“The Big Book of Wisdom” review

“The Big Book of Wisdom” review

Big Book of Wisdom

by Larry Culliford
Published by Hero Press, 19th March 2020
ISBN (Paperback): 9781789551211
ISBN (Ebook): 9781789551228

Heather Speight

This intriguing book is the work of a retired psychiatrist and Life Member of MAW. The title may be slightly disconcerting…but one is soon drawn in. Cultivating wisdom seems very relevant to MAW’s central message. The author suggests  that we first need to ‘sort ourselves out’, so we can then be better equipped to contribute usefully to the common good. (Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me?) He takes us on a fascinating journey of self discovery. It is a rich and comprehensive mix of ideas and  experiences.  We are shown how we can use these to grow and mature into wisdom – a cumulative process of discovery, embodying compassion, caring, suffering and joy, and an emerging sense of universal connectedness, of what is best for all in any given situation, of what connects rather than divides us. We then may begin to get a glimpse of our seamless connection to the Whole..“We are all already one”. 

​This is a critical message for our times – which our fractured world desperately needs.  We are in an unprecedented global emergency – the combined and all too familiar existential threats to our survival –  Injustice, War, the threat of nuclear annihilation, catastrophic climate change…. By joining with others we can hope to challenge the status quo collectively and more effectively.  We can share our hard earned wisdom to help us contribute to a  more peaceful, secure and sustainable world, balancing all the needs of humankind and our fragile planet. It’s a tall order, but we have to start somewhere…

This is an inspiriting book, a welcome source of hope and encouragement.