Overview

This landmark work presents prayer in all its richness and variety throughout history, across traditions, and around the globe. In a thorough and fascinating look at this spiritual practice, two of today's most versatile and admired authorities on religion probe the language and fruits of prayer, its controversies, and its prospects for the future. With a focus on extraordinary stories of lives changed by prayer and on great works of literature and art inspired by it, Prayer: A History promises to be the standard on the subject for readers of all faiths.

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9780618773602

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Reviews

A fabulous, very readable, immensely informative, and (I would even say) 'inspirational' volume. --Harvey Cox, author of When Jesus Came to Harvard and The Secular City<br><br> A lovely, interesting new book . . . Philip and Carol Zaleski explore this most personal of religious practices in an ecumenical spirit. The New York Times Book Review<br><br> Unusually probing and thoughtful. Christian Science Monitor<br><br> This is the most stunning book on prayer that I have ever read. It will become the benchmark for every other work on the subject, present or future. --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours<br><br> An essential resource for living in our multifaith world. Spirituality & Health Magazine<br><br> The Zaleskis are impressive in their knowledge, and they share what they know in an entertaining way. --National Catholic Reporter<br><br> A significant achievement. The authors' learning and generosity of spirit will lead their readers into unfamiliar territory and reveal new depths in the familiar. --First Things<br><br> A wonderful read . . . Any serious student of prayer will learn a good deal from this book. --America<br><br> This religious practice has rarely received the sort of careful cultural analysis the Zaleskis offer . . . This sweeping cultural history illuminates the abiding influence of prayer in shaping human thought and behavior. Booklist, ALA, Starred Review<br><br> Intelligent, informed, generous, ecumenical observations. The New York Times Book Review<br><br> A grand and human compendium, fascinating on every page. It's witty, moving, and full of interesting facts and funny stories. --Annie Dillard<br><br> Thought-provoking and soul-uplifting . . . There's an engaging ease to the Zaleskis' prose, and humor pops through regularly. Los Angeles Times<br><br> A wonderful book -- intelligent, beautifully written, important, inclusive, and completely useful. --Thomas Moore

This religious practice has rarely received the sort of careful cultural analysis the Zaleskis offer . . . This sweeping cultural history illuminates the abiding influence of prayer in shaping human thought and behavior.

A wonderful book -- original, well-researched, clear, inspiring, even-handed. I applaud the two Zaleskis for their great effort. --Natalie Goldberg, author of Long Quiet Highway and The Great Failure A wonderful read . . . Any serious student of prayer will learn a good deal from this book. --America A wonderful book -- intelligent, beautifully written, important, inclusive, and completely useful. --Thomas Moore The Zaleskis are impressive in their knowledge, and they share what they know in an entertaining way. --National Catholic Reporter A grand and human compendium, fascinating on every page. It's witty, moving, and full of interesting facts and funny stories. --Annie Dillard A significant achievement. The authors' learning and generosity of spirit will lead their readers into unfamiliar territory and reveal new depths in the familiar. --First Things This is the most stunning book on prayer that I have ever read. It will become the benchmark for every other work on the subject, present or future. --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours This religious practice has rarely received the sort of careful cultural analysis the Zaleskis offer . . . This sweeping cultural history illuminates the abiding influence of prayer in shaping human thought and behavior. A fabulous, very readable, immensely informative, and (I would even say) 'inspirational' volume. --Harvey Cox, author of When Jesus Came to Harvard and The Secular City A lovely, interesting new book . . . Philip and Carol Zaleski explore this most personal of religious practices in an ecumenical spirit. The New York Times Book Review Unusually probing and thoughtful. Christian Science Monitor This is the most stunning book on prayer that I have ever read. It will become the benchmark for every other work on the subject, present or future. --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours An essential resource for living in our multifaith world. Spirituality & Health Magazine The Zaleskis are impressive in their knowledge, and they share what they know in an entertaining way. --National Catholic Reporter A significant achievement. The authors' learning and generosity of spirit will lead their readers into unfamiliar territory and reveal new depths in the familiar. --First Things A wonderful read . . . Any serious student of prayer will learn a good deal from this book. --America This religious practice has rarely received the sort of careful cultural analysis the Zaleskis offer . . . This sweeping cultural history illuminates the abiding influence of prayer in shaping human thought and behavior. Booklist, ALA, Starred Review Intelligent, informed, generous, ecumenical observations. The New York Times Book Review A grand and human compendium, fascinating on every page. It's witty, moving, and full of interesting facts and funny stories. --Annie Dillard Thought-provoking and soul-uplifting . . . There's an engaging ease to the Zaleskis' prose, and humor pops through regularly. Los Angeles Times A wonderful book -- intelligent, beautifully written, important, inclusive, and completely useful. --Thomas Moore

A wonderful book -- original, well-researched, clear, inspiring, even-handed. I applaud the two Zaleskis for their great effort. --Natalie Goldberg, author of Long Quiet Highway and The Great Failure The Zaleskis are impressive in their knowledge, and they share what they know in an entertaining way. --National Catholic Reporter A grand and human compendium, fascinating on every page. It's witty, moving, and full of interesting facts and funny stories. --Annie Dillard This is the most stunning book on prayer that I have ever read. It will become the benchmark for every other work on the subject, present or future. --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours A wonderful read . . . Any serious student of prayer will learn a good deal from this book. --America A wonderful book -- intelligent, beautifully written, important, inclusive, and completely useful. --Thomas Moore A significant achievement. The authors' learning and generosity of spirit will lead their readers into unfamiliar territory and reveal new depths in the familiar. --First Things This religious practice has rarely received the sort of careful cultural analysis the Zaleskis offer . . . This sweeping cultural history illuminates the abiding influence of prayer in shaping human thought and behavior. A fabulous, very readable, immensely informative, and (I would even say) 'inspirational' volume. --Harvey Cox, author of When Jesus Came to Harvard and The Secular City A lovely, interesting new book . . . Philip and Carol Zaleski explore this most personal of religious practices in an ecumenical spirit. The New York Times Book Review Unusually probing and thoughtful. Christian Science Monitor This is the most stunning book on prayer that I have ever read. It will become the benchmark for every other work on the subject, present or future. --Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours An essential resource for living in our multifaith world. Spirituality & Health Magazine The Zaleskis are impressive in their knowledge, and they share what they know in an entertaining way. --National Catholic Reporter A significant achievement. The authors' learning and generosity of spirit will lead their readers into unfamiliar territory and reveal new depths in the familiar. --First Things A wonderful read . . . Any serious student of prayer will learn a good deal from this book. --America This religious practice has rarely received the sort of careful cultural analysis the Zaleskis offer . . . This sweeping cultural history illuminates the abiding influence of prayer in shaping human thought and behavior. Booklist, ALA, Starred Review Intelligent, informed, generous, ecumenical observations. The New York Times Book Review A grand and human compendium, fascinating on every page. It's witty, moving, and full of interesting facts and funny stories. --Annie Dillard Thought-provoking and soul-uplifting . . . There's an engaging ease to the Zaleskis' prose, and humor pops through regularly. Los Angeles Times A wonderful book -- intelligent, beautifully written, important, inclusive, and completely useful. --Thomas Moore

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