And the Prophet Said: Kahlil Gibran's Classic Text with Newly Discovered Writings

by Kahlil Gibran, Dalton Hilu Einhorn (Editor), Daniel Ladinsky (Foreword)

Newly discovered writings from the author of the classic bestseller, The Prophet

And the Prophet Said is a new complete gift edition of Gibran's classic text with over 150 newly discovered poems, aphorisms, and epigrams.

Originally published in 1923 by Knopf, The Prophet is a teaching fable that has been cherished by millions for nearly 100 years. It is a book of wisdom that to live, provides guidance for readers on how to live a life imbued with meaning and purpose. He explores all of life's important issues--including love, marriage, the human condition, friendship, prayer, beauty, death, and much more.

What makes this edition of The Prophet especially exciting is the inclusion of newly discovered Gibran material. In 2017, Dalton Hilu Einhorn gained access to the Gibran/Haskell archives at the University of North Carolina. Buried among this treasure trove of papers, he discovered over 150 of Kahlil Gibran poems, aphorisms, and sayings that had never been published.

Here is classic Gibran wisdom and inspiration that leads readers to contemplate love, beauty, mortality, and meaning. The words have an immediacy and depth that will appeal to the millions who have read The Prophet.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2020

About the author

Kahlil 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.

Reviews

[Lena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an amazing book. I often reread it for insight for my life. everyone should read it once in their life.

[Angeliki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Anna Grace]

I rarely read poetry, so I’m certain that most of this went over my head. I am fascinated by why this is one of the best selling books of the twentieth century. Though most of it I flew over because I didn’t really get it, the crumbs I gathered had some gold in them. See some favs below but there were many more.

On Love-
“For even as love crowns you, so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth, so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses, your tender branch is that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots, and shake them, and they’re clinging to the earth.
…
But if, in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world, where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.”

On Joy and Sorrow-
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain…
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart, and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth, you are weeping for that which has been your delight. “

All of On Reason and Passion

“Would you indeed, get rid of all wars? Then let women conduct the next war.”

[hiaa123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered The Prophet as referenced in one of my favourite books, highlighting the parts On Love. "To know the pain of too much tenderness" and "to bleed willingly and joyfully." Such a beautiful collection of poetry. I'm glad I revisited it here in this edition and read some of Gibran's other writings, though The Prophet remained my favourite. It reads like a spiritual text open to interpretation.

I really enjoyed Be Still My Heart and the following aphorism felt particularly resonant during this time:

"My friend, if it were not for bitter dawn of separations, we
would not find a lovely day among the days.
Indifference is a dead self. With these mine own hands I
buried it."

The collection ends with a lovely illustration of Aloneness.

[Elizabeth Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the Prophet Said: Kahlil Gibran's Classic Text with Newly Discovered Writings
by Kahlil Gibran, edited by Dalton Hilu Einhorn is an amazing text. I initially read The Prophet in high school and was intrigued by the sense of balance and infusion of new thinking. It was popular at the time, the 1960s, even though Gibran had died in 1931. Revisiting his words at this time in both history and my personal journey has been eye opening. In addition to the original text, there are unpublished poems and aphorisms.

Gibran still has much to say to us about the complexities of life and seeing the various sides of issues. It is a nice way to reflect on the conflict we see around us and often absorb into our own systems.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally read this! Beautiful writing, so many wonderful things to think about and mull over. I had so many post-its in the library copy of this book so that I can go back and actually highlight in my own copy the areas that I loved. Here are some areas that really stuck out for me:
- people who give gifts then immediately want to be recognized make the gift tainted
- work should be what you love, because work is love made visible
- the more sorrow you feel, can make it so that there is more joy that you feel
- friendship is meant to fill a need, not an emptiness
- it's strange how we remember the people who disagree with us more than those who agree

Good stuff.

[Siddhartha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prophet is one of the best books written. Now this version has added some of the newly discovered writings by Gibran, making it even better. The added paintings by Gibran makes it even greater one to read.

[d i m i t r i s i l i o p o u l o s · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Όταν η αγάπη σε καλεί, ακολούθησε την, κι ας είναι ο δρόμος σκληρός και απότομος.
Κι αν σε αγκαλιάσουν οι φτερούγες της παραδώσου, κι ας σε πληγώσει το σπαθί που είναι κρυμμένο ανάμεσα στο φτέρωμά της.»

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this book has some great inspirational words, but it’s just too abstract for my liking. As a Christian, I found it similar to Proverbs and would prefer to read the Bible for wisdom.

[Bryan Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kahlil Gibran's writing. Very thought provoking and eloquent!

[Akanksha Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book to Reflect within

[鲲 (゜▽゜;) · Rating 4 out of 5]

really like the idea that it is not letting go of love and desires and freedoms that you become free but that you embrace it bc ur already boundless and infinite

[Reeves Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this book was supposed deep and meaningful but it was hard to grasp the concept. At some points I had to reread the page because I struggling with the old time English. If you are ILLITERATE you absolutely won’t understand a thing in this book. So honestly it was an iffy rating, 3 stars.

[Selma Sivro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it on a train, which automatically bumps up any book’s rating.

A solid read with at least one takeaway message for everyone.