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A Thinking Person’s Guide to Our Times
The present book aims to take on this challenge by looking at the major problems from these various aspects, as just mentioned. Obviously, one short book can hardly address all these problems and suggest solutions without certain simplifications and potentially controversial assertions. Nevertheless, it can hope to present a systematic analysis and suggested prognosis based on a coherent philosophy. As indicated above, nothing is more needed in our times, and second to spiritual weakening, the greatest problem of all facing the Islamic World (and indeed the whole world) is lack of understanding of the true natures and essences of things.
This book examines ‘our times’ from an Islamic philosophical world view, looking at the problems facing the Islamic World in the near past, present and future respectively in three mutually complementary parts. At the end of each part, it suggests holistic and easily applied remedies to the problems it examines. In other words (and for those who enjoy sonorous German and Greek philosophical terms) it examines the Zeitgeist from the Weltanschauung of Islam and suggests panaceas.
Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad has written a number of books and guides for thinking people, and this small but potent work before you sums up many of his most keen and cogent insights and conclusions; for that reason, this may be his most impactful and motivational work to date.
This book examines ‘our times’ from an Islamic philosophical world view, looking at the problems facing the Islamic World in the near past, present and future respectively in three mutually complementary parts. At the end of each part, it suggests holistic and easily applied remedies to the problems it examines. In other words (and for those who enjoy sonorous German and Greek philosophical terms) it examines the Zeitgeist from the Weltanschauung of Islam and suggests panaceas.
Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad has written a number of books and guides for thinking people, and this small but potent work before you sums up many of his most keen and cogent insights and conclusions; for that reason, this may be his most impactful and motivational work to date.
225 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2019
35 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
About the author
Ghazi bin Muhammad
27 books82 followersH.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal (born in Amman on the 15th of October 1966) is the nephew of the late King Al-Hussein bin Talal of Jordan. He received his BA from Princeton University in 1988 Summa cum laude; his first PhD from Cambridge University, U.K., in 1993, and his second PhD from Al-Azhar University in Cairo 2010. Prince Ghazi has held many official positions in Jordan including: Cultural Secretary to H.M. King Hussein; Advisor for Tribal Affairs to H.M. King Hussein; Personal Envoy of and Special Advisor to H.M. King Abdullah II, and Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs to H.M. King Abdullah II. He has also served as Regent of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. In 1996 Prince Ghazi founded the Al-Balqa Applied University, and in 2008 he founded the World Islamic Sciences and Education University. In 1997 he founded the National Park of the Site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and in 2001 he established the Great Tafsir Project (www.Altafsir.com), the largest online project for exegesis of the Holy Qur’an. Prince Ghazi is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought; he was the author of the historical Open Letter ‘A Common Word Between Us and You’ in 2007, and the author of the World Interfaith Harmony Week United Nations General Assembly Resolution in October 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 8, 2020
This book discuss about how Islamic civilisation and Islamic world evolve and how that's make change to the world today.A very recommended book for all especially those who history buff.
August 30, 2023
A heavy read. A book to ponder. I love the appendices which carry extensive recommended reading lists. Speaking of times - past, present and future - are not easy. The long history of the world and Islam bring forward lessons to be learnt. Allah would never change a community unless the community changes itself. As the author said that people do not have time to do all the reading themselves - and in fact it takes years to do so...
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February 3, 2026For me the part that he mentions nomadism (bedouins) is broken and he adds “Cain’s descendants have finally killed Abel’s last descendants.” was very interesting.
The best part was about “time usage” and it has this remarkable quote from Al-Ghazali (slightly long but worth the read considering it is a quote from a much much longer book):
“The obligatory acts constitute the capital by which salvation is attained. The voluntary acts are the profit by which are reached the high levels of success… You will not be able to rise to carry out the commands of God Most High until you monitor your heart and limbs in every moment and every breath, from the time you wake up until the time you sleep.
