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Reader comments on JK book's 'The Ending of Time'

https://www.amazon.com/Ending-Time-Where-Philosophy-Physics/dp/0062360973

 2.0 out of 5 stars scattered and utterly uncritical

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2019

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This book was terrible, and I disappointed because both men are well known and should be better than this. The book is filled with un-examined metaphors taken literally and far too much gratuitous agreement, particularly on Bohm's part. Krishnamurti surely represents Hindu and Buddhist metaphysics (the big emptiness) correctly, but that does not mean that the Buddhists or Hindus are correct, and there isn't really the slightest challenge here. Even audience questions rarely challenge his view and when they do, he merely says (more or less) "no you're wrong" and moves on. Nothing is accomplished here other than the generation of one metaphor from another... Not worth your time.


2.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing read.

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019

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I've read both of these great men in other publications. But, for me, I have to say this was not worth the money spent. The conversations seemed to wander, with little new to be learned, in a manner that I would classify as a locker-room metaphysical bull session between friends. After I finished, I donated this book to my public library for their semi-annual book sale fundraiser.


Yeah, one of my loudest concern is like this. Somehow K seem not really or directly answer questioner. May be it is a hard topic both physic and psychology (why are you so abstract?).  Specific example are good but it easy lead to miss understanding. And many time K say he does not want to take example or say about someone.


This guy review is cool and on point:

2.0 out of 5 stars Live conversation put into writing, would not recommend

Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2020

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These are two great philosophers. I would strongly recommend their work, just not in this form. Read their writings, or listen to their talks. Don't listen to their writings or read their talks. It becomes doubly worse since it is a dialogue between two people that are seeking to understand one another live, instead of merely stating their views.

In reading a transcript from a live dialogue you get the worst of both media. You don't get the polish, coherence, and structure of the written word, and you also don't have the ability to hear their tone, rhythm of speech, and possible undertones as you can with recorded audio.

Krishnamurti's lack of focus and articulation is occasionally wrangled in and clarified by Bohm, but more often then not, Bohm simply agrees without really digging into Krishnamurti's points. They are not being intellectually rigorous, I would say.

I would recommend you pass on this. The book itself is good quality, however.


I was introduced to Krishnamurti in 1975 by a friend and contemporary of his. I wasn't, yet, ready for such a revelation as Krishnamurti represented. "The Ending Of Time" is perhaps the most significant book I've read in my almost fifty years on this planet. He punctures the bell jar of that Garden of Delusion and Deception humankind has created. This is the first perspective not to insult me intellectually. As I read the series of dialogues between Krishnamurti and Dr. Bohm in 1980 I found myself correctly anticipating where the conversation was going. For the past twenty-five years I've been heading in this direction. I'm not one for romantic notions, mythical excapades and fantasy or in need of an emotional fix to save my soul. I was looking for something that was both intellegent and spoke to me directly.

I had recently finished "The Tao Of Physics" by Fritjof Capra for the third time. Capra's book serves as an excellent practical guide and springboard into the likes of a Krishnamurti; in fact, I think it was reading "The Tao Of Physics" that allowed me to have the type of foundation and understanding to make the quantum leap into the realm of Krishnamurti. I am currently reading "Star In The East". I'm interesting in understanding Krishnamurti's personal history. The one thing that strikes me most is, his "enlightenment" is because and, more importantly, inspite of his involvement with the Theosophical Society. The contrast that emerges between one like Krishnamurti and those who have obviously not punctured that invisible bell share of delusion and deception is glaring, and serves to make Krishnamurti even more poignant and relevant.

Anyone with a similar appreciation for Krishnamurti please contact me. I would very much like to learn and have a dialogue on both this lovely man and his state of mind.


Oh dawg, I remember when read this book, it reveal the most beautiful and surprise thing about emptiness. "It has no sound, no word. The moment you give a name to it ('emptines', 'blank' ...), make noise about it then you suck, you can not found emptiness. Also it have no ground (?) at all.

So overall I think this is worth reading book. Also it not efficiently on organize. We familiar with many technical book IE. Software Engineering, it should present in abstract, highlight, font etc. to make important part easy to capture.


PS: I am very interesting in time, beginning of universe etc. And see many documentary like BBC Time Machine, Time story (Australia WWent), Einstein general relativity theory (gravity) ... And think there are no thing more to dig (at least in few years). Then I see K say about 'psychological time' and boom! it explode new aspect of time.

And anyone love physic also love to think about the very beginning of time (and of the universe), the ending of it too. Parallel, multiple universe, the frontier of space etc.

So Bohn and K talk here gave a good point.


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