Review
"Kim Paffenroth¹s little gem of a book sparkles with insight into nearly everything that matters, whether for ill or for good*lust and love, ambition, and humility, self-deceit and self-surrender, revenge, and reconciliation. For Christians and others wanting to deepen their spiritual life, it provides a fine introductory guide to the parables of Jesus, St. Augustine¹s Confessions, Dante¹s Divine Comedy, and Flannery O¹Connor¹s fiction." -Ralph C. Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature, Baylor University
"The Heart Set Free is a splendid book, a fine companion volume to Kim Paffenroth's recent In Praise of Wisdom. With loving attentiveness and scholarly collegiality, he gleans wisdom from four Christian 'classics': the Gospels, Augustine's Confessions, Dante's Commedia, and the stories of Flannery O'Connor. Each chapter deepened my appreciation and understanding of these works. Most importantly, this book will help its reader to find ways to liive out forgiveness, humility, love, and radical grace celebrated in each of these classics." --Paul J. Contino, Associate Professor of Great Books, Pepperdine University (Paul Contino )
"The Heart Set Free is a splendid book, a fine companion volume to Kim Paffenroth's recent In Praise of Wisdom. With loving attentiveness and scholarly collegiality, he gleans wisdom from four Christian 'classics': the Gospels, Augustine's Confessions, Dante's Commedia, and the stories of Flannery O'Connor. Each chapter deepened my appreciation and understanding of these works. Most importantly, this book will help its reader to find ways to liive out forgiveness, humility, love, and radical grace celebrated in each of these classics." --Paul J. Contino, Associate Professor of Great Books, Pepperdine University (Paul Contino )
"In this delightful book, Paffenroth looks at the writings and teachings of Jesus and three great Christian authors. Instead of a general survey, however, the author discusses how each identifies and analyzes two particular sins, including their roots and effects, as well as the virtues that heal them...It is a bracing, welcome little book. Notes placed at the end of chapters are themselves fascinating and would serve better as footnotes, and the bibliographies are also helpful. Because of Paffenroth's comparative approach, this study will be of interest primarily to readers who enjoy any of all of these four authors."- Daniel Boice, Catholic Library World, December 2005
'Each chapter of The Heart Set Free aims at producing such wisdom in its readers, and in this aim, Paffenroth may number himself in the company of the evangelists, Augustine, Dante, and O'Connor.'
~ Scott Huelin, Valparaiso University, Christianity and Literature, Vol 55, No. 4, 2006
~ Scott Huelin, Valparaiso University, Christianity and Literature, Vol 55, No. 4, 2006
"Kim Paffenroth¹s little gem of a book sparkles with insight into nearly everything that matters, whether for ill or for good*lust and love, ambition, and humility, self-deceit and self-surrender, revenge, and reconciliation. For Christians and others wanting to deepen their spiritual life, it provides a fine introductory guide to the parables of Jesus, St. Augustine¹s Confessions, Dante¹s Divine Comedy, and Flannery O¹Connor¹s fiction." -Ralph C. Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature, Baylor University
"The Heart Set Free is a splendid book, a fine companion volume to Kim Paffenroth's recent In Praise of Wisdom. With loving attentiveness and scholarly collegiality, he gleans wisdom from four Christian 'classics': the Gospels, Augustine's Confessions, Dante's Commedia, and the stories of Flannery O'Connor. Each chapter deepened my appreciation and understanding of these works. Most importantly, this book will help its reader to find ways to liive out forgiveness, humility, love, and radical grace celebrated in each of these classics." --Paul J. Contino, Associate Professor of Great Books, Pepperdine University (, )
