And Following Your Heart - A Fable of Love

My first review and Rebirth was the book that brought me to write it. This is truly an amazing and special book. I am grateful to have experienced it. Beautifully written, Rebirth took me on a journey across Spain, but more importantly into myself. I would like to say this book is for anyone who is looking for something, and it is, but really it is for everyone. Love, loss, forgiveness, letting go. Emotional threads that are interwoven through all of our lives. Shared emotions we have all experienced, good and bad. The opportunity that hitting bottom can be if we choose to see it, and most critical- choosing to take action. Kamal has a way of writing that taps into the core of the human experience. Each sentence is crafted with purpose, nothing self-serving. He interweaves the past and the present creating a depth that envelops you. This is a book that reminds me of the beauty and strength words possess. I have a few books I reread every year, a foundation I like to return to. Rebirth will now be one of them. What an incredible and inspiring way to begin a New Year.

A young man learns life lessons while walking the Camino de Santiago. Adrift after the death of his father, Amit is unfocused and aimless. On a whim, he decides to make the pilgrimage perhaps more as a device to delay addressing the issues that trouble him than an act of self discovery. He meets an assortment of pilgrims along the way and each guides him to greater understanding and ultimately freedom.

I liked this book. It is light in tone and avoids the importance and preachiness many books about the camino fall prey to. Amit is identifiable as an everyman, or perhaps more accurately an every person. He is relatable and his actions are believable. I've read quite a few boks about this walk so there was little unexpected. It is a pleasant and uplifting read that leaves the reader with some valuable insights.

I love this novel and kept reading “just one more chapter” as we follow Amit on his journey to recover from the death of his violent father, the breakup with his girlfriend, and his need to find a career. He visits his aunt in India (his father’s sister) and a monk tells Amit to say “yes” in every situation. He then walks the strenuous Camino de Santiago in Spain, where pilgrims often find answers to their serious problems. My favorite of his companions is Kat, a woman in her sixties who offers wise advice and stories from her life. I also appreciate the wisdom and friendship of a French man, Loic. A minister suggested to Amit that instead of asking “why” ask “now what”. I read this book thinking it was a memoir, but found out it is a novel based on the author’s pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. I highly recommend it.

After fulfilling his father's last wish for his ashes to be spread over the Ganges River in India, pre-med student Amit realizes that he doesn't want to go home in America. After wandering north for over 2 months, he hears about a 500 mile long hiking pilgrimage in Spain called the Camino de Santiago. On the spur of the moment and lacking any other direction in his life he decides to do a 7 day trek along the route just to get his feet wet and then return home to America to.....well, who knows? He's kinda wondering if being a doctor is the career for him. Honestly, he doesn't know what he's supposed to do anymore. Amit has been so traumatized by the slow and agonizing death of his cancer stricken father that he's lost faith in life because of the suffering the universe inflicts on people. He's also dealing with some of the abuse issues his alcoholic father inflicted on him and his mom back in the day.

As he walks the Camino de Santiago he begins to meet other travelers much wiser than him and learns how to deal with the seeming randomness of life and renew his spiritual purpose. Some of those he meets have suffered at least as much or even more than he has. But they have found ways to move on with their lives.

The author of the novel based his work on his own experience walking the Camino.

What I loved about this book was the sense of community that the pilgrims of the Camino had. It just seems like everyone was trying to help Amit find what he was looking for, even though they might not understand all the details of his searching. I guess it's just part and parcel of meeting people on a pilgrimage. Even though they might not be there for the exact same micro reason, they are all there for the same macro reason, namely of finding enlightenment or learning about themselves or life. I thought it was also cool that the pilgrims usually knew enough to sense when a traveler needed their own space to soak in the trail and prefer to walk portions alone.

Ravikant isn't the first writer to ponder the meanings of life and death but I enjoyed his Zen-like and laid back writing style which reminded me of a leisurely walking pace. But don't get me wrong, this book isn't all about tummy rubbing aphorisms. It also is not afraid to look Death and suffering in the eye, recognize it, and say "I accept Death, but I'm not going to let it ruin Life". If you're a cold hearted cynic, you will hate this book. If you approach it with an open heart, you will love it.

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of my love for another book, The Alchemist. I am not that much of a fiction reader, but enjoy books about the unseen parts of life, spirituality, love, personal vibration, sacred paths of purpose, the meaning of life, and such. Although this book is a work of fiction (I don't know how much is part of Kamal's actual story), it is a story that rings honest and true, and is about all those things listed above. It's not allegorical like The Alchemist, but it still holds many truths.

