Rumi: In the Arms of the Beloved

I have been looking for an easy to read and inspiring collection of Rumi's poetry for sometime, and this book is it -- it lives up to the title 100%: "Rumi: In the Arms of the Beloved". The collection goes straight to the heart and is a wonderfully accessible treasury of Rumi's poetry. The following brief excerpt from one poem succinctly gives the gist of the entire book: "People turned away from dogma and empty rituals, and went crazy after love!" The poems are catagorized by topic to make reference to them easier. Along with the poetry, the end resources are great: Terms and Symbolism; Sources; and, Index. Also, this book is an essential addition to a series of books called the Tarcher Cornerstone Editions (each available for only $10 list price) that "highlight the foundational works of ancient and modern spiritual literature."

The prayers are easy to understand and reading the book is delightful. The prayers are so fun you don't even feel like you are paying any dues... but you are.

This is such a soft and uplifting experience in the form of a book. The poems are lyrical. My Brother begins each day by opening this book to one random page, reads it, contemplates it and experiences it all day. I find it quenches my dire thirst and each poem grows and changes as you do...WITH you. It's a must, indeed.ari

This Rumi book ranks, to me, with Coleman Barks translations -- clear, lovely, insightful, beautiful. Star has great translation skills (as evidenced by several of his other books), and his selection of Rumi poems are exceptional. I have given many copies of this book away as gifts -- from weddings and showers to graduations and birthdays -- and I consistently hear back from people that this book has become one of their favorites, too. And the packaging is nearly as exquisite as the content. Highly recommended.

I started this book without much exposure or understanding of Rumi. For one who is searching for universal truth, this is a must. There is such profound beauty in the words of Rumi that it is almost foolishness to try to discribe. Two of my favorite selections are: The Dome of the Inner Sky, and Better than Cabbage Soup. This is a fairly quick read that will come back to you time and time again. The value of reading this book is inestimable. The only regret I have is that I can't read the original in Arabic.