This post details my approach to understanding Eckert Tolle’s, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. To say this is a powerful book is an understatement. It has provided me with a foundation for a mental health practice that has been life changing.
In 2016, after I lost my friend Dean to suicide and simultaneously became separated on the way to divorce while struggling with my career, I was going through a dark time (not suicidal, to be clear). An acquaintance suggested that I listen to Oprah Winfrey’s podcast interview with Eckert Tolle. I found the podcast on Spotify and realized Oprah was doing a 10-week series in which she would interview the author of A New Earth, Eckert Tolle, and discuss each chapter of the book sequentially. I downloaded the audio book and set off on a journey. I started by listening to chapter 1 of A New Earth on Audible, then listened to the corresponding Oprah podcast interview with Tolle. I did this for all ten chapters, the first time I took my time and it took a few months.
Oprah has a knack for asking the questions I was also pondering, and she also takes calls from people who ask insightful questions to Tolle. I have never watched her on TV or followed her, but I have heard of her book recommendations. This book is beyond an Oprah book: Oprah has said it is the most important book she has ever read. She has read it several times and it is always on her night stand, heavily marked and dog-eared.
The steps:
- Download and listen to the first chapter of A New Earth (or read the paper version).
- Listen to week 1 of Oprah’s Soul Conversations podcast interview with Eckert Tolle.
- Read or listen to chapter 2 of A New Earth
- Listen to week 2 of Oprah’s interview
- Repeat for all 10 chapters
Normally, I listen to books on 1.5 x speed or more, but not Tolle. His material is very dense, each sentence carries tremendous weight, so I found I had to go slow both in speed and pacing out how often I listen to the book (usually only an hour or less per session. Going through it again a few years later has been very rewarding.
-Jonathan