Know that God Most High is closely observing your inner most heart; He beholds your inner and outer being. No thought, no moment or step of yours escapes His regard, nor any of your moments of stillness or movement. Both in the company of others, and in the solitude of yourself, you are ever in His presence… (“He knows the treachery of the eyes and what is concealed in the breasts”)… Make your greatest effort that He not find you present, where He has forbidden you to be, nor find you absent from where He has commended you to be. You will never be capable of this unless you manage your time and organize your routine of worship from morning to night…
Your time should not be without any structure, such that you occupy yourself of arbitrarily with whatever comes along… A person who leaves himself without a plan as animals do, not knowing what he is to do at any given moment, will spend most of his life fruitlessly. Your time is your life, and your life is your capital: through it you make your trade, and through it you can reach eternal bliss, and nearness to God Most High. Every single breath of yours is a priceless jewel as it is irreplaceable. Once it is gone, it will never come back. Don’t be like the fools who rejoice because their money increases while their lives decrease. What good is money when your lifespan is running out?”
The best part was about “time usage” and it has this remarkable quote from Al-Ghazali (slightly long but worth the read considering it is a quote from a much much longer book):
“The obligatory acts constitute the capital by which salvation is attained. The voluntary acts are the profit by which are reached the high levels of success… You will not be able to rise to carry out the commands of God Most High until you monitor your heart and limbs in every moment and every breath, from the time you wake up until the time you sleep.
Know that God Most High is closely observing your inner most heart; He beholds your inner and outer being. No thought, no moment or step of yours escapes His regard, nor any of your moments of stillness or movement. Both in the company of others, and in the solitude of yourself, you are ever in His presence… (“He knows the treachery of the eyes and what is concealed in the breasts”)… Make your greatest effort that He not find you present, where He has forbidden you to be, nor find you absent from where He has commended you to be. You will never be capable of this unless you manage your time and organize your routine of worship from morning to night…
Your time should not be without any structure, such that you occupy yourself of arbitrarily with whatever comes along… A person who leaves himself without a plan as animals do, not knowing what he is to do at any given moment, will spend most of his life fruitlessly. Your time is your life, and your life is your capital: through it you make your trade, and through it you can reach eternal bliss, and nearness to God Most High. Every single breath of yours is a priceless jewel as it is irreplaceable. Once it is gone, it will never come back. Don’t be like the fools who rejoice because their money increases while their lives decrease. What good is money when your lifespan is running out?”
March 10, 2022
Rating: 3.5
I liked this a lot as a thought experiment . This whole book reads like a collection of articles that connect to one another a la Hope In The Dark and is written in a way that feels approachable for non-scholars and scholars alike. It also sort of feels like a prelude to another one of his books A Thinking Person’s Guide to Islam, so I guess I'll be reading that one next.
I also liked the addition of the annexes as well as the reading recommendations. (Any list that has A Short History of Nearly Everything in it is a good one to me.)
Borrowed this from PNM library via Libby app.
I liked this a lot as a thought experiment . This whole book reads like a collection of articles that connect to one another a la Hope In The Dark and is written in a way that feels approachable for non-scholars and scholars alike. It also sort of feels like a prelude to another one of his books A Thinking Person’s Guide to Islam, so I guess I'll be reading that one next.
I also liked the addition of the annexes as well as the reading recommendations. (Any list that has A Short History of Nearly Everything in it is a good one to me.)
Borrowed this from PNM library via Libby app.
December 28, 2023
Di dalam buku ini disajikan kumpulan analisis filosofis tentang krisis yang dihadapi oleh dunia Islam (khususnya kawasan Timur Tengah) dalam berbagai aspek, mulai dari aspek budaya, sosial, sejarah, politik sampai spiritual. Terbagi menjadi tiga periodisasi, yaitu masa lalu (mulai dari tahun 1795 sampai 1995), yang ditulis pada tahun 1995; masa kini (1990 - 2015), yang ditulis pada tahun 2015; dan masa depan (2016 - 2045), yang ditulis pada tahun 2016. Setiap pembahasan dielaborasi lebih lanjut dengan kesimpulan dan solusinya masing-masing.
H. R. H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, penulis buku ini, adalah kemenakan dari Raja Yordania saat ini, Raja Abdullah II bin Husein, yang juga dalam struktur kerajaan diamanahkan sebagai penasihat bidang agama dan kebudayaan.
