See below for a book description and brief excerpts.
The Book of the World
A Contemporary Scripture
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Imagine scripture created for today. Scripture intended not to replace other holy books but to offer alongside them its own poignant witness. Scripture written not by prophet or saint, mystic or messiah, guru or god, but by the world. Scripture nearly 3,000 verses long, woven from quotations from around the globe. Scripture whose creator is unknown and whose origins are a mystery. Scripture that first appeared on the Internet, only to be suppressed. Scripture meant not only to be read but also to be tested, and transcended.
Imagine it no more. That scripture is here.
Phyllis is grateful to have had the privilege of editing and publishing this powerful inspirational book on behalf of its unknown author.
Featuring:
- ~ 5½ x 8½ format (paperback), 264 pp.
- ~ perfect for use in personal meditation, group study
- ~ intended for all readers, regardless of religion, race, nationality, gender—regardless of difference
Click on an excerpt title to read its text:
The Book of the World first came to my attention when a friend, who wishes not to be identified, told me something she had heard from one of her close relatives. This relative, whom I shall call Q, a long-time employee of a major Internet portal, had confided in her about a “modern-day holy book that had been censored from the Web.”
My friend knows me well. With academic training in both folklore studies and theology, I was, as she anticipated, immediately intrigued. Suspecting that Q’s story might be, rather than actual fact, a contemporary legend of a spiritual sort, I went straight to my computer and visited various Web sites devoted to contemporary folklore, Internet hoaxes, and so on. I found nothing of relevance.
So I googled the book’s title. First up on my screen, after such entries as Phone Book of the World and Fake Book of the World’s Favorite Songs, was a volume entitled The Book of the World, AN ACCOUNT OF ALL REPUBLICS, EMPIRES, KINGDOMS, AND NATIONS (published 1852). Hardly what I was looking for.
Further searching yielded no references at all to The Book of the World on the Internet. Not a single blog entry. Not a single chat-room posting. At least two explanations for this cyber-silence loomed. Either the book had never existed, even as a tasty crumb of folklore; or, it had in fact appeared online, as Q maintained, but for such a short time that it had never garnered any noticeable attention. (At this point, I was giving no credence at all to Q’s claim of “censorship.”)
I was tempted to let the whole matter drop. But the possibility that The Book of the World might actually be out there somewhere kept nibbling at me, especially in the wee hours of the night, and having learned over the years not to ignore my instincts, I eventually sought through my friend to make direct contact with Q. After considerable prodding, Q finally agreed to a private, face-to-face meeting.
One of the pre-conditions of our meeting was that I would protect Q’s anonymity. I would not describe Q’s identity in any way so as to be recognized, nor would I divulge the time and place of our encounter. Why all this need for secrecy? I wondered. In later conversations Q admitted fearing workplace repercussions as well as “inevitable strife in the family,” if discovered. Beyond this I dare say no more. I will keep the promise made.
As the date of our first meeting approached, I was feeling reasonably confident about Q’s story. Of course, I was aware that Q might simply be seeking attention by perpetrating a lie, or a hoax. I was also aware that Q, more sadly, might be suffering from paranoia; that the existence of The Book of the World might be nothing more than a sad delusion, a single strand of a conspiracy theory concocted by an unstable mind. Yet what gave me reason to hope—ample reason—was the trust I felt in my friend. I had no reason to doubt her, and she had assured me that she had no reason—no reason at all—to doubt Q.
So I was not altogether surprised when, from the moment we introduced ourselves, Q appeared quite calm and levelheaded. No sign at all of paranoia. No hint of deception. Between us, there seemed an almost immediate sense of security and good faith. Nevertheless, it was only after three cups of tea, and much toying with the teaspoon in the teacup, that Q dispensed with chitchat and started to reveal details about The Book of the World.
What follows is what I remember most vividly from that first conversation, an account Q later corroborated, making only minor revisions, while previewing this manuscript for publication. Top
"Letter to the Unknown Author"
(Webmaster's note: Some browsers won't display superscript text, so the verse numbers in this excerpt may unfortunately appear as regular type.)
I have to tell you this, whoever you are. 2I know you have important things to tend to, but it is life and death I am talking about. 3Please stop what you’re doing, and 4listen to me.
5This book is not a book about what is, but a book about what could be. 6It is a revelation. 7Its words were given to me. 8Not a word is mine (9only the title, 10and the mistakes), 11but it is the sincerest thing I have written. 12It is the only thing that clarifies my life. 13My whole heart is in it.
14I am not a public person. I am a person who likes to read and to learn and to quietly reflect on the world. 15I am not a proclaimer. 16But now I have no choice. 17I must speak out.
18This ink which fills the pages is my soul. I want my soul to flow. I am not like the cuttlefish, which uses its ink to deceive fishermen and predatory fish. I don’t want to deceive anyone.
