1 comments about A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk's True LifeThe Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 3: 1952-1960 (Merton, Thomas//Journal of Thomas Merton).

1. Volume three of the complete journals of Thomas Merton - A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk's True Life, edited by Lawrence S. Cunningham - follows on from where volume two ended with an entry dated July 25, 1952 and concludes in May 1960.

   The title given to this volume does not reflect the turbulence Merton was experiencing in the years covered by this journal. "Searching for Solitude" and "Pursuing the Monk's True Life" were not easy tasks for Thomas Merton. In The Sign of Jonas Merton battles with his dual vocations of being a solitary and a writer and, by the end of the journal, having discovered solitude both through writing and through his work as Master of Scholastics, the impression Merton gives in his masterful epilogue to Jonas, "Fire Watch, July 4, 1952", is that his problems over his vocation have been resolved. As Michael Mott and William Shannon have made clear in their biographies of Merton this was certainly not true. As Shannon notes, "The Sign of Jonas ends when the struggle is just beginning to warm up" for Merton's "most serious crisis of stability yet" and this is where the third volume of journals begins.

   Beginning with July 1952 this volume goes up to March 1953 where there is a break up until July 17, 1956 when the journal begins again. Cunningham provides no explanation for the missing years simply stating Merton "kept rather brief journal entries in the last months of 1952 and in 1953, with a hiatus in 1954-1955." (xiii) My major criticism of this volume is that no attempt at an explanation is provided for this hiatus. Patrick Hart, General Editor of these journals, has pointed out that the policy decision was made to publish Merton's journals in their entirety and that the publishers did not wish them to have more than the bare minimum in the way of footnotes to avoid them appearing like "a German doctoral dissertation." The lack of comment on Merton's hiatus of the mid fifties is taking this policy to an extreme and does not help the reader.

   From biographies of Merton it is possible to fill in the events of these "missing years" and to find the reason for the hiatus. In early 1953 Merton agreed to a request of Gabriel Sortais, Abbot General of the Cistercian Order, that he cease keeping a journal and l the lack of journal writings from 1953 through to 1956 suggests that Merton was obeying Sortais's wishes.

   In the fifties Merton experienced three major periods of instability, two of these, in 1953 and 1959 are covered in A Search for Solitude the other, from 1955 falls into the period when Merton was not keeping a journal but it can be traced in Mott's biography. These periods of instability show Merton's struggle with his vocation and with self doubt, struggles which are not found in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. The instability Merton writes of in his own life is an instability which has come to characterise the final decades of this century. Merton's writing in this journal serve as a witness to the qualities which sustained him through these profound periods of instability, especially a deep sense of obedience and a committment to his search for God and for truth.

   In the late summer of 1952 Merton mentions three options he is considering as possibilities for greater solitude - the Carthusians, the Camaldolese or the possibility of a separate scholasticate. As Merton's crises in The Sign of Jonas had led to opportunities for greater solitude at Gethsemani so, in response to his 1952 crisis Dom James allowed Merton to use a disused toolshed in the Gethsemani woods for limited periods of time. Merton called the toolshed St. Anne's and writes that "St. Anne's is what I have been waiting for and looking for all my life" adding "everything that was ever real in me has come back to life in this doorway wide open to the sky!" (32.)

   Merton's second major crisis of the fifties began in the early summer of 1955 and, though not covered in A Search for Solitude, it is worth mentioning briefly in this review as it highlights a pattern in Merton's life, a pattern very evident in this volume of Merton's journals. A visiting abbot had complained of a "hermit mentality" in the community and swept away some of the priviledges Dom James had arranged to provide Merton with more solitude. This led to Merton's application for a transitus to the Camaldolese in June 1955. Following on from this crisis of stability there followed a period of stability for Merton until in 1958 he began actively looking into opportunities once again to become a hermit and in November 1959 applied for an exclaustration to go to Mexico to become a hermit near the Benedictine monastery of Cuernavaca. When Merton's request was turned down he accepted the decision with relief and writes the next day of "a very great peace and gratitude at knowing that I have really, at last, found my definite place and that I have no further need to look, to seek, except in my own heart." (360) As with Merton's earlier crises of stability this crisis led to changes in this position at Gethsemani. In March 1960 Merton was given a quiet cell of his own in the monastery and plans were also begun for a cinder block building that would eventually become Merton's hermitage.

