The Prophet

by Kahlil Gibran

Before there were self-help books, TED Talks, or that one friend who gets spiritual after half a glass of wine, there was Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet — a poetic buffet of wisdom served up by a mysterious man in a robe who seems to know everything except how to leave a party on time.

Meet Almustafa, the titular Prophet. He’s been living peacefully in exile for twelve years when a ship finally arrives to take him home. But just as he’s about to depart, the people of the city — who apparently ignored him for over a decade — suddenly realise he's a walking Pinterest board of profound life advice.

What follows is a graceful exit that turns into a spiritual TED Talk marathon, as he’s asked to share his thoughts on everything from love and marriage, to children, work, joy and sorrow, and — inevitably — death. It's less “goodbye” and more “if you’ll allow me, thirty-seven more poems and a quick lecture on houses.”

With every answer, Almustafa speaks in gentle, flowing metaphors, all of which seem like they should be accompanied by soft wind chimes and an incense stick. He won’t just say, “Don’t cling to your kids,” he’ll say, “Your children are arrows, and you are the bow.” Thanks, Almustafa. Now I’m picturing my toddler in a quiver.

Written by Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese-American poet, artist, and early 20th-century philosopher-slash-enigma, The Prophet has been translated into over 100 languages and given as a gift at weddings, baptisms, breakups, book clubs, and awkward dinner parties by people who want to say “I’m deep” without getting into astrology.

So if you're in the mood for timeless wisdom, poetic beauty, and the kind of quotes you might find embroidered on throw pillows in a yoga studio, look no further. Just be warned: once The Prophet begins speaking, you’re not leaving that harbour anytime soon.

The Prophet

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