Lighting the Western Sky: The Hearst Pilgrimage & Establishment of the Baha'i Faith in the West

This is a fantastic book, where we learn about the people and the journey of the first western pilgrims to Akka (now Acre, Israel) to meet Abdul Baha. I enjoyed this book so much that when I found out the author would be speaking outside Tucson, AZ on Thanksgiving weekend, I cancelled my holiday plans to attend the event.Why am I enamored with this book? Because before this book, if you wanted to learn about the first western pilgrims you had to spend a lot of time researching only to get bits and pieces of information. So I have tremendous respect for the author's researching skills and piecing this jigsaw puzzle together in one volume.That being said this book has a ton of detail, so if you're not into detail it maybe daunting. One could easily skim the paragraphs to get to the next subject of interest.As a result of this book, I am now an even bigger fan of Phoebe Apperson Hearst (mom to William R. Hearst, philanthropist, and 1st female regent for u.c. Berkeley, etc.) and want to know more about her.Finally, this book shares how this trip had an impact, for a handful of decades, on the Faith in the USA and Europe.

This book is extremely helpful to understand the early American Baha'is. Very inspiring to see how deeply devoted they were.

This is one of the best books I've read all year. I had always wondered what it would be like to visit Abdu'l-Baha in the Holy Land. Also I've wondered how the first pilgrimage was ever organized. This book explains it all. It is written in a very interesting manner. I felt as if I were making the trip myself. I look forward to re-reading it again in about a year or so.

This book is probably the most concise well written and documented book regarding the first Western Baha'i pilgrimage. Totally enjoyed from cover to cover. Truly a gem worth reading.

A remarkably detailed & authoritative book, providing the reader with not only a wonderful foundation in key developments of the Baha'i Faith, but also in the lives, marriages (with all their personal lessons), and perceptions of the first Westerners to visit the Master.

Such an interesting and informative book. Hated to even put it down for a short time! It brings history to life. Anyone who is interested in the early giants of the Baha'i Faith must have this for interest as well as for reference.

This book is extremely well written, flows and describes a very important aspect of Bahaí history in a very clear and interesting format.

can't put it down!