low point in my life, and welcomed it for the suggestion that there really is more to life than we can see and analyze. This is a memoir- many others have written "how-to" books along these lines, and I don't like them nearly as well, or at all. I prefer experience, and there are many wonder-ful experiences written about here.

[Gayle Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Shirley MacLaine, she is a great story teller, drawing you in and making you feel everything she is going through. I love books that make me think about possibilities of things not being what you think they are.This is a good read, I read it in an afternoon, and then wished there were more so I could keep reading it.