About the Book
Since the beginning of time, humans have tried to understand God's Essence. However, not even the most brilliant and enlightened minds among us can comprehend Him because simply put, "God is." If we understood the mystery of God, then why would we need to have faith? Perhaps the best we can hope for is to recognize when we are visited by God. We then have the opportunity to bring real change and meaning to our life. Divinely Inspired is one man's story to lift himself out of the despair of Bipolar Disorder, near suicide, migraines, anxiety, neurotic behavior, and scientific cheating to emerge on a path to God. Jerry Pollock's transformation from a damaged and ravaged soul to merging into God's Light, as outlined in Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul, is seen through unusual miracles of Divine intervention that initiated the author's spiritual journey. Jerry's climbing of the spiritual ladder is a very gradual and personal process as he tries to improve his flawed character. He comes to realize that God is the master scientist responsible for both Evolution and Creation.
As his story unfolds, readers are inadvertently empowered to embark on their own spiritual journey, as best as they can, by adhering to the Creator's original self-help plan, The Ten Commandments. The author contends that the Ten Commandments are the basis for all self-improvement. This memoir represents the author's first steps to stand in God's place of Holiness. His own journey of belonging to God is continued in his new novel, the Messiah Interviews, to be published in paperback form in January of 2009 along with a printing reissue of Divinely Inspired.
Table of Contents:
Prologue, Beginnings, Mostly Bad Memories, Pushing 40, The Voice, Manic Depression at 50, Suicide, Unexpected Encounter With a Cult, Spiritual Awakening, Spiritual Lights, To Beat the Unbeatable Foe Again, Epilogue, Further Reading, Index, Finale, Acknowledgments, About the Author.
About the Author :
Life may have a destiny for us all. Dr. Jerry Pollock's destiny seems to have changed from being a research scientist of forty years to becoming a spiritual writer of the arts. Jerry's first book, Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul, was a memoir published in 2003 with a second edition due out in January 2009. His second book is a fiction novel, Messiah Interviews, and has been written as a way to give back to God. Messiah Interviews will also be published in 2009. Dr. Pollock was born Jewish in 1941 in Toronto. He didn't know what it meant to be spiritual until God entered and changed his life at the age of 57. He is now 67. Despite onset adult Bipolar Disorder and growing up neurotic in an unloving and non-nurturing home environment, Jerry succeeded in academics. He has a Masters degree in Pharmacy, a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Israel, and further training in Microbiology. He is the author of seventy-five scientific publications, and is Professor Emeritus at Stony Brook University on Long Island. For most of his life, Jerry was trapped in his neurotic brain. After twenty-five years of primal therapy, he has brought all of his unconscious repressed feelings to consciousness. He has finally emerged from the devastation of the womb and childhood. With the help of Divine miracles, he has kicked out the manic depression that entered his body at age 50. For the past ten years, he has embarked on a path to gain spiritual wisdom and share it with others. He is married to Marcia, his bashert or destined one. They reside in Florida.
Review :
A touching narrative that reaches out to the reader and proves that it is never too late to find God. The author believes and rightly so, that the original Ten Commandments are not only to maintain order in a chaotic world, but they are also in their essence, the source for any human efforts at self improvement. A thoroughly engrossing narrative style and almost conversational tone makes this an easy, fast and extremely satisfying read, yet one that leaves the impact of a gentle loving wallop, if there is such a thing. Denise M. Clark, Denise's Pieces Book Reviews Most people thank goodness only know insufferable stress from the accounts of others, but those who know it from personal experience will take comfort from the ways in which the author has contrived to find a peaceful way to handle his battle with anxiety, manic depression, migraines, and that sense of emptiness and sadness. Ian Tattersall, Ph.D., Curator of Anthropology American Museum of Natural History The author writes from a Jewish perspective on spirituality and admits that it would perhaps best serve a Jewish audience, but I have to disagree. No matter what faith we carry, if any at all, we can all learn something from this book. Its honesty is both liberating and refreshing. Elizabeth Batt, Elizabeth Batt Book Reviews Jerry Pollock has discovered what very few men of science like him have. We each have available to us, if we recognize and seek it out, a loving and supportive force, an organizing intelligence that in reality is the being of all of us. Steven Hawlings Martin, Author of Keys to the Kingdom The reader cannot but be impressed by the honesty and courage of the memoir. The author aims to help people attain inner peace. I hope that the author succeeds and achieves his purpose. Chaim Seymour, American Jewish Libraries Review Through primal therapy, he exorcised his painful youth and then his feelings guided him to his spiritual rebirth into the paradigm of the Judeo Christian tradition. That the author is able to provide intellectual, psychological, historical and spiritual content is impressive. A Tilt-A-Whirl of a biography. Audrey De LaMartre, Steps for Recovery In his provocative book, Divinely Inspired, Dr. Pollock details his personal journey to his discovery of God that helped him overcome more negativity than one person should suffer. Here is a story that begins in the depths of despair, physical and mental illness, uncaring and cheating parents and a deep sense of inadequacy; and ends with an understanding of not only spirituality but of faith. Richard Fuller, Metaphysical Reviews The strength and uniqueness of this tale is its sense of reality, even grittiness and steaminess, not found with most books dealing with personal spiritual growth. Pollock's book is of interest to anyone suffering and looking for spiritual guidance and how spirituality and related beliefs are incorporated into one's life. Henry Berry, The Small Press Book Review Courage, wisdom, and strength and the unrelenting desire to teach rather than preach are what the author arms himself with. This book has had a profound effect upon me. I'm not only considering what is written among these pages as a description of experiences. I'm considering it a handbook for those seeking to get on the right path. Jennifer Hollowell, J.M.H. Creative Solutions Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul by microbiologist and biophysics