The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran
The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran
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The Prophet

Author: Kahlil Gibran

Narrator: Jonathan Reese

Unabridged: 2 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/01/2008

Categories: Fiction, Poetry

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Kahlil Gibran—poet, philosopher, and artist—was born in Lebanon in 1883 but spent his final twenty years of life living in the United States. The three books that compose this audiobook are collections of Gibran's aphorisms, parables, and poetic essays.

The first book, The Prophet, was originally published in 1923 and is considered Gibran's masterpiece. It is written in prose poetry in twenty-eight parts, and deals with such topics as love, freedom, good and evil, religion, and death. It is a mystical and intensely subjective work, presenting the human soul as essentially noble and good.

In The Forerunner, originally published in 1920, Gibran asserts that "nobody is to be blamed for our 'being' and 'having' but ourselves." Gibran makes it clear that we are our own destiny and not the toy of a blind fate.

Finally, the titular entity of The Madman, originally published in 1918, is not literally mentally unbalanced; on the contrary, he is perfectly healthy. His madness is only in the eyes of others. Gibran asserts that we tend to be what society expects from us, even though these expectations could be detrimental for the development of our self-identity. Oftentimes, we veil our true selves with masks out of fear of being ridiculed by others.

About Kahlil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931), a poet, philosopher, and artist, was born in Lebanon, a land that has produced many prophets. The millions of Arabic-speaking peoples familiar with his writings in that language consider him the genius of his age. But he was a man whose fame and influence spread far beyond the Near East. His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world. In the United States, which he made his home during the last twenty years of his life, he began to write in English. His most famous work is The Prophet, a book of twenty-six poetic essays that explore some of the mysteries of life.


Reviews

Goodreads review by K.S.R. on January 03, 2008

Now that I'm reading The Prophet again, words that I read twenty-seven years ago still ring clearly in my mind as I read them again today. It was a wonderful moment a few evenings ago to find myself reciting aloud and from memory passages that had struck me then--and now--to the very core. Kahlil Gi......more

Goodreads review by Mansoor on April 20, 2007

The Prophet made me feel profoundly spiritual when I was nineteen. It was a great way to experience spirituality and romance as a teenager, but as I got older, its lusty descriptions of the true meaning of love, marriage, and life just seem like pretty, but shallow, wordplay. Now, don't write to me a......more

Goodreads review by Lee on May 04, 2007

Despite your religious views, be they absent or strong, Gibran has given us a work of beauty that proves, to me at least, that faith is not necessary to be good and right. A favorite quote from the book: "Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from......more

Goodreads review by Dr. Appu on June 25, 2022

This book shows us that love is central to everything. Gibran expresses his ideas as poetic essays. He talks about life and death, love, religion, and spiritualism in such a profound manner that it will sink deep into our souls. This is my favorite book among all the works of Gibran. “Beauty is et......more

Goodreads review by Sean Barrs on January 13, 2021

Sometimes the right book finds its way into your life at the right moment, and sometimes the words are exactly what you need to hear at that exact point in your life. The Prophet depicts life and action and motive as they should be. In all, it is a wise soul (a prophet) sharing his learning and wis......more