Official Review: Five Steps to Enlightenment by Mark Aspa

[LivreAmour217]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Five Steps to Enlightenment" by Mark Aspa.]

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Five Steps to Enligtenment is a self-help guide that is intended to assist the reader's spiritual development. In the introduction, the author briefly shares his first significant spiritual encounter and makes clear that he does not endorse or represent a specific religion. Rather, the book has a pantheistic scope that borrows insights from the major religions of the world. As the title implies, the author asserts that there are five main steps toward achieving enlightenment--Purity, Love, Service, Perception, and Enlightenment itself--and devotes a chapter to each one.

From the first chapter, it is obvious that Mark Aspa sincerely cares for his audience and writes from a desire to help humanity. He encourages his readers to engage in positive behaviors (such as forgiveness and self-reflection) while maintaining a humble tone and staying true to his open-minded approach to spirituality. Each chapter also includes practical exercises that are meant to distract the mind from negativity and focus the reader on what Aspa calls "The Self," a state of being that frees the soul from wordly influences and induces a connection with God. Although I do not share the author's broad religious views, I personally tried one of these exercises and did feel more relaxed afterward.

But although this book has good intentions, there is much room for improvement. The most obvious issue is the lack of careful editing. The author overuses commas with alarming frequency throughout the book, and there are several paragraphs that contain improper usage of semicolons. Additionally, I noticed one misspelled word and three sentences that utilized incorrect punctuation marks. These errors were often a source of distraction for me as I read.

The author also had a tendency to repeat the same concepts over and over, and toward the end of the book I felt that I wasn't receiving any new or relevant information. Furthermore, the book contained poems and lengthy excerpts that were inserted at awkward moments within the chapters. Whenever I came across one of these, I felt as though the "flow" of my reading had been disrupted. I believe that the author would have done better to stick to a few quotes from others' works instead of the long passages that he chose. In addition, the author could have added titles or perhaps a short paragraph before the poems to prepare the reader.

Finally, I also took issue with the name of the book itself. Personally, I do not feel that purity, love, service, and perception are a set of "steps" that can be mastered sequentially in a process. In my opinion, these attributes are more like "traits" that can be developed over time. I also was confused by the fact that enlightenment itself is the fifth step, as I understood enlightenment to be the goal of working through the five steps. Either I have misunderstood the concept, or the book should contain only four steps.

I believe that this book could be greatly improved through careful editing, a more concise writing style, and a reduction in the amount and length of excerpts. I am giving Five Steps to Enlightenment 2 out of 4 stars because I feel that the author had the best of intentions, and because I am certain that there is an audience that would appreciate his broad spiritual beliefs.

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Buy "Five Steps to Enlightenment" on Amazon

[Jennings]

Five Steps to Enligtenment

spelling mistake in the first line of the review

[LivreAmour217]

spelling mistake in the first line of the review

Yes, I did just notice the typographical error (I can spell "enlightenment"). I will be more careful in the future.

[Jennings]

Hi Online Book Club members,
Since the official review I have edited and updated my book and made a new cover.
I am indebted to the reviewer for the guidance to improve my work, but still take issue with her idea it should be called 4 steps! For example, if someone were to ask how many steps to the top, they would include the floor that one reached in their count of the total steps.
The latest version will be available on Amazon from tomorrow or the day after.
Thanks,
Mark Aspa

[Skillian]

I haven't read the book, but I would also consider the goal to be what the steps lead to... and not a step. haha. But I really wouldn't care enough whether it was the final step or not. Or wait... I have no idea. Both sides kind of make sense. It is content that counts! haha. Though I think the bit about it seeming more like traits, and less like something that would be followed in an exact sequence... makes a lot of sense. OR like ingredients into an enlightenment soup? haha. But perhaps I'm just not enlightened yet? haha. Seriously though. Maybe I'm not.

Also, the reviewer already spelled enlightenment correctly in the title... so it is clearly a typographical error. Though I see how that would be annoying after seeing "I believe that this book could be greatly improved through careful editing.."


Anyway, I think the book sounds fascinating. Great review! Thanks for taking the time to write it. *adds to reading list* And Kudos to the author for considering the criticism and making a new version of the book! It speaks very well of your intentions and shows a lot of promise. Very respectable. I look forward to reading!

[LivreAmour217]

I haven't read the book, but I would also consider the goal to be what the steps lead to... and not a step. haha. But I really wouldn't care enough whether it was the final step or not. Or wait... I have no idea. Both sides kind of make sense. It is content that counts! haha. Though I think the bit about it seeming more like traits, and less like something that would be followed in an exact sequence... makes a lot of sense. OR like ingredients into an enlightenment soup? haha. But perhaps I'm just not enlightened yet? haha. Seriously though. Maybe I'm not.

Also, the reviewer already spelled enlightenment correctly in the title... so it is clearly a typographical error. Though I see how that would be annoying after seeing "I believe that this book could be greatly improved through careful editing.."


Anyway, I think the book sounds fascinating. Great review! Thanks for taking the time to write it. *adds to reading list* And Kudos to the author for considering the criticism and making a new version of the book! It speaks very well of your intentions and shows a lot of promise. Very respectable. I look forward to reading!

Thanks for the feedback, Skillian!!! I hope that you enjoy the book. Also, thanks for having my back about the typo..that was very embarrassing

-- 06 Jan 2015, 18:31 --

Hi Online Book Club members,
Since the official review I have edited and updated my book and made a new cover.
I am indebted to the reviewer for the guidance to improve my work, but still take issue with her idea it should be called 4 steps! For example, if someone were to ask how many steps to the top, they would include the floor that one reached in their count of the total steps.
The latest version will be available on Amazon from tomorrow or the day after.
Thanks,
Mark Aspa

I am glad to have helped in any way, and I am looking forward to reading your revised work. As for how many steps the book should have, that is up to you (it is your book, after all). I simply stated my opinion in the review, and as much as we love to think that our personal opinions are hard facts, they very often are not. I wish you luck in life and in your future writing endeavors!

[RussetDivinity]

I don't often go for self-help books, but this is a very well-written review, so I may have to take a look, especially if the exercises are as relaxing as you say they are.

[LivreAmour217]

I don't often go for self-help books, but this is a very well-written review, so I may have to take a look, especially if the exercises are as relaxing as you say they are.

Thank you, RussetDivinity! If you get the opportunity to read the book, I hope you enjoy it.

[Skillian]

I just ordered it on Amazon! haha. So I will be giving some feedback on it later!

[LivreAmour217]

I just ordered it on Amazon! haha. So I will be giving some feedback on it later!

Awesome! I look forwarding to it!!!

[Kappy]

Excellent, thorough review. This is a subject I find fascinating. The blurb on Amazon mentions "the Bible, Koran, Dhammapada, Zend Avesta, the Vedas." I love ancient texts. I find them infinitely more intriguing than iPhones, iPads, and the various other iToys that control so many people's lives nowadays.

[LivreAmour217]

Excellent, thorough review. This is a subject I find fascinating. The blurb on Amazon mentions "the Bible, Koran, Dhammapada, Zend Avesta, the Vedas." I love ancient texts. I find them infinitely more intriguing than iPhones, iPads, and the various other iToys that control so many people's lives nowadays.

Thank you, Kappy! Yes, the author does reference ancient religious texts. I hope that you enjoy the book!