Having lived by the essence of Budhha for years as well as a devotee of East meets west thought, the insights are great reminders that Now is all there is. Tolle emphasizes that human suffering is connected with thought which is tied to time, whether the past or future. And there lies the bend! For me personally, much if not all was familiar. Books such as these really don't deserve ratings since they're deeply personal and based on spiritual elements that not all are drawn toward. Whatever the case, the practice of being present in every moment is the most important thing we can all do, since suffering, pain and fear are all tied to thoughts the mind creates. As one of the originators of East meets West stated ages ago, Be Here Now ( )

Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment taught people how to live a full spiritual life. By concentrating on stillness presents individuals with the best gift that life has to offer. It’s certainly a new way of shaping one’s way of living.
This eminent and spiritual teacher pointed out that people are trapped into thinking about the past and the future when they act unconsciously. From moment to moment, they would be thinking what lies ahead, or where they have been. This is the nature of their thinking on a daily basis. The ends justify the means. But it’s healthier and more fulfilling to live consciously by being in the present. According to Eckhart, to live fully means living in the Now.
Problems will inevitably arise in people’s lives. This is a reality that everyone faces. These could be big or small, but the way of dealing with them is the same. All one has to do is to live consciously by being in the present. Both the past and the future are in the present. All time is present. With such an exercise each person is able to focus on this reality. He or she will be living with stillness, by breathing, and observing what’s around him or her.
At home there’s no need to be involved in arguments. Debating who is right or wrong has no place in this dialogue. By being in the Now tension is relieved, and negative thoughts fall by the wayside. Being in the present neutralizes all bad reactions. This new state of living is also good for one’s health. To be calm, focused, and by concentrating on the Now removes the pain and stress of living.
Couples do live happier lives when they are experiencing the Now. They move away from their ego-centric way of thinking. They are now able to complement each other by being in the present. Suffering from depression becomes unlikely, and couples will appreciate each other more fully. As the saying goes, they are now on the same wavelength. There will be no tensions between them, as they are living their lives to the fullest. Being in the Now is undoubtedly a character booster, and is good for the health of their family. ( )

Don't dismiss this as New Age psychobabble. It's as profound as it gets... ( )

I really enjoyed this book. If focuses on staying present in the moment. This is where your power lies. In the Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle guides the reader to focus on the present moment. He assists the reader though the ego and eventually past the ego. The book reminds us that we are not the body and that if we ground ourselves in the present moment, most of the stress and problems that we think we experience will disappear. It is the mind to create problems. The ego takes over and adds all these false beliefs to our lives which have us held back and frustrated at times, leading to stress and other negative feelings such as fear, doubt, worry, etc. This need not be the case. In the now nothing is wrong but what the mind makes wrong. It has to do with your perception on life and your experiences along the way. When we ground ourselves in the present moment, the ego cannot take control and lower vibrational energies, such as fear, doubt, frustration, etc. cannot exist. If you are looking to get past the pain and stress in your life, this book is a good place to start. ( )

This is one of those books that is worth re-reading every few years.

Tolle describes how accepting the current moment, living completely in the Now, brings a deep inner peace. Instead of reliving drama from the past or dwelling on fears about the future, accepting the current moment for what it is, realizing that the current moment is the only thing that actually exists, creates a deep sense of calm and peace and even enlightenment. ( )