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The Prophet and Other Tales
This classical work of philosophy has inspired readers around the world for generations.
Upon its initial publication in 1923, Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet garnered little acclaim, but it became a critical success in the 1930s and again in the 1960s when it inspired a generation of readers with its philosophical discussion on subjects such as love, friendship, beauty, and freedom. Gibran’s masterpiece of poetic prose has now been translated into more than a hundred languages, and is regarded as one of the most important works of the early twentieth century. This Word Cloud edition of The Prophet and Other Tales also includes two of Gibran’s earliest works, The Madman and The Forerunner , along with illustrations by the author.
Upon its initial publication in 1923, Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet garnered little acclaim, but it became a critical success in the 1930s and again in the 1960s when it inspired a generation of readers with its philosophical discussion on subjects such as love, friendship, beauty, and freedom. Gibran’s masterpiece of poetic prose has now been translated into more than a hundred languages, and is regarded as one of the most important works of the early twentieth century. This Word Cloud edition of The Prophet and Other Tales also includes two of Gibran’s earliest works, The Madman and The Forerunner , along with illustrations by the author.
- GenresClassics
200 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2019
12 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Kahlil Gibran
1,329 books15.1k followersKahlil Gibran (Arabic:
جبران خليل جبران
) was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 24, 2023
I would probably give this 3.5 stars at a push. Because it contains 3 books it means that you need to average the ratings of each book.
My favourite was probably The Madman - a collections of parables each with its own message, mostly focusing on transitions, justice, and the perception of the world.
My next favourite was The Prophet. This is Gibran's most popular and it does have a more consistent 'narrative', if you can call it that, being that it is a series of answers given to a village by a departing philosopher (the 'Prophet' of the title) I probably enjoyed just as many sections in this as from The Madman, but it is longer and so the good bits (for me) are relatively less than in The Madman. I also found it a more difficult to read.
Least favourite was The Forerunner.
If I had to suggest a single title from the three it would be The Madman, but The Prophet is not too far behind.
The question now is, does this count as 3 books in my reading challenge or only one?
My favourite was probably The Madman - a collections of parables each with its own message, mostly focusing on transitions, justice, and the perception of the world.
My next favourite was The Prophet. This is Gibran's most popular and it does have a more consistent 'narrative', if you can call it that, being that it is a series of answers given to a village by a departing philosopher (the 'Prophet' of the title) I probably enjoyed just as many sections in this as from The Madman, but it is longer and so the good bits (for me) are relatively less than in The Madman. I also found it a more difficult to read.
Least favourite was The Forerunner.
If I had to suggest a single title from the three it would be The Madman, but The Prophet is not too far behind.
The question now is, does this count as 3 books in my reading challenge or only one?
October 13, 2020
There were nuggets of value in here, but they get lost among some triteness, an over-reliance on contradictions, and other linguistic tricks that sound profound until you really examine them.
But I also lack a great deal of context for this. Reads like a page-a-day calendar, but a good one.
The Prophet is stronger than the other two works in here. 2's to The Prophet's 3.
But I also lack a great deal of context for this. Reads like a page-a-day calendar, but a good one.
The Prophet is stronger than the other two works in here. 2's to The Prophet's 3.
March 18, 2022
A book to get you thinking.
February 6, 2025
"Verily the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral."
i feel seen to the point i dont want to be seen anymore
i feel seen to the point i dont want to be seen anymore
December 27, 2022
I want to read it again in a book club or something and spent time discussing every story and see different interpretations of it
September 14, 2020
“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”
I received this beautiful edition of The Prophet and other tales from my sister. She has been a fan of this book for years and was excited to be able to gift it to me in the format that I collect (Word cloud classics). She has a line from it tattooed on her “think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.”
I waited until today - her birthday - to share my review. This edition is broken into 3 sections: The Madman, The Forerunner, and The Prophet. The Prophet is by far his most famous work, but I enjoyed the rest as well. The first two sections are written in the likeness of Aesop’s Fables. I enjoyed “Critics” the most from those sections. The Prophet reads like a symphony of verse. The language was beautiful throughout and I would often stop to contemplate what I just read.
I am getting more into poetry so let me know any favorite books of poetry that you love!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFFt-RdgAn0/
I received this beautiful edition of The Prophet and other tales from my sister. She has been a fan of this book for years and was excited to be able to gift it to me in the format that I collect (Word cloud classics). She has a line from it tattooed on her “think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.”
I waited until today - her birthday - to share my review. This edition is broken into 3 sections: The Madman, The Forerunner, and The Prophet. The Prophet is by far his most famous work, but I enjoyed the rest as well. The first two sections are written in the likeness of Aesop’s Fables. I enjoyed “Critics” the most from those sections. The Prophet reads like a symphony of verse. The language was beautiful throughout and I would often stop to contemplate what I just read.
I am getting more into poetry so let me know any favorite books of poetry that you love!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFFt-RdgAn0/
November 26, 2023
"Last night I invented a new pleasure, and as I was giving it the first trial an angel and a devil came rushing toward my house. They met at my door and fought with each other over my newly created pleasure; the one crying, "It is a sin!" - the other, "It is a virtue!"
"Said a sheet of snow-white paper, "Pure was I created, and pure will I remain for ever. I would rather be burnt and turn to white ashes than suffer darkness to touch me or the unclean to come near me."
The ink-bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her. And the multicoloured pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
And the snow-white sheet of paper did remain pure and chaste for ever - pure and chaste - and empty."
"It is in exchanging the gifts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied.
Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice, it will but lead some to greed and others to hunger."
"You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;
And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.
And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.
For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly."
"Said a sheet of snow-white paper, "Pure was I created, and pure will I remain for ever. I would rather be burnt and turn to white ashes than suffer darkness to touch me or the unclean to come near me."
The ink-bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her. And the multicoloured pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
And the snow-white sheet of paper did remain pure and chaste for ever - pure and chaste - and empty."
"It is in exchanging the gifts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied.
Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice, it will but lead some to greed and others to hunger."
"You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;
And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.
And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.
For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly."
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews