Review of What Every Soul Wants

[Alice Heritage]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "What Every Soul Wants" by Nipa Shah.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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" ... I've discovered an enduring inner joy that remains unwavering despite life's unpredictable tides." (Nipa Shah, in What Every Soul Wants)

When life hits me with curveballs, as it so often does, I can only hope to remain calm and positive, and to hold onto my integrity no matter what the circumstances. It can be freeing to recall the impermanence of troubles and of life itself, a key theme of the self-help guide What Every Soul Wants: Deep Reflections on the Nature of Our Soul by Nipa Shah. This book channels wisdom in a novel way: each chapter opens with a quote straight from the soul. So I heard my soul saying, "I reach out in the quiet spaces between your thoughts. Can you hear my whispers in the silence?"

That quote is from the beginning of a chapter on the role of silence in self-reflection. Each chapter discusses different aspects of the force of karma from the consequences of actions that bind the soul across lifetimes. The book goes into how to purify negative karma from previous lives and make better choices to avoid accumulating more harmful karma from now on. In the explorations of spiritual themes, I particularly appreciated the sections explaining the difference between easily confused concepts like possession versus attachment, to give just one example. The writing was clear and often poetic.

In mentioning the lyrical style, I must also note that one amazing aspect of this book was its visual beauty. Calming images like lotuses, stacks of pebbles and white sand shaped into waves formed a background to the text. Those were photographs, but the fine-lined illustrations deserve a special mention. I enjoyed taking time to study the visuals showing how our minds disturb us. For example, one depicted a woman in profile with whorls of hair and thoughts swirling in a cloud around her head.

This book doesn't stop at discussing spiritual matters in the abstract. Each chapter ends with self-reflection questions and, crucially, prompts to take action. Examples provide excellent support for figuring out how to put newfound insights into practice. I've already benefited from the tips on combating materialism by donating items and putting more thought into purchases.

Since taking action is an important part of the book, it could potentially be improved by including some sort of disclaimer advising readers to consult a professional if problems arise. For example, meditation is recommended, but this can be problematic for people with certain conditions. This book might be better suited to those who believe in reincarnation and karma, though readers with different beliefs may also find it interesting. It draws on spiritual traditions rather than focusing on religion. The insights about cultivating pure intentions and ensuring non-harmful actions could have universal appeal.

Overall, this thought-provoking and beautifully composed read merits a high rating. I wouldn't deduct a star for the lack of a disclaimer, as the main purpose was clearly to promote growth through spiritual guidance. However, I found more than ten errors overall, which obliges me to take off a star for a rating of four out of five. I look forward to following my soul's promptings further with the aid of this tome.

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What Every Soul Wants
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