I have read a few books about walking the Camino, and they have always made me feel that I was there. This book is no exception. I felt that I was on a personal pilgrimage along with Amit. I read it slowly and savored the moments. The writing is simple, but still paints pictures in the reader's mind. I am a fan of Kamal's other books, and this one is no exception. I won't spoil the journey for you, but since it's in the title, it is so much about rebirth and of how we are all threads on each other's path. Even if you are not a fiction reader, take time to read this. I am glad I did.

Rebirth shares the story of its narrator Amit following the Camino de Santiago to its destination at the shrine of St. James the Apostle in Spain. The character begins his journey with little thought of his intentions and with plans for only spending a week as a pilgrim on the trail. However, he ends up continuing for over 30 days. As he walks, he shares his past and what led him to this path. The author eloquently weaves the narrator's past into the events and conversations while on the Camino. This is a pleasant book to read and experience. As he walks on the Camino, he has discussions with characters that may come across as sort of cliche; however, the writing overcomes the caricatures and the reflective dialogues serve to keep the story moving.

I enjoyed reading this book and began to look forward to opening its pages at every opportunity. The narrator who is a young adult becomes close to a woman who is his senior by a couple decades. She walks beside him as a type of mother figure leading him through his recent heartache and grief. The only oddness and criticism of the book is that the climax of their conversation seems to be her retelling of her love for a man with whom she had an extra-marital affair for a decade or so. I'm not sure how the author intended this to come across, but I had a hard time appreciating a romance born in unfaithfulness.

Other than the above criticism, I would recommend this book for readers looking for a reflective, inspiring and peaceful book. No particular religion is pushed here. As a Christian, I was able to find inspiration and insight. I think readers from other backgrounds would experience the same.

My best friend from college, who is dealing with a terminal disease, walked the Camino and shared his experience when we visited over a long weekend. The Camino's impact on him was very moving and when I saw this book, I needed to read it. Well, I was not disappointed. The author, Kamal Ravikant while dealing with a personal situation, ended up starting the Camino by accident and never expected to finish. What was suppose to be a temporary side trip, turned into an impactful experience that introduce Kamal to wide range of individuals with whom he shared this experience and in the process slowly came to grips with his own personal challenge. This is an intriguing read that allows the reader to view an amazing pilgrimage as well as learn about the reasons and inspirations that lead individuals to undertake the trek. It is a great read.

When we reflect on our lives and the meaningful experiences we've had, we tend to remember the *beautiful* things first: seeing an ocean for the first time, traveling to a foreign county, witnessing the birth of a child. This is no coinceidence; we are drawn to beauty. What we have trouble remembering is the *sterile* things; they leave no mark on us because there is no beauty to associate with them.

What Kamal Ravikant has done in *Rebirth* is marry the often-times sterile 'directive-style' self-development truths of self-love, letting go, healing, and others with *beautiful* passages that stick with you, whether you indend them to or not.

Where Kamal could have easily said something like, "Trust your intuition by trying to leave your head out of it." instead he writes, "I am at the entrance to a cathedral... I feel, for a moment, awe. The atmosphere makes you want to believe. I sit in a wooden pew, close my eyes, and rest. 'I don't want to pray to you,' I say softly. 'This is not a prayer.'" There are many more moments like this - where you circle the lesson with both beauty and a lump-in-your-throat before finally resolving into the life wisdom this journey offers.

The book ends on the 37th day on the Camino de Santiago... but it left me wishing he walked slower - I didn't want it to end. The wisdom in this book made me smile, swallow hard, be overcome with a feeling of release and comfort, but at the same time fanned a fire that was desperate for oxygen.

If you take the time to walk this journey in an open and honest way, it can be the beauty that finally changes your life.

Usually when characters are not deeply developed or plots have holes it's an instant "stop reading" flag for me. This book, however, was different. It is by no means the best book I have read this year but anyone who is looking for a light read on reflection, personal journeys and life lesson development will likely really enjoy this. This is one of those books that goes beyond the writing itself and manages to teach poignant and beautiful truths.

The author has written another book titled " Love yourself like your life depends on it" that I liked so I wanted to read this book. Rebirth is written in the style of a story, a young man goes on a pilgrimage after losing his father, he meets people along the way and reflects on his life and state of being, and in the process learns about hope, forgiveness and his own humanity.

This book reminded me of past books I've read from Richard Bach and James Redfield, and even Paulo Coelho. All of those books imparted lessons through drawing you into a story about self-discovery. I learned from this book starting in the beginning when the young man asked a monk, "How do you find peace?" The monk answers, "I say yes. To all that happens, I say yes."

And that in one sentence was a huge lesson about acceptance and letting go of attachments. This is why this type of story telling books are successful, each one can take from it what they will on their own path to self-discovery, and what will stand out to them will depend on their spiritual maturity and their path in life. This was an enjoyable and illuminating book for me.

"Rebirth" is a fictionalized account of the author's own journey on the Camino de Santiago. I have read several authors' descriptions of the transformative natures of their pilgrimages on this famous road, yet few have expressed it as simply and as artfully as Kamal Ravikant.

The writing seems effortless and the wisdom dispensed flows seamlessly from the dialogue and the first person narrative. I experienced an ease in reading that left me turning "just one more page" until I had finished the book. This is not the most profound spiritual book I have read, but it is inspirational. Amit, the main character, comes across as "everyman" with a sincere desire to be at peace with himself. He starts the journey having lost his estranged father to cancer, his girlfriend, and his sense of purpose. By the end of his trek he has experienced a rebirth through opening to love and forgiveness.

I recommend this book for anyone who is now searching or who has ever searched for answers to a deeper meaning of life. As the author notes, the question is not, "Why is this occurring?" but rather "What now?" By accepting and trusting life to unfold naturally, the beauty of existence is revealed in both the so-called good and bad events.

Kamal,
What a masterpiece!! I bought the audible version- it should be the ONLY version! OMG! What a journey- thank you for taking me along with you. And life... so very much, just like that... and all the wisdom! Forgiveness, Yes! Love and "hello-ie!" lol The actor- could it have gotten any better?! The synergy- crazy! You had me crying one second, literally... tears... then laughing the next. The characters were all alive. You did a masterful job- everything, the story, the truths, the lessons, the words, the raw honesty, the vulnerability... you grew wings, didn't you? A novel? You'll never convince me- it felt way too real. In fact, it was real... for me. Maybe some day I will walk the Camino de Santiago for myself. I will listen to this book many times, I'm sure. ~Wendy

I just read Rebirth over the weekend, while recovering from a little cold. It was the perfect companion for my own personal El Camino-ish experience, while I was in self-isolation.

If one could listen to the stories artisanally-crafted stained glass could tell, it may sound like this book...it's beautiful, reflective, and vibrantly nuanced. There's wonder, joy...notes of sadness, melancholy, and also hope.

While reading the book, I felt many thoughts swirling through my mind. At first, my thoughts were entirely self-focused on being sick, miserable, coughing up science experiments, and impatiently waiting a few days to be 100% again.

As I progressed on the journey, I became increasingly interested in Amit's encounters with various characters, from a crying Englishman to a sassy British woman named Kat. The memories Amit has of his father were very relatable and "human." It made me reflect on how EVERYONE has a struggle/challenge of some sort, and realizing this can help us become kinder to one another, as it is a universal link we share. When you *listen* to people and their stories, you get to "see" them – and this can open your heart to receiving more gifts from life, which includes people. Everyone.

I really enjoyed the picturesque vignettes in Rebirth, as the protagonist made his way through El Camino. The conversations he had with Kat were my favorite. I'm not going to give a spoiler, but there is a sweet memory that Kat recounted as a child, where she liked sneaking off to...(well, just read the book!).

Rebirth is a compassionate companion, reminding me of the truly important things in life. Sometimes I know something intellectually, but to go on an experience and KNOW will affect my behavior, to the point where I take effective action. I highly recommend this book...it's heart-opening. It's like life-giving rain for growing plants. (Regardless of age, we are all growing plants!) Hmm, if this was required reading for all high school students, the sooner it would help nurture a more loving world into existence!

Rebirth is a gift of LOVE.

PS: I have calmed down and chilled out regarding the healing process. I'm almost there anyway. Plus, the time was spent watering my personal growth seedlings! (A little cheese to schmear into this review.)
Sending blessings and love to everyone. :-)

This is the most interesting depiction of a pilgrimage that I've read yet. There's a strong reality as the author recounts the story. I'm not sure how much of it is fact and how much is fiction, but it's 100% believable. The characters are each very real seeming. My favorite, of course, was Kat. I truly fell in love with her.

