OPENING: COLLECTED WRITINGS OF WILLIAM SEGAL 1985-1997.
New York: Noah's Ark, 2008. Second edition. The dust jacket states 1985-1987, this is a typo, the title is 1985-1997; 165 pages. Item #4895
Fine condition in a fine dust jacket.
Opening is intended for those who wish to know themselves better. As film maker Ken Burns notes, "William Segal has artfully combined his most important writings and put them under one roof. There is nothing as poetic as a man's genuine search for meaning in this world, nothing as generous as the sharing of his findings. William Segal has done both here, and he gently challenges his readers to demand from themselves the best of themselves." Segal writes: "What follows is hardly a literary effort as much as a series of observations on the life of a man of our time. These observations may be of help to those who wish to know themselves, to understand better the human structure, its limitations and its possibilities. They aim to prepare one for a more intelligent, more conscious participation in the transformative process--in short, to indicate a way toward fulfilling one's role as a true human being." Much of the material in the book first appeared in a five-volume series of limited edition, fine press monographs. Long out of circulation, Volume I, The Middle Ground, was published in September of 1985. It was followed by The Structure of Man (1987), The Ten Oxherding Pictures (1988), Opening (1993), and Meetings with Three Tibetan Masters (1995). Additional material was taken from previously unpublished writings by William Segal. All illustrations are by the author. William Segal, philosopher and painter, began his career as a journalist. In the 1940's he met P.D. Ouspensky and G.I. Gurdjieff. After World War II, through his friendship with Daisetz T. Suzuki, he was able to spend considerable periods at the main Renzai and Soto monasteries in Japan. Author of a number of philosophical essays, he continues to be active in painting and writing. He is the participant/demonstrator of the video Vezelay, made by film maker Ken Burns, discussing the question of the search and 'Who am I?' along with a short film of Segal's art studio and garden which observes Segal as he paints, and discusses the creative process as well as the intimate personal spiritual relationship between the artist and the work of art.
Price: $40.00