The Teachings of Rumi
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Aloha, she is very pleased with "the Teachings of Rumi".  Mahalo and Aloha. Les Gale  And that makes me very happy !!
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Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975; born as Elijah Robert Poole) led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death. This 1957 book contains a topical selection of brief teachings of his on a wide variety of subjects.  Here are some quotations:

"I do not make mistakes in what I write pertaining to these two races---black and white---and I do not need to study the theory of evolution to learn about them." (Pg. 21)
"Get an equal education, but stay to yourselves today. It is too late in the evening to try mixing the races." (Pg. 22)
"The present Brotherhood of Islam is typical of the life in the Hereafter. The only difference is that the Brotherhood in the Hereafter will enjoy the spirit of gladness and happiness forever in the presence of Allah." (Pg. 25)
"Many people have been deceived by the arch deceiver in regards to the Hereafer. They think the Hereafter is a life of spirits (spooks) up somewhere in the sky, while it is only on the earth, and you won't change to any spirit beings. The life in the hereafter is only a continuation of the present life." (Pg. 26)
"The Arabs are alleged to have slaves. The Arabs will answer for themselves, but I do know that no Muslim will enslave a Muslim. All Muslims are the brothers of another Muslim." (Pg. 29)
"Know that Jesus was only a prophet and cannot hear you pray any more than Moses of any other dead prophet. Allah alone can hear your prayers and answer them." (Pg. 34)
"The Original Man, Allah has declared, is none other than the black man. He is the first and the last, and maker and owner of the universe; from him come all---brown, yellow, red and white. By using a special method of birth control law, the black man was able to produce the white race." (Pg. 38)
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This book shares that religion is a journey of self discovery. Sufism facilitates the journey for the seeker of truth. The road map is the culmination of all of the major prophets' teachings summed up in Islam. I have the honor to attend Prof Angha's lectures where he expands on this road map of my "self". He explains Islam as if you are in a university class designed for students to contemplate on topics given and not just follow someone's word. His socratic method of teaching is seen in the book and in his lectures. Amazing!
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This splendid book, written by one of the greatest influences on western occultism, is highly recommended for the sincere and serious students and initiates of the Western Occult Tradition.  The book is broken down into two books of 22 chapters, 22 to signify the 22 Greater Arcanum of the Tarot and Kabballah.  Yet, sadly, as most of the modern great occult minds are confused with the new age isms and skisms, the secret keys of this Kabbalistic, Gnostic treatise is either lost or forgotten.  There is another book, that has been recently translated from its original language that not only unveils the Kabbalistic synthesis within all ancient religion (as Levi beautifully expounds upon) but also this book reveals the ancient and secret keys that are the "foundation" of all the Occult traditions.  This book was written by the Gnostic Master Samael Aun Weor.  The book is called "The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabalah".  It is difficult to find, yet one can contact a Gnostic Institute nearest you (gnosticinstitute.com).
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While Publishers Weekly is entitled to its opinion, I think it misses the point of The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi.  Not once did I find the reading dull or something that ought to be relegated to chick lit; rather it woke me up and gave vision to my own life of illusions.  This is an ideal read for someone who wishes to live a life of deep authenticity without being preachy and dogmatic. I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who would like to do some mental and spiritual house-cleaning. Lord knows we need it in these times.
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Many books have been written on the above topic but the words in this book are poetic and comes from author's heart: a heart that not just knows but have seen the vision.  This book provides a beautiful blending of authentic Sufi view and its higher vision from which this teaching originates.  Nasr is a master to use contemporary language to explain authentic Islamic thoughts of higher knowledge of the heart; his use of perennial philosophy perspective to explain classic Islamic esoteric teaching is marvelous.

This book require some understanding of the Sufi path; it can appeal to any serious seeker on the path of any authentic and traditional religion.  Read it with open mind and heart.
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Masha Allah, I like this book and  I find it so beneficiall ,I would recommend a lot of people to read, may Allah grant the author more knowlegde Ameeen
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Any book that's been in print over 800 years speaks for itself.

Rumi is best savored in bites taken slowly and with abundant silence.

