When her marriage fell apart, American Elizabeth Gilbert embarked on a year-long journey of self-discovery that took her to Italy, India and Bali.
In these countries she was exposed to radically different approaches to life, love and spirituality. She shares her experiences — including information on where to get the best pizza ever — in her hugely successful memoir, Eat Pray Love (Penguin Group Canada). It became a world-wide bestseller, and more than one million copies of the book are now in print in more than thirty languages. And a certain pizzeria in Naples is now getting loads of foreign visitors.
This week’s podcast features her recent conversation with Shelagh Rogers on CBC’s Sounds Like Canada. Canadian Tom Harpur is another author whose personal spiritual journey, rather unexpectedly, led him far from where he started.
As an Anglican priest, Harpur studied the Bible closely for many years. He came to view the Bible as a source of inspiration rather than historical truth. His controversial and bestselling book, The Pagan Christ (Thomas Allen Publishers), suggests that the New Testament was based on Egyptian mythology, a position that has left many Christians outraged.
We feature his 2004 interview with CBC Radio’s Mary Hynes.
Words at Large is CBC’s online destination for Canadians who love books. Look for something new every day, from CBC programs and podcasts, to interviews with writers and more. Stay tuned for our newly designed and expanded site.
Comments
I read this book. Its a recipe for disaster for women who are unhappy in their marriages and are un-prepared to deal with that. This "run away to enlightment" mentality is a continuation of the Cinderella fantasy. The experience of one quite contrary woman has grown into a how to manual for many who don't see her as being incredibly unique. Too bad she didn't have anything positive to say about connecting with your spouse, loyaty and the false gods of entitlment and selfishness.
Posted by: Ihor Zalubniak | May 15, 2008 09:21 PM
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