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Reviews and Endorsements for

Is God in That Bottle Cap

"Sambalino ... recounts his spiritual life and travels in his enjoyable, chatty debut. ... Readers will lose themselves in Sambalino's adventures through India, the Himalayas, Nepal, and Egypt as he contemplates the nature of awareness, wisdom, and understanding. With a focus on attention to one's surroundings, Sambalino's meticulous investigation of his spiritual thinking will appeal to readers interested in transcendental meditation." 

—Publishers Weekly

"Finally a book about meditation that speaks to the 21st Century! Sambalino searches for "Truth," not with the usual loftiest of someone better than the rest of us—he explores and discovers so unapologetically, so enthusiastically, with the devoutness of a teenager who has just fallen in love and marries for life (which he also has done!). His lifelong practice is a breath of fresh air, a tale of encouragement that anyone can find the truth no matter where you go... and oh the places he goes!" 

            —Katie Hyde, Director/Producer, Founder of Indie City Films

“John Sambalino’s life has had many “wake-up” moments, and he describes these engagingly. I got the sense that John brought forward into this life many talents from the past, and has deepened his relationship with Reality through his earnest commitment to practice and inquiry. A fun ride and informative read.”

—Jeff Cox, retired president of Snow Lion Publications

“John Sambalino has dedicated his life for the search of Truth. In these pages, he writes about his personal explorations and experiences that have led him to a deeper experience of the Source of Oneness that is accessible to all. In the chapter on his time at my Sumneytown ashram in 1977, I recognized that he instantly received the energetic transmission, which is unique to the Lineage of Shaktipat from which I come.  He obviously did instantly experience the connection to the Presence within. His continuing journey will inspire others, as it has for him.” 

            —Yogi Amrit Desai, Founder of Kripalu Yoga and I AM Yoga

“IS GOD IN THAT BOTTLE CAP is the remarkable description of author John Sambalino’s journey to discover the Ultimate Truth that surrounds us. Sambalino uses his personal experiences, storytelling, parables, and metaphors to encourage us to seek this Truth for ourselves, and he presents a vehicle, meditation, to help carry us towards our goal. Although words can never accurately describe this Ultimate Reality, IS GOD IN THAT BOTTLE CAP is a very readable, enjoyable, and practical sharing of the author’s experiences and insights.”

            —Joseph Selm, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and former adjunct professor of clinical psychology at LaSalle University.

“…a page-turning journey…Sambalino is a gifted storyteller who compellingly shares his spiritual journey to inspire others.  Highly recommended for fans of Ram Dass (Be Here Now) and Paramahansa Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi).” 

—Blueink Review

“John Sambalino's unwavering curiosity sparked his passionate life-long search for Truth. Informative, but never preachy, Sambalino strikes the right balance for all who seek to find. His enlightened journey makes for a spirited and inspiring debut book.” 

—Marja-Lewis Ryan, Writer/Director (The Four Faced Liar, 6 Balloons)

“An open-minded search for meaning that covers much literal and metaphysical ground, Is God in that Bottle Cap? is a compelling and interesting text.”

— Foreword Clarion Reviews  ★★★★   

“… readers should certainly enjoy this absorbing book. A lively and intensely readable story of one man’s use of a variety of spiritual practices to reveal the nature of reality.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Is God in That Bottle Cap is a great book from a truth-seeker. It is both engaging and inspiring. I would love to see this book in the hands of practitioners of all paths for self-realization.”

— Vijayendra Pratap, Ph.D., Founder/Director of SKY Foundation, President of the Yoga Research Society, Author (Beginning Yoga, Yoga Vision, Secrets of Hatha Vidya)

"An engaging combination of autobiography and philosophical treatise. Is God in That Bottle Cap? presents the example of one man’s striving, some of it seemingly haphazard, much of it sincerely aimed at an ultimate goal. By showing himself to be a regular guy gradually growing into this knowledge, Sambalino offers readers hope of success in their own personal journeys."

— Self-Publishing Review  ★★★★  

“I am really happy for my friend John Sambalino, who shares with us his story of discovery, his search for Ultimate Truth. It is a world I knew nothing about, one of meditation and spirituality, and it was so fun to follow him on his path to “Enlightenment.” His journey takes him and his readers from the Florida Keys where he met his wife to Himalayan peaks where he found joy and peace. If you are a fellow traveler on this path, or are just curious about this world, John is an excellent tour guide.” 

—Michael Vitez, career journalist and winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism

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