Secara umum, yang saya tangkap dari pembahasan di dalam buku ini, krisis di dunia Islam, terutama di kawasan Timur Tengah, diakibatkan oleh ter-/di-butakannya dan ter-/di- pecahnya kaum Muslim oleh kemajuan yang berhasil dicapai oleh dunia Barat. Gelap mata itu diperparah oleh ketiadaan 'legacy' (baik itu institusional, teknologi, dan militer) yang kaum Muslim ciptakan selama beberapa ratus tahun lamanya. Hal ini kemudian diperparah dengan terpecahnya kaum Muslim dalam merespons kemajuan yang dibawa oleh dunia Barat, menjadi kubu tradisionalis, fundamentalis, dan modernis; dengan kubu fundamentalis dan modernis semakin berkembang dari waktu ke waktu. Ketiadaan 'legacy', gelap mata, dan kesibukan merespons penetrasi ideologi materialisme dunia Barat membuat kaum Muslim 'hilang arah'. Implikasinya, aspek sosial, budaya, religiusitas, bahkan moral semakin terombang-ambing.
Tidak hanya mengidentifikasi akar masalah, penulis juga menyertakan solusi-solusi (remedies) yang bisa kaum Muslim lakukan, baik secara individual maupun kolektif, di antaranya 1) mendekatkan diri pada Allah SWT; 2) menggalakkan konsensus dalam pengambilan kebijakan; 3) mengelola 'priority' management; dan (4) memperbanyak 'quality reading'. Terkait poin keempat, penulis menyertakan rekomendasi buku-buku pilihan, baik itu tentang keislaman, tentang bagaimana dunia modern 'bekerja', maupun tentang perkembangan peradaban Barat.
H. R. H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, penulis buku ini, adalah kemenakan dari Raja Yordania saat ini, Raja Abdullah II bin Husein, yang juga dalam struktur kerajaan diamanahkan sebagai penasihat bidang agama dan kebudayaan.
Secara umum, yang saya tangkap dari pembahasan di dalam buku ini, krisis di dunia Islam, terutama di kawasan Timur Tengah, diakibatkan oleh ter-/di-butakannya dan ter-/di- pecahnya kaum Muslim oleh kemajuan yang berhasil dicapai oleh dunia Barat. Gelap mata itu diperparah oleh ketiadaan 'legacy' (baik itu institusional, teknologi, dan militer) yang kaum Muslim ciptakan selama beberapa ratus tahun lamanya. Hal ini kemudian diperparah dengan terpecahnya kaum Muslim dalam merespons kemajuan yang dibawa oleh dunia Barat, menjadi kubu tradisionalis, fundamentalis, dan modernis; dengan kubu fundamentalis dan modernis semakin berkembang dari waktu ke waktu. Ketiadaan 'legacy', gelap mata, dan kesibukan merespons penetrasi ideologi materialisme dunia Barat membuat kaum Muslim 'hilang arah'. Implikasinya, aspek sosial, budaya, religiusitas, bahkan moral semakin terombang-ambing.
Tidak hanya mengidentifikasi akar masalah, penulis juga menyertakan solusi-solusi (remedies) yang bisa kaum Muslim lakukan, baik secara individual maupun kolektif, di antaranya 1) mendekatkan diri pada Allah SWT; 2) menggalakkan konsensus dalam pengambilan kebijakan; 3) mengelola 'priority' management; dan (4) memperbanyak 'quality reading'. Terkait poin keempat, penulis menyertakan rekomendasi buku-buku pilihan, baik itu tentang keislaman, tentang bagaimana dunia modern 'bekerja', maupun tentang perkembangan peradaban Barat.
January 30, 2021
'It is no accident that the first word revealed of the Qur'an was: Iqra'! (Read!) (Al-'Alaq, 96:1). Indeed - although it is not obvious from looking at Muslims nowadays - traditional Islamic civilization, having no clergy as such or clerical institutions or castes, was entirely based on the written word: first God's (in the Qur'an), then the Prophet Muhammad's sayings, and then all beneficial knowledge. Indeed, the only prayer for 'more' in the Qur'an is:.... 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.' (Ta Ha, 20:114).'
