A Good Life: Benedict's Guide to Everyday Joy

by Robert Benson

Book Overview

"There is no shortage of good days," writes Annie Dillard. "It is good lives that are hard to come by." Reflecting on what makes a "good life," Robert Benson offers a warmhearted, humorous guide to enriching our lives with the wisdom of Benedict, a 6th century monk. Each chapter is shaped around a Benedictine principle: prayer, rest, community, and work, and reveals the brilliant and infinitely practical ways that Benedictine spirituality can shape...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557253560
• ISBN13: 9781557253569
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Paraclete Press (MA)
• Length: 85 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Oblate Devotional Book

Unpretentious, straight forward, and inspirational, this little volume (85 pages) makes an excellent devotional booklet for the Benedictine oblate. It has seven short sections. Taken one each day, this book will take a week to read. I usually read a chapter in place of compline and give myself something to think about as I go to sleep. Non-Benedictines might want use this book as a one-week retreat to experience a flavor of benedictine spirituality.

Spiritual Disciplines for the rest of us

The subject of Spiritual Disciplines is gaining in popularity and some books on the subject are quite overwhelming, especially for those of us who work 40 hours a week and have a family. "A Good Life" gleans insights from the Rule of St. Benedict to transpose into our 21st century lives. He divides our lives into four areas, which is slightly hard to do but interesting nevertheless, prayer, rest, community, and work, and discusses ways to pursue relationship with God in each of those areas. This is a great starting point for exploring how to be faithful in each of those areas of our lives.