Can You Drink the Cup? [Paperback]

Henri J. M. Nouwen (Author), Ron Hansen (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2006

The last book published before Nouwen's death in 1996, Can You Drink the Cup? has been translated into ten languages and sold more than 135,000 copies. Exploring the deep spiritual impact of the question Jesus asked his friends James and John, Nouwen reflects upon the metaphor of the cup, using the images of holding, lifting, and drinking to articulate the basics of the spiritual life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I loved the book--and needed it." -- Kenneth L. Woodward, Contributing Editor, Newsweek

"Quite simply, a classic." -- Lawrence S. Cunningham, John A. O'Brien Professor of Theology, The University of Notre Dame

About the Author

HENRI J.M. NOUWEN is one of the most prolific and popular spiritual writers of our time. He wrote more than 40 books and taught at Notre Dame, as well as at Yale and Harvard. For the 10 years before his death in 1996, he was part of the L Arche Daybreak community in Toronto, sharing life with people with developmental disabilities. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 123 pages
• Publisher: Ave Maria Pr; 10th Anniversary edition (August 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594710996
• ISBN-13: 978-1594710995
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Henri Nouwen was born in Holland in 1932 and ordained a Catholic priest in 1957. He obtained his doctorandus in psychology from Nijmegen University in the Netherlands and taught at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard. He experienced the monastic life with Trappist monks at the Abbey of the Genesee, lived among the poor in Latin America with the Maryknoll missioners, and was interested and active in numerous causes related to social justice. After a lifetime of seeking, Henri Nouwen finally found his home in Canada, as pastor of L'Arche Daybreak - where people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers live together in community.

Henri Nouwen wrote over 40 books on spirituality and the spiritual life that have sold millions of copies and been translated into dozens of languages. His vision of spirituality was broad and inclusive, and his compassion embraced all of humankind.

He died in 1996. His work and his spirit live on.

Henri Nouwen pronounced his name "Henry Now-en." For more information on his life and work, please visit www.henrinouwen.org .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent book by Nouwen, November 24, 2002

By 

Tanja L. Walker "Tanja L. Walker" (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Can You Drink the Cup? (Paperback)

Nouwen gives us another excellent look at the spritual life, and how we can live it to the fullest, this time by using the metaphor, of holding, lifting, and drinking the cup, as Christ did in his life, death, and resurrection. We see that in order to truly drink our cups, we must be willing to drink both joy and sorrow, to in effect, drink life to its fullest, "to the dregs," if you will. Nouwen ably uses examples of hospitality and from his life with the mentally disabled at L'arche Daybreak to make his points. Especially poignant is the story of a visit he makes to one resident who has to spend time in a mental institution, and how that resident breaks down barriers to bring joy and hospitality to some rather stuffy people.

What was so wonderful about Henri Nouwen was that God was everywhere for him, in the simple as well as the most complex. His message of hope and love resonnates not only with his core Catholic constituents, but with Protestants like me, and I suspect, with people of other faiths as well. I have yet to read a book of his that hasn't moved me and helped me grow in my faith. This one is no exception. Definitely a keeper and one to be reread!

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can You Drink the Cup?, March 3, 2001

By 

Tawana Hawkins (Akron, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Can You Drink the Cup? (Paperback)

This was the first book I was required to read for a class I'm currently taking. The best way to describe it is life changing. It is not a book that can be read in one sitting even though it is a relatively short book. It raises so many questions and issues that I will be rereading it again because of how much I probably missed the first time. It speaks of raising the cup which is celebrating life in all of its many joys and sorrows. Looking at the cup which is reflecting on each experience that life brings. Can you drink the cup of life, down to the dregs? I highly recommend this book to everyone in search of purpose of life and the destiny we all have.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coping with loss, tragedy, randomness in life, August 29, 2000

By 

S. Bianchi "shbb" (Hershey, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Can You Drink the Cup? (Paperback)

One of Nouwen's more autobiograhical books and also one of his last, this quiet meditation on how we deal with the difficult parts of life was very helpful to me as a parent of a child with disability. The descriptions of the L'Arche community sent me to other Nouwen works to learn more about that movement. This is very simply written and positive in its outlook. I would recommend it for an adult discussion group and also for private devotional reading (and re-reading).