19This is my testimony, 20my letter to the World. 21I wanted to write it down, so it wouldn't be lost forever. 22I offer it as one might offer one’s father's ashes to the wind, a gesture when there's nothing else to do. 23It's just words on paper. 24Yet so intimately, out there at the pen’s point, do world and spirit wed. 25It’s there I must weave thought’s tapestry.
26Can I invite you to entertain certain of my beliefs, as one entertains a guest? I ask for the hospitality of an honestly open ear and offer assurance that I will not overstay my welcome.
1. Philip Appleman. 2. Khaled Hosseini. 3. Mostafa Chendid. 4. Al Franken. 5. Kurt Vonnegut. 6. Thomas Paine. 7. Jack Ford. 8.9. Alex Kuczynski. 10. Abdur Rahman. 11. Laurence Housman. 12. Gerald Stern. 13. John Adams. 14. Elias Khoury. 15. Alan Lightman. 16. Muhammad. 17. Bob Dylan. 18. Kim Rosario. 19. Rigoberta Menchú. 20. Emily Dickinson. 21. Philip Appleman. 22. Stephen Dunn. 23. August Wilson. 24. Howard Nemerov. 25. Valerio Magrelli. 26. Arthur Frank.
Top
My friend knows me well. With academic training in both folklore studies and theology, I was, as she anticipated, immediately intrigued. Suspecting that Q’s story might be, rather than actual fact, a contemporary legend of a spiritual sort, I went straight to my computer and visited various Web sites devoted to contemporary folklore, Internet hoaxes, and so on. I found nothing of relevance.
So I googled the book’s title. First up on my screen, after such entries as Phone Book of the World and Fake Book of the World’s Favorite Songs, was a volume entitled The Book of the World, AN ACCOUNT OF ALL REPUBLICS, EMPIRES, KINGDOMS, AND NATIONS (published 1852). Hardly what I was looking for.
Further searching yielded no references at all to The Book of the World on the Internet. Not a single blog entry. Not a single chat-room posting. At least two explanations for this cyber-silence loomed. Either the book had never existed, even as a tasty crumb of folklore; or, it had in fact appeared online, as Q maintained, but for such a short time that it had never garnered any noticeable attention. (At this point, I was giving no credence at all to Q’s claim of “censorship.”)
I was tempted to let the whole matter drop. But the possibility that The Book of the World might actually be out there somewhere kept nibbling at me, especially in the wee hours of the night, and having learned over the years not to ignore my instincts, I eventually sought through my friend to make direct contact with Q. After considerable prodding, Q finally agreed to a private, face-to-face meeting.
One of the pre-conditions of our meeting was that I would protect Q’s anonymity. I would not describe Q’s identity in any way so as to be recognized, nor would I divulge the time and place of our encounter. Why all this need for secrecy? I wondered. In later conversations Q admitted fearing workplace repercussions as well as “inevitable strife in the family,” if discovered. Beyond this I dare say no more. I will keep the promise made.
As the date of our first meeting approached, I was feeling reasonably confident about Q’s story. Of course, I was aware that Q might simply be seeking attention by perpetrating a lie, or a hoax. I was also aware that Q, more sadly, might be suffering from paranoia; that the existence of The Book of the World might be nothing more than a sad delusion, a single strand of a conspiracy theory concocted by an unstable mind. Yet what gave me reason to hope—ample reason—was the trust I felt in my friend. I had no reason to doubt her, and she had assured me that she had no reason—no reason at all—to doubt Q.
So I was not altogether surprised when, from the moment we introduced ourselves, Q appeared quite calm and levelheaded. No sign at all of paranoia. No hint of deception. Between us, there seemed an almost immediate sense of security and good faith. Nevertheless, it was only after three cups of tea, and much toying with the teaspoon in the teacup, that Q dispensed with chitchat and started to reveal details about The Book of the World.
What follows is what I remember most vividly from that first conversation, an account Q later corroborated, making only minor revisions, while previewing this manuscript for publication. Top
"Letter to the Unknown Author"
You have no face, no voice of your own. We, your readers, don’t know who you are or where you’re from. We don’t know what prompted you to compose this document, or under what circumstances you did so.
You are mist.
Yet you are out there, we hope and trust, still among the living. We can’t see you directly, but there is some suggestion of you, rising up in the shape of what you have done. What you have done tells us, first and foremost, that you are someone who cares passionately about this world. You are, furthermore, someone who works passionately for the sake of this world, having created, if nothing else, this uncommon book—this sacred book—on its behalf. You tried to share it with humanity, only to be silenced by a censor’s hand. In this you’re not alone; such has been the fate of many writers of sacred texts throughout the centuries.
Finally, what you have done tells us that you are someone who values privacy, at least as regards this book. You wish to remain anonymous. Perhaps, like my friend Q, you fear reprisal. Perhaps you shun personal recognition. Or perhaps you just like a good mystery, and wrote yourself into one. The truth is, we have no way of knowing.
