In Search of a Prophet

Paul-Gordon Chandler takes us on a profound spiritual journey into the life and work of one of the most famous and beloved poets, Kahlil Gibran, showing us how this timeless poet is a much-needed guide for our times. In his hands, Kahlil Gibran becomes an intimate friend.
— Reza Aslan, author of No god but God and Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth


Paul-Gordon Chandler has done us a great service by writing this wonderful book. Part travelogue through the many places Kahlil Gibran lived, part journey through the artist's great works, it all comes together in a way that gives us powerful glimpses into the inner life of a spiritual giant.
— Eboo Patel, founder and president, Interfaith Youth Core; author of Acts of Faith and Interfaith Leadership


There are certain places you should visit before you die, and to enjoy them best, you need a guide who knows them well. Similarly, there are certain writers you should read before you die, and you'll enjoy them even more with an experienced guide beside you. Kahlil Gibran is such a writer, and Paul-Gordon Chandler is such a guide. Gibran, assisted by Chandler, will introduce you to a great land that lies within you.
— Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration


An inspiring and vivid exploration into the all-embracing spirituality of Kahlil Gibran. Chandler takes us on a journey into the inner and outer worlds of a man who defied religious and cultural boundaries to assert a vision of an underlying humanity and faith that all people share, free of dogma. This original and revealing account of Gibran’s life and work is timeless, sharing with us profound wisdom that can guide us through the challenges of our world today. A modern classic of spirituality.
— Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, president and Johnston Family Professor for Religion and Democracy, Union Theological Seminary, New York


Paul-Gordon Chandler is a curious wanderer, a man of spiritual depth and refreshing insight. His journey into Kahlil Gibran’s life and timeless teachings offers solace and shelter in our divided and troubled times.
— Jeffrey Fleishman, senior writer on film, art, and culture, Los Angeles Times; author of Shadow Man: A Novel


Here Paul Gordon-Chandler artfully traces the contours of Khalil Gibran’s life—a life which transcended so many of the divides we human beings erect among ourselves. In a world increasingly fraught with voices calling us toward power and away from each other, this book arrives as a balm and an incitement to continue the important work of healing the world.
— Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, senior minister, Riverside Church, New York


Paul-Gordon Chandler brilliantly captures the universal spirituality of the beloved poet Kahlil Gibran as we journey with him to discover how the Levant, his birthplace—the land of Moses' Sacred Valley, Jesus' Mount of Olives, and Mohammad's mosque of Al Aqsa—and early disappointments influenced his art and poetry. In Search of a Prophet is revelatory and a true inspiration for those seeking to build bridges, not walls.
— Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, president, Islamic Affairs Council of Maryland and Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation


Before reading this book my only real knowledge of Kahlil Gibran was the poem often read at weddings in the 1970s and 80s, and frequently caricatured. What that limited knowledge didn't reveal was the story of his life, the depth of his convictions, and the gift of his wisdom. This book tells his story, revealing the depth and passing on that gift.
— The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church


In Search of a Prophet is a profound look at Kahlil Gibran’s prophetic voice for peace and reconciliation during his lifetime. Paul-Gordon Chandler movingly demonstrates how Gibran, through his life and writings, issued a timeless call to respect all peoples and their religious traditions equally, thereby serving as an indispensable guide for our times.
— Ambassador Rabbi David N. Saperstein, former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom


In this deeply spiritual look at the life of Kahlil Gibran, Paul-Gordon Chandler opens us to a voice more relevant to our times than when his work appeared years ago. Chandler’s biography rings with the same grandeur and deep insight present in Gibran’s poetry, and it is pleasant to read and nourishing to digest. With our world so deeply suspicious and divided, Chandler’s look at Gibran offers us a biography—and a spirituality—that displays a vision of our common humanity. It is a great inspiration during times like these.
— Rev. James Winkler, president and general secretary, National Council of Churches