Boyhood with Gurdjieff

By: Fritz Peters

Narrated by: Emile Hirsch

When Peters’ mother suffered a nervous breakdown in the early 1920s, young Fritz was adopted by his aunt, Margaret Anderson, and her partner, Jane Heap. They were editors of The Little Review, the literary magazine that launched the writings of James Joyce, e. e. cummings, Hemingway, and other avant-garde greats. They moved to France where they raised Fritz among Gertrude Stein’s salon.

Anderson and Heap introduced Peters to many influential figures, but most significant to him was G. I. Gurdjieff, founder of the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man in Fontainebleau. When Fritz first arrived there, Gurdjieff asked him what he wanted to learn. The boy replied, “I want to know everything. Everything about man. I think it is called psychology or maybe philosophy.” Gurdjieff answered with a sigh, “Your answer makes life difficult for me. I am the only one who teaches what you ask. You make more work for me.”

Thus, Fritz became perhaps the most intimate student of this mercurial mystic, but Gurdjieff was more than just a teacher to Fritz. He was a father figure whose influence Peters never shook, and always struggled to integrate. This stunning memoir covering Peters’ first years at the Institute retains a child’s naive perspective while offering photorealistic recall of Gurdjieff, the workings of his intentional community, and the eccentric characters who lived there.

©1964 Arthur A. Peters (P)2024 Hirsch Giovanni Publishing

Excellent insight on Gurdjieff’s personal and spiritual life. Also a deeper look at the context of gurdjieff’s exercises

There’s more than one level to this one. It’s worth a reread after more spiritual growth.

All around great

The details of the story were intriguing & often amusing. I could envision the esteemed spiritual mentor Gurdjieff thru the eyes of the beautiful author, in his youthful honesty. The narrator- pace/inflection/accent- was perfect . I give this “listen” a 5++.

I love the way. The author takes a very oblique view of such an enigmatic man.

The author comes across as a fantastically, honest and perceptive individual. A spellbinding read and take on a person who clearly was a riddle to all of those around him.

Amazing job done on the reading of the text as well, I particularly loved how the reader entered the personality of G when reading Gurjeet words.

Hilarious and fascinating! in my information, perfectly done and well met.

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His Other One, Gurdjieff Remembered, is Even Better

Fritz Peters wrote a sequel to this that I thought was even better. it was called, "Gurdjieff Remembered." I wish they would give it the same treatment.

I was in two of the groups, one operated by a disciple of JG Bennett. Once I had lunch with the head of the actual Gurdjieff movement in North America, (William Patrick Patterson).

My point is his name is pronounced "Goor-jeff" not "Goor-jeef."

Whenever I hear someone call him Goor-jeef I know they aren't part of his authentic lineage.

It's a tiny criticism. This is a classic and deserves to be remembered. Well done. As Gurdjieff would have said, Bravo!