To Be Enlightened

To Be Enlightened isn't another self-help guide, but a novel that tells of philosophy professor Abe Levy's drive to achieve personal enlightenment even if it costs him his long-term marriage. His wife is perfectly willing for him to explore religion within the larger context of their daily lives, while Abe's process involves more of an immersion into a different lifestyle that eventually captivates Sarah, as well.

As the new techniques help keep her anxiety and panic attacks at bay, Sarah begins to change as much or more than Abe, who suddenly finds himself left behind in a process he began in a leadership role.

Does Vedic philosophy hold all the answers? As Abe questions whether enlightenment is actually a different form of mania and draws connections between God, philosophy, and daily life's relationships, both within his marriage and himself, Abe's journey becomes even more complex (and often more puzzling, to him).

As theoretical, philosophical, and spiritual concepts collide with school politics and Abe's struggle with ego and enlightenment, readers receive a wide-ranging story that embraces the foundations of meditation and Eastern religion in a manner even general-interest readers with experience in neither can readily absorb. 

From his involvement with troubled child Tom to his changing relationship with his wife, a number of subplots emerge during the course of this story. Some may say there are almost too many threads, but they all wind together nicely in the end. 

Readers with a special interest in Eastern philosophy and spirituality will find To Be Enlightened is not only an absorbing novel, but also astutely shows how the Eastern concept of enlightenment can be realized by everyday Westerners.  

As Abe confronts the evolution of Self and his relationship to it, readers receive a fine survey of Eastern and Western mindsets. It is especially strong in its consideration of the intersection between Eastern and Western approaches to life's meaning, and the impact of bigger-picture thinking on ordinary lives. 

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

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To Be Enlightened

by Alan J. Steinberg, MD

Adelaide Books

book review by Mihir Shah

"It’s not that I hate everything about this world.... It’s just that my life in heaven spoiled my life on earth."

Abe Levy, a philosophy professor at the prominent liberal arts university Pomona College, represents what every man strives for—a search for his inner spirit. Through his character, Steinberg dives deep into profound topics centered around meditation and the constant tug of war between the material world's attachments and the pathway to a higher celestial plane. In a time of chaos and uncertainty, the author's debut novel delivers an enormously real portrayal of enlightenment, simultaneously conveying a calming lyrical quality to his prose a la Herman Hesse's Siddhartha while incorporating a dazzling array of philosophical, religious, and even scientific understanding to demystify complex subjects like meditation, liberation, and, inevitably, enlightenment.

The novel's structure is infinitely dynamic, featuring a dual arc that follows Levy within the classroom, teaching the Insider's Guide to the Self, and his personal meditation journey that takes shape after a dream at fifteen transports him into another world and another life altogether. Unsurprisingly, this creates a web of complexities with his wife, Sarah. While the narrative never strays from its ambitions, the audience seamlessly becomes a student, learning about ancient Vedic culture, the Bhagavad Gita, and The Art of Living alongside Tom and others in the lecture hall. Truly, Steinberg's ability to pull the reader into his lecture hall and the numerous intriguing discussions and universal quandaries debating consciousness, attachment, and good versus evil is exemplary.

From Plato and Aristotle to Max Planck and the Big Bang, Steinberg covers an unprecedented amount of ground. Each exploration imparts another layer of knowledge in the ultimate quest of understanding the self in God's image. More than a text, Steinberg's novel is an unforgettable experience that strips away the density that naturally accompanies these concepts and replaces it with energetic prose that never ceases to inform.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books

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“Steinberg’s debut novel offers a quirky, engaging backdrop for an informative exposition on Vedic philosophy and religious symbolism… A lively novel that teaches the precepts of meditation and the roots of religion.”

–Kirkus Reviews

“To Be Enlightened by Alan J. Steinberg is one of the most compelling and in-depth introductions to meditation… It is not often that a great novel with interesting but flawed characters teaches you so much about reaching self-actualization but this superb story did just that.”

–Readers’ Favorite Book Review

"The spiritual and philosophical blend together beautifully in this compelling novel by Dr. Alan Steinberg. His deep knowledge of Yoga, meditation, and human nature make for a page-turning read that will enlighten all readers.”

–Iris Krasnow, New York Times bestselling author of Camp Girls: Fireside Lessons on Friendship, Courage, and Loyalty

“Dr. Alan J. Steinberg’s debut novel in some ways echoes other works with similar themes, e.g., Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, or Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. But To Be Enlightened provides a distinctive, twenty-first-century take on setting and characters, giving it a uniquely California flavor…. To Be Enlightened is sure to illuminate the unenlightened readers, expanding their understanding of eastern philosophy and religion.”

–Chanticleer Book Reviews