expert Jerry Pollock is the story of his personal journey beyond Bipolar Disorder into the embrace of God's love. Professor Pollock has written a candid and moving spiritual guide to accepting the wisdom of God. The pages of this published testimony are aptly written to accurately reflect Pollock's faith, and offers unforgettable guidance and encouragement to fellow seekers to shed emotional negativity and devastation to search out God's blessing within the context of a mature and maturing spirituality. James Cox, Midwest Book Review Readers will be enthralled sharing the author's path to recoveryAZfrom an emotionally damaged, depressive life to a powerful demonstration of Divine Presence via direct encounter with God. Divinely Inspired is an excellent 'how to' attain fresh, enhanced spirituality arising out of direct contact. Anyone can learn from the author's experience, and receive the blessings of inner peace with increased spiritual awareness. Bernie Nelson, Mindquest The devilish paths his childhood demons led him on are painstakingly described in vivid detail so that the reader cringes when Pollock explains what happened. Divinely Inspired gives the reader a frightening glimpse inside the veiled world of mental illness. For those who are not familiar with Bipolar Disorder, this book is a real eye-opener. With this knowledge in hand, readers should never look at the mentally ill in the same dismissive way. The fortitude and accomplishments of the author cannot but help move the reader. Camden Alexander, Curled Up With a Good Book Having previously read Jerry Pollock's book, Messiah Interviews, I was very interested in going back and reading his first work, Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul, to gain more insight into the biographical events that I found so interesting in the second book. Once I started reading Divinely Inspired, I literally could not put it down. The book fits neatly into the categories of both an autobiography and spiritual change. I found Pollock's childhood and adult life to be very intriguing and I applaud him for the courage and strength it must have taken to put his life experiences down on paper for the world to read. Watching Pollock's spiritual journey and growth was very fascinating and inspirational. His spiritual insights presented in the Epilogue of the book are also very thought provoking. Once again, as with the Messiah Interviews, I enjoyed the stimulating discussion surrounding The Ten Commandments. I think that anyone can benefit and take something away from Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul and I highly recommend it. Kam Aures, Rebeccas Reads (1/2009) Divinely Inspired is written about one man's spiritual path and how his life experiences brought him through a great deal of spiritual change. It is written from a Jewish perspective; however, I feel that people of religious backgrounds, who respect his belief system will relate to Dr. Pollock's story. Dr. Pollock tells his personal story with a great deal of honesty and self-revelation. I appreciated his willingness to share both his personal successes and failures with us. By reading Divinely Inspired, it will help us to further our own personal journey and provide us with a great deal of motivation. Because Dr. Pollock is a scientist, I really appreciated how he blended his scientific beliefs into his spiritual beliefs. He offers one of the most fascinating discussions on creationism and evolution that I have ever read. He tells us that when you totally trust in God, you do so because you feel confident enough that when you do it, God will be there to assist you. Accepting this belief awakens our souls to a higher state of spiritual being. I highly recommend reading Divinely Inspired and Dr. Pollock's other book which I really enjoyed, Messiah Interviews. Paige Lovitt, Reader Views (12/2008) If you read and enjoyed Jerry Pollock's not-so-fictional novel, Messiah Interviews: Belonging to God, you'll want to pick up a copy of Divinely Inspired: Spiritual Awakening of a Soul. In Divinely Inspired, the author's spiritual journey brings him past the memories, the hurts, and the disappointments of his earlier years, and moves him toward a life of enduring richness and meaning. In true memoir form, Pollock shares his life in a candid way, holding nothing back, and the reader will be amazed. The dedication of his wife, Marcia, that is so lovingly portrayed in Messiah Interviews, also shines through in Divinely Inspired. Having spent his life as a scientist, Pollock bravely shares his belief that Evolution and Creation are not mutually exclusive because God is the master scientist. A true companion to Messiah Interviews, but also a book that will be enjoyed on its own by those interested in reading how one man's spiritual journey leads him to inner peace and the discovery of the wisdom of God. Cheryl Malandrinos, The Book Connection Blog (2/2009) Divinely Inspired is about the author's early years, his bouts with manic depression, and his recovery. The book is a riveting read and touched me in many ways. One way was how frank Jerry is about his manic depression. This part was very personal to me because my husband had what I call a mental breakdown or what the doctors called severe depression with anxiety. I felt that this part really captures what happens to a person who is struggling with their mental illness. I liked that it was told from point of view of the person who has mental illness. In a way, it made me understand what my husband had gone through. The epilogue is Jerry's spiritual insight. I found it very interesting and thought provoking. Jerry is a gifted story teller. As he tells the story of his life, the reader can relate to what is happening to him and feel his pain and then his happiness as he recovers from his mental illness. This is a great read about one person's life and spiritual journey worth 4.5 stars on a scale to 5. Lisa Oehlberg, Reading Mama Blog (2/2009) Divinely Inspired is the personal story of Jerry J. Pollock. Having come from a traumatic childhood and dealing with a mental illness he gives hope to others who have endured the same trials in life. This book is written from a Jewish perspective but is an inspirational read for anyone of any religious background. I found Divinely Inspired to be a well-written, honest, and a thought provoking book to read and I recommend it to others. Connie Harris, TCM Reviews (3/2009) Meet Jerry in Divinely Inspired. Know him and you'll know his journeyAZa painfully true and frank story that calls out to the reader to embrace Jerry in his pain in one moment and to celebrate with him the next. Walk with him in Divinely Inspired as he takes you through the front door of his life. Then go on to read the Messiah Interviews, as I shall reread again, in order to gain a much deeper understanding and appreciation of spirituality. Chris Querry, My Shelf Reviews (4/2009) Jerry Pollock is the author of a just published biblical novel: Messiah Interviews
