The author, Rick Chapman wrote: "I have written this book to help seekers from every path in their quest for an authentic spiritual guide. It is not my purpose to list or recommend gurus for you to choose from but to suggest some key guidelines which should be of use in trying to discern a real Master from one who is self-deluded or outright phony." After reading his book, I would have to say that he succeeded in doing just that.

He also says that if you want to become a great pianist, you find a master from whom you can learn. "And to make real progress on the spiritual path," he writes, "you need a guru." He continues, "...the real task before the spiritual seeker today is not to find a guru, but to sort out an authentic one. That problem is what this book is all about."