Body and Gift: Reflections Jn Creations (Pope John Paul II's) [Hardcover]

Sam Torode (Author), Christopher West (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pope John Paul II's | Publication Date: June 2003

In a series of talks known as "the theology of the body," Pope John Paul II set out to answer some of the most important questions of our time about love and sexuality. Now, the theology of the body is being made available in simplified language for the general reader. Body and Gift, the first book in a four-part series, begins with the creation of man as recorded in Genesis. What does this ancient book have to teach us today about the human body and God’s design for marriage? Body and Gift expresses the heart of John Paul’s teachings on this important subject.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...not theology ‘for dummies,’ but faith seeking understanding in everyday speech. I hope the book will be read widely." -- J. Budziszewski, author of What We Can't Not Know

"Sam Torode provides a tremendous service by ‘translating’ the Pope’s sublime reflections into ‘normal’ language." -- Christopher West, author of Good News About Sex & Marriage

"Sam Torode provides a tremendous service by ‘translating’ the Pope’s sublime reflections into ‘normal’ language." -- Christopher West, author of Good News About Sex & Marriage

About the Author

Sam Torode, the editor of this series, is a freelance writer and artist whose essays have appeared in Books & Culture, Boundless Webzine, Christianity Today, The American Enterprise, World, and the anthology Best Christian Writing 2002. He and his wife, Bethany, are authors of Open Embrace, an introduction to Natural Family Planning.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 74 pages
• Publisher: Philokalia Books (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972535810
• ISBN-13: 978-0972535816
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,714,885 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clarity makes wisdom accessible for all...., September 17, 2003

By 

"hollygirl717" (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body and Gift: Reflections Jn Creations (Pope John Paul II's) (Hardcover)

Sam Torode has done a tremendous service to Christian thinkers (and anyone interested in Biblically-based philosophy, Christian or not) with his translation of Pope John Paul II's theology of the body into everyday English.

The result is not dumbed-down or simplified. The people who publish the "Complete Idiot's Guide to..." books are not going to co-opt this title. Rather, Torode's translation yields clarity and aids in understanding.

My generation (I'm 25) is searching for things of eternal significance, for the ideas and principles based on the wisdom of ages, things our parents and grandparents seemed to forget. Torode has made the Pope's commentary accessible and clear in language that contemporary Americans will understand and still find intellectually engaging.

Can't wait for the next installment in the series!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise synopsis of Cycle 1, July 1, 2005

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Hairy Lime (ND, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body and Gift: Reflections Jn Creations (Pope John Paul II's) (Hardcover)

John Paul II's Theology of the Body is broken up into 6 "cycles" and "Body and Gift" covers the first cycle. The subject of the first cycle is Original Man: man's experience before the Fall (eating the apple, that is, not the season).

There are 23 chapters in the book and most chapters are only about 2 pages long (the book is 50 pages long). Churches are encouraged to reprint individual chapters in their bulletins. While the short chapters are nice if you are just reading the book casually, I think some of the ideas need to be fleshed out more to fully appreciate them. Just when you get introduced to an idea, the chapter ends.

However, the book is still outstanding as an introduction to the first part of the Theology of the Body. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading the other books in the series.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simplified presentation of the pope's fifteen-minute talks, December 7, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Body and Gift: Reflections Jn Creations (Pope John Paul II's) (Hardcover)

Highly recommended, especially for a Roman Catholic readership, Body And Gift: Reflections On Creation presents the words and wisdom of Pope John Paul II's speeches, seamlessly adapted into a series of essays by Sam Torode, concerning love, sexuality, and the human person. A simplified presentation of the pope's fifteen-minute talks which condenses the critical, core issues into a direct and unambiguous message, Body And Gift is an unparalleled work of insight and spiritual pondering.