This thought-provoking and true story begins on the morning of 9/11 at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and is both a discussion of alternatives to our current global mess as well as a search for true love. Traveling through Central America, Thomas is guided by synchronicities, a sense of his soul-mate and a vision of a more balanced world. His encounters with travellers from around the globe inspire conversations, from humorous to profound, and revolve around issues such as Globalization, the Bush Administration, the purpose of DNA, Christianity, the Kabala and the workings of the unconscious. While his journey is a personal one, his story is a universal and timely account of a generation finding purpose and vision in this world.
"Tom's book takes you along a daring road of fact, unconscious imagery and intuition." -- Dr. Lorin Roche, author of Meditation 24/7
"You will laugh and cry...we are left with the feeling that we have somehow touched the divine." -- Dr. Lorin Roche, author of Meditation 24/7
Thomas was liberated by the collapse of socialism in East Germany, and subsequently traveled the world for eight years. He attended High School in California; has studied Tourism Management in the UK and Australia; investigated the effects of tourism in Costa Rica; managed a hostel in New Zealand and currently works for responsibletravel.com
He has written two books so far - Return to La Paz is his first and Generation 9/11 his second.
The beginning of the Holy War 2001
"The Israelis have attacked the Pentagon," the Guatemalan woman said in Spanish with a sense of excitement rather than shock, while serving one of the girls attending the meditation course at Las Piramides. "What? That can’t be right, they are allies," she said incredulously, but too intrigued to touch her bowl of muesli sitting on the table in front of her. "That’s what they said on the radio," the Guatemalan woman insisted, while kicking a dog, munching on an avocado, which had fallen from a large tree overhead. I had overheard their conversation on my way to the shower and joined them. "Are you sure they said the Israelis?" I asked the woman. "Yes, they have been saying this all morning. Something terrible happened; two airplanes have crashed into some buildings in New York. They are still talking about it on the radio," she said and left, disappearing inside the restaurant. We just looked at each other dumbfounded, we didn’t know what to say or think. We were joined by an Australian, also doing the course, who confirmed that indeed something rather significant had happened in the US. "The Italian from Il Giardino said something about a terrorist attack in the US." "But I don’t think it was the Israelis," the girl from Canada said, shaking her head. "I guess she must have heard it on one of those evangelical radio stations. I mean they are convinced it was the Jews who had Jesus nailed to a cross, so I’m sure they assume that they are still responsible for most other acts of evil in this world," I said more or less seriously. "You know, this Italian bloke said that someone hit two buildings in New York, and that they attacked the Pentagon, but so far nobody has claimed responsibility," the Australian explained to us. "That’s crazy," the Canadian said, still unable to eat her muesli. "That’s like a declaration of war," I thought. "I would say it was the Arabs; probably Bin Laden. They have declared him the most dangerous man alive, some time ago," the Australian said. "We should ask Manuel if we can watch the news in the library after the meditation session," I suggested.
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
By Angela Finney
I have read other books about globalization, politics and philosophy but I have never enjoyed it as much as with this one. It's a wonderful love story that goes down like a good glass of wine and I actually picked up some useful information and great ideas on the way - DNA as the collective unconscious -what a great thought. The book really provides some optimism and faith, despite all the problems it deals with. I guess the message is this: it's all part of the process and we'll get there one way or another.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
By Dixie
By superimposing the tipping point onto ways in which we consume, behave and indeed perceive reality, Reissmann takes Gladwell's mainly marketing-oriented notions to a whole new level and provides a platform for changing the way we work as a society and individuals. I don't know how realistic any of this is and he does not provide a great deal of actual evidence in the same way Gladwell does, but it is a creative way of viewing today's mass-media culture, which is somewhat reminiscent of Marshall McLuhan.
Finally his thoughts on Lamarck and intelligent design could inject a much needed new perspective into an increasingly polarized debate.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
By Chris Wiley
Reissmann has got some great ideas about how to change the way we live. It really is about choice, because we decide what we do with our lives and ultimately with the planet. We think that we don't have a choice and that we kind of serve the system, but the truth is that the system is supposed to serve us or we better get rid of it. If we want to change the way we live we have to change the way we think. What did Einstein say? We cannot change our problems with the same kind of consciousness that gave rise to it - we better raise our consciousness or we will have to learn the hard way.
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