   Merton's relentless "search for solitude" is central to this third volume of his journals. Other themes found in the earlier two volumes are present as well as many new themes. A good part of Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander was written in the period covered by A Search for Solitude and so the development of Merton's thought can be seen through comparing this journal with Conjectures. Events and themes which would later be worked up for inclusion in Conjectures are here in their raw state. In particular Merton's expanding horizons over the latter years of this journal are striking. As Merton searched for a solitary life he was also asking questions about the monk's relationship to the world, realising that his solitary vocation was not merely "cuddling in self-love" (298) but involved a "responsibility to be in all reality a peacemaker in the world." (149) These years also saw the great expansion in Merton's correspondence and the influence of his correspondents upon him is profound. Of particular note in this journal is Merton's reflections on his contact with Boris Pasternak and his correspondence with Latin American writers. Merton's correspondence has been published elsewhere but the shockwaves from it permeate the second half of this journal. Reflecting on the effect of this correspondence upon him Merton writes:
   Like Dick Whittington turning again at the sound of Bow bells, because London was his life and vocation and fortune. I have "turned again" at the voice of the Andes and of the Sertao and of the Pampas and of Brazil. (169)

   Merton concludes this journal saying "I know you are leading me, and therefore there is no conflict with anyone. Nor can there be" (394) and yet, having accompanied him on his search for solitude and his pursuit of the monk's true life through these pages, having shared with Merton his struggles and his solaces, we know all too well that his search will continue along with his struggles.

5 comments about Grace like a River: An Autobiography.

1. Written in a fashion not unlike the music its author makes, I found this volume refreshing, well-crafted, and overall a highly satisfying read. A fairly intimate account of the ups and downs of life "on the road", "in the air", "on the stage" and the many places in between...including the surprising "lows points" that ultimately led to the finding of faith and a whole new way of life. With insights into life as a guitarist and classical musician, as well as his many encounters with great musicians and composers, this book should be a delight to anyone interested in classical guitar, Parkening himself, and not the least, the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ...oh, and fly-fishing too.



2. I have been a fan of Christopher Parkening for sometime. I enjoyed the book and thought it was well written. I especially liked the memories from his early days learning the guitar. His father seemed extreemly demanding of him and it felt to me that Chris actually vented some of this frustration in the book early on. His initial decision to quit the concert stage at 30 and live a life of fly fishing was even more interesting for me. He began to feel incomplete when he experienced all of this new found freedom, then began devoting his music to a higher purpose through his own will.
   
   The book moved rather quickly for me, but I found myself skipping the fly fishing stories a few times. If I were to make a recommendation of new editions, I would minimize those and perhaps put them in as an epilogue or a final chapter on his other hobbies.
   
   Overall a great Read, and I would recommend to anyone who wishes to be inspired.
   
   - David Carlin



3. With forewords by highly regarded evangelical author/pastor John MacArthur and internationally known author/speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, a quality read is an expected "given," and throughout the entirety of this autobiographical sketch of classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, there won't be any disappointments. Parkening characterizes his early childhood years as ones strongly influenced by his demanding father. Given to high, some might say unreasonably steep, expectations, Christopher's childhood was very different from most youngsters. His father, also a gifted musician, saw something rare and wonderful in Christopher at a young age and demanded perfectionism and drill sergeant-like discipline from him. Through hours of daily practice, beginning at 5:00 a.m. Christopher honed his skills, filed his nails just so, and practiced, practiced and practiced some more.
   
