Richard Bach's Hypnotizing Maria is a fictional book about a pilot that has different experiences on his solo trip from Seattle to Florida. The events seem random but at the same time seem to fit together.
Bach uses hypnotism and fiction as a vehicle to explain his views on how life works. His views on what is hypnosis is very broad. Bach explains his opinions on hypnosis and the Law of Attraction.
The story begins with an airplane emergency and continues with very intriguing storyline through the first half of the book. The second half concentrates on the main character, Jamie Forbes, taking an introspective look at his past experiences.
As an author whose book also delves into how life works, I usually stay away from similar books. I tend be overly critical if the author portrays the information in a way that promotes selfishness and excludes morals. I also am critical if authors state things magically happen and dismiss Karma. For whatever reason, I was drawn to Bach's story.
Bach does an excellent job taking this fictional flight and weaving into it his views on life. Portraying his thoughts in this manner allows the reader to see his opinions in context. It also allows the reader the ability to decipher the subject easily and determine what information can be related to them.
Bach's story brought up many questions, in a good way. When I am given information asking me to look at my beliefs, I have a basic way of deciphering it. It goes like this:
1. I have an open mind to the idea. A closed mind blocks out any possible knowledge to be gained.
2. I then question the idea. What is the motive of the author? How does this relate to what I know to be true. Am I keeping out any unsubstantiated beliefs of my own when questioning this idea?
3. I then decide if any of the information is worth pursuing or adding to what I know to be true.
Bach's ideas about life really made me think. Though a few points I may disagree with, the majority of the information really made me question how his thoughts fit with what I believe. I highly recommend Hypnotizing Maria.