The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz has been a quiet presence on my bookshelf for some time. I finally decided to give it a read, intrigued by its reputation (and acclaim?). At just over a hundred pages, it’s a quick read—almost too quick—and leaves me questioning all the hubbub. While the book has its moments of clarity, its superficiality and reliance on commodified Toltec “wisdom” ultimately detract from its impact.

Ruiz presents four guiding principles: be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, and always do your best. On the surface, these agreements seem like sensible, even admirable, life lessons. Who wouldn’t benefit from more honesty, self-awareness, and effort in their day-to-day lives? Yet, as I turned the pages, I found myself wondering: is this really Toltec wisdom, or just common sense dressed up in borrowed cultural gravitas?

For those who value intellectual rigor and authenticity, Ruiz’s approach may feel more like marketing than philosophy. The “Toltec” framing feels performative—tacked on to lend an air of mysticism rather than serving as a deeply integrated cultural framework. While Ruiz claims these teachings stem from ancient wisdom, they are largely repackaged spiritual platitudes that lack the depth or historical fidelity to justify their purported heritage.

What truly hinders The Four Agreements is its oversimplification of life’s complexities. Ruiz offers catchy slogans but stops short of exploring the deeper philosophical or psychological underpinnings that make such principles effective. For example, “don’t take anything personally” is great advice for managing interpersonal conflict, but it also risks encouraging passivity in situations where assertiveness or boundaries are necessary. Similarly, “don’t make assumptions” could inhibit informed conjecture—an essential skill in critical thinking and decision-making.

Ruiz’s esoteric language also detracts from the practical applications of his advice. Phrases like “don’t let others poison you with their spells” may work as metaphors but fail to provide the actionable clarity one needs to implement these ideas in real-world situations. For those of us who value reason and evidence-based thinking, the mystical framing can feel frustratingly vague, even alienating.

In the end, I’d recommend skipping this book. Its simplicity may appeal to those new to self-help or mindfulness, but readers seeking a robust life philosophy will likely find it wanting. Instead, I encourage you to explore works that offer greater depth and intellectual engagement.

If you’re looking for a life philosophy rooted in reason and actionable wisdom, I’d suggest diving into something more “long-haired,” like Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations or Ayn Rand’s The Virtue of Selfishness. Both delve deeply into human nature, ethics, and how to live a meaningful life—one with clarity and intellectual rigor at its core. ( )

In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz outlines and explains four agreements or strategies for living a more centered, peaceful life. The agreements seem simple and practical leaving the reader wondering why they never thought of them before or nodding in agreement. There are moments though when they seem a bit unrealistic for real life. Ruiz provides examples that simplify the agreemetns and make them plausible. There is a bit of the "that sounds nice, but..." feeling that accompanies reading parts of The Four Agreements. Ruiz explains a different way of looking at each individual's life and dealing with each other than most people will recognize. At its core, The Four Agreements is about treating one's self and those around one better. Ruiz has created a well-written, intriguing, easy to understand examination of the facets of Toltec Wisdom that the reader will want to keep on hand for reference when life feels chaotic or just painful. ( )

Meh. While the central idea of the "Four Agreements" seems valid and noteworthy, the surrounding text and philosophy resounds with egocentric, isolationist, neo-panentheistic New Age drivel. While attractive to some, the process of 'how to live' presented here could be construed to provide incentive to be exploitative of other in the guise of 'personal freedom'. The frequent referral to 'magic' and other nebulous concepts were not, to me, an attractant to ideals presented. I read this twice with a gap of 4 months between reading to 'digest' the content within my own experiences and observations. ( )

The actual four agreements are good guides for living one’s life. The rest of the book is simplistic, repetitious, and not very well organized overall. I didn’t care for references to “white” and “black” magic, or to specific religions/deities. But the actual 4 assumptions—those 4 statements, are excellent. ( )

Not my thing at all. For one, I don't need it. For two, I don't do spiritual. Sorry.

June 2022