Publication is now accomplished, though not as you originally intended. Without your knowledge or consent, Q and I appointed ourselves your accomplices, that this document might live. I trust you would approve. Q is now gone beyond, but I promise that so long as I remain, so will The Book of the World. Never again will anyone manage to make it disappear, though some, no doubt, will seek to contain its reach.
As for your anonymity, I can appreciate the possible reasons behind it, yet I can’t help but wish you would reconsider. Step out of the mist. Show yourself. Show yourself at least to me. Be aware that you will have to prove who you are. Somewhere in these pages I have made a small but significant change that only you, as creator of this book, could recognize. If you wish to reveal yourself, just identify this signal alteration, and I’ll know for certain that you are indeed who you claim to be.
Please forgive my testing of you. But you had to expect, in remaining hidden, that there would be pretenders.
Until such time as I hear from you, if in fact I ever do, I can only thank you, here on this page, with full heart, for what you have done. This world of ours, tormented though it may be, is a dear place, and by creating this book and challenging us as you have, you have made it only more so. Top
From the Scripture Text
You are mist.
Yet you are out there, we hope and trust, still among the living. We can’t see you directly, but there is some suggestion of you, rising up in the shape of what you have done. What you have done tells us, first and foremost, that you are someone who cares passionately about this world. You are, furthermore, someone who works passionately for the sake of this world, having created, if nothing else, this uncommon book—this sacred book—on its behalf. You tried to share it with humanity, only to be silenced by a censor’s hand. In this you’re not alone; such has been the fate of many writers of sacred texts throughout the centuries.
Finally, what you have done tells us that you are someone who values privacy, at least as regards this book. You wish to remain anonymous. Perhaps, like my friend Q, you fear reprisal. Perhaps you shun personal recognition. Or perhaps you just like a good mystery, and wrote yourself into one. The truth is, we have no way of knowing.
Publication is now accomplished, though not as you originally intended. Without your knowledge or consent, Q and I appointed ourselves your accomplices, that this document might live. I trust you would approve. Q is now gone beyond, but I promise that so long as I remain, so will The Book of the World. Never again will anyone manage to make it disappear, though some, no doubt, will seek to contain its reach.
As for your anonymity, I can appreciate the possible reasons behind it, yet I can’t help but wish you would reconsider. Step out of the mist. Show yourself. Show yourself at least to me. Be aware that you will have to prove who you are. Somewhere in these pages I have made a small but significant change that only you, as creator of this book, could recognize. If you wish to reveal yourself, just identify this signal alteration, and I’ll know for certain that you are indeed who you claim to be.
Please forgive my testing of you. But you had to expect, in remaining hidden, that there would be pretenders.
Until such time as I hear from you, if in fact I ever do, I can only thank you, here on this page, with full heart, for what you have done. This world of ours, tormented though it may be, is a dear place, and by creating this book and challenging us as you have, you have made it only more so. Top
From the Scripture Text
(Webmaster's note: Some browsers won't display superscript text, so the verse numbers in this excerpt may unfortunately appear as regular type.)
I have to tell you this, whoever you are. 2I know you have important things to tend to, but it is life and death I am talking about. 3Please stop what you’re doing, and 4listen to me.
5This book is not a book about what is, but a book about what could be. 6It is a revelation. 7Its words were given to me. 8Not a word is mine (9only the title, 10and the mistakes), 11but it is the sincerest thing I have written. 12It is the only thing that clarifies my life. 13My whole heart is in it.
14I am not a public person. I am a person who likes to read and to learn and to quietly reflect on the world. 15I am not a proclaimer. 16But now I have no choice. 17I must speak out.
18This ink which fills the pages is my soul. I want my soul to flow. I am not like the cuttlefish, which uses its ink to deceive fishermen and predatory fish. I don’t want to deceive anyone.
19This is my testimony, 20my letter to the World. 21I wanted to write it down, so it wouldn't be lost forever. 22I offer it as one might offer one’s father's ashes to the wind, a gesture when there's nothing else to do. 23It's just words on paper. 24Yet so intimately, out there at the pen’s point, do world and spirit wed. 25It’s there I must weave thought’s tapestry.
26Can I invite you to entertain certain of my beliefs, as one entertains a guest? I ask for the hospitality of an honestly open ear and offer assurance that I will not overstay my welcome.
1. Philip Appleman. 2. Khaled Hosseini. 3. Mostafa Chendid. 4. Al Franken. 5. Kurt Vonnegut. 6. Thomas Paine. 7. Jack Ford. 8.9. Alex Kuczynski. 10. Abdur Rahman. 11. Laurence Housman. 12. Gerald Stern. 13. John Adams. 14. Elias Khoury. 15. Alan Lightman. 16. Muhammad. 17. Bob Dylan. 18. Kim Rosario. 19. Rigoberta Menchú. 20. Emily Dickinson. 21. Philip Appleman. 22. Stephen Dunn. 23. August Wilson. 24. Howard Nemerov. 25. Valerio Magrelli. 26. Arthur Frank.
Top