   At age 12, Christopher's parents gave him the Segovia Golden Jubilee three-record set as his birthday gift. Not too long after, his entire family attended Andres Segovia's concert where he was also able to meet the master in person. Never having forgotten that moment when Segovia patted Christopher's cheek, he was more inspired than ever to succeed. Under the tutelage of Celedonio and Pepe Romeros, Christopher and his father studied Pepe's every move, "from his hand position to his sitting position to his techniques for increasing speed."
   
   Frustrated that Christopher was unable to advance his speed, father and son realized that Christopher's fingernail shape was arched (not flat), so this innovative team developed finger braces to reshape them. Christopher wore these "braces" nightly for five years; finally he realized they would always return to their natural shape once the braces came off. So Christopher concentrated on learning to file his nails (an hourlong process) to make up for their arched natural form.
   
   Fast forward several years, Christopher has now become a recognized artist and his life has changed dramatically. Still, between practicing, performing and cutting records, he somehow managed to develop another love of his life: fly-fishing. Betwixt and between his ever-increasing travel schedule, Christopher and his dad spent hours laboring over the lakebeds and finding blessed reprieve from the stressful world of concert performances. These true escapades are duly sandwiched between each chapter segmenting Christopher's life; though short and concise, they offer some entertaining "fish tales" and poignant life takes as well.
   
   At the top of his game, Christopher finds himself increasingly dissatisfied with his life. Despite marriage, early "retirement" at age 30, and everything he could want materially, Christopher turns to Christ and makes a personal commitment following some difficult life events. The remainder of the text details how faith in God and living for His glory, not for personal gain or recognition, has altered Christopher's life for the good. Consistently honest and transparent, he challenges others to take stock of their souls and includes a hefty question/answer section at the close of the book.
   
   Readers will enjoy this medium-paced storyline that contains an insider's view on the world of performing artists. Especially inviting is Christopher's ability to provide a realistic and unembellished, yet grateful, picture of a life charmed by success but relinquished to Christ.
   
   --- Reviewed by Michele Howe



4. "Grace Like a River" is a fantastic look into the life and thoughts of the world's greatest living classical guitarist. Parkening shares the highs and lows of concert performances, especially the intense pressure and grind of a performing schedule. (I had the honor of meeting him following a concert in the 70's, and he was gracious and friendly even after a long performance.)
   
   The book moves from his early career to his "retirement", and then to his calling to again perform and share his great faith with the world. In this he has branched out from "just" a guitarist to a versatile performer. Anyone who hears his incredible work with Kathleen Battle on "Pleasures of Their Company" will know what I mean, especially their rendition of six traditional spirituals.
   
   Interestingly, Parkening also describes his love for fishing (he's a world-class, tournament-winning fisherman), and relates the life lessons learned from this easy-to-do, hard-to-master sport.
   
   This book is a great read. Get it.



5. This was an enjoyable book to read, brought insight into the sacrifices necessary to become a virtuoso guitar player. It also has a few good tips on fly fishing!

5 comments about Derek Prince: A Biography.

1. Clear, uplifting and inspiring. The story of Derek's life in the context of history was particularly interesting to read. Manfield mined and captured a story locked away for years.



2. I found this book an interesting read but it raises more questions than it answers. Derek Prince had a brilliant intellect and could have had a glittering academic career. But he had a weakness common to many intellectuals in that he lacked common sense and discernment, and he had an unbalanced personality. This can probably be traced to his early upbringing where he was starved of parental love and affection, and developed "a spirit of loneliness".
   
   He had a cold and aloof demeanour, and this caused problems in his marriage relationships and with other Christians. There is a revealing passage where his second wife Ruth burst into tears in a public confrontation saying to Derek "You never tell me you love me and you always criticise everything I do".
   
