Joys and Sorrows: Reflections,

I totally agree with the previous comment. Some one should reprint it! I want to give it as a gift to everyone.With its simple laguange, the story of a man, a musician is presented beautifully, because this man had a magnificent heart, loved this world, saw this world, and lived up to his ideal and principles. It also gives insight into life: that truly happiness and joy can only be found through serving humanity. If you have doubts in it, if you think money and success are the sources, then you should give yourself a little challenge by this book.In Casals' stories, his mother impressed me most - I think any woman who plan to have children should read it and ask herself if she is qualified to be a mother. The heaviness of being a mother has not being realized by many young women, and I really think that accounts for some of the chaos and crimes in the world.I was also constantly deeply moved by Casals' love of his Catalonia. I have heard of this beautiful people before, still I am deeply touched by a man's love of his root, of his culture. It is just so consitent with his being a great lover of humanity, a great artist! I wish everyone understood his own root and culture and love it no matter what turmoil his own country is being through. So many to say because this book provokes one thinking deeply about the history of this century, about everything essential to life. I am also especially grateful to Albert Kahn to carry out this project, and tell the story in such a wonderful way. May everyone read it and think how to live his life seriously. This is a book of a living example !

This is a truly beautiful book. Over the years I have given numerous copies as gifts and pick up used copies whenever I encounter them for that purpose. Not a year has gone by in the past twenty-four in which I have not found myself drawn back to this stirring and inspiring work. Within these reflections the great cellist muses over his long, brilliant career and offers the reader a unique view of the first seventy years of this century seen through the eyes of a humanist/humanitarian artist. Casals had a lofty set of artistic principles and an almost sacerdotal attitude toward the role of the artist in society. His insights into the personalities and work of the musical greats of the late nineteenth-early twentieth century are personal and profoundly enlightening. It is scandalous that this book is out of print! If our music schools and institutions training artists were holistic in their approach, this book would be required reading for every aspiring artist. Within its pages can be found his much quoted reflection on the dignity and importance of the teacher as well as a very moving anecdote about his first encounter with ethnic prejudice when he auditioned for the conservatory in Prague. The monumental dignity with which he handled that situation as a young boy is astounding. This is one of my very favorite books.