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neilrcoulter's review
4.0
Richard Foster has given a great gift to Christians with his two volumes of readings from Christian history: Devotional Classics, and this one, Spiritual Classics. Spiritual Classics is organized according to the spiritual disciplines, as Foster outlines them in Celebration of Discipline. Some of the readings fit exactly the discipline theme, while others seemed to have a more tangential connection to the disciplines under which they were grouped. Each reading is short (I think generally shorter than the readings in Devotional Classics, though I could be mistaken), and is prefaced by an introduction to the author's biography and followed by discussion questions, a commentary by Richard Foster, and a bibliography of recommended readings by or about that author. I've used this book as personal devotional reading, but I imagine it would be great with a book club or small group also.
My general feeling is that this book is not quite as fantastic a collection as Devotional Classics--fewer selections that had me immediately going to buy the full book; one reason may be that this collection seems to favor writings by mystics, which I struggle with (again, that may be a wrong impression, but it seems like a larger number of selections here are by mystics). But this is a small criticism in the face of such a beautiful panorama of Christian history. I highly recommend both of Foster's collections to any Christian.
My general feeling is that this book is not quite as fantastic a collection as Devotional Classics--fewer selections that had me immediately going to buy the full book; one reason may be that this collection seems to favor writings by mystics, which I struggle with (again, that may be a wrong impression, but it seems like a larger number of selections here are by mystics). But this is a small criticism in the face of such a beautiful panorama of Christian history. I highly recommend both of Foster's collections to any Christian.
bickleyhouse's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I wound up liking it. The best thing about it was that it introduced me to some authors that I have already begun reading and will explore even more, going forward.
The format of this book, which is not really what one would call a "devotional" book, even though I kind of read it that way, is that there is a major heading that consists of one of the twelve "classic" spiritual disciplines. Those are the inward disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study, the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service, and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. The book also includes four extra readings at the end, for months that have a fifth week.
One could easily jump around from topic to topic, if one so desired, but I read it straight through, except for those four "fifth week" readings, which I inserted when there was, in fact, a fifth week in the month.
I was introduced to some authors whose work I have never read, and plan to read more of. Agnes Sanford is one of those, and I already have her book, The Healing Light, in my TBR. Catherine Marshall was part of the fasting month, and I picked up her book, A Closer Walk. I also enjoyed the writings of John Henry Newman, featured twice in this volume.
There were plenty of other authors with whom I am familiar, and plan to read more of, in the future. Then there were some readings that I just didn't get or didn't resonate with me at all. Hence the three-star rating. There were even a few that made me wonder why they were included.
At the end of each author's section, Richard J. Foster included some of his own thoughts. At some point, I was wondering why Emilie Griffin's name was included as editor, but perhaps she was involved more with choosing the selections, as I didn't see any writing by her. By the way, I have read two of her books on prayer that are wonderful.
So, to sum up, it was a book that had some value to me, and it may stay on my shelf for future reference. I'm still pondering that.
The format of this book, which is not really what one would call a "devotional" book, even though I kind of read it that way, is that there is a major heading that consists of one of the twelve "classic" spiritual disciplines. Those are the inward disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study, the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service, and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. The book also includes four extra readings at the end, for months that have a fifth week.
One could easily jump around from topic to topic, if one so desired, but I read it straight through, except for those four "fifth week" readings, which I inserted when there was, in fact, a fifth week in the month.
I was introduced to some authors whose work I have never read, and plan to read more of. Agnes Sanford is one of those, and I already have her book, The Healing Light, in my TBR. Catherine Marshall was part of the fasting month, and I picked up her book, A Closer Walk. I also enjoyed the writings of John Henry Newman, featured twice in this volume.
There were plenty of other authors with whom I am familiar, and plan to read more of, in the future. Then there were some readings that I just didn't get or didn't resonate with me at all. Hence the three-star rating. There were even a few that made me wonder why they were included.
At the end of each author's section, Richard J. Foster included some of his own thoughts. At some point, I was wondering why Emilie Griffin's name was included as editor, but perhaps she was involved more with choosing the selections, as I didn't see any writing by her. By the way, I have read two of her books on prayer that are wonderful.
So, to sum up, it was a book that had some value to me, and it may stay on my shelf for future reference. I'm still pondering that.
rafritz1's review
4.0
An excellent collection of Christian authors. This book has introduced me to so many beautiful writings, which has sparked further study and reading.
The selections are thoughtful and the perfect length for a 15-minute reading and reflection session. I've read it slowly over the past few years; it's the perfect book to read through as you need.
My only critique would be the editors relied too heavily on British male authors. Only 16 out of the 52 readings were by female authors. The book would have been enriched by more diversity in authors such as writings from eastern Christian authors.
The selections are thoughtful and the perfect length for a 15-minute reading and reflection session. I've read it slowly over the past few years; it's the perfect book to read through as you need.
My only critique would be the editors relied too heavily on British male authors. Only 16 out of the 52 readings were by female authors. The book would have been enriched by more diversity in authors such as writings from eastern Christian authors.
katenetz's review
5.0
This book is long. Really, really long. But somewhere in the middle I realized that its length is also one of its greatest strengths. The exposure to so many classic Christian writers was, naturally, amazing and inspiring. But when you hear the word of God time and time again, eventually a part of it starts to sink in. A part about God's presence and God's hope and God's love. This book is powerful and gentle at the same time.
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