Synopsis (Credit: www.amazon.com)

Many excellent volumes have focused on key chapters in our lives, from classics on early childhood and the teen years to bestsellers that identify pivotal phases in adulthood. In The Human Odyssey best-selling author Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., covers the entire journey.

With Dr. Armstrong we can travel through the first stirrings of life in the womb to the anticipation of death and even beyond. In a unique synthesis, he draws from a wide array of sources from various disciplines and cultures to fashion a compelling narrative; scientific and psychological knowledge combine with personal accounts, literary passages, myths and legends, and psychospiritual perspectives to help enrich our understanding of the broad sweep of life. The result is a comprehensive, groundbreaking view of our development.

The core of this enlightening guide consists of 12 chapters, each describing a different stage of life, with its own unique changes, struggles, and growth. A final chapter poses the possibility that the voyage may even continue after physical death. Additionally, Dr. Armstrong includes a comprehensive bibliography with further reading, a list of organizations, practical activities, and a filmography.

(Bought second-hand at Mabu Vinyl, Rheede Street, Tamboerskloof.)

Bookring > Bookray

The travels of this book will be mapped out in three stages:

Stage 1: Local Bookring -- The book looks interesting, but Mount TBR is just too high at the moment. So, I'm buying time by sending it out in the form of a local bookring (local as in Cape Town and environs).

Stage 2: South African Bookray -- Once I have had a chance to read the book as well, this will become a South African bookray. International shipping doesn't come cheap, so let's have a national round first before reaching ...

Stage 3: International Bookray -- By then the book should have built stamina and will be hungry for the long haul!


Guidelines

•  If you want your name to be included or removed, or moved down the list, PM me. Please indicate whether you would be willing to ship internationally if required. The book weighs about 530 g (19 oz).
•  The list is subject to change at any time based on geography, mailing preferences, or other considerations.
•  Make a journal entry when you receive the book.
•  Read the book. This one may take longer than most and we're all busy, but let's aim at passing the book on within 4 to 8 weeks of receiving it.
•  Make another journal entry to share your thoughts on the book. Ensure that your comments do not include any spoilers. Should you wish to discuss the book in a way that might spoil the experience for participants who prefer reading a book cold, PM me and we'll start a discussion thread on the Book Talk forum.
•  PM the next in line for his/her postal address or discuss arrangements to ensure a smooth transfer.
•  Pass the book on to the next person in the form of a controlled release.


Participants

Route Map

Stage 1: Local Bookring (started 2011-08-14)

1.   Digteby (Stellenbosch, Western Cape)
2.   Libris_56 (Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape)
3.   Stoepbrak (Oranjezicht, Cape Town, Western Cape)

Stage 2: South African Bookray (started 2012-01-02)

4.   windpomp (Tamboerskloof, Cape Town, Western Cape)
5.   Hangmatskollie (Vredehoek, Cape Town, Western Cape) (1 year on the road)
6.   Tolbos (Durbanville, Western Cape) (3 years on the road)
7.   Izikhova (Oranjezicht, Cape Town, Western Cape) (9 years on the road)   << now here

8.   Who is next? If you would like to add your name here ...
:
n.

Stage 3: International Bookray

n+1.   Arvores (Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal)
n+2.   ... or here, PM me.
:
:

Given to Digteby as first link in the ring.

received from stoeprak

Stadige begin, wat jou onseker laat of dit werklkheid kan wees. Maar dan maak dit mettertyd baie sin. Daar is baie sin om terug te kyk, maar die skrywer herinner dat ons voortdurend moet voretoe kyk. Sterk aanbeveel vir lesers ouer as 45! Goeie integrasie van fisiologie, psigologie en spiritualiteit.

Passed on to Libris_56.

Received the book from Digteby. Busy reading

I enjoyed reading the book and was able to relate my own life story and my current status in life with the stages as depicted in the The Human Odyssey

Given to Stoepbrak

Received from Libris_56. I'm busy with another book at the moment but hope to read the two in relay fashion.

I am glad I finally made time to read this book, perhaps more appropriately so as a new year was replacing the old. In a way, most of the information contained in the book is old news: somewhere along the line one has either lived the experiences described or learnt about them as part of life's journey. Reading it as one manuscript adds value, though, and I would recommend it for readers of all ages. Besides the useful information on whatever stage it is that one is currently engaged with, it also cultivates better understanding for the challenges facing those living through other stages of the journey.

An observation by the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, as quoted in the book: In youth we see the dazzling embroidery of life from the front, while in old age we see the stitchwork from behind.

On its way to windpomp.

Interesting read. Great detail and thought-provoking observations about our universal yet very individual path through this life.

Passed on to Hangmatskollie

Book received from Stoepbrak, and now to be enjoyed.

Enjoyed reading this book which created the opportunity to reflect on these stages in one's one life.

Huge apology to the next reader for hanging on to this book for so long!

Released.

Ek het vandag "The Human Odyssey" by Stoepbrak gekry. Die titel laat my aan "bungy jumping" dink. As jy gespring het, het jy gespring! Hier gaan ek...

As soon as the winter sets in, I will retreat to an unhindered spot and start reading.

The Human Odyssey by Thomas Armstrong is on its way to Izikhova. The title suggests, due to antiquity, that there may be a homecoming. Thomas shared these steps marvelously, setting in motion multi-parallel journeys on different levels, eg. practical and academic. If I was left with confusion at times, it says more about my doubt about my journey than Thomas's literary talent. This time round, Thomas and I were not such good fellow travellers like myself and Robert Pirsig with a previous read. This is, yet again, not to be ascribed to Thomas. What was awakened in me is that I am not automatically atuned to the position in time of my fellow human's Journey.