Beyond Words: Daily Readings in the ABC's of Faith

by Frederick Buechner

Book Overview

Beyond Words n (1.) Terms or names that point to the realm of mystery and depth that lies beyond our ordinary experience. (2.) The reality that is beyond even the power of beyond words to convey, and that can be known only by experiencing it for yourself.

A word a day to keep the demons at bay. This is how Frederick Buechner likes to describe this witty and incisive dictionary. A daily devotional from one of today's greatest spiritual writers,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060574461
• ISBN13: 9780060574468
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.9" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

I Love This Book!

This is a book for everyone on a spiritual journey. Each day brings a new insight and maybe a chuckle or two. I love his sense of humor! The topics are varied and give me food for thought - whether it's a short two sentence reflection or a two page homily. I highly recommend this book - it's like having a meeting with a spiritual mentor every morning.

Great gift

I gave this book to my Dad for Christmas one year. He loves it. Also, my priest uses it in his sermons from time to time. Good book.

Buechner's Paradigm

No one who has read Buechner will be surprised that "Beyond Words" is an amazing paradigm for those who wish to find fresh and creative ways to talk about our faith. The daily readings are thought provoking, well written, and filled with insight.

Blog -- A Word a day to keep the Demons away

Frederick Keeps the Demons away by insightful, provactive, ideas! What poignant inspired 365 words for another year! From the Intriguing...darkness, EZEKIEL, Gomer... to music, mystery & MYSTICISM: Music is all about increasing ones's growth to listening! Mystery is about "Beginning with Words" as Robert Frost is Quoted: "We begin poetry with words that cause a lump to form in the throat." Mysticism is the place for beginning of Religions! "A popular view has it that what Ezekiel realy saw were Flying Saucers! Then all of a sudden from way up in the air his Voice came down... He thought he'd seen the Glory of GOD!" After descibing the Vision of DRY BONES, "Ezekiel heard the Voice asking him to tell the ISRAELITES--with GOD in the wings--even though it would be curtains For Sure, the way they were heading... the curtains that goes down in New Haven is also the curtain that goes up on the marvelous new rewrite that hits BROADWAY like a ton of bricks! As far as is known, nobody's ever stepped out of a UFO and made a statement like that!" All this says what an imaginative creative writer is our neat friend, Fredric the Great! from Retired Chaplain-Rabbi Fred-E Hood

A Welcome Compilation

Buechner has done something that will be taken two different ways: he has either fallen into the self-aggrandizing trap of repackaging "old stuff" for new potential market, or has (as I prefer to think) made more accessible three wonderful works through the convenience of a single cover. These gems are alternately thought-provoking, humorous, spiritual, and wonderfully human. Anyone who is familiar with Buechner's autobiographical musings (or the way they are woven into his novel characters) will recognize this as variation on a theme, an art at which Buechner is master. And for the market-driven pragmatists of the world...what a great gift idea!