A Thinking Person's Guide to Our Times pens down the crisis surrounding the Muslim world (especially the Middle East) in various aspects, be it culturally, socially, historically, politically and spiritually. Divided into three main parts, from the span of 1795 CE to 2045 CE, this book explains in detail the past, present and future predictions pertaining the Muslim world or as Muslims would call it, 'Our Times'. Each crisis is further articulated with their own conclusions and solutions.
Written by the esteemed HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, who serves as Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs to HM King Abdullah 2 of Jordan, this book is based on the writers' 25 years of studies, writings and engagements with the Islamic World. Readers are also presented with the views and perspectives of a writer who actually engages first hand with the respective subject matters and therefore writes with credibility.
The main reason why I find this book to be fulfilling is because it makes readers think. In the current world where we feed more on social medias, we do a little less thinking. Hence, we tend to live in our own bubble and comfort zones, in our own little world where everything seems fine and we could care less about what is happening outside; our perspectives are askewed and we're drowned in ignorance.
Every change that we seek of the world should start within our own selves. For 'man is a small universe and the universe is a large man'.
🌟4.9/5. A fulfilling read, complete with Quranic verses and Hadiths as references.
A Thinking Person's Guide to Our Times pens down the crisis surrounding the Muslim world (especially the Middle East) in various aspects, be it culturally, socially, historically, politically and spiritually. Divided into three main parts, from the span of 1795 CE to 2045 CE, this book explains in detail the past, present and future predictions pertaining the Muslim world or as Muslims would call it, 'Our Times'. Each crisis is further articulated with their own conclusions and solutions.
Written by the esteemed HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, who serves as Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs to HM King Abdullah 2 of Jordan, this book is based on the writers' 25 years of studies, writings and engagements with the Islamic World. Readers are also presented with the views and perspectives of a writer who actually engages first hand with the respective subject matters and therefore writes with credibility.
The main reason why I find this book to be fulfilling is because it makes readers think. In the current world where we feed more on social medias, we do a little less thinking. Hence, we tend to live in our own bubble and comfort zones, in our own little world where everything seems fine and we could care less about what is happening outside; our perspectives are askewed and we're drowned in ignorance.
Every change that we seek of the world should start within our own selves. For 'man is a small universe and the universe is a large man'.
🌟4.9/5. A fulfilling read, complete with Quranic verses and Hadiths as references.
August 8, 2021
A short book that covers truly vast topics, the scope of the book seems fantastical at first glance.
The author states how the Islamic world got to where it is today, from both material and metaphysical aspects. He then goes on to outline more specifically how the Muslim world went from leaders to laggards, and how to change that back to the former state. He proposes the actions needed for nation states as well as the individual.
It also covers climate change, and how to manage that from an Islamic point of view.
Given the purpose and brevity of the book all of the above is done in an extremely succinct format. I think he has done an admirable job given the scope. I liked the suggested further reading and appendices, they give a broad reading curriculum for anybody interested in Islam and the modern western world the book is aimed at.
The author is obviously a well read academic and is comfortable quoting Latin as well as Quranic verses. His writing is straightforward and it’s easy to ‘hear’ his voice. Given the fact that he’s an academic, there’s a bluntness that is not present in most western academic writing. It’s refreshing but a little disconcerting initially.
I read it in stages and feel that I would benefit from reading it again in a more focused format, insha’Allah.
The author states how the Islamic world got to where it is today, from both material and metaphysical aspects. He then goes on to outline more specifically how the Muslim world went from leaders to laggards, and how to change that back to the former state. He proposes the actions needed for nation states as well as the individual.
It also covers climate change, and how to manage that from an Islamic point of view.
Given the purpose and brevity of the book all of the above is done in an extremely succinct format. I think he has done an admirable job given the scope. I liked the suggested further reading and appendices, they give a broad reading curriculum for anybody interested in Islam and the modern western world the book is aimed at.
The author is obviously a well read academic and is comfortable quoting Latin as well as Quranic verses. His writing is straightforward and it’s easy to ‘hear’ his voice. Given the fact that he’s an academic, there’s a bluntness that is not present in most western academic writing. It’s refreshing but a little disconcerting initially.
