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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety' by Henri J. M. Nouwen is an ebook from a series of lectures that seems to be published now when it's really needed.
The author wrote these lectures at a particularly low point in his life, but I would never have known it. The six chapters are all based on a scripture out of the gospels and discuss simple principles of the Christian life like following and sacrifice and loving your enemies.
I liked this short book, and found it to be a comfort in the current mental state I found myself in. The words were comforting and calming. I'm glad I read it.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Crown Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The author wrote these lectures at a particularly low point in his life, but I would never have known it. The six chapters are all based on a scripture out of the gospels and discuss simple principles of the Christian life like following and sacrifice and loving your enemies.
I liked this short book, and found it to be a comfort in the current mental state I found myself in. The words were comforting and calming. I'm glad I read it.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Crown Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
sarahareinhard's review against another edition
4.0
This was my introduction to Nouwen, though I’ve certainly heard of him plenty of times before. Somehow, though, I’ve just never gotten around to reading anything of his.
This book is based on six talks that Nouwen delivered over Lent at St. Paul Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1985. Even as he faced uncertainty in his own life, he shared the wisdom and opened his heart to those who attended. Editor Gabrielle Earnshaw not only listened to the original talks on poorly preserved audiocassettes, but she also referenced his handwritten notes and other talks he gave on the same theme the following year.
But really, what this book offers is much more than its small size promises. In 136 pages, Nouwen challenges and invites, pushes and pulls, sits with you and talks with you.
“The great secret of the spiritual life is that you already know the little steps,” Nouwen writes, “even if you don’t know the big ones. You don’t need to know the big steps to take the little steps. You only have to take one step at a time.”
This book is based on six talks that Nouwen delivered over Lent at St. Paul Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1985. Even as he faced uncertainty in his own life, he shared the wisdom and opened his heart to those who attended. Editor Gabrielle Earnshaw not only listened to the original talks on poorly preserved audiocassettes, but she also referenced his handwritten notes and other talks he gave on the same theme the following year.
But really, what this book offers is much more than its small size promises. In 136 pages, Nouwen challenges and invites, pushes and pulls, sits with you and talks with you.
“The great secret of the spiritual life is that you already know the little steps,” Nouwen writes, “even if you don’t know the big ones. You don’t need to know the big steps to take the little steps. You only have to take one step at a time.”
renaestiers's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely piece of literature that I will hopefully read many more times. The writing spoke volumes to my soul in ways I did not expect, and I found myself crying at a few moments.
While the themes and topics that were presented are not necessary “new” to me, I definitely need some time to process my life and how it shows up for me.
While the themes and topics that were presented are not necessary “new” to me, I definitely need some time to process my life and how it shows up for me.
wkheckler's review
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Thoughtful, inspiring, and beautiful
glendonrfrank's review against another edition
4.0
Thus ends my journey to actually read all the Nouwen I had been collecting.
Unlike many of the books published after his death, this is less a loose collection of thoughts and more sourced from a specific series of talks that he gave. This gives it a better sense of formation than many of these posthumous publications, but it still kind of feels like a reiteration of a lot of similar ideas. Still, Nouwen's ideas are always good! Every time I am drawn to the delicate, intimate sense of faith he portrays.
I guess I'm just trying to find my passion again. Or rebuild it into something new. Reading Nouwen makes me want to pray again. To hope again. Nouwen understands the anxiety of homelessness, that at the root of Western society is this hurrying to build some form of stability but never arriving. It sounds so simple to slow down and find root in one's belovedness, but it always feels just out of reach. A pleasant dream, a hopeful ideal. Reading Nouwen gives me hope, but I find it oh so hard to cross over into action.
Unlike many of the books published after his death, this is less a loose collection of thoughts and more sourced from a specific series of talks that he gave. This gives it a better sense of formation than many of these posthumous publications, but it still kind of feels like a reiteration of a lot of similar ideas. Still, Nouwen's ideas are always good! Every time I am drawn to the delicate, intimate sense of faith he portrays.
I guess I'm just trying to find my passion again. Or rebuild it into something new. Reading Nouwen makes me want to pray again. To hope again. Nouwen understands the anxiety of homelessness, that at the root of Western society is this hurrying to build some form of stability but never arriving. It sounds so simple to slow down and find root in one's belovedness, but it always feels just out of reach. A pleasant dream, a hopeful ideal. Reading Nouwen gives me hope, but I find it oh so hard to cross over into action.
latviadugan's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best descriptions of the easy yoke I've ever read.
dbarnett7's review against another edition
4.0
Basically...we over complicate Following Jesus. It's just about being present with each other and with ourselves. What a great, short reminder this book was.