The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life

I can find no language adequate to describe my experience with this book, or should I say with the thought of Henri Nouwin? (This is a compilation by another author, but the writing is all Nouwin.) This is my first reading of anything he's done. I've had it in my mind to read something by Nouwin for quite some time now, but other things kept getting in the way. This is a book you have to meditate on. I read this through quickly as I do everything I read. If I believe a book has something to say to me, I read it again, more slowly and thoughtfully. I am now reading this in small sections, savoring it. This is a book I'll keep on my nightstand for a very long time and go back to it again and again. It will be a "friend" for life. I look forward to reading all of Nouwin.For those of you who would like scholarly comparisons, I'm sorry. I don't have enough experience with this author or with Nouwin to do that. I can only tell you that I'm happy to have this book. I recommend it to all.

What an incredible, intimate, and loving writer. Prayers, as the book highlighted, lead us not to dwell on self-pity and struggles of life, but to a new dwelling place, God's Heart, where all wounds can be healed and hopes for the brokenhearted. Your new name is God's Beloved, not Failure, not I Can't; even when our heart and strength fail, this book will lift us up to the unconditional love of God and the power given by Him to live a meaningful and peaceful life! There is so much more to be explored and experienced with the power of God in life. Henri Nouwen lived his life well and has left us a wonderful legacy of how to depend on God and not be afraid to pray for everything.

Be attentive to GodAll I will add to the list of glowing reviews is to say that I typically don't enjoy books that are a compilation of selected writings from other books. So if you're like me in that regard, I will say that it shouldn't discourage you from reading this book. The passages selected are excellent and flow together nicely. The Only Necessary Thing reads like it was written all at once and has become one of my favorite Henri Nouwen books. The book is full of foundational life-changing-truths that will speak to you whether you are just beginning to pray or if you have been living a prayerful life for many years. May you blessed in your journey into Christ!

Henri Nouwen's The Only Necessary Thing:Living a Prayerful Life when sampled daily provides me with words of refreshing spiritual inspiration and direction.Once I pick it up and begin reading I find I'm drawn to read on and on. Usually it becomes twenty minutes or more.Keeping up with the world news can evoke feelings of despair.A few pages of Nouwen can provide hope and reassurance not to give up hope. We renew confidence knowing that God is with us.When you've gone through the entire book it's helpful to start over. You get worthwhile insights every time you sample it!I've given away at least 15 copies of this book purchased at Amazon to friends and copies of Nouwen's other books.

Nouwen's work is always worthwhile, even when it is not his best effort. This book is his very best work on the most important topic he consistently addressed- prayer. Much thanks need to be given to Wendy Greer who gleaned these excerpts from his many books. She has done an admirable job. This book, due to it's format, is very conducive to being read over a course of time, maybe for one's devotions. The wisdom in it makes for a book that I will return to over and over again. I have given this book to my closest christian friends, who like me have a conviction that the prayerful life, a life lived always in the awareness of our relationship with Christ, is the only life worth living.

This collection of Nouwen's writings on prayer is at the top of my list of readings on prayer, a favorite topic of mine. He explores the many facets of prayer with clarity, with humility, with insights into the deep mystery of prayer in a way that is nevertheless accessible and beckoning for those who want more from a life of prayer. I will read this again and again. And I'm here now to buy copies for others who are hungry to live a prayerful life.

This is one of the most meaningful books I have ever read. It is genuine yet gentle; simple but deep. It has answered questions I have had for a very long time and shown me the path to a loving relationship with my Lord and God. I rank it up there with C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity though these are very different books in style and content. Read it for yourself and see.

One of the best books on prayer and living meditation from a Christian world view. Each chapter is a jewel itself, but as a compilation of a life changed by experiences of Grace, there is a compelling recognition that the love of God is speaking to the reader's heart. Highly recommend this book to anyone.

Love the book, just the method of delivery not good, the post man forced my hard back copy through my letter box, I was not pleased

Many different, rather short homilies on the art of prayer. Highly recommendTo all readers who want to delve further into this subject.