A reader's shredded return of his book
Tolle recounts that while his writings upset some readers, his office once received a package containing a copy of A New Earth that someone had completely shredded before mailing back.
Eckhart Tolle
German
Born 1948
Eckhart Tolle is a German “spiritual teacher” and self-help author. His books include The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (1997), A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (2005) and the picture book Guardians of Being (2009).
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed 2 of Eckhart Tolle's books, including Stillness Speaks and The Power of Now.
2
Books ReviewedIn Eckhart Tolle's own words
Eckhart Tolle discusses the unexpected success of 'The Power of Now' and the awakening experience that inspired his spiritual philosophy on CBC's The Hour.
Uploaded by Strombo, 2009 · Watch on YouTube ·
Also in conversation
The thought that triggered his awakening
In a state of deep depression at age 29, Tolle thought he could no longer live with himself, which prompted a sudden realization that the observer and the unhappy mental self were two distinct things.
Why obsessing over winning drains power
Tolle explains that fixing one's attention on the desire to win projects energy into a future outcome, whereas true athletic mastery happens when an athlete is entirely present in the moment.
Women's connection to presence versus men
Tolle notes that women often find it easier to access the present moment because they are typically less mind-identified and more connected to bodily energy and feelings than men.
Wisdom versus intelligence and the ego
Tolle explains that high intelligence can easily coexist with a large ego. True wisdom is distinct from intellect, arising only out of present-moment awareness and acceptance of what is.
Complete evaporation of past suffering
Tolle states that the unhappiness from his difficult childhood no longer exists within him on an emotional level. While the factual memory remains, the emotional suffering completely burned away through presence.
Intense presence during cancer diagnosis
Tolle reveals that when he was diagnosed with colon cancer, he did not experience mental panic or dread. Instead, an intense field of presence and awareness took over his consciousness and body in the days leading up to surgery.
Sending wordless 'space messages' to friends
Tolle shares that he sometimes sends text messages containing only empty brackets without any words. He uses these messages to remind recipients to step away from mental chatter and connect with inner space.
How the ego exploits victim identity
Tolle observes that the ego frequently clings to a victim identity because it derives a feeling of moral superiority over others. Transcending suffering requires letting go of using past grievances to define who one is.
Also in this interview
Eckhart Tolle books in order
9 books; 2 reviewed on LuvemBooks. Dates and covers from Amazon.
2000Our review →
2001Practicing the Power of NowAmazon ↗
2002Practising The Power Of NowAmazon ↗
2003Our review →
2005A New EarthAmazon ↗
2008Oneness with All LifeAmazon ↗
2008Milton's SecretAmazon ↗
2011Guardians of BeingAmazon ↗
2026Wisdom from The Power of NowAmazon ↗
Stillness Speaks
4.8/5
reader rating · 4,094 ratingsStillness Speaks is a compact spiritual reference book by Eckhart Tolle, structured as ten short chapters of aphoristic teachings modeled on the ancient Indian sutra tradition, designed to guide readers toward silence, present-moment awareness, and inner stillness rather than engage the analytical mind.
Reviewed Jul 16, 2026
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
4.7/5
reader rating · 54,420 ratingsA self-help and spiritual guide first published in 1997, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle has sold 16 million copies worldwide and been translated into 33 languages, building its reputation on one central argument: that human suffering stems from identification with the thinking mind, and that relief lies in anchoring oneself to the present moment. This review covers the book's content, structure, cultural reach, and genuine limitations as documented in published sources — not from hands-on application.
Reviewed Feb 11, 2026
Ask LuvemBooks about Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle is a German spiritual teacher and self-help author whose books argue that human suffering stems from identification with the thinking mind, and that relief comes from anchoring attention in the present moment. We've reviewed 2 of his books: The Power of Now, his landmark 1997 guide that has sold 16 million copies in 33 languages and holds a 4.7/5 reader rating from over 54,000 Amazon ratings, and Stillness Speaks, a compact volume of sutra-style aphorisms on silence and inner stillness with a 4.8/5 reader rating. Across both, his method is consistent — short, meditative teachings aimed at quieting the analytical mind rather than engaging it.
- Where should I start?
- Start with The Power of Now. It's Tolle's best-known work, laying out his core argument that suffering comes from identifying with the thinking mind and that the present moment is the way out. It holds a 4.7/5 reader rating from more than 54,000 Amazon ratings, so it's also his most widely read and tested book. Stillness Speaks works better as a follow-up once you know his approach.
- What's their writing style?
- Tolle's style is deliberately anti-analytical: his teachings are designed to guide readers toward silence and present-moment awareness rather than engage the thinking mind. In Stillness Speaks, this takes the form of short aphoristic chapters modeled on the ancient Indian sutra tradition. The Power of Now is more discursive but still revolves around a single central argument returned to from many angles.
- Books we've reviewed
- We've reviewed 2 Eckhart Tolle books. The Power of Now is his 16-million-copy guide arguing that suffering stems from identification with the thinking mind and that presence is the way out — it holds a 4.7/5 reader rating from over 54,000 Amazon ratings. Stillness Speaks is a compact volume of sutra-style teachings on silence and inner stillness, with a 4.8/5 reader rating from over 4,000 Amazon ratings.
- How do their books compare?
- The two books we've reviewed share Tolle's core message — that suffering comes from identifying with the thinking mind and that presence is the remedy — but deliver it differently. The Power of Now is the comprehensive statement of that argument, while Stillness Speaks condenses it into aphoristic, sutra-style chapters meant for quiet reflection. Reader ratings are nearly identical: 4.7/5 for The Power of Now and 4.8/5 for Stillness Speaks, both Amazon aggregates.
- What genre do they write?
- Tolle writes spiritual self-help. Among the books we've reviewed, The Power of Now is categorized as Health & Wellness and Stillness Speaks as Religion & Spirituality, but both sit squarely in the same territory: teachings on present-moment awareness and spiritual enlightenment.
- What should I read after The Power of Now?
- Among the books we've reviewed, Stillness Speaks is the clear next read. It takes the same core teaching — stillness and present-moment awareness — and distills it into ten short chapters of aphorisms modeled on the ancient Indian sutra tradition. It's designed less to be analyzed and more to be sat with, which makes it a natural companion once The Power of Now has laid the groundwork.
Who is Eckhart Tolle?
Where should I start?
What's their writing style?
Books we've reviewed
How do their books compare?
What genre do they write?
What should I read after The Power of Now?
Who is Eckhart Tolle?
Eckhart Tolle is a German spiritual teacher and self-help author. He's best known for The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, a 1997 book that has sold 16 million copies worldwide and been translated into 33 languages. His work centers on present-moment awareness as an antidote to suffering caused by identification with the thinking mind.
Follow up
What is The Power of Now about?
What nationality is Eckhart Tolle?
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Mr. Richard P. Goodwin
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