| Joyce Shafer's book "I Don't Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say" brings a refreshingly indirect approach to the spirituality genre, encouraging readers to apply the book's lessons as they deem appropriate for their own lives.
Novella Leaves Tidbits of Wisdom Open to Interpretation
In the spirit of classic fables such as Jonathan Livingston Seagull and The Little Prince, Joyce Shafer offers unassuming, inspirational wisdom with her book, I Don't Want to be Your Guru, but I Have Something to Say. I Don't Want to be Your Guru invites readers to contemplate life's mysteries through a conversation between two strangers at a diner. The narrative focuses on Bill and AJ, who chat over apple pie about how they view themselves and how they fit into the world around them. The book explores both abstract questions about existence, and mundane thoughts on everyday life, but does not point readers to any particular answers. Shafer says the premise of her book is to inspire individual consideration, rather than to preach or direct.
"We're not homogeneous, nor will we ever be, but we can determine what is appropriate for us to become our best selves," Shafer says. "Incongruity appears when we believe there should be only one way and that everyone should agree on it. That's unrealistic when we consider nearly 7 billion individuals are having individual experiences on the planet at one time."
In order to foster individual contemplation, Shafer carefully penned Guru's main character, AJ, without any indication to gender. This distinct technique allows readers to easily see themselves through AJ's eyes. Though the book touches on a wide range of subjects for a slim volume of 54 pages, small and succinct works for Shafer because I Don't Want to be Your Guru doesn't attempt to provide readers with "right answers." Instead, it raises questions through Bill and AJ's dialogue, encouraging readers to contemplate the issues discussed within their own lives. Even more empowering than right answers, Shafer's book suggests, is the ability to ask oneself the right questions.
Joyce Shafer resides in New York City. She is a life coach and a weekly columnist for United Press International's Religion and Spirituality Forum. She is also regularly published at Success.com, Selfgrowth.com, Potential2Success.com, iPEC's INSPIRE and VisionsMetro. Shafer is also the author of How to Have What You REALLY Want: An Easy Guide That Can Take You to the Next Level in Every Area of Your Life.
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