Robert H. Stockman

I read this book over a 2-year period. It was very detailed and somewhat dry. It seems Robert Stockman made an extreme effort to note every date of travel, how many speeches Abdu'l Baha gave each day, where as well a how he traveled and where he stayed — a home or a hotel etc. Despite these details, it was a fascinating read for anyone who is interested in how the Baha'i faith was spread from the Middle East to the rest of the world. Abdu'l Baha is described as such a loving and compassionate man with the ability to demonstrate the true values of his faith. The Baha'i belief in the equality of men and women was revolutionary. Abdu'ul Baha promoted racial equality by insisting on having black people sit by his side at dinners despite the segregation that existed in this country during the early 1900s. He convinced 2 people of different races to marry and, altogether, made such a beautiful case for the unity of mankind that I had to read it to the end no matter how many small details were thrown at me. It is helpful to know something about the Baha'i faith before reading this book in order to understand the values of the Faith and the relationship between Abdu'l Baha and his father, Bahaullah, the founder of the faith and the latest proclaimed Manifestation of God. It gives context to the "rules" that are described and insight into the intensity with which Abdu'l Baha undertook such a grueling 8-month trip despite his advanced age. Recommended for people who have an interest in the Baha'i Faith and its relationship to other monotheistic religions.… (meer)