I read it in stages and feel that I would benefit from reading it again in a more focused format, insha’Allah.
October 2, 2024
كتاب لطيف، يقدم تساؤلات ولا يقدم أجوبة.
هي جلسة تفكر وتفكير، وليست نظرية شاملة وافية.
أي أنه ليس دليل إرشادي، وإنما محاولة للإرشاد.
التحدي الذي يواجه عالمنا ليس سببه نقص الكلام، وإنما قلة النظر في الجذور بعين رشيدة تعي العصر ولا تذوب فيه.
طرح الأمير غازي هو طرح الأقلية النخبوية في عالمنا العربي، وتحديدا مثقفيهم، وأجد أن كثيرًا منهم لديه هذه النظرة ذاتها (باستثناء أن غازي كثير الاستشهاد والارتباط بالإسلام، وغيره يرتبط بالثقافة ويستشهد بها.
أي أنه مثقف أولا مسلم ثانيا، والنخبة في العادة مثقفة فقط، وقلما يدخل في تكوينها الإسلام ومبادئه).
وحقيقة، أن نظرة المثقفين هي نظرة كسولة، لأنها تستهدف الثقافة، ولا تستهدف الفهم. وهي نظرة تطبطب على ظهر الأمة، دون أن تقلب مفاهيمها الأساسية، وتعيد تجديدها.
***************
تقديم حمزة يوسف تقديم تقليدي، لم يرق لي كثيرًا. ووجدت فيه تكرارا لكثير من كلامه المتناثر في كتبه.
هي جلسة تفكر وتفكير، وليست نظرية شاملة وافية.
أي أنه ليس دليل إرشادي، وإنما محاولة للإرشاد.
التحدي الذي يواجه عالمنا ليس سببه نقص الكلام، وإنما قلة النظر في الجذور بعين رشيدة تعي العصر ولا تذوب فيه.
طرح الأمير غازي هو طرح الأقلية النخبوية في عالمنا العربي، وتحديدا مثقفيهم، وأجد أن كثيرًا منهم لديه هذه النظرة ذاتها (باستثناء أن غازي كثير الاستشهاد والارتباط بالإسلام، وغيره يرتبط بالثقافة ويستشهد بها.
أي أنه مثقف أولا مسلم ثانيا، والنخبة في العادة مثقفة فقط، وقلما يدخل في تكوينها الإسلام ومبادئه).
وحقيقة، أن نظرة المثقفين هي نظرة كسولة، لأنها تستهدف الثقافة، ولا تستهدف الفهم. وهي نظرة تطبطب على ظهر الأمة، دون أن تقلب مفاهيمها الأساسية، وتعيد تجديدها.
***************
تقديم حمزة يوسف تقديم تقليدي، لم يرق لي كثيرًا. ووجدت فيه تكرارا لكثير من كلامه المتناثر في كتبه.
March 18, 2024
membahas soal krisis multidimensi yang dihadapi oleh umat Islam di masa lalu, sekarang, dan masa depan. penulis juga membahas soal isu lingkungan dan bagaimana Al Quran menjelaskan soal ini. juga penulis memberikan rekomendasi buku untuk dibaca, tidak hanya literatur seputar Islam tapi juga karya tulisan penulis dari Barat.
penulis memberikan solusi terkait krisis multidimensi yang dihadapi umat Islam saat ini dan yang akan datang. yang paling di-highlight soal manajemen waktu dan penggunaan gadget/internet.
penulis memberikan solusi terkait krisis multidimensi yang dihadapi umat Islam saat ini dan yang akan datang. yang paling di-highlight soal manajemen waktu dan penggunaan gadget/internet.
November 13, 2025
Unique insight into modern times given the author’s position and well-read in secular and spiritual sciences. He prefaces many times that the book is largely based on his own opinion, which I appreciated, as certain future predictions and views sometimes lacked nuance. Overall, however, I appreciated the message of linking man’s inner state to what goes on in the world at every possible level.
Edit: Bonus points for expanding my vocabulary.
