Meetings with Remarkable Men

Right around the turn of the 20th century, G.I. Gurdjieff initiated a group of spiritual adventurers called the "Seekers of Truth". These intrepid intellectuals of every stripe criss-crossed Africa and Asia in search of the hidden mysteries of antiquity. In Meetings with Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff narrates their exploits while drawing portraits of these extraordinary figures (including one woman and a dog). Half travel journal, half autobiography, Meetings with Remarkable Men begins with Gurdieff's childhood, when he finds his book learning at odds with paranormal events that were self-evidently real but inexplicable through modern science. Later he discovers a map of "pre-sands Egypt" and evidence of the Sarmound Brotherhood, alleged keepers of ancient wisdom dating back four-and-a-half millennia. He climbs the Himalayas, follows the Nile, and is led blindfolded to a mysterious monastery. In his encounters with dervishes, monks and fakirs, Gurdjieff recovers the wisdom he seeks, by comparison with which European understanding, he says, is backwards and barbaric. A controversial figure in his time, Gurdjieff inspired deep love and loyalty in his pupils and ridicule from sceptics. At the bookends of Meetings with Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff suggests the value of blurring the line between allegory and straight reporting. But then what exactly is Meetings with Remarkable Men? You be the judge. --Brian Bruya

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Not only interesting but fun! - Rated
This book was just as much fun to read as it was informative. To actually get to 'meet' the "remarkable men" that accompanied Gurdjieff on his quests to find 'truth' was, well, remarkable.

Interesting - Rated
One of those books that is read by people and understood totally different by each one of them. You can read this book on different levels depending on your own level of development which makes it possible to read this book over a stretch of years to discover that the book has a totally different meaning than the last time you read it. Interesting to say the least.

The original and ultimate attempt to find one's self. - Rated
George Gurdjeff is the original guru who tries to find himself by travelling to the mystical centres in eastern Europe and Near East. This is an interesting book about his travels, and though it reveals little of what he found, it leads beautifully into the other books by him. I suggest anyone who is interested in Gurdjeff's philosophy reads this book first.