Ware Books

This was book that did a good job of outlineing some very common preceptions of God. The author also does a good job of outlineing arguments for the Christologocial view. It is light reading and not deeply theological. The underlying message is find out who God is not who we want him to be.

Great starter on the subject on Open Theism, this is the logical outcome if you are an Arminian and is really a view of early Pelagianism.

The open theist to myself makes absolute no sense whatsoever so for me the first chapter was enough to understand that I completely disagree with everything they stand for. If you have yet to study anything on Open Theism this is a great quick read to get you started. Please read if you are an Arminian as this will show you where that thought process should take you...and that is Open Theism with God having to play guessing games with the human "free will"

This is a superb introduction to the open theism debate. Ware does an excellent job in this small volume exposing and refuting the proponents of "open theism." He executes his arguments with flawless logic and thorough Biblical exegesis of relevant passages. At the end of the day, open theism is shown to be both Biblically impoverished and philosphically untenable.

Open Theism, once a doctrine known only to Christian academics, is slowly becoming mainstream among evangelicals. While it continues to be a minority position, it is gaining wider acceptance and several popular Christian authors are teaching it or teaching principles derived from it, even while denying their belief in it. This represents one of the battle-lines of the contemporary church and it is important for Christians to know what this doctrine teaches and be prepared to give a defense of the traditional view of God. This short book, written by Bruce Ware, sets out to teach believers the basics of what they need to know to defend the traditional doctrines.

Put simply, open theism is a doctrine that teaches that God does not fully know the future, for he cannot see what humans will do with the free will He gives them. Therefore, God has taken a great risk in giving us freedom. Of course this contrasts with the biblical teaching of God's omniscience - that He sees and knows everything in the past, present and future - as well as God's omnipotence - that He not only knows these things, but controls them as well. More than just a minor difference in doctrine, open theism threatens some of the beliefs Christians hold most dear. How can we have confidence in a God who does not know what will happen minutes, hours or days from now? How can we trust a God who is constantly making errors in judgment as He guides our lives the best He can, using only the information that He is able to see at the time? Why should we pray to a God who values our opinion as highly as our own? This is not the God of the Bible! As the title of the book tells us, the God of open theism is too small, having been created in the image of man.

Their God Is Too Small introduces the main proponents of open theism, explains the basics of their beliefs and shows the implications of this doctrine. The author concludes that open theism undermines the believer's confidence in God as the One who can be trusted to walk with us through pain and suffering; as the one who gives us a hope for the future. The constant theme is that this God is just far too small to be the God we learn of from the Scriptures.

This book, at only 129 pages, serves merely as an introduction to this doctrine, but it serves that purpose well. It is easy to read and understand, even for those who know little about theology. The reader will be left with an accurate depiction of the arguments for and against this doctrine as well as a strong sense of just what is at stake. I am glad to give it my recommendation.

This fine entry into the debate has much Scripture, theology and plain common sense to sustain the devastating argument against Open Theism.

Too bad "rew-ind" from Alabama hasn't carefully read Ware's documentation here and elsewhere. Apparently he hasn't read Millard Erickson's masterful 'What Does God Know and When Does He Know It'. Or A.B.Caneday's dismantling of Boydian theory in his review of the sadly innocent-of-biblical-reality God of the Possible.

Suffice to say Open Theism has been relegated to the philosophist
section of extreme arminianism/anti-calvinism/quasi-biblicism. No work by Ware or others is necessary to show Openism for what it is: a misreading of ALL of Scripture in context balancing ALL relevant texts.

But Ware here does a fine job of showing why no respectable exegete would embrace or even tolerate this misguided attempt at redefining God's attributes, enhancing human libertarian latitude at the Sovereign Lord's expense and flirting with Process Theory.

Six stars would be more appropriate.

35 Days To Gettysburg: The Campaign Diaries Of Two American Enemies by Civil War enthusiast Mark Nesbitt features the daily journal entries of two ordinary soldiers caught up in the American Civil War: Thomas Lewis Ware, a Confederate from rural Georgia; and Franklin Horner, a Union soldier from Pennsylvania coal land. Their various perspectives and recorded experiences (sometimes conflicting, sometimes all too parallel), lead up to one of the bloodiest battles in the entire four year conflict, are vividly recounted with meticulous notes and a comprehensive index in this truly fascinating compilation. 35 Days To Gettysburg is a superbly presented primary source offering an up-close and personal a view of America's deadliest war, and a truly welcome and much appreciated contribution to the growing library of American Civil War studies.

This was the second book I read on the subject of the civil war. The personal perspective added to my endless interest.

There is little to add to what has been said other than this is a DO NOT MISS READ! Absolutely READ THIS BOOK!

I could not put this book down when I read it...

Being a fan of Mark Nesbitt's Ghost of Gettysburg book series I was sold on the idea of reading his new book that told of two soldiers of opposing armies brought together at Gettysburg. Nesbitt's approach to telling the diaries of two soldiers written on similar dates was a great idea though I found that the Union story of Private Horner lacked the details compared to his opposition Confederate Private Ware. Ware's details seem to blur Horner's quick and rather limited writing. Both soldiers certainly write about the marching and battle while Nesbitt tries to balance army movements with historical backing and concepts. I found the maps helpful but often hard to follow because they were photos of very detailed maps that made things hard to read in black and white. Had they been less of detail or re-drawn for the book as other history books it would have been much easier to comprehend. As much as I am a fan of Nesbitt's work I found myself reading this book and wanting more detail as the book is a very quick read. I would have liked to give this book 3.5 Stars though Amazon's rating system doesn't allow for halves.

I really liked this book. This book is great for people who like history. This book is about two men and their diaries. The book is also about the battle of Gettysburg.

Mark Nesbit had a very interesting idea for a Civil War book. He found two soldiers, Franklin Horner (USA) and Thomas Ware (CSA), who faced each other across a few dangerous yards at Gettysburg. He retraced their routes of march to the battle through their diary entries (over 35 days - hence the title).

Both enlisted men got to the battlefield the old fashioned way: walking. Unfortunately, their writing is not similarly matched. Whereas the Ware diary entries are often vivid and descriptive, the author's Union traveler records at best three or four lines of not very illuminating fragments on the same days. The result is leads to a somewhat unbalanced first person description of the route to Gettysburg. I can imagine finding two surviving diaries from adversaries who faced each other in opposing regiments was difficult, and the author is to be recognized for a very good idea. One wishes his task could have been better fulfilled with two prodigious diarists.

Each of the 35 chapters starts off with the opposing diary entries. The author then explains the section of march (if they were marching that day) each soldier traveled. The author also spends significant time describing camp life, service in general and the trials of marching experienced by civil war soldiers in general. I was somewhat surprised that the author spent the bulk of the book on general descriptions and backgrounds instead of the march to Gettysburg (as one could have supposed from the title). However, it must be acknowledged that this background is a good introduction to soldierly travails in that war.

The section on their units meeting at the foot of Little Round Top is the best part of the book. Nesbitt fleshes out these chapters with unit commanders' action reports -- the result is a more vivid and full description of the last of the 35 days.

All in all an interesting book, but I wished it could have been more fully focused on the actual march and had a better Union diarist as a story teller.

This book is totally boring. I didn't like it. Most of the reviews I have written are possative but this one is a negative.

My wife read this book to 'the kids' on a long trip - the kids fell asleep and I would not let her stop reading. We laughed and laughed as she read this excellent peice of work. I am ordering another copy to send to my mother - great book!

Ms. Ware is a talented and energetic writer who connects with readers of all ages. Her story-telling abilities are wonderful and her attention to detail is delightful.

As a Children's Librarian and an avid reader, I love this book! Cheryl Ware has created a refreshingly funny character in Venola Mae and the letter format adds a nice dimension. This book would be a great gift for any young girl aged 9-12.

This book is great reading for children 6-10 years old. It's really funny. I also love the fact that it mentions Belington, West Virginia...my hometown.

I want to commend the publishers of PERSPECTIVES ON ELECTION: FIVE VIEWS. They allowed each viewpoint equal amount of pages to present their arguments for their respected position and then allowed a brief response by each of the other authors on the view at hand. This made for quick reading and (as one reviewer before me put it) this allowed for the reader to wrestle with the doctrine of election themself.

The doctrine of election debate is hardly new. It has been wagging for nearly 1000 years in the Church but sadly the debate is often full of rage and not godly love and respect. Not so in this book. While none of the authors completely close the argument, they do a good job of helping the reader see the various positions.

I give this book a five star rating and hope that more Arminian-Calvinist books such as this one come out soon.

If you are looking for a book that gives wonderful and exhaustive presentations on different understandings of the Biblical concept of Election, this is the book for you. If you are wanting exhaustive and well thought-out responses to each presentation, you will be sorely disappointed as most of the responses take up only a page or two.

I have chosen to give this book 5 stars because the publisher and editor did not choose inexperienced but well-respected, established and prolific theologians to present their respective view. The book mostly leaves it up to the audience to decide which view of election they find Scripture supports the best, and this is what a good book that presents different viewpoints should do, namely give a little guidance but allow/force the audience to think for itself and make up its own mind about the issue at hand.

A great book for those who want to think their way through the issue, and a welcome addition to my theological library.

I will try to be brief, which is difficult when looking at the subject the book discusses. One could speak forever about these topics, but brief I shall be.

Bruce Ware (Infralapsarian-Election to Salvation), Robert Reymond (Supralapsarian-Election to Salvation) and Jack Cottrell (Historic Arminian-Election to Salvation) truly write excellent and thorough works on the three traditional views of the Christian church on the nature of the Doctrine of Election. Each paper needs to be read by a church which today couldn't hope to tell you anything about this immensely important truth for the body of Christ. I commend each writer for their convictions and for the fairness and irenic spirit they use towards one another during the majority of their dialogue (Reymond occasionally is a bit perturbed).

What I do question from the book is allowing Clark Pinnock (Vocational, Corporate, Inclusive) to speak on behalf of the traditional Corporate view of the Arminian side. I question this because of his completely unbiblical view of openness in relation to God's foreknowledge. I believe his position on this essential attribute of God drastically undercuts the reality for opting for a Corporate View of Election. I wish someone who had an Orthodox view of God's foreknowledge had been given the chance to write on this view for the benefit of the Church. Someone like William W. Klein (not Arminian) comes to mind. At least a well-known Arminian like Robert Shank to posit the Arminian view of Corporate Election would have been advisable here.

I feel having Pinnock set forth the view makes this view look completely foolish because of his view on God's foreknowledge. Pinnock has been given enough publishing space in a multitude of other books to show his views on God's foreknowledge, I would have to agree completely with Dr. Reymond here that it is time for conservative, Protestant publishers to stop giving him (and others) such a freedom to teach their views. Clearly this is difficult for most publishers since whats 'New' is what sells.

Though this view is not new (as explained by Cottrell in his essays), what seems new is more attractive than what has already been taught. Does this always mean its wrong? Of course not, but it does mean we all must use discretion. Having said all that, I think much of what Pinnock said was good and biblical (so please don't just react initially). What I viewed as biblical was his views on the vocational/corporate degrees within election. But his views on foreknowledge really took away the ground the view may have gained, a serious mistake.

Thomas Talbott (Universal Reconciliation) is a strong advocate for his position and probably one of the most well-known currently. He holds to many biblical views regarding scripture and its authority, which normally you wouldn't think possible for someone holding to his views on election. His position is essentially an irresistible drawing of all people to Himself, through this life and through a post-mortem time as well. This is very reminiscent to Barth's 'Triumphant Theology', though nuanced slightly in certain areas. This is not to say I agree with him, but Talbott needs to be read for sure. I feel the other writers respond fairly to him and answer his arguments well, though I, too hold to a primacy of the single Election of Jesus as the essential focus of the Doctrine of Election (similar to Barth), yet disagree in how that plays out in the atonement/propitiation.

Overall, this is an excellent work. I cannot recommend books like these highly enough because THESE are the issues Christians need to be wrestling with, praying about, seeking the Spirit in guidance about. These truths are essential, yet rarely preached and even more rarely understood, and to what consequence? A dire lack of growth and maturity in the church. This is a must-read for every Christian. And yes, that was as brief as I could be.

it is really great that in this day and time we see such refreshing views of tough theological subjects such as election...great job to the authors

My apologies for the low rating. I'm sure it's a very fine book. But it wasn't a good choice for me and I wanted to alert anyone who might have (like me) misunderstood the words "a quick read" in one of the previous reviews. As an average "woman in the pew," I've become uncomfortable with my church's Calvinist teachings (and the conclusion it leads me to: that God creates some people to be doomed because they cannot come to salvation without his choosing to open their eyes) and was looking for another viewpoint that is biblically supported.

However, after a long day of wrestling with kids, I don't have the mental stamina to wrestle with this book! Too many big words! Apparently, I need some sort of "Election for Dummies," lol.

This may well be the book for you. Be sure to read the "look inside this book" section (particulary page 4) before you decide. I think I'll have to set this one aside until my kids have grown up and left home.

I had hoped this book would have more about Chris Ware, but most of it is the author's boring observations about comic art and his theories about what Ware is drawing. I would much rather read about the subject's childhood, and especially the details of his time in art school and in Austin. Instead there's endless verbiage in the Scott McCloud vein. A few interesting reproductions of Ware creations I hadn't seen before are included, but not much else is worth recommending.

This monograph was chock full of finely reproduced Ware art not just stuff from his comics, including some photos of his sculptures I had not seen before. The copy the author included as a comentary on the art helped translate the pathos of Chis Ware's art. I think you will enjoy this monograph if you are a Chis Ware enthusist or just a casual fan.

I am a big fan of the work of Chris Ware, so I thought this book would really give me a greater depth of understanding of his work.
What is there is quite good, but it is also very short. Only the first 30 or so pages have text that discusses Ware. The rest of the book features images of Ware's work; the great majority of it has already been published in his semi-regular comic, and is familiar to anyone who buys that regularly.
Many of the images try to fit a full huge Ware piece of art, often 11 x 17 inches or so onto the size of this book's page, much smaller, so you can't even read the words or make out the details. Also, the book uses huge white margins, so the images could have easily been made larger and more legible.
There are some unusual images of Ware's work, including a remarkable wedding invitation he designed for friends of his. But again, it's rather small, and details are lost.
Ware's own hardcover datebook does a better job at looking behind the scenes of Ware's published work.
This is by no means a bad book, and it has worth, but I wish it had been longer and designed with a little more care.

This book focuses on the evolution of comics, where Chris Ware fits into that evolution, and especially Ware's proficiency as a graphic designer. Working with a medium still ignored by most and cast off as a childish one, Raeburn gives us a view of Chris Ware's work from a professional design standpoint, and proves that it is well-deserving of such an analysis.

Just a simple question, right? Wrong! I paid a lot of moneyhoping to find an answer to my question. This book is for a collectorwho already knows what the flow blue pieces are worth. If you're a beginning collector, save your money!

This book is a part of my Flow Blue research library. Jeffrey Snyder is a leading authority in Flow Blue collecting. His descriptions are clear and precise. His photography is fantastic.
The prices listed in this book should only be used for insurance purposes as the Flow Blue collecting phase swings with decorating fashions and colors of the times. In reality, you can find prices much more affordable than suggested in ths book.
Add this to your collection and you will enjoy it for years to come!

This book provides newcomers and long time collectors with hundreds of patterns in Flow Blue. The wares are organized chronologically by period and values are provided for the wares shown. For beginners the book defines the wares, details the decorations and how they were applied and provides information on the marks appearing on the wares. This is a very good book with solid research and beautiful photographs that will serve collectors well for many years.

This book gives readers a thorough understanding of what Flow Blue is, when it was made, how it was decorated and what it is worth. The pictures are terrific. However, a book would have to be huge to provide prices for every piece in every place setting (there are over 1500 patterns)! I'm tired of reviews from inexperienced folks who don't know enough to review responsibly. Get this book and judge for yourself. It's been around for years and is worth having!

This book has even more information than the first!The color photography is wonderful.The entire book is filled with photos of many rare and unusual pieces. She has also added a section on Potters and their marks to aide in identification.A well researched and enjoyable guide for the Yellow Ware Collector. I hear number three's in the works.

Although there are nice pictures and NICE overinflated prices,
there is much information and labeling of yellow ware that is incorrect. It is obvious that this author doesn't know enough about pottery to be considered an authority on yellow ware. the only book that I know of that has the correct information for the begginer and the scholar is Gallo's book, a great reference. When is he going to do another one?

Collecting Yellow Ware is a must have for the Yellow Ware collector.Lisa and Michael have created an in-depth guide of the history of this wonderful pottery.There are tips for collecting,and numerous color photographs.All arranged in and easy to follow format.I refer to it daily.

I have owned this book for years, and I still find myself picking it back up and re-inspiring myself to be more devious in my own comic-writing.

Personally, Julie Doucet is my favorite comic book artist, and I learned about her first through this book. Eli Langer has pushed the limits so much & gotten away with it. I love his story. It's also nice to be able to put a "face to the name" and get to see the artists' mugs- which are often also quite amusing.

All that I have to suggest is that if you are not willing to expose yourself to the whole "bloody-pedophelic-rape-abused" experience, I would say don't buy this book. Otherwise, it s a great read, especially to an aspiring underground-comic artist.

A nice addition to the post RE/Search works, and follows heavily in the steps laid by RE/Search. This is a collection of interviews with 14 artists, along with a single essay by Art Spiegelman that gives an alternate view of comics history than the one related in Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics. It seems to be a primer for non-initiates to the world of underground pop-art, especially comics.

Some of those interviewed are independent comic "gods"- Art Spiegelman, in particular, has won a Pulitzer Prize for his work Maus. Other artists, like G.B. Jones and Emiko Shimoda, expose the new reader to a world they probably had never thought about, let alone see in print. All of the artists chosen are, while working within the confines of pop-art, outside of the mainstream. Looking at familiar motifs, like comics, album covers, or even gay art (for those familiar with tom of Finland), in new and different ways is what this is all about.

Andrea's interviewing style is good; these aren't antagonistic interviews, nor are they rigid- they are open ended, to allow the artists to expound and expand on a subject. While some of the artists fall a little flat and come across as dull, there are some gems. The Chris Ware interview in particular is a great read, and will convert most who read it into Ware fans.

So, why only three stars?

Like another reviewer stated, the fact that the majority of the interviewees are comic artists makes the ones who aren't stick out like a sore thumb. Eli Langer's inclusion is especially offsetting. While his status as an "edgy" artist merits inclusion under this book's broad title, he has little in common with the other artists. His pseudo-child-porn drawings, while not appealing to a pedophile and not pornographic, also show little artistic merit. (One picture of a man holding a baby above a baying dog reminds me of a Gary Larson "Far Side" cartoon.)

The inclusion of Keith Mayerson as an interview subject- although shoved to the back of the book- seems somewhat self-serving, as Juno Books had just published his Horror Hospital Unplugged graphic novel (his first published work).

The paltry number of essays- only one- is disappointing, considering how reference-quality earlier RE/Search books have been. A collection of interviews, while interesting, does not demand rereading and reference.

Some of the interviews, especially the potentially intriguing Matt Reid one (grafitti/hip hop artist), are too short and convey no real message beyond a pedestrian view of currently published works. In other interviews, where Andrea obviously is acquainted with the interviewee, much time is spent talking about inside knowledge or incidents- for a book that aims to be an introduction to avant-garde pop art, it's a mistake to assume readers will understand what is going on. Finally, while some of the interviews were interesting, they never really got beyond anything that the Comics Journal is capable of.

This isn't being said to ward off potential readers- in fact, for people unfamiliar with "comix", the rating should probably be higher. But, I'm familiar both with "comix" and with RE/Search books, and while the book is a worthwhile and readable book, it doesn't quite come up to my heightened expectations, and comes across as a good- if average- book with occasional bursts of excellence.

This book contains a whole bunch of interviews with a whole bunch of artist, mostly comic-book artists working outside of the mainstream. The interviews themselves are quite interesting, but for me the best thing was getting a look at some work by cartoonists that I was not very familiar with. The book is filled with samples of each creator's work.

The interview with Chris Ware made me go out and buy all the issues of "Acme Novelty Library" that I could find. In fact, a single excerpt from his work (printed on page 51 of this book) made me decide. He draws in about 12 square inches what takes Scott McCloud 100 pages to describe in Understanding Comics.

The one complaint that I have is that a few of the subjects don't seem to fit. Three out of the 14 interviewees don't work in comics. While they are interesting interviews (I remember the Eli Langer case, so his interview was fascinating), they don't feel like they belong in this book. Either they should have been cut, or we should have had *more* of them. Because as it is, 11 of the 14 interviewees work in comics. And that makes the other 3 stand out oddly.

In any case, this is a great read, and it makes a good gift to people interested in cutting edge art who *aren't* into comics. It will let them know how cool some comics really are.

It's odd, but as our world becomes more modern and convenient, and more rushed, I've found that I need a time where everything is entirely self-indulgent, where I can take a half-hour or so, and rest. The magic cure for me is the custom of afternoon tea, and to a lesser extent, an ever-growing collection of tea wares. It may seem terribly old-fashioned, but there something very renewing about being able to have a well-brewed pot of tea, served on good china, with an accompanying nibble or two that may be sweet or savory.

Longtime scholar on the subject of tea drinking, Jane Pettigrew, has taken a look at all of the accessories and paraphernalia that surround the art of tea, and taken a look not just at what is used, but also the history and the why an object has come to be created. Accompanied by plenty of illustrations and photographs, along with little sidebars filled with quotes and excerpts, this is an excursion through the tea table, from humble spoons and tea cups and cozies, all the way to trays and tables, and how and when they were used.

Starting first with the topic of tea pots, and tea cups, Pettigrew traces the origins of how tea was brewed up in China, and shows how the custom arrived in England and Europe, and how the shape and designs of tea ware were influenced by both sides of the export trade. When the English began to uncover the secrets of Chinese porcelain, much of which was devoted to the creation of objects for enjoying tea. As tea was an expensive commodity, it was first drunk by the Royal Court and the aristocracy, but was also quickly adopted by the middle classes and the poor. To have a complete set of china for afternoon tea was certainly a status symbol, and those that could afford it indulged in collecting exquisitely made pieces.

There's also an interesting bit of lore as to why oriental cups do not have handles, and those used in the West do. While Ms. Pettigrew doesn't focus much of her attention on Chinese lore and utensils, preferring instead to look at how custom evolved and how the items would match a need.

What I found interesting was the use of Tipping Kettles -- there is a particularly beautiful example shown -- an item that tea is not brewed in, but rather the water is brought to a boil in, and the history of the tea cozy.

Where this book really works is in the identification of various items -- tea caddies, mote spoons, caddy spoons, and right down to linens to line trays, cover tables and even napkins. Ms. Pettigrew's writing style is elegant and forthright, without being twee or overly cute. While each chapter is very brief, and the book itself is under two hundred pages, it is crammed full of useful information. This would be wonderful for those who enjoy hunting in antique shops and flea markets, or have found a collection of items in their grandmother's attic, and trying to figure out what they are.

What I hope this book will do is inspire others to go beyond just dunking a tea bag into a mug into a kitchen and revive the art of taking tea for themselves as a means to sidestep the rushed world that we live in now. There is something wonderful about the ritual of taking tea with others, and the invitation that it gives to sit down and take a moment, and simply talk and exchange ideas (not to mention gossip as well).

I bought this book for research for my tea import business. The history of the design for tea was very interesting and well researched. I feel that the author was limited by a budget or something because really this should be a high-volume image book to fully describe the designs. It is a facinating look at the history and culture of tea design.

A fascinating and well written look at the ceramics and accessories used to serve tea, from China in the middle ages to the 20th century. Wonderful illustrations--lots of photos as well as some drawings. I will definitely check out her other books, which is the ultimate compliment!

This book is a wonderful overview of the Jesus Prayer. As a bonues there is even simple instruction and advice on how to practice this prayer yourself. Recommended!

Fr Lev Gillet attempting a historical survey of Jesus Prayer renders a very good introduction on the subject that whets one's appetite for more. This short book provides answers to a few fundamental questions about the Jesus Prayer as to what it is and why it continues to appeal to Christians both in the East and the West. The book not only furnishes some historical information but guides one to a special love for this form of prayer which is sure to lead one to Jesus Christ. Ever since its appearance some fifty years ago, this book has remained somewhat a 'minor classic' of spiritual life.

The author, self-styled as "The monk of the Eastern Church" or 'Archimandrite Lev Gillet' is somewhat an enigmatic personality whose life and search for truth are rather elaborately dealt in the 'Forward' by Bishop Kallistos Ware of Diokleia. This Forward is very helpful in situating the importance of this book. Being a theological study, the book contains some theological terms as well as a few words in Greek and in Latin.

As one who has been on a journey toward Orthodoxy for nearly a year, I had read about the Jesus Prayer in other books and when I saw this work by Archimandrite Lev Gillet, I immediately made the purchase.

Fr. Gillet is a very interesting individual, he was not raised in the Orthodox tradition but came to Orthodoxy through his own study over numerous years as a Roman priest. The first part of his work tells his story, which I found quite fascinating. Fr. Gillet came to Orthodoxy in the early 20th century which was not a time of numerous converts to the Eastern Church.

The heart of this work, is the history and theology of the Jesus Prayer, while very interesting, is a very heavy read for those who do not have a theological background. Conversely, those who have a solid theological grounding, who have studied Orthodoxy and are familiar with the Jesus Prayer, which I believe is at the heart of individual prayer for devout Orthodox Christians, will find this book worthwhile and if they have not taken upon themselves to use the Jesus Prayer as part of their prayer life; they will after reading Fr. Gillet's work.

The Jesus Prayer, is not for those starting their search into Orthodoxy especially if their theological knowledge is sparse. There are other books for searchers.

This work will remain in my library, to be read again at a later day, when I have a fuller appreciation of what it means to be a devout Orthodox Christian.