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neilrcoulter's review against another edition
3.0
For a while now, I've been interested in reading Catherine Marshall, simply because I know that Richard Foster respects her very highly, and I respect Foster. I found this book, Beyond Our Selves, from 1961, on a giveaway shelf, and I've been reading bits of it here and there in my office over the past several months.
There is a lot of great content here on learning to depend on God and trust him for everything. These lessons will never get old, because I never seem to learn them very well. The teaching is couched in stories, mostly of friends of Marshall's, or of Marshall's own life or her late husband's, Peter Marshall (whom she almost always calls by his full name, "Peter Marshall," whenever she refers to him).
If my overall rating of the book is only average, it's likely because so many other writers in the years since this book have taken on these same themes in similar ways, and so it's not quite as fresh (and in some places is actually a little dated) as it certainly must have been when originally published. But the book is sincere and heartfelt, with tremendous wisdom about some of the challenges of the faithful life.
There is a lot of great content here on learning to depend on God and trust him for everything. These lessons will never get old, because I never seem to learn them very well. The teaching is couched in stories, mostly of friends of Marshall's, or of Marshall's own life or her late husband's, Peter Marshall (whom she almost always calls by his full name, "Peter Marshall," whenever she refers to him).
If my overall rating of the book is only average, it's likely because so many other writers in the years since this book have taken on these same themes in similar ways, and so it's not quite as fresh (and in some places is actually a little dated) as it certainly must have been when originally published. But the book is sincere and heartfelt, with tremendous wisdom about some of the challenges of the faithful life.
erinmk's review
5.0
Catherine Marshall’s writing is so uplifting and refreshing. Her emphasis on the power of the Holy Spirit as our Helper has changed so much about my faith in all the best ways.
inthecommonhours's review
4.0
Along with AJ Cronin's The Keys of the Kingdom, this book had the greatest impact on my spiritual outlook as a young girl. I'd have to reread it to say for sure, but it was my first encounter with religious ideas applied to real life situations, and an author more interested in every day moments instead of "top of the mountain" revelations.
Just read that Marshall died in 1983, about a year before I started reading her. Mom's bookshelf was limited to mostly Catholic authors like Fulton Sheen; how did Marshall make it there?
Just read that Marshall died in 1983, about a year before I started reading her. Mom's bookshelf was limited to mostly Catholic authors like Fulton Sheen; how did Marshall make it there?
rlangemann's review
4.0
Some of this was really, really good. Some I'm not sure about and would have to think through. Sometimes she'll make a claim that sounds outlandish but later in the chapter will qualify it. Some sounded formulaic but she does seem to have a good grasp of walking with Christ. If you don't mind her (slightly flowery, wordy) writing style this may be worth sifting through.
ajlewis2's review
5.0
We chose this book for our church book club. My first impression was that the book was a bit preachy, but I found that it grew on me. Marshall writes well and gives interesting examples of spiritual concepts she has come to believe through experience. She sounds authentic and much of her experience agreed with my own. I intend to read the book again and use it for meditation and personal growth.
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