The theme of the book is that the world of the spirit is real and can be learned, to some extent at least. And that spiritual kinowledge based on fact is truly power, and it brings satisfaction and contentment beyond all else to those who seek it. It is about the teaching of "The Ancient Wisdom". Jesus came to teach this as did others before him and others after. There is nothing new about the basic facts. What is new is the more effective way that it can be explained in this modern era. There is no plot---just 50 essays, most of them based on spiritual experiences of the author, each one illustrating some aspect of the world of the spirit. Simple enough for the beginner to get started, yet deep enough to interest for a lifetime. Some aspects are approached from more than one perspective for clarity, inluding metaphysics and a New Testament outlook with remarkable conclusions. Not totally a how-to book, rather a way to select appropriate how-to books. Crammed with valuable insights, it can be a captivating guide for anyone seeking the ancient eternal wisdom. The author, a mechanical engineer, began a spiritual quest at age 37. Adept in the world of science and machines, he was an unlikely personality type to get very far in this type of endeavor. But it soon became apparent to him that there is no real conflict between proven science and true religion. Although this realization is contrary to some long-held popular beliefs, it simplified his religious studies immensely. He met some qualified teachers who knew that the great religious truths are meant for 'here and now' in this lifetime as well as any afterlife, and could teach it well. The eternal wisdom (some of it anyway) 'came through' even to the literal scientific mind of the engineer. And (some of it anyway) can be passed on to the reader.
About the Author: From his earliest memories, Bill wanted and planned to become a mechanical engineer. Brought up in Cleveland, Ohio, he did science experiments, built model boats and airplanes as a boy. As a teen, built larger boats and enjoyed sailing them on Lake Erie, learning the ways of wind, weather and water by several years of direct experience. Then he graduated as a mechanical engineer from "Case School of Applied Science" which is now part of "Case Western Reserve University" of Cleveland. The four year course was squeezed into three and a half as classes went six days a week and all summer to rush engineers to WW II. Bill immediately joined the Navy, served as an engineering officer on the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Quincy. After the war becme an automotive engineer on big trucks and earth movers. Later invented road building machinery, manufactured it, invented and marketed other things. With wife and three great kids, he lived in a semi-rural part of Kirtland, Ohio for many years. Then at some point, began to wonder about the 'Big Questions' of life --- the things that philosophers have puzzled about and argued about since the beginning of time. A friend mentioned that the 'Big Questions' may be in philosophy, but the 'Big Answers'are in religion. Puzzled why 30 years of church attendance had not brought these answers, he began to look elsewhere. He met some really qualified teachers at age 37 and began a life-long study of the 'higher teaching' of religion which proved to be "The Ancient Wisdom". Despite a personality narrowly shaped by science and technology, he was able to directly experience aspects of the 'world of the spirit' which became the basis for his book. The eternal wisdom (some of it anyway) 'came through' and eventually brought the feeling that it should be shared. As one candle lights another, it (some of it anyway) can be passed on to the reader.