   Doctrinally he had a penchant for extreme positions on e.g. demonisation and submission teachings, that were not only unscriptural but nonsensical. The author skates very lightly over Prince's involvement in the disastrous shepherding controversy of the seventies and eighties. He mistakenly gives the impression that Prince was on the fringe of these activities, whereas more scholarly works such as David Moore's The Shepherding Movement make it clear that Prince was a driving doctrinal force in the propagation of such nonsense, and had been so from the beginning. That he later renounced such teachings and repented of his error only serves to confirm how easily he had been deceived-yet here was a man who set himself up as a teacher of others, and who in turn deceived thousands.
   
   The author has only a sketchy knowledge of modern church history- he gives the wrong date for the revivals in Wales and Azusa Street, and wrongly names the Church of the Nazarene as "Pentecostal" whereas in fact it has always been a vehement opposer of Pentecostalism in all its forms.
   
   This popular account of Derek Prince veers to a misplaced hagiography, and we still await a definitive and more objective study of Prince's fruitful life and ministry.



3. I have followed Derek Prince's ministry for years and Mansfield's candid approach made me smile with fond memories, as well as give me new appreciation of the genius of this man. I feel honored to have been given the privelege of sitting under this man's teachings.



4. Derek Prince was a fascinating character - an Eton and Cambridge high-fligher and student of Wittgenstein who decided to join a movement often regarded as anti-intellectual and as the province of "the disinherited": Pentecostalism, where he gained a huge reputation as a Bible teacher, exorcist and healer. Stephen Mansfield's popular biography provides a lively account of Prince's life, and the various milieux in which he passed through.
   
   However, while Mansfield has crafted a useful introduction, this is not a comprehensive account of Prince's life. There is no attempt to explore Prince's writings and teachings in any depth, nor is there any real critical assessment. Mansfield avoids hagiography, telling us about Prince's involvement in the disastrous "shepherding movement", but he does not dwell too long on what the consequences of the movement were. We read a lot about Prince's support for Israel - but nothing about what his views concerning Palestinians may have been. Accounts of miracles abound - a goitre drops off, two people are raised from the dead etc. - but these claims are not examined systematically (the book also tells us that one of Prince's particular specialities was to diagnose one leg being shorter than the other, and then to "cure" the problem - an old Pentecostal standby). One crucial bit of information Mansfield gives us is that Prince dabbled in "voodoo" before his conversion; but there is no thought as to whether such an interest in the paranormal may have informed his later Pentecostal worldview - Prince moved in a demon-haunted universe in which curses are real, and in which people are under spiritual attack from "spirits of nicotine" and "spirits of flirting".
   
   A few other bits of information in the book are underdeveloped. For some reason, Mansfield tells us the full name of Prince's roommate in Scarborough, even though he features only very briefly, while the woman who brought Prince to Pentecostal faith is a semi-anonymous "Mrs Shaw". A pastor who gets Prince an important position is identified merely as "a man named Henderson". But perhaps such complaints are misplaced - after all, the book is published by Charisma House, not a university press.



5. The writer relates how, towards the end of Derek Prince's life, he asked Derek what was the most important truth that he had learned about life.
   
   Derek Prince replied immediately, "God is faithful. He keeps His word. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. I cannot emphasize this enough......"
   
   This experience, although expressed towards the end of this most excellent study, permeates the text from the very beginning.
   
   Reading this book, which was a distinct privilege, often moved me to tears and it is difficult in adequately express in mere words alone how highly I would like to commend this study of the life of Derek Prince to others.
   
   As illustrated in the book's epilogue, although Derek Prince is dead, the Biblical truths that he pioneered through his life and ministry are not.
   
   Although the writer deals in commendable detail with all aspects of Derek Prince's life from his early days in India to his final years living in Jerusalem, for me personally the most significant aspects of Derek's life as described in this book, relate to Derek's own feelings and devotion to Israel and the place that it's people and land play in the Hebrew Christian Scriptures.
   