The title fits for obvious reasons, but it also makes sense when we're told that this particular pilgrimage covers three different terrains which are consecutively labeled "life", "death", and "rebirth".

Vine has this listed as a Christian book. That's not quite appropriate, but it is spiritual. All in all, I do recommend it highly.

“Rebirth” is an interesting journey of self-discovery, as Amit travels across Spain. Amit has had a pretty tough go of things, leaving him unsettled and conflicted. As he travels, he comes to terms with a lot of the events of his life and finds his own peace. It’s a calming story overall and flows really nicely- just like you were listening to Amit tell you his story across a campfire. Told in the first person, we feel we really get to know Amit as the book continues, and he echoes many of our own inner struggles. This was an interesting read and quite different from others I have read recently- the pace and everything echoes the long walk, and it is a thought-provoking journey. Please note that I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Kamal Ravikant, an author and investor, departs from his previous "self-help" format and proves to be a writer of true merit, with a gift for story telling and conversational text. In short, Ravikant knows what to keep and what to discard in terms of character development and voice. Quickly the reader is drawn into the journey of one man, Amit - and the people who befriend him as he walks the Camino trail, which is a typically Catholic pilgrimage path in Spain.

There is quiet brilliance in this fable. A lovely read in and of itself, the descriptions of the trail and what it takes to make a 30 day journey are woven into a rich narrative of developing friendships, and lively personalities.

Ravikant writes about human beings in a way that is both gracious and earnest. The main character is based upon the author's personal journey dealing with the death of his Father. It's clear the author understands those small nuances grief can bring to people grappling as adults with childhood hurt, still unresolved. His insight is relatable, and digestible - there is no speechmaking, no grandstanding. I loved the pace of his storytelling and the book is even divided into days not chapters, great creative!

I took away so many interesting and thoughtful ideas from Rebirth.
Mostly I felt it to be both a satisfying story that is good for the soul, but also a true catalyst for self awareness.

All good fables have a lesson to prove - at least that's what a I recall from my earliest experiences reading fairy tales as a child. Kamal Ravikant offers us the fable of Rebirth, and I think there are limitless lessons to embrace within it's pages. These are a few of my favorites:
- Grief has a beginning and an end.
- It's absolutely possible to make a remarkable change in your life, in just 30 days.
- Sensitivity is not a weakness, it is in fact, a super power.
- It is not our pain that makes us special, it is the light that shines within us, that does.

If your heart isn't open when you start reading Rebirth, it will be, by the time you are finished. Hans Christen Anderson once said: "Life is the best fairy tale."
Kamal Ravikant proves it.

This book will be in my heart, always. I truly loved it.

As beautifully crafted as it is profound, Kamal Ravikant’s Rebirth is storytelling at its finest. Rebirth is about healing, forgiveness, finding meaning and purpose, following your heart, and so much more. I was rapt by Ravikant’s thoughtful, powerful story. Here is a book that will connect you to your deeper self, and leave you moved and transformed.

On the Camino de Santiago lost souls, seekers, or the curious, are kept to the path by yellow arrows. Rebirth by Kamal Ravikant is full of yellow arrows on the pilgrimage of life. The Italians call birth, "Dare alla Luce - to give to the light”. Kamal's book will Rebirth you to your light. Cozy up in the comfort of your happy place and receive awakening. - Darrell Harada, Kahu- healer priest of a two thousand year old Hawaiian tradition.

‪A favorite quote, one of many, "Where you face your deepest fears, magic."‬

Reading Kamal’s books makes me feel understood. He is an extremely sensitive man that feels and notices the things I would. His latest book Rebirth is a story about a man’s journey across the famous Camino de Santiago. We can all relate to it in some shape or form. While reading I thought about my own parents, my ex-boyfriends, and the times in my life I have been at a crossroad. The pain. The confusion. And at last, the breakthrough.

In a day in age when everyone and their mom’s is writing a book, Kamal is a true author. Beautifully written.

