Referring to the coming astrological Age of Aquarius, the 'New Age' movement has swept the globe, and Dr Drury's book remains a cogent, educative and eminently readable overview of the central themes that unite the 'alternative' community in a spiritual drive.
I say 'remains' because Wisdom Seekers, in essence, is a paperback reprint under a new title of Drury's The New Age: Searching for the Spiritual Self of 2004 - but without the lavish colour illustrations and 'coffee table' approach of its predecessor volume. Nevertheless, this is a seminal work and, with its balanced explication of the New Age, this fresh edition should attract a new readership interested in how the movement came about and where it might be heading - Drury's take on it is that it may well presage the future of Western religious experience.I say 'remains' because Wisdom Seekers, in essence, is a paperback reprint under a new title of Drury's The New Age: Searching for the Spiritual Self of 2004 - but without the lavish colour illustrations and 'coffee table' approach of its predecessor volume. Nevertheless, this is a seminal work and, with its balanced explication of the New Age, this fresh edition should attract a new readership interested in how the movement came about and where it might be heading - Drury's take on it is that it may well presage the future of Western religious experience. I say 'remains' because Wisdom Seekers, in essence, is a paperback reprint under a new title of Drury's The New Age: Searching for the Spiritual Self of 2004 - but without the lavish colour illustrations and 'coffee table' approach of its predecessor volume. Nevertheless, this is a seminal work and, with its balanced explication of the New Age, this fresh edition should attract a new readership interested in how the movement came about and where it might be heading - Drury's take on it is that it may well presage the future of Western religious experience. I say 'remains' because Wisdom Seekers, in essence, is a paperback reprint under a new title of Drury's The New Age: Searching for the Spiritual Self of 2004 - but without the lavish colour illustrations and 'coffee table' approach of its predecessor volume. Nevertheless, this is a seminal work and, with its balanced explication of the New Age, this fresh edition should attract a new readership interested in how the movement came about and where it might be heading - Drury's take on it is that it may well presage the future of Western religious experience. I say 'remains' because Wisdom Seekers, in essence, is a paperback reprint under a new title of Drury's The New Age: Searching for the Spiritual Self of 2004 - but without the lavish colour illustrations and 'coffee table' approach of its predecessor volume. Nevertheless, this is a seminal work and, with its balanced explication of the New Age, this fresh edition should attract a new readership interested in how the movement came about and where it might be heading - Drury's take on it is that it may well presage the future of Western religious experiencI say 'remains' because Wisdom Seekers, in essence, is a paperback reprint under a new title of Drury's The New Age: Searching for the Spiritual Self of 2004 - but without the lavish colour illustrations and 'coffee table' approach of its predecessor volume. Nevertheless, this is a seminal work and, with its balanced explication of the New Age, this fresh edition should attract a new readership interested in how the movement came about and where it might be heading - Drury's take on it is that it may well presage the future of Western religious experience.
~ Geoff Ward, Mysterious PlanetThe central ideal within New Age teachings is not just revolutionary in the best sense, but arguably necessary for a world long plagued and divided by rigid religious dogma and blind prejudice. The New Age, in the best sense of what it represents, has long been in need of a chronicler and interpreter who can explain its essence without resorting to a tone of superior academic scorn or shallow, gullible cheerleading. In Nevill Drury, an accomplished author of dozens of works on the great wisdom traditions, the New Age has found its scribe and interpreter. In this comprehensive book he lucidly explains the nuts and bolts of the movement, warts and all — delving into its host of colourful characters, all the way from Blavatsky and Gurdjieff to Sun Bear, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Robert Monroe — without losing sight of the genuine spark of heart and wisdom behind it. This is a thoroughly researched, eminently readable and highly recommended book.
~ P.T. Mistlberger, author of The Three Dangerous Magi: Osho, Gurdjieff, Crowley (O Books, 2010)Nevill Drury has written a wonderfully accessible and carefully researched review of the major historical and intellectual sources of the New Age. It is rich with detail, entertaining anecdotes, and thoughtful analysis. ~ Dr Douglas Ezzy, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Tasmania
Nevill Drury’s in-depth overview of the New Age movement in is about as good as it gets. Readers will emerge from this text not merely informed as to the movement’s extraordinarily varied developmental history, they will also emerge with a deepened appreciation of New Age ideas, aims and values in relation to the sacred, mythic dimension of life. Drury’s approach replaces facile scrutiny with astute penetration of what it means to be awake and aware. This is, in other words, a book to be read more than once. ~ Douglas Lockhart, author of and
does not disappoint, with a plethora of incisive comments and fresh analysis of the origin, present status, and possible future of the ‘New Age’ or ‘New Spirituality’. Nevill Drury has again brought a world of unique insights to us and this makes a must-have addition to the library.
~ Dr Jonn Mumford (Swami Anandakapila Saraswati), author of the groundbreaking work Ecstasy Through Tantra (1988) Thoroughly researched, provides an in-depth understanding of the evolution of the New Age movement in a nutshell.
~ Bronwen and Frans Stiene, Authors and founders, the International House of Reiki