   Named at his birth in Bangalore, India during 1915, as Peter Derek Vaughan Prince, the book follows how Derek entered into a family steeped in the British military and covers his earliest memories and experiences.
   
   The writer describes how Derek cited one of his earliest hobbies as being "human nature".
   
   His academic brilliance was rarely if ever matched by any of his peers as he steadily progressed through Eton and onwards to become a Cambridge Don where he is described as being both an atheist and a philospher.
   
   His ability to debate and teach, together with his proven excellence in dissecting the written word became well known as he studied the classics, philosophy and other such literature at every conceivable level.
   
   During World War 2, Derek Prince went on to serve in the Royal Army Medical Corps in what was then Palestine. During his military service the reader discovers how Derek's analysis of literature became rather confined due to the uneasy demands of military service.
   
   Not having room in his kit for volumes of books, Derek - "soley as an intellectual exercise" - began a methodical study of the Holy Bible (King James Version).
   
   Starting, as with all books - at the beginning - Derek, who was far from being a Christian at this time, was seen by his colleagues diligently spending hours studying the Bible while drinking whisky and swearing with a command that impressed them all.
   
   The reader is left to imagine how others perceived him at this time. The book describes how - "...he drinks, he reads his Bible and he walks alone..."
   
   It was some time after this, again during his Army Service, that Derek Prince is cited as having his first personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. A life changing experience, described in some detail, and which resounds throughout the remainder of the book.
   
   Applying the same intense devotional study to the written Word of God, Derek has provided a detailed Scriptural account of the place of Israel, the Jewish people, Jerusalem and the Church that few have been able to match.
   
   Derek's own years in Israel after leaving the Army and his marriage etc. are amonst a plethora of issues defined in minute detail and which really need to be digested in their entirety outside of a review. Too much detail here may risk spoiling the incredible story for any prospective reader.
   
   This is a remarkable book. I need to read it again. I want to read it again.
   
   Derek Prince declared that God is faithful. Read this remarkable book and you will not doubt it again.
   
   Thank you.

5 comments about Go Forward With Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley.

1. As is stated in the forward section, he was a giant among men. But I think what made him a truly great leader was how well he stayed connected with the people he led, seemingly never losing touch with the world, its people and the issues affecting them.
   
   However, the book was a bit of a slow read. Took me a while to get through it because I had a difficult time staying attentive.



2. This is a wonderful book- the history, stories and inspirational advice
   from the life of the prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley are motivating and will lift your spirits.



3. What a lovely man, so real and earthy, and how inspiring to read his story!



4. This was a wonderful book about the life of President Gordon B. Hinckley's life.
   
   Gordon B. Hinckley's life is the the LDS Church and has been since His call to serve as a missionary.So don't be surprised if it talks a lot about the Chruch and the role that Gordon played in the history of it in the last century.
   
   It's an excellent read and you'll learn much more about this amazing man.



5. Gordon B. Hinckley is an interesting man who has had great influence on the LDS Church. Primarily a marketing guru, the book details the role he played in his early years working with Stephen L. Richards and J. Rueben Clark and others as an up and coming man in the church. He sufficiently impressed his superiors that they called him to be an assistant to the apostles and eventually an apostle.
   
   As a young apostle, Hinckley spent much of his efforts on the missionary program. It appears that he deferred to the elder apostles on matters of doctrine and interestingly played little role in some of the more colorful disputes that took place in the church during the sixties. While Harold B. Lee, Joseph Fielding Smith and Hugh B. Brown were trying to reign in Ezra Taft Benson's crazy political doctrines, Gordon B. Hinckley was apparently a non-entity (no mention of those events in Dew's book).
   
   As a senior apostle, Gordon B. Hinckley had tremendous influence as ailing older Presidents and Apostles relied heavily on him to be essentially the cheif administrative officer of the church. Eventually becoming President himself, Gordon B. Hinckley continued his role as primarily an adminstrator and marketing guru.
   
