"Views from the Real World" by G.I. Gurdjieff

This book was assembled from the notes of the students (taken afterwards, as writing was forbidden during the meetings) of Gurdjieff in the Russian Empire and later in Germany, France and USA.  It is difficult to summarize the book as it touches on so many different subjects, but the main value is that Gurdjieff's advice is given directly, pertaining to actual problems and questions that occurred during the work.

Some of the explanations are so insightful yet witty and put in such a great format that it is almost impossible not to recognize oneself and one's own problems and delusions.  The emphasis on humans spending most of their lives in 'dreaming' which is to mean useless imagination, both pleasant and unpleasant really drives the point home even for those of us who would really like to deny it and imagine that we are not imagining.

The metaphor of the horse, cart, driver, passenger, reins, etc. is explained in great detail and rings more true the more one looks into it.  Also the "two rivers" metaphor is described in much more detail than in other books.

Some practical exercises and pointers are given, but by this time every serious student should have realized that practicing from books is not going to work.  A personal connection with the tradition and the living representatives is more than necessary, even though it is not nearly enough or sufficient, as the strength of our buffers is humongous.

After reading widely in the Gurdjieff lore, it is becoming my persuasion that it would be best to start with the books written from Gurdjieff's words, before reading any of the student's works, even Mme. De Saltzman's.  Probably best sequence would be (IMHO):

1. In the Search of the Miraculous
2. The Psychology of Man's possible Evolution
3. Views from the Real World
4. Paris Meetings Vol. 1
5. Paris Meetings Vol. 2
6. Herald of Coming Good
7. Beelzebub
8. Meetings
9. Life is Only Real when 'I AM'
10. (Students' Works)

This should at least help with the proper knowledge falling in proper places.