Daily gifts of Solitude

At a pivotal time in his life, Richard Mahler was given the chance to escape from civilization into the Tusas Mountains of New Mexico for three months, looking after a ranch that was only operational during the fairer seasons.

Given the choice between going on an axe-wielding rampage a la Jack Nicholson or bringing something back from his experience of total solitude and peace, Mahler opted for plan B, and produced this book as a result.

As enthralling as 'The Shining' was at the time of its release, I think this new book scores over it in two important respects: One, no-one dies or attempts any radical redecorating techniques, and two, Mahler brings back a message which is somewhat clearer and more relevant than Stephen King's was all those years ago.

Western society has become so fast paced, so 'lemming-like' in its nature, and indeed so noisy, that most of us have lost the ability to listen to that still small voice inside of us, or to the great symphony of life that is orchestrated by Mother Nature.

Richard Mahler was fortunate in being given the opportunity to rediscover this Stillness, intelligent enough to articulate his findings in a clear and compelling way (through a mix of journal entries and wonderful prose), and generous enough to share it all with the rest of us!