   Gordon B. Hinckley will not be remembered as someone who made contributions in Mormon doctrine. Sometimes, in the book, you almost sense a Gordon B. Hinckley who doesn't really believe in anything other than the organization. After reading the book, I feel I understand Gordon B. Hinckley as a capable administrator, a loyal member of the organization, but anything but a dynamic leader who actually stands for anything.
   
   I cannot think of a single revelation that Gordon B. Hinckley has made (other than some silly stuff about piercings and tattoos- how's that for earth-shattering). He has spent millions on temples, and has worked tirelessly on public relations pursuits for the church, but an inspired leader? Even with the author's best spin, I don't think so.
   
   Sometime in the future, I look forward to a biography on Gordon B. Hinckley that has the intention of telling his story, not selling his church.

5 comments about Prisoners of Hope: The Story of Our Captivity and Freedom in Afghanistan.

1. I am currently reading this book, almost finished. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I understand and agree that there are people here in the states that need help, but these women had a desire to help the poorest of the poor; those that no one else would be willing to help. They clearly state that they were careful not to "push" their religion on other people, only OFFERING to pray when someone was sick or needed help. Unless a casual statement was made, they didn't DISCUSS Christianity with Afghans unless those Afghans asked about it first. They went out of their way to help these people out. It is my understanding by reading the book that their motive was not to convert these Afghans to Christianity, but rather seeking to serve those who could not help themselves. I believe it is extremely commendable what they have done and appreciate the deep honesty that comes in the book (especially from Heather, admitting to her weaknesses). I've had this book for some time, but just now actually reading it. It is very enjoyable. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading clean, Christian literature.



2. This book was very informative about the culture of Afghanistan. It was very personable. It is a book that when you read it, it will help to increase your faith in Jesus Christ. I encourage anyone who is going through a time of struggle to read this book.



3. Great Book they wrote together about there story must read AND BE ON THE NEW YORK BEST SELLER LIST AND HOFLEY THEY WRITE MORE BOOKS TO COME!



4. This was an interesting story about two Christian, foreign aid workers in Kabul, Afghanistan. I appreciated the background on what got them to Kabul and also the descriptions of their trials and frustrations while in captivity. Too often I've read bios or diarires that depict everything as "pie in the sky". Few people live that kind of life, so I appreciate it when people can be true, even if it means not being portrayed in a positive light. My biggest complaint about the book is its stilted language. For example, the use of "I was not" instead of "I wasn't" or "I did not" instead of "I didn't". This book was written in a conversational tone, though every time a contraction wasn't used when it should have been, it jumped off the page at me. It was distracting. Also, it would have been nice to have gotten more about their interactions with their fellow captives. This isn't a page turner. But it is an interesting story of faith put to the test and lived out in extreme circumstances.



5. I do a lot of reading, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It is very well written and does a good job of showing the reader what daily life was like for those living in Afghanistan. I appreciated the honesty, and the portrait of faith displayed by these courageous, Godly ladies!

2 comments about St. Benedict: Hero of the Hills (Vision Books).

1. Note: This is the same book that is published by TAN books, except "Hero of the Hills" has been added to the Vision Book title.



2. There is not a Religios book in the world like this the auther took all the facts and turnd saint benidicts life into a naritiv like it is realy happining while you are reading it. this book is a real page turner and once i started i couldent stop just like the harry potter series. I hily recomend this book to people interested in monastic life, the life of saint benidict, the catholic church, miricals, or even somone who just wants to read a good book as rare as this one. believe me this book is worth reading.

5 comments about The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia's Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail.

