This compendium of inspiring quotations offers a guided tour through ideals of wisdom, humanity, love, creativity, and other urgent subjects explored in depth through the words of philosophers, athletes, presidents, and more. In Consolidated Wisdom, Jones (author of Younger and Wiser) considers the evolution of thought and wisdom across the ages of human civilization from biblical times to current day. With an eclectic mix of selections, from sources ranging from King Solomon to Bruce Lee, Jones has gathered often surprising musings, each “an insight drawn from someone’s lifetime of experience,” to provide insight into taking ownership of one's life with the goal, as he notes in an introduction, of offering “diverse blueprints for people of all ages, ethnicities and nationalities to pursue maximum success and happiness."

Each chapter features an engaging introduction from Jones and a section of quotes that fit the chapter's category, which include "Nature & Native American Wisdom,” "Humor & the Immortal Yogi Berra,” and more. Jones's quotations are sourced from books, magazine interviews/articles, cultural proverbs, the Bible, and even Twitter posts. In recurring section "Great Minds Think Alike,” quotes that share the same sentiment or message are grouped together, showing different perspectives over the ages on shared convictions and enriching understanding–Consolidated Wisdom quotes Lincoln, Yeats, Copernicus, Mandela, Donna Brazile, and the Indian mystic Kabir on the same page.

The chapter "Wisdom Meditations" finds Jones, a creativity consultant, introducing the art of autobrainstorming, a method of meditation intended to help readers “tap” into “inner wisdom.” Jones offers original, flexible guidance and examples, coaching readers through, and studding the inviting instructions with more quotes. Each chapter ends with tools leading readers to related material. Consolidated Wisdom is an inspiring, well-organized resource guide that finds common cause with thinkers across millenia. It’s suited for readers wanting to explore wisdom through multiple frames of reference running the gamut of the human experience.

Takeaway: Inspiring exploration of wisdom through quotations and meditative practices.

Comparable Titles: Julie Fournier's Daily Wisdom, D.W. Brown's 2500 Years of Wisdom.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A