I enjoyed following Amit on his physical, emotional, and spiritual journey that led him from the Himillayas to Camino de Santiago. The characters he meets along the way share experiences that many of us have in common but tend to overlook or suppress because we don't have the time or courage or simply lack the desire to garnish the deeper meaning of the significant aspects of life, such as: finding the source of true happiness, on forging deep and meaningful and mutually supportive relationships, on learning the absolute necessity of forgiveness and overcoming hurts, doubts, and our own deep-seated resistance to our own renewal. This book is a good read for all seeking an invitation and motivation to embark on a meditative journey to be reborn.

This beautiful journey of the heart will touch your heart and change your life. Craftfully written...I couldn't put it down....entranced by this tale of the heart. Open a new chapter of life with this book that will make you reflect as you follow the characters in a beautiful enthralling journey. I seriously couldn't put it down and love picking it up again to re-read beautiful passages....I just love how it's written.

One of the most powerful book I have every read, .. and had my fair share of self-help books for sure. Written very no-nonsense and lean&mean. I agree and resonate with the author: if you do his simple mantra for some time: you true self will come out and shine, life starts working for you, and ultimately life will prove to you in magically ways what your real truth is that is far better than you could ever imagine. I can be that simple.

I really enjoyed reading this book, many times brought a smile to my face for the lovely way the author describes all the people he becomes in contact with. It is a lovely story I wish it had been longer because I wanted to continue to read or I would say to listen because I purchased the audible version as I like to listen to it during my commute to work and thus I really enjoy the narrator Mr. Pitu he does a splendid job with the accents and moods of all the personages in the book.

My journey on the Camino de Santiago will begin in April of this year so I am sucking back as many books about the Camino as I can find - I checked this book out from my local library and just ordered my own copy. I love this book - it teaches without ever getting sentimental, maudlin or verbose. Like I said - a wonderful book.

As a young traveler, I absolutely loved this book! Many of us struggle to find their direction or purpose in life. This book takes a deep dive into a journey that many of us can resonate with. I have given many copies to friends and family. Highly recommended from New Zealand

Another fantastic book by Kamal Ravikant.. Definitely needed to remind myself to slow down so I could savor every moment and enjoy the journey! A book that is filled with inspiration and special moments of rediscovery of oneself. I highly recommend it for all those that want to embark on an adventure with unexpected enlightenment along the way.

Wow what a GIFT of a powerfully moving, detailed, utterly transportive, impactful read! Written with remarkable precision, incredible eloquence and truly unique craftsmanship that effortlessly took me into the life of every page. The journey made me feel as if I lived this person's life span and I walked away with so many precious and inspiring pearls of wisdom.

UPDATE: I decided to push ahead and finish this book, since I had already invested the time to get halfway through. I had hopes that there might be a solid conclusion that I could appreciate while ignoring the inelegant and somewhat trite style. Unfortunately, there was not. This meandering book takes you on a path that is neither pilgrimage nor journey of any sort. Ravikant constructs this book out of three elements: narrative (in first person) of his pilgrimage, conversations (also in first person) with fellow pilgrims, and flashbacks (mercifully in third person) to moments with family members or remembered conversations. None of these elements play well off each other, nor are they artfully interwoven. It's a mere succession of scenes. The only resemblance of a plot is the slow unwinding of a fellow pilgrim's story (he meets her after the halfway point of the book) which is compared to Ravikant's own experiences. Then, the book ends with him calling his ex and wishing her well. That's it? Yes, it is. The author simply indicates that he is doing better. I felt nothing, didn't understand his process. There was no process. Just a succession of scenes. Not worth your time. (END UPDATE)

I wanted to like this book. Having read Paulo Coelho and enjoyed his somewhat crazy but always intriguing philosophical style (and beautiful prose, even if it's translated from Portuguese), I heard this book being likened to The Alchemist - and taking place on the Camino de Santiago, where another of Coelho's books was placed - so I was definitely interested.

Here's the thing, though. Paulo Coelho belonged to a different time and place, and his mysticism was well thought out and codified. Kamal Ravikant is a product of a much different era. This feels more like navel-gazing than an exploration of the unknown, and the depths Ravikant plumbs are those of his own psyche. Not that there's anything wrong with this per se, but everything about this book is self-obsessed. The style is cloying (who picks present tense for an entire, purportedly autobiographical, book? Those who've done so in the past were going against the grain, but this just feels affected). The conversations depicted are just so run-of-the-mill, the revelations are trite (I pretty much gave up when the storyteller started kissing the back of his own hand, upon the suggestion of another pilgrim, to show himself self-love) and nothing felt like progress.