book review monk who sold his ferrari

Book review: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

By leo babauta.

I can’t give this book my highest rating (see Conclusion for the rating) for several reasons I discuss below, but I did highly enjoy its discussion of a number of concepts. The author is a leadership expert and author, and he fills the book with a combination of life strategies. Many of these are useful, but whether they work in combination is the real question.

The Fable The book takes the form of a fable about Julian Mantle, a high-profile attorney with a crazy schedule and a set of priorities that center around money, power and prestige. As such, Mantle represents the values of our society. The story is told from the perspective of one of his associates, who admires Mantle’s great success and aspires to be like him.

But when Mantle has a heart attack, he drops out of the game and disappears. He sells all his possessions and goes to India to seek a more meaningful existence. When he comes back, he’s a changed man. Really, it’s as if he’s a completely different person. He’s learned from some mythical Himalayan gurus who give him mystical and yet practical advice, which he shares with his former associate (and the reader).

The Concepts The core of the book is the Seven Virtues of Enlightened Learning, which Mantle reveals one by one. Now, although the book presents them as actual Virtues learned from Himalayan gurus, it’s important to remember as you read that these are made up by the author — actually, he pulled them from other sources and put them together:

master your mind
follow your purpose
practice kaizen
live with discipline
respect your time
selflessly serve others
embrace the present

Each of these Virtues is discussed in some detail in separate chapters, each of them with a number of concepts and habits to develop. Most of them are very inspiring and potentially very useful. After reading the book, I incorporated several of them into my life, including the ones that involve positive thinking, visualizing goals and more. Again, these are not new concepts, and have been discussed in many other books, but the book presents a great collection of useful concepts that you might want to try out.

The Problem After reading the book, I began to outline each of the Seven Virtues, because I was confused about all the action steps the book recommends taking. The truth is, each of the Seven Virtues encompasses a bunch of daily habits, and incorporating all of them into your life would be cumbersome. And some of them seem to me to be conflicting.

As an example of the large number of habits in every virtue, here are the ones I have listed for the first virtue, Master your mind:

Habit : Find positive in every circumstance; don’t judge events as “good” or “bad”, but experience them, celebrate them and learn from them.
Habit : The heart of the rose: find a silent place and a fresh rose. Stare at the heart of the rose, the inner petals, concentrating on the folds of the flower, the texture, etc … push away other thoughts that come to you. Start with 5 minutes a day, stretch it to 20. It will be your oasis of peace.
Habit : 10 minutes of reflection on your day, and how to improve your next day.
Habit : Opposition thinking — take every negative thought that comes into your mind and turn it into a positive one. First, be aware of your thoughts. Second, appreciate that as easily as negative thoughts enter, they can be replaced with positive ones. So think of the opposite of the negative ones. Instead of being gloomy, concentrate on being happy and energetic.
Habit : Secret of the lake. Take a few deep breaths and relax. Then envision your dreams becoming a reality. Picture vivid images of what you want to become. Then they will become reality.

And that’s just with the first virtue. Each one has a number of habits to develop, and they’re not listed out like I’ve done here. If you tried to incorporate all of the habits in the book, your day would be very busy indeed. Also, I would recommend only trying to adopt one at a time — more than that, and your habit change will be hard to sustain.

I give this book a buy recommendation for anyone who is interested in incorporating routines and habits that can transform their lives, help them achieve their dreams, calm them and make them more happy. Yes, it’s a jumble of too many ideas, but you can pick and choose, and the ideas contained within are potentially very powerful. Plus, it’s a fun and easy read.

Posted: 03.29.2007

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The Literary Edit

The Monk who Sold His Ferrari Review – Robin Sharma

If you love living mindfully and are passionate about all things self-improvement, the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma’s might just be your next best read. Want to find out why it made my list of all time favourite books? Read on for my “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” review…

I don’t think there’s ever been an occasion during my entire reading history that I’ve ever read a book that I wish I’d read ten years prior. Sure, there have been many, many books that I have loved; that I have reread with glee; that I have bought – somewhat pointless – multiple copies of, just for the sake of it. But I don’t ever remember reading something and thinking to myself I wish I’d read this book years ago. That was until I read Robin Sharma’s The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

I was horribly broke and feeling rather sorry for myself when I flew to Singapore on a visa run to extend my stay in Bali . My boyfriend had sent me some money to cover the cost of my flights, and finding myself in the airport’s bookshop, I did what any self-respecting bookworm would do and spent much of the leftover money on books in an attempt to cheer myself up. I had initially planned to buy just one; but was unable to choose between an easy read, a Man Booker winner, and Robin Sharma’s best-selling book, and so I bought all three.