Barks has done a wonderful thing in bringing Rumi to us.
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Lowell Gallin has written a book that demonstrates that the Qur'an and authentic Islamic tradition respect the Jewish people and their connection to the Torah and the Land of Israel. The book is based on the teachings of Sunni Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdul Hadi Palazzi, the director of the Italian Muslim Assembly, who is a genuinely moderate voice among contemporary Muslims, who has consistently spoken out against terrorism and anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist teachings that are preached by many Wahhabi Muslim clerics today. Gallin has collected Qur'anic verses that speak of the Jewish people favorably, and which affirm the legitimacy of Judaism for Jews (as well as Christianity for Christians) and the connection of the Children of Israel ("Bani Isra'il") to the Land of Israel. The Quar'an specifically predicts that the Jewish people would return to their ancestral homeland toward the end of days by Divine fiat (Qur'an, Sura 17, verse 104). While the reader is not bound to agree with all of Gallin's interpretations, he/she cannot deny that they are based on sound Islamic sources. Gallin cites extensively from the commentary of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the author of the most famous and widely used English translation of the Qur'an. Gallin had to track down the only recent reprint of Ali's translation and commentary which has not been censored by Wahhabi extremists, who have taken out all positive references to Jews and other non-Muslims from Ali's commentary.

In addition to Gallin's own citations from the Qur'an, the author presents the 1969 essay by Dr. Asher Eder (a German convert to Judaism who had initially considered Islam) which shows that Muslim hostility to Jews and Israel is based on misinterpretations of the Qur'an and Islamic tradition. Gallin also includes essays by Sheikh Palazzi and discussions of Bangladeshi Muslim journalist Salah Choudhury, who is on trial and facing a possible death sentence (!) for expressing pro-Jewish and pro-Israel views. Gallin also discusses the millions of Muslims in various non-Arab countries who maintain good relations with Jews and Israel and have not been brainwashed by Wahhabi teachings. Although many readers may not agree with all of Gallin's conclusions, we must be thankful that he has provided us with this remarkable book, which is essential for the future of Muslim-Jewish relations.
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Love Rumi and a quote from his works is always a great way to start the day. Reminder of our interior lives as we go about interacting with that which is exterior!
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I have a heavily used copy of this book and as that would indicate I love it. I bought this copy for a friend and she raves about it as well. If you are a fan of Rumi, it is a must-read.
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Inserted on 12/27/2013:

I recently had the privilege of chatting on an Internet forum with David Godman (author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Be-as-You-Are-The-Teachings-of-Sri-Ramana-Maharshi-Compass/dp/0140190627/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Be as You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Compass)</a>). David has been living in India for a number of years and also spent time with Nisargadatta Maharaj in the 80's. He confirmed, what I had always suspected, that this book is not really a literal word-for-word English translation of Nisargadatta's talks in Marathi , but a book written by a person who was a realized sage in his own right - Maurice Frydman. In this book - Frydman has used his own realization of Advaita and gift with the English language - to extensively paraphrase Nisargadatta's answers to his visitors in the most eloquent way possible for spiritual aspirants.

Frydman's notes of J Krishnamurti's seemingly abstruse "teachings" were also considered to be similarly clear in expression.

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What can be said about "I AM THAT" that has not been said already ?

As an Indian, I am a bit embarrassed that Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is not a household name in India. In fact, I had not heard of him myself until I moved to the United States.

The clarity and consistency in Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj's thoughts is astonishing and so is the articulate manner he presents his ideas (esp given the fact that he wasn't even formally educated).

That said,  I think a good deal of credit for this book should also go to the translator - MAURICE FRYDMAN . To translate tape-recorded spiritual discourses, that is so deep and often difficult-to-understand, could not have been an easy task. And from what I know of Indian languages - there are many nuances that are difficult to accurately express in English. This makes me wonder how the original Marathi version of this book reads like.

I AM THAT is a reference manual that should sit by your bed side ready to be referred when you seek answers to life's complex questions. This is not a book that is read from cover to cover. Open a random page and be prepared to be overwhelmed with the wisdom packed in what you read. As other reviewers have pointed out, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj does not hold back anything. He makes no pretense towards politeness or any kind of "tenderness" that often characterize spiritual teachers. He is out to state facts and facts alone.

A quote randomly plucked from the book :
"You mind the war next door, but you hardly give it a thought when it is in some far off country. The shifting fortunes of your ego determine your values."

