Khalil Gibran was recommended to me by my senior. I had heard the author's name in passing but had never actually planned on reading him. It so happened that upon coming to Hyderabad, despite my humongous list of books that were pending to be read, I borrowed "The Prophet" from my senior.
It turned out to be a good decision after all. The book is a olio of philosophies regarding life, work, love, God and possibly any other topic than one could imagine. It feebly defines a way of life and the manner in which one can be happy while going through the motions in general. It is inspiring and written in a simple and poetic language. Plus it is a very thin book, which makes the philosophy all the more bearable and appreciable.
There was not much of a story in the book. It speaks of a prophet, exiled on an island, awaiting the ships on the day of his return to his land. As the ships come in sight, he feels the pain of parting from the people of Orphalese and even they come to him and impetrate him to advice them on the ways of life. Hence he philosophises the answers to their questions. He finally departs, tristful and with the promise that he would return some day, in one body or the other. The ending also hints of romance between Almustafa, the prophet and Almitra, the priestess.
The book contains the usual social norms and the conventional philosophies. But what was originally attractive about "The Prophet" was the author's poetic way of writing. The lines flow into each other; contiguous and smoothly. And Gibran never exaggerated a point to boredom. He was crisp and eloquent, unlike most philosophers. I would like to read more of him, though he will not be on the top of my list.