Edit: Bonus points for expanding my vocabulary.
August 10, 2022
Good little short book, Gives a good breakdown of different period of Muslim History till Present, author also provides solution to the crisis facing Muslims world. Also has a Nice little appendix at end of Must necessary book Reads.
January 21, 2023
A good book! Much more opinion based than his previous texts. Although, his views are not particularly incorrect and in many ways are quite agreeable.
February 5, 2023
This book offers a unique point of view about how to use our time wisely, one of them is by reading quality books and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad lists some of the books here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2024
The author discusses the problem in Muslim communities in our times context and how he propose to solve it. My favorite part is the recommendation of books we should read, including Ghazali’s.
August 28, 2024
3.7 I was a big confused at time but towards the end I was really able to understand his writing style and able to absorb all he was saying!
February 24, 2026
insightful read but the author lost me a bit with the “abortion genocide”….
September 22, 2022
Less of a thinking person guide, more of an Islamist fundamentalist who is anti-western. I was hoping to learn more about Islam but got a book hating on others
January 19, 2021
Overall I found the book easy to read with the authour discussing various points pertaining to contemporary times as well as looking forward to the future and what that may pertain.
The authour discusses how modernist muslims and fundamentalists alike are both a reaction to materialism. I found this point interesting. We see those who look to reject materalism and try immulate a period of simplicity through a lack of materialism and those modernists who look to acept their religion as result, mainly those muslims with a liberal stance(this depends on your own spectrum).
The authour references some scholarly work on the future of western society and I guess this could relate to the consumer societies as a whole. On one hand, these countries could be looking at a future filled with peace and the scholar discussing this mentions how it would evolve into it's perfect form. Another scholar discusses how the planet is destroying itself via environmental destruction and pollution.
The truth is we don't know what will happen and in addition to this line of thinking do not know which political powers will become top of the food chain. We see know how certain western powers have proven to not be as competent as others during the covid 19 pandemic. This situation in itself could cause a shift in economic powers, which eventually would lead to a shift on societies as whole.
The authour states that secularists look to acept heresies and fundamentalist to punish them. Traditionalists look to use reason logic evidence to counter the heresy. The authour states that modernists and fundamentals scorn at this use of reasoning and logic.
The authour gives various examples of how one can better themselves including spending less time on the internet and reading more. In addition, provides a reccomened reading list which includes much of imam al ghazalis works.
The authour discusses how modernist muslims and fundamentalists alike are both a reaction to materialism. I found this point interesting. We see those who look to reject materalism and try immulate a period of simplicity through a lack of materialism and those modernists who look to acept their religion as result, mainly those muslims with a liberal stance(this depends on your own spectrum).
The authour references some scholarly work on the future of western society and I guess this could relate to the consumer societies as a whole. On one hand, these countries could be looking at a future filled with peace and the scholar discussing this mentions how it would evolve into it's perfect form. Another scholar discusses how the planet is destroying itself via environmental destruction and pollution.
The truth is we don't know what will happen and in addition to this line of thinking do not know which political powers will become top of the food chain. We see know how certain western powers have proven to not be as competent as others during the covid 19 pandemic. This situation in itself could cause a shift in economic powers, which eventually would lead to a shift on societies as whole.
The authour states that secularists look to acept heresies and fundamentalist to punish them. Traditionalists look to use reason logic evidence to counter the heresy. The authour states that modernists and fundamentals scorn at this use of reasoning and logic.
The authour gives various examples of how one can better themselves including spending less time on the internet and reading more. In addition, provides a reccomened reading list which includes much of imam al ghazalis works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
A very informative book, well written and well researched. In select places, the analysis is so cursory that it feels as if it's just there to fill space but in general it is a very thoughtful analysis, especially for a brief book with such a broad subject matter.
December 25, 2025
One of my favourite books. To understand the complex world we live in, Prince Ghazi has penned an incredible book which is simple and eloquent to anyone who feels like they have lost themselves in the rate race of the world.
June 13, 2020
I always fond of Imam Al Ghazi book series and have bought all his books. The good thing about the author his profess philosophy hence his writing full of wisdom and new insights.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews