- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Avon (Oct 21 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0688172334
- ISBN-13: 978-0688172336
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 12.4 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 204 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#295,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestantism > Quaker
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
During a traditional Quaker meeting, the Friends sit in silent meditation. No one speaks unless they are moved to do so through the "still, small voice" of God within. As a result, spoken words are often spare, clear, and wise. A Quaker Book of Wisdom reads like the voice of a Sunday morning meeting. Author Robert Lawrence Smith is a lifelong Quaker and former headmaster of the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. (Chelsea Clinton's former alma mater). Reflecting on topics such as silence, simplicity, business, and family, Smith offers guidance on how to "let your life speak"--an important premise to the Quaker life of service. Smith's humble self-disclosures make this slim book especially endearing and accessible. In the chapter "Conscience," he divulges battlefield horrors that rival those in Saving Private Ryan--images that still haunt him long after he chose to fight fascism during World War II instead of becoming a conscientious objector, as many Quakers did. In the next chapter, "Non-Violence," Smith writes of an eye-opening shopping trip to Toys R Us where the action-figure warmongers are far more attractive to his grandson than the checkers game they were planning to purchase. In the final chapter, Smith offers "Ten Life Lessons" that he wishes someone had shared with him when he was growing up. Indeed, these lessons are even more valuable and certainly more provocative than the ones we learned in kindergarten. --Gail Hudson
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Beginning by invoking his Quaker grandfather, Smith, former headmaster at Washington, D.C.'s Sidwell Friends School shows how to "let your life speak" for your character and beliefs. He plainly and elegantly introduces us to an often misunderstood faith, in his short and gently funny history of the loosely Protestant sect and its 17th-century English founder, George Fox. Smith shows Quakerism to be neither archaic nor beset with odd ritual: "its moniker came from those who mocked the first sectarians, saying they trembled or quaked with anticipation as they waited for God to speak to them." ("And they probably did," Smith playfully adds.) In chapters like "Silence," "Worship," "Business" and "Education," Smith blends remembrances of childhood worship in Moorestown, N.J., family history and more recent experiences with his recollections of the difficult choices he faced as a result of Quakerism's pacifism when confronted with WWII. He also engages in some philosophical speculation on the practical nature of truth, humility and steadfastness. Amidst the torrent of slim inspirational volumes being published, Smith's book is notable for its quiet strength and for the case it makes, by example, for the virtues of the considered life.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
SILENCE. Even speaking the word seems to violates its meaning. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
SILENCE. Even speaking the word seems to violates its meaning. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
General, feel good, self-help book,
By A Customer
This review is from: Quaker Book Of Wisdom A (Paperback)
The wisdom expressed in this book is to look inside. If the answers are found within and not without then this is an excellent book. If we are basically good people, and others are basically good then I would recommend this book. However, I believe the answers to the human condition are not this simplistic as I believe the human condition is in more of a moral predicament than this book allows. The answers Smith provides can be summarized as 'be a better person' or maybe 'I'm OK, you're OK, now accept that and live like that'. The fundamental teachings of most world religions go much further than this in terms of offering a powerful solution to a very real and deep problem....that of the corruption of the human heart. Smith seems to soft-pedal the problem in order for his solutions to not appear 'washed-out' or weak. However, in doing so, I think he does a injustice to the reality of the human problem.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Lovely Contemplative Book,
By BeachReader (Delaware) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Quaker Book Of Wisdom A (Paperback)
I have been reading this book for a long time. Not because it is so long, but because I wanted to think about what it said.I have long been fascinated by the Quakers, even before my association with a Friends school. Their belief that all people in the world are members of an extended family of equals appeals to me, as does their silent worship, which they call "the search for the truth within". They present "queries" at their meetings for worship and this author calls the queries "burrs under the saddle of the soul. " Quakers believe that one's life should speak for oneself, that goodness is the most important part of that life. They have no written creed, no ministers, but there is a strong belief system. It is as much a movement as it is a religion, I guess. One thing that I particularly like is the way the Quaker "service projects" are done. They go to places, often to foreign countries that are in need, and do not attempt to make any converts. They are there to work, much as those in the Peace Corps are. I learned that the Society of Friends was the first organization to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Some quotes from the book: "The silence allows the opening of minds and listening to our best inner selves." "So many of our young people are told that they must be good at something (math, music, sports) that they forget to pay attention to the primary command of the spirit: to be good at life." "Simplicity is the cornerstone of Quaker faith and defines daily life. Simplicity has little to do with how much you own and everything to do with not letting your possessions own you." While I would have liked to have learned a bit more about the Quaker religion, that was not really the intent of this author, and there are many other places to go for that information.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book written about the Quaker life, and much more,
By Tony Robles (Mountain View, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Quaker Book Of Wisdom A (Paperback)
The book was enlightening and a very good read. In fact, the book was so well written, it was difficult to put down, once opened. The words of wisdom that are offered, are simply things have become common sense in today's society, but are sometimes forgotten or taken from granted. To read this book is a good reminder of what's important around us, and inside of us. And with all these wonderful things, a story of one man's life as a Quaker, is intertwined. A rich story, at that.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Protestantism > Quaker
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Inspirational
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