I AM THAT is the last post of your spiritual seeking. Your search is over. Let this book be your Bible, Koran and Bhagavad Gita. And that is not a comment I am making lightly.
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The translator has provided here a partial translation of the 'Ruh al-Quds' written by probably Islams most influential Sufi ibn Arabi.

The book, published by Beshara publications who often print translations of ibn Arabi's works in particular with commentaries by classical Turkish Sufis (Such as Ismail Hakki Bursevi's commentary on the Fusus and the Kernel of the Kernel) is a continuation of the publishers interest with ibn Arabi.

The introduction is by the late Martin Lings who was a British convert to Islam and Sufi who wrote a number of books most notably a biography of Muhammad, a biography of the late Algerian Sufi Sheikh al-Alawi and several works in defence and support of Rene Guenon.

The translator R.J. Austin provides us with an introduction to ibn Arabi's life and times giving us a detailed biography of the man and the cultural world in which he lived in.  He then provides an introduction to Sufism it appears using much of Martin Lings' works as reference before the translation.

The translation itself is simply a brief biography of Sufis who were ibn Arabi's teachers, people he met or scholars he knew of.  Several of them are women, something that may be of surprise to some though during ibn Arabi's time it was fairly common to find women in high theological positions and well respected Sufis.  The style is common to many books that can be found in the Muslim world as it was a common practice for a Sufi master to compile a biography of his teachers or of his Sufi lineage.

This would certainly be of interest to those wishing to know more about Sufism and also to understand the cultural side of the Islamic world.
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The Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrines is probably the most valuable book printed on Islamic beliefs and practice this century. In a time when the reality of this religion has been obscured from within its folds as well as  from without, Shaykh Kabbani does an immeasurable service by elucidating  and shedding light on its truth as it has been understood since the time of  the Prophet himself by those who earnestly sought their Creator. It is  thus understandable that such a man will no doubt attract vehement  opposition from those who seek to distort and pervert religion for the sake  of their own personal agendas. In wake of such hypocrites and the rising  tide of opportunism, Shaykh Kabbani must be commended for striving so  courageously despite the opposition of the corrupt and spiritually diseased -- those who do not even believe that the purification of the human heart is  a fundamental element of any religious or spiritual practice.
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I'm so glad that Cynthia Humes' English translation of the Hindi book of 108 discourses of Shankaracharya Swami Brahamanand Saraswati is at last available to book readers. Cynthia prepared this translation many years ago, yet due to one thing and another it was put to one side. Now those interested in this teacher, sometimes known as Guru Dev, have an alternate translation to read. I understand that there have been four translations made, my own, '108 Discourses', which also includes the original Devanagari text, Cynthia Humes', the translations L B Shriver commissioned and those hard-to-find translations by Mouni. Let's hope that in the fullness of time, all four versions will sit side-by-side on the shelves of those who prize these teachings. Jai Guru Dev
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"The Philosophy of the Masters" is a compelling book which was written by a realized Master, Sawan Singh.  The book describes the spiritual practice of Surat Shabd of Sant Mat which is purported to be the highest spiritual science.  The focus of this spiritual practice is to attune oneself to the spiritual current of the sound and light of "God" which is Shabd, or the outward manifestation of "God".  It should be noted that the practice of Surat Shabd can only be accomplished through one's initiation and direction of a Living Master or Teacher.  This is the rub.  One cannot practice Surat Shabd based on one's own faith by worshiping a non-living Master or Religious Icon. Where and how one finds a Living Master seems to be a near impossible task and a real frustration let alone if one is spiritually ready for such a Master.  How does one really know that a particular Master is the embodiment of "God" or if one is being led in the wrong direction?
  Although this is a very provocative and compelling book which raises very cogent points about the practice of Surat Shabd, it would appear not to be the most practical spiritual path to pursue.
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I have just received the book and I can't stop reading it, especially the The Alms Bowl by Shaykh Kalimullah. It is a treasure for Sufi meditation seeker's but I think not all meditations are designed for one size fits all. One needs to have a spiritual guide who can who can assist and curtail meditation according to individual's ability, also one needs to have an open mind to begin with to learn and contemplate to fathom this book.