Philip Smith (3)

Philip Smith's childhood was anything but ordinary. During his early childhood, his father's career as an interior decorator took the family all over the world. Lew Smith's clientele were among the famous and elite, the rich and the powerful. The author's mother seemed to be his perfect companion, both in life and in work. According to the author, things for the Smith family began to unravel, however, when Philip's father, Lew Smith, became more and more interested in the metaphysical.

The author's story pushed the boundaries of believability--at least in terms of my own beliefs. Lew Smith could heal people by manipulating their energy. The stronger he grew in his abilities, he was more and more able to heal, even people in other countries without even talking directly to them. He was constantly learning and perfecting the art of healing. He was guided by the spirits. Lew Smith believed that everyone was capable of doing what he could do if they took the time to learn. People came to him in droves to be healed and to learn how to heal.

While Lew Smith's influence and abilities as a healer and psychic often take center stage in the book, it is really only a part of the whole story. Walking Through Walls is also the story of a father and a son. Their relationship with each other was typical in many ways, but not so in others. The two of them were very close, even when at their most distant from each other--physically and emotionally. During his teen years, Philip resented his father and the lifestyle his father had chosen. Philip longed to fit in with the crowd, but his father's eccentricies made that difficult. He was embarrassed by his father.

As time wore on, Philip struggled for his independence. His father was ever present in his life. With Lew, there really were no secrets and Philip often wished he could have some privacy, that he could cut himself off from his father's spirit guides who reported to Lew regularly. Like any teenager, Philip was trying to come into his own. His father, to some degree, was willing to let Philip find his own way, although there was always that tie between them.

Although there were moments when I felt the father (and the mother's) behavior crossed the line into neglect, it was clear that Lew and Philip Smith loved each other. During Philip's early teen years, I once or twice found myself wondering why Philip's mother didn't step in, and it's never really clear why she didn't. She seemed to take a backseat in Philip's life when her marriage began falling apart, too busy nursing her own wounds.

Philip grew up during the 1950's and 60's, an interesting time in American history. The author was able to capture the tone of the times in his writing, never letting the reader forget the setting. Walking Through Walls has humorous moments as well as touching ones. In spite of my skepticism, I found the book interesting and compelling. Philip is easy to like. And while I had mixed feelings about his father in the beginning, by the end I felt I had a better understanding of the type of man he was. And I could see why so many people were drawn to him.
… (lisätietoja)

This has made me think I need to be more picky about what I read.

I was mildly enjoying the first half of the book, even though I wasn’t believing a word of it. He’s a pretty good writer and he had some funny descriptions of growing up in odd circumstances with a father who discovers metaphysical stuff in the 60’s. Then it fell off a cliff. I can’t help thinking about those evangelists who tell funny stories and try to be hip, and then say "but seriously, you need to get Jesus in your life", and then turn on the hard sell. This is like the metaphysical version of that, only I can’t figure out what he’s selling. The second half just turns into a laundry list of the people he thinks his dad cured, and the super powers he thinks his dad had.

Part of my problem with the book is that I can’t figure out what he wants to say at all. It’s a memoir, but it’s almost entirely about his dad, and we don’t really learn anything about his dad except for his super powers.

Another big problem is that it’s not very believable, in so many ways. First, the psychic powers his dad is supposed to have had. I can’t think of any psychic idea, theory or scam from the 60’s and 70’s that isn’t presented here, with not one word of analysis. It’s all presented as either just fact, or not commented on, it’s all given equal seriousness. It’s kind of strange since that’s the main theme of the book.

Much of the book is of course reminiscing, but also many long conversations and even lectures (and many conversations that feel like lectures) from 50 years ago, all told in detail, lasting many pages. At the beginning of the book he says his father kept meticulous notes throughout his life, but by the end I entertained the possibility that he just said that to cover up for the obvious fact that no one could remember all this.

Actually, by the end of the book I doubted whether he even had a father, or he was anything like described.… (lisätietoja)

Walking Through Walls was beautifully written, Smith has a gift to rival that of any modern New York Times Best Seller. This memoir flows effortlessly; memories and anecdotes are skillfully interjected in all the right places. The story itself is very interesting involving interior design, foreign leaders, divorce, psychic healing and spirit guides. Whether you're interested in psychic healing or not, this book will not disappoint as it has so much more to offer.
On a personal note, I have to say that I tend to shy away from books with too much "spiritual" influence not focused directly on God. Walking Through Walls however is very unassuming in that it does not try to convince you of anything or convert you, it is simply a story well told. I give this book 4 stars. It was very nearly 5 stars but I felt the book hit a slow spot about 3/4 of the way through. That and Smith sometimes came across as a emotionally remote and a snob (blue tights and Mr. Coffee). Though growing up as he did who can blame him, and overall he is a likable person.… (lisätietoja)