1. I read this book in several sittings which is unusual for me. I just couldn't stop and wanted to read some more of this fascinating story. It is a feel good story for the modern ages. If you are reading this you probably know about the former Beverly Hillls mom , twice divorced who was unable to receive Holy Communion from the Catholic Church, circumvented any road blocks and began her service for mankind(the most down and out of low people in La Mesa prison near Tijuana)and our Lord at age fifty. She produced her own habit and eventually was recognized by an official order. She has worked amongst the biggest drug dealers of Mexico, the murderer of Presidential candidate Colosio, the bloodiest of assasins and the peons who are just to poor to live in society and seek refuge in jail(now that is desperate)and the mentally ill. A prison in Mexico is unlike an American prison. Torture is common. She got involded in prison reform as well as changing men. Mother Antonia is unafraid of the toughest and meanest because she is a righteous woman and all who encounter her love and admire her. She lives in prison. She lives the same way the prisoners do. She walks and talks to the hardest of hard core. She gives them hope and transforrms many of their lives through the miracle of faith. This is an inspirational story that will leave you pondering your own existence; it is truly an amazing story that all should read as it will make you feel better about mankind. She is truly a living saint. Oh yes, there is a large print edition of this book available for the visually handicapped. God bless Sister Antonio and all who she touches.



2. This is a very inspirational book and helps people see how they can still be useful as they get older.



3. The Prison Angel is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. Mother Antonia is so amazing that one would question the truth of her story if it weren't for the consistent witness and corroboration provided by all those who come into contact with her. She loves and ministers to everyone without distinction. This is a great book for teaching the golden rule.



4. Mother Antonia is an inspiration for us to see all people as fellow humans with similar needs - to be cared for, loved, and accepted. I appreciate that she paved the way to be valuable at an "older" age, and she welcomes women in their later years as valuable and able to serve others. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and passed it around among many friends.



5. This book touches your soul and uplifts your spirits. You would dare to judge another person after reading this book about a woman who could forgive and love the "unlovable." Very touching

3 comments about Bold as a Lamb.

1. Whether or not you are a Christian, this book will touch your soul. Samuel Lamb spent over 20 years in Chinese prisons for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a Christian, it has challenged me in my walk with Christ.



2. I felt strongly enough about this book to go out of my way to write a review (!). I learned a lot about how the Chinese government deals with the Church. I would love to meet Pastor Lamb someday.



3. In 1996, a friend loaned me their copy of Bold as a Lamb just one month prior to our trip to China. This book gave me a stronger understanding of the real presecution that takes place everyday in this fallen world that desperately needs Jesus Christ. This book recounts the story of one Christian man's life within the wallls of China. How he spent over 20 years of his life in prison because of his faith in Jesus Christ. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone Christian or not. Also, to those who teach High School or College students this would be an excellent book for classroom reading and discusion. While in China, I personally met Pastor Samual Lamb and worshiped with his home church.

4 comments about Thomas Merton's Gethsemani: Landscapes Of Paradise.

1. Thomas Merton's Gethsemani, Landscapes of Paradise by Monica Weis was, for me, a worthwhile read on a number of levels. Her premise was fascinating namely that Merton expanded his soul and grew progressively in his relationship with God by embracing not only the rules and rigors of monasticism but the mini-universe of the physical monastery, the land of Gethsemani itself. Weis details Merton's apprehension of this "paradise" with deceptive simplicity - the hills, rivers, storms, birds, smells and rhythms not only beckon him to deeper solititude but lead him into expanding realization, prayer and praise. And that for me, was the core accomplishment of the book. Weis never goes over the top. Her writing is clear and definite without strain, puffery or poetry. Rather the poetry of the book is her step by step detailing of the changes occuring within Merton himself as he allows Gethsemani - its physicality and metaphor - into his mind and heart. She traces the contours of a dynamic, poetic soul and the book shares the movement. Haley's black and white pictures of Gethsemani are simultaneously homey and mysterious; each invites a second look, a revaluation of your first response. His photography and Weis's premise go hand in hand. I remember one shot of a night sky - a black expanse spangled with hundreds of stars. It is sweeping and dramatic, far more majestic than those of woods, sheds and farm tools. Yet it locked perfectly with Weis's final chapters on Merton's (mystic) experience of a palpable unity; his sense that the world's religions have a common source and his full embrace of the METAPHOR he lived at Gethsemani. The book was my summer's morning read - a chapter a day with a cup of Starbuck's! A good way to start a day.



