كتاب حلو جدا جدا
i recommend it ✋

Captivating perspective on prayer. Chapter 5 almost lost me, but pulled me back in at the end. This is definitely something I will read again in the future.

Lovely book on prayer, written very simply and vividly. Had not thought of prayer in the sense that it was presented by Nouwen. Will definitely be coming back to this again and again.

one of my iconic books on living prayer. Praying and living with open hands is my meditative hope and desire. It is a short, approachable book with life changing meat. Much loved.

Great slow reading. Pair with the finest of coffees and slow down. The edition I read had massive margins to promote reflection. Nouwen is always great. This one is about prayer and is so much more than a how to.

I found this book difficult to read. I usually fall in love with Nouwen's books. I don't know if it is the format or what. I will keep it on my shelf and see if a second reading is worth it.

Worth owning.

I am a big time Nouwen fan but I think this book is a really good example of the element of his writing that is a bit too cloudy and vague. I love the art with which he writes, and in much of his works, his lack of an academic tone is very refreshing. However, this work on prayer was so ethereal that until you read the very last page it could have been written by a yoga master, a Buddhist monk, or Oprah. While I think all of the previously mentioned groups have found fruitful and valid applications for meditation, when coming from a Biblical worldview, the person of Christ has to be central to a handling of our conception of prayer. That being said, there were some quotes that were excellent and that I plan to use in the future. Just not a book I would recommend for someone looking to begin their journey into true prayer.

Nouwen presents a perspective on prayer here which will challenge the notion of prayer as only talking to or talking at God; rather, Nouwen offers us a view to prayer as first a waiting and receiving, and then a living in the presence of whatever we receive from God in our open hands. I highly recommend it for those interested in reading more about prayer!

Beautiful reflections on prayer. I believe the first edition with the black and white photos is the best.

I read this book in the 50-year-old original, and it gave me a shock to see what a revolution we have effected in making our language inclusive in that time. (As a translator of 80 or so books, I hope I've contributed to that work.) This version is all about "man," "a man," and "he" -- I think "her" appears once in reference to a mother. In that regard, my favorite howler is: "When he [another person] murders, I know that I too could have done that, and when he gives birth, I know that I am capable of that as well." Respectfully, dear Fr. Nouwen, no you couldn't!
The updated version of that passage reads: When someone murders, I know that I too could have murdered, and when someone gives birth, I know that I am capable of birth as well." Better, but still questionable.
Still, I recommend this book as a guide, inthe updated version, and the old one as a reminder of how far we have come and the amount of effort we still have to expend to make our language both readable and fair.

A fantastic reminder that compassion is what drives hope, and that is found through silent meditation and prayer. How can we love our neighbours, all of our neighbours, if we don't have hope and a view that the world and life can be transformed. A thoughtful and encouraging book. Continue the good fight to love all creation with hopeful compassion.