Reviews

Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen

smsloyer's review against another edition

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2.0

This book felt... internally inconsistent. Don't get me wrong, I think think there are many passages and paragraphs that I would re-read and recommend to others. However, taken as a whole, I think this book presents an incoherent image of discernment. Henri Nouwen is so beloved by many due to his ability to convey his spiritual struggles and yet it is because of his struggles that I think this book falls short. In one paragraph, he will be presenting material on discernment in line with his own Catholic (and wider Christian) formation, yet then he will jump into paragraphs and paragraphs which contain deviations from the Christian walk, either in Mertonite ways or in ways that portray the heart of Christianity as extreme social justice.

This book, as a personal reflection would get three stars. As a book meant for teaching discernment, it gets two, only redeemable by a few passages.

ahynesa's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a wonderful book in which Nouwen shares thoughts about discernment as he talks about his own life.

hem's review against another edition

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3.0

I love Nouwen, but I love Nouwen's original work so much more than the compilations, like this one, that editors have put together in the last few years.

nfarcamp57's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

cgerrish's review

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4.0

Extra bonus: The foreward "Henri's Way of Discernment" and Appendix C "Spiritual Friendship and Mutual Discernment", both by Henri's close friend Robert Jonas, offer a real-life example of life as spiritual journey and the role of ongoing discernment. Thank you, Jonas, for sharing your story.

swright3615's review against another edition

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5.0

Amazingly insightful!

arobinsc's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5

donifaber's review against another edition

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This read like an inspired bibliography.
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