2. Five stars for the stunning photography of Harry L. Hinkle, and the wonderful layout of this volume, with it's telling quotes from Thomas Merton's own nature writings. His nature oeuvre is substantial, and this volume fills a need. Unfortunately, the essay text by Monica Weis is unbalanced. One is left with a very misleading idea of what this man was really about. He was not just a Franciscan icon lost in the rapture of the forests. On one level, we do a disservice to this great man in constantly perpetuating this kind of mythology. Too many reverential, saccharine treatments have been printed already. Merton was so much more; and others, beginning with biographer Michael Mott, have brought real balanced treatment to the life of this extremely complex man.
   
   In the Foreward, Brother Patrick Hart makes mention of pilgrimages to the the places of interest in the physical and spiritual odessey of Thomas Merton. Who are these dear people who feel the need to do precisely what Thomas Merton himself so often railed against? Please desist from attempting to create an Icon of this most complex of human beings.



3. Mr. Hinkles evocative and enduring photographs and Ms. Weis' lyrical
   text complement each other in support of Thomas Merton's enormous life. This is a precious text largely because it celebrates the courage to
   simply be. One can read about Merton's contemplative life and very nearly be with him--in his light under the trees and sky and birds which
   are fundamental and which were so essential to his routine, his daily
   habit. Weis' text in particular is a carefully crafted essay--both probing and reverential. The book is an acheivement.



4. I'll admit. I bought this book because the photographer, Harry Hinkle, is my cousin's husband.BUT.. I found myself drawn past the incredible photography of both Merton Thomas and Harry to the moving and insightful writing. The sheer joy of life reflected in the words AND photographs of this book, make me want to look at everything with new eyes and heart.

3 comments about The Wisdom of Maimonides: The Life and Writings of the Jewish Sage.

1. This brilliant overview gives the reader not only a thorough understanding of the works of Maimonides, but gets to know him as an intimate friend. We become aware not only of the magic of his thinking, his depth of scientific understanding and his phenomenal contributions to our world this many centuries later, but, as as a friend, a colleague, a neighbor, as a full human being. I sat there, reading, totally entranced, not able to put the book down, my only regret being when it ended, though my "appetite" had been more than fully sated. I recommend it for all. It is a true "must."
   Marcella Bakur Weiner Ph.D.



2. this is a decent introduction to Maimonides as a person and a thinker. however, if one is already familiar with Pirkei Avoth, one is already way ahead of the game. could use considerably more depth, and especially analysis. what were his contributions to thought? Jewish thought? Gentile? where is he controversial? what are the implications of the sayings? discussion? comparable or competing thinkers?



3. There is merit to this very short work, 170 pages. There is a brief biography, some stories about his medical practice which are of unstated
   reliability. The rear jacket says that Maimonides' actual feelings about Judaism as a belief system is uncertain, though his affection for the community and the system of thinking are definite. The affection he had for science as pure thought aside from medical practice is not examined. My personal belief that he anticipated Darwin by 650 years is not touched upon. There is exceptionally brief discussion of Mishneh Torah is misleading, as anyone who has read the whole work will recognize. I cannot speak of Guide as I have tried but could not read it as the print is so small. His examination of Judaism and Aristotle is discussed, though the dictum that knowledge is knowledge, no matter where it comes from is more an example of his thoughts than the words of M. Torah. There is a list of works with very brief extrations from them.
   
   To one unfamiliar with Maimonides this is a pretty good introduction,though the extracts from M. Torah are misleading.
   
   Mr. Hoffman could have put out a much better work. His concession to brevity makes this effort a bit disappointing.