Jacob's Hands

by Aldous Huxley and Christopher Isherwood

Book Overview

Jacob's Hands is the product of the friendship between Aldous Huxley and Christopher Isherwood, who were among the many European artists drawn to the U.S. in the 1930s, when war threatened Europe. The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312194676
• ISBN13: 9780312194673
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 141 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Healing in a Positive Way!

I like a person that sticks to their beliefs and personal principles. A person that doesn't get swayed by others negative traits. That's why I took a special liking to Jacob Erickson, a shy, and sometimes naïve person, who is the main character in this wonderful little story that takes place in the 1920's. One day he discovers he has the power to heal animals with his hands, and soon after finds out he can heal humans, too, when he heals Sharon, a girl he has fallen in love with. He soon leaves his job on a ranch in California's Mojave Desert to pursue Sharon who has run off to be a singer in Los Angeles. It's there that there adventure starts to take several unexpected turns from working for exploitative showmen, to seedy stage shows, and to healing an ailing young millionaire named Earl, who changes everything and leads them on a different course in their lives.Jabob reminds me of myself years ago when I had the opportunity to heal but decided to choose a different path for my life which I found to be in my best interest. It's a difficult choice and this story, told in the first person, makes it much more realistic. As Jacob finds out you can only heal those who want to be healed. The body can be healed but Jabob only wanted to heal the body if the soul & heart are healed, too. A wise choice. I'm glad I discovered this book and truly enjoyed it. Highly Recommended!

little known gem from Huxley and Isherwood

We owe it to Sharon Stone that we even have this short fable at all -- she found it thanks to her perseverance tracking down a reference made to the screenplay.I agree with the writer below who notes that Jacob reminds him of Lenny in Steinbeck's work. He's not retarded, but he's immune to the lures of wealth and privilege. Despite the material promises stemming from his incredible ability to heal, he just wants a simple life with Sharon, the fallen character. Jacob has always loved Sharon -- the moment he cures her of her childhood disease, she literally runs off to be a singer. When Jacob finds her years later, they have the chance to go back and live in the "desert" (so many biblical allusions and overtones), but Sharon cannot give up the money left to her by a rich benefactor who was cured by Jacob but killed by his own inability to give up his disease. The writing is vivid and reads very much like the screenplay that it is. There is something very moving about Jacob's simplicity and inability to be corrupted. A powerful little fable, worthy of rediscovery.

HEAL ME!

Jacob's Hands is a tantalizing account of one man's eyes opening. Poor Jacob, so ingnorant of the world. He truly believes in goodness. This book is a look into the evils of human nature. Human nature is greedy and self serving, unfortunately, Jacob does not realize this. In attempt to give his love all that he can, he opens himself up to exploitation. This book is a reader's journey into the souls of the pure and the corrupt. Perhaps the authors whished us all to take a good deep look into our own souls and the manner in which we treat others. This book is just one more glorious demonstration of life by Adlous Huxley, this time with the help of Christopher Isherwood.

I love this book!

The narration of this story is more simplistic than Brave New World, but keep in mind that Jacob's Hands was written as a screenplay, not a novel. Aldous Huxley and Christopher Isherwood have created a wonderful story and though the reading is easy, the questions brought to life in this tale are anything but. Jacob is the shy, gentle antagonist (who reminds me of John Steinbeck's Lenny)blessed and cursed simultaneously with the gift of healing. Exploited and heart-broken, he must determine the true benefit of mending the broken bodies brought to him when he can do nothing to repair their souls. Ideas in this story range from the physical hardships of the lame, to the role of spirituality in healing, to first loves and betrayal. Enjoyable and thought-provoking, I recommend this book to anyone who likes to ponder over Huxley's logic, or just enjoys to read.

Excellent book that should make a great movie.

Its been a very long time since I've sat down and read a book from cover to cover all in one sitting. It couldn't be helped in this case. I know this was written as a rough draft for a screenplay, but so what, I think it is complete as it is. It does what a book should do. It starts the little theater of the mind and lets you fill in the blanks. If you lack imagination, for heaven sake don't pick up this book, wait for the movie. If you prefer to create your own details, however, you can't beat this for a good read.