BOOK REVIEW OF 'THE HAPPY WANDERER'

By Alban D’Souza SJ

(Anthony deMello SJ, The Happy Wanderer by Bill deMello, Edited by Clifford DeSilva.  Hardbound. 344 pages. 14 pages of photographs. Rs. 240/ $12. GSP, Anand. Available at all Pauline Bookstores.)

 

Bill deMello's biography of his brother, Tony deMello, acknowledged by many as the Guru of Change and personal care, has appeal for two main reasons. One, it gives the interested reader glimpses of Tony as a youngster in a family situation. This lets us in on Tony's 'hidden years' as it were. Already here we see Tony focused and exceptional in many ways.

Secondly, we are treated to interesting insights of Tony's progressive spiritual growth and the various turns that Tony took and new and varied learnings he allowed himself to experiment with.  The thoughts and ideas he explored, worked on and made part not just of his own personal journeying but as means and ways for others to grow as well are graphically described. Bill, as he admits, initially little understood or really cared for this creative spiritual dimension of his brother.

Bill's growing astonishment and gradual grasp of the wonders of Tony's influence and contributions help the reader to understand Tony in a much better way.  The many and diverse collections of information from all over the world that Bill requested for and received makes for wonderful reading. This information shared with Bill gives a very personal understanding of Tony. Bill has been extremely objective in as much as he does include observations of Tony which express criticism of him.  

Another notable aspect of the book is the contextualization of Tony’s impact and striking changes that he brought about among religious and lay people. This well written and insightful elucidation of Tony’s Jesuit formative years is clearly explained by the Editor, Clifford DeSilva who was very close to Tony. In the book, Bill acknowledges Clifford’s contribution with gratitude.  The precision of the editing helps the reader understand much of the background of developments as Tony entered into different areas of reflection and practice, a few of which invited controversy.

This book is a presentation of Tony in all his humanness as well as offers insightful glimpses in the way that Tony grew and evolved over the years on his way to being fully human and fully alive. The impact that Tony made too is brought out clearly in the views expressed by many and the continuing appeal of Tony's publications. Bill, through this biography, continues to 'create people' the way Tony did in his life time.

(The writer is a Jesuit and Counsellor specialised in NLP and the author of ‘A Facilitator'sHandbook: Ready-to-Present Growth Sessions for Resource Persons’ – St. Paul’s Publications, Mumbai)