It’s something of a cliche, I suppose, to read a book that one would categorise under spiritual self-help when in Ubud, but throwing caution to the wind, I did just that. W

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Review

The kind of book that you want to both savour and speed through, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari tells the story of high-flying lawyer, Julian Mantle, who, after suffering from a heart attack in the middle of court, goes on a spiritual quest through the Himalayas and returns to impart his new-found wisdom on colleague and friend John, the narrator of the book.

An inspiring tale that provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance and joy, readers are made privy to the changes Julian made to his life, and the way in which they aided his quest for eternally happiness. Dotted with wonderful, age-old fables, practical advice and moving tales from Julian’s first hand experience, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is an astounding, profound and powerful read that’s as beautiful as it is inspirational.

Prior to today I had a list of eight books that I classed as my favourite; since reading this, there are nine and I just had to write a review of the book “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Summary

This inspiring tale provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy. A wonderfully crafted fable, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari tells the extraordinary story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life. On a life-changing odyssey to an ancient culture, he discovers powerful, wise, and practical lessons that teach us to:

Develop joyful thoughts, follow our life’s mission and calling, cultivate self-discipline and act courageously, value time as our most important commodity, nourish our relationships, and live fully, one day at a time.

About Robin Sharma

Robin Sharma is one of the world’s premier thinkers on leadership, personal growth and life management. The bestselling author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, Who Will Cry When You Die? and The Saint, the Surfer, and the CEO and four other books on self-transformation.

Robin Sharma is in constant demand internationally as keynote speaker at the conferences of many of the most powerful companies on the planet including Microsoft, Nortel Networks, General Motors, FedEx and IBM. He is a resident of Ontario, Canada.

4 comments on “The Monk who Sold His Ferrari Review – Robin Sharma”

I felt this way about the Celestine Prophecy, The Alchemist and Eat Pray Love. But I don’t know if I would have been able to take as much out of them if I had of read them earlier. I am forever in awe of people that write such amazing stories as these. They literally change the world. Can’t wait to read this!

I must read The Celestine Prophecy soon as it sounds fabulous. Adored Eat Pray love and The Alchemist is such a magical tale. Hope you love The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari! xo

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Written By Diptanshu Srivastava (Grade 7)

“ The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” is an intellectual tale written by Robin Sharma which displays the spiritual and intellectual journey of an advocate, Julian Mantle. From a heart attack during a case due to poor lifestyle to the transformation of him into a young, happy, and healthy man. The story revolves around Julian, who after the heart attack, understood that he needed rest and peace. So, he gave up all he had, including a Ferrari, and made his way to India to find internal peace. There he met the Sages Of Sivana in the Himalayas, who taught him how to live life to the fullest and also find peace.

One of the central themes of the book is the importance of cultivating a holistic approach to life, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Julian learns the significance of nourishing his body with healthy food, exercising regularly, and practicing meditation to quiet the mind and connect with his inner self. Moreover, the story emphasises the power of simplicity and minimalism. By letting go of his extravagant lifestyle and material possessions, Julian discovers that true happiness lies not in external wealth, but in inner fulfilment and contentment. He learns to appreciate the beauty of nature, the joy of meaningful relationships and the value of time spent in self-reflection and personal growth. Through Julian’s journey, readers are inspired to reflect on their own lives and consider whether they are truly living in alignment with their values and aspirations. The book encourages readers to break free from the shackles of societal expectations and pursue their passions wholeheartedly. It reminds us that it is never too late to make a change and live a more fulfilling life.

“The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” inspires readers by showcasing the transformative power of self-discovery and personal growth. Through the journey of Julian Mantle, readers are reminded of the importance of prioritising inner fulfilment over external success and material wealth. The book encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and consider whether they are living in alignment with their true values and aspirations. By embracing principles such as mindfulness, simplicity, and purposeful living, readers are inspired to embark on their own journey of self-exploration and transformation. Ultimately, “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” serves as a catalyst for readers to reevaluate their priorities, pursue their passions wholeheartedly, and cultivate a life of greater meaning, joy, and inner peace.

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November 12, 2018

The monk who sold his ferrari: a fable about fulfilling your dreams and reaching your destiny by robin sharma.

Find out what you genuinely love to do and direct all of your energy towards doing it. Once you do this, abundance flows into your life, and all your desires are filled with ease and grace.
Never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. Never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things. Today, and this very moment is a gift. So stay focused on your purpose. The Universe will take care of everything else.
The Universe favors the brave.
The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
Freedom is like a house: you build it brick by brick.
The quality of your life will come down to the quality of your contribution.
I am more than I appear to be; all the world's strength and power rest inside me.