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bluestarfish's review
5.0
Barbara Brown Taylor offers practical ways of engaging with spiritual practises that are sort of DIY, anyone can do them without going on expensive courses etc. It's a book about longing: "for more meaning, more feeling, more connection, more life . . . [People] know there is more to life than what meets the eye. They have drawn close to this 'More' in nature, in love, in art, in grief. They would be happy for someone to teach them how to spend more time in the presence of this deeper reality". And a book about addressing that longing.
I found her style of writing warm and enthusiastic and wise, and I loved her affirmation of the body and that matter matters. None of the practises are unique or new, but I like her way of talking about them and encouraging you to have a go. The act of doing will teach you what you need to know.
I found her style of writing warm and enthusiastic and wise, and I loved her affirmation of the body and that matter matters. None of the practises are unique or new, but I like her way of talking about them and encouraging you to have a go. The act of doing will teach you what you need to know.
sheridacon's review
5.0
This was my first Barbara Brown Taylor book but it won't be my last. I wanted to highlight the whole book. Taylor's insights and observations are profound but it is her language that captured my heart. Every sentence is like chocolate. I wanted to savor every single word. Just beautiful. I wish I could write like this.
emrol1's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
cperko's review
5.0
This is a work of peace and learning to encounter God in the every day. I move about this world now with a little more intention and a little more reverence for the every day.
sarahinthesun's review
5.0
Barbara Brown Taylor writes authentically about her experience in and out of the church and how she grew in faith and her experience of God in community and through nature.
ajreader's review against another edition
4.0
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
A celebration of the spiritual in the quotidian. I initially pushed back against Taylor's message before recognizing the simple beauty they hold.
A celebration of the spiritual in the quotidian. I initially pushed back against Taylor's message before recognizing the simple beauty they hold.
adamrshields's review against another edition
3.0
Short Review: Finding spiritual practices for those that have become dead to spiritual practices. Fans of Ann Lamont will like this. There were very good sections, but there are number of other books that are similar and only 5 years after it was published, this feels dated already.
I noticed that many others that have not liked it, did not like it because of its particularity. It is written to people that are middle/upper-middle class, fairly well educated and primarily mental workers (professors, pastors, office workers.) It talks a lot about poverty, and does it well, but talks about poverty to people that are not poor. It talks about the benefits of physical labor to people that do not do physical labor. So the poor and the physical laborers will not likely not see physical labor and poverty as spiritually beneficial. Barbara Brown Taylor says that in the book and acknowledges that part of the spiritual benefit of deprivation or labor is that it is unusual and in some ways chosen and different. If you are always poor or always do labor then other practices will be beneficial.
We can't have a world where speaking to the particular is somehow wrong. There are of course, good and bad ways to speak to the particular. And I think this is mostly one of the books that does a good job of speaking to the particular.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/altar-world-geography-faith-barbara-brown-taylor/
I noticed that many others that have not liked it, did not like it because of its particularity. It is written to people that are middle/upper-middle class, fairly well educated and primarily mental workers (professors, pastors, office workers.) It talks a lot about poverty, and does it well, but talks about poverty to people that are not poor. It talks about the benefits of physical labor to people that do not do physical labor. So the poor and the physical laborers will not likely not see physical labor and poverty as spiritually beneficial. Barbara Brown Taylor says that in the book and acknowledges that part of the spiritual benefit of deprivation or labor is that it is unusual and in some ways chosen and different. If you are always poor or always do labor then other practices will be beneficial.
We can't have a world where speaking to the particular is somehow wrong. There are of course, good and bad ways to speak to the particular. And I think this is mostly one of the books that does a good job of speaking to the particular.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/altar-world-geography-faith-barbara-brown-taylor/
amandakitz's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, powerful, practical approaches to spirituality and finding those God-moments in everyday life by practicing spiritual postures. One of my absolute favorite books.
pattydsf's review
5.0
Barbara Brown Taylor is just amazing. I read her column in the Christian Century and I have read several of her books. In this one, Taylor tells us that we have all we need for our spiritual journey. She covers 12 practices from vision through benediction that can be done right on the X we are presently standing on.
I tend to look at my spiritual journey as one where I need to actually go somewhere. Taylor has grounded me in this place. I will be reading this book again.
I tend to look at my spiritual journey as one where I need to actually go somewhere. Taylor has grounded me in this place. I will be reading this book again.
randib's review
4.0
Barbara Brown Taylor might be my favorite author who writes "thoughts on faith." She is so profound and her stories are heartfelt and personal.