The Last Laugh

I just read the most wonderful book. I know that those of you who know me know that I read books all the time. I re-read favorites frequently. It's generally a good bet that if I'm not talking with friends about great stuff I've read in a book, I'm reading more books. So when I say "the most wonderful book", that should communicate a high level of praise indeed.

The Last Laugh by Arjuna Ardagh is a novel that teaches great spiritual lessons, not unlike The Way of the Peaceful Warrior or The Celestine Prophecy. The truths expressed in the book are actually fairly similar to many different books I've read already. To name a few, the book highlights the need to remain in the present moment, forgive freely and respond to life rather than react. These aren't new concepts, of course. Spiritual masters have been talking about these concepts for thousands of years. What impresses me so very much about this book is the prose, its language often reading like a lyrical poem.

"I had vague memories, like images out of focus, of a time of optimism." and "We were on a small, two-lane road, very straight, lined by tall yew trees standing naked to the sky, like anorexic models." These phrases cued me in to the fact that I was reading not just fiction but literature. My undegrad program at ASU made a big deal about the difference. If I had to sum up what I think the difference is, I'd say that literature steps up the act of storytelling into an art, where the subject matter isn't as catchy as pop culture and the words are chosen carefully to paint a picture rather than just throwing facts at a reader you don't trust to read between the lines. What Ardagh offers us here is beautifully artistic and yet unpretentious. There are more swear words in this book than any spiritual books I've ever read before, but that just makes the story real. How many of us, even those with the purest seeking hearts, wouldn't swear if your life hit such a low that you were actively committing suicide?

After I finished the book, I read the brief biography of Ardagh and learned that he has a Master's degree in Literature and suddenly the pieces fit. This is definitely a book for my friends who love to read, without being too elitest for those who just want to have a little fun. I will undoubtedly be re-reading this book for years to come. Friends can borrow my copy if they can't afford one of their own, but for those of you who I haven't met, I encourage you to get your own copy... Yesterday. This is one of the best books you haven't read yet.

*I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for review purposes.