Customer Reviews

The Imitation of Christ (Dover Thrift Editions)

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a pastor I see so many people who are miserable. They are depressed, filled with worry and have so little joy in their lives. This book speaks specifically to those problems.
In a nutshell this book says that we are miserable because we are trying to find joy in other people and in other things and everything out there will fail us and let us down. The only thing that provides true happiness, peace and contentment is God. The Imitation of Christ goes through exercises on how we can detach ourselves from worldly things to focus on God. Once we are focused solely on God and have the faith that God will provide everything we need, then we can really enjoy the world around us. Enjoy it because once we receive true happiness from God we can see how beautiful the world is and enjoy it as the gift God created it to be, instead of something that we grab onto in the hopes that it will provide us our happiness and security.

Imitation of Christ is said to be the most influential spiritual work in Western Christendom other than the Bible itself. This fresh contemporary translation from the 15th Century Latin edition makes the timeless wisdom of this classic available to modern readers in easily understandable language, while retaining the austerity, simplicity and beauty of the original. Meant to be read in small portions, the Imitation is truly a guide for discovering personal holiness. The Imitation speaks to one's heart, rather than one's mind, and provides one with strength, inspiration and fortitude to grow in one's interior spiritual life. Although written from the presepctive of a mideval monastic, The Imitation contains classic advice for every individual who wishes to develop and grow in faith and personal spirituality.

This translation, by Dr. Joseph Tylenda, S.J.,Director of the Theology Center At Georgetown University, is truly the finest I've seen. If you are a reader of Classic Works this translation is a must. If you are not, it will truly inspire you. The scriptures are cleverly placed in italics with complete Bible references. A very well written history is also provided. The beautiful cover makes this an ideal gift at holidays and special occasions. This is one of the world's most famous devotionals, truly a great Christian work. When you have the time take a look for yourself.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Only the Bible has been more influential as a source of Christian devotional reading than The Imitation of Christ. This medi[t]ation on the spiritual life has inspired readers from Thomas More and St. Ignatius Loyola to Thomas Merton and Pope John Paul I. Written by the Augustinian monk Thomas a Kempis between 1420 and 1427, it contains clear instructions for renouncing worldly vanities and locating eternal truths. No book has more explicitly and movingly described the Christian ideal: 'My son, to the degree that you can leave yourself behind, to that degree will you be able to enter into Me.'"

FROM EDITORS
"An influence on Thomas More, Ignatius Loyola, John Wesley, and Dr. Johnson, the 15th-century priest & writer Thomas Kempis wrote many devotional works, culminating in this masterpiece celebrating man's dependence on God's boundless love."--Barnes & Noble

For a period in my life, I read this book perhaps more frequently than any other book. It is quintessential Christian reading. Following Christ isn't just about joy. We are called to deny ourselves daily, and to carry our crosses. More than console, this book calls us to imitate Christ, to do the real tough work of living in humility and obedience. It is beautiful, passionate, powerful, and challenging. Read it.

I absolutely LOVE this book. I love it because of it's simplicity. It's such a humble little book, so easy to read and understand. It's so easy to put into practice, because it is common sense in the most pure form. If you have ever wondered how saints are made, read this book. It is definitely a road map to sanctity. (St. Therese of Lisieux knew the whole book by heart).

This is one of the most inspiring, spiritual books I have ever read. Thomas A Kempis really pierces the deepest depths of the soul. He has presented here a deep raw truth of how a man should live, and in a very inspiring way. It is a very compelling, thought-provoking read. One must stop and read and contemplate his words, and I think it will be nigh impossible to not be affected on a profound level. Although this book probably resonates best with Christians, I think it can be equally valuable to people of any faith. Such is the way of the Brethren of the Common Life, their focus is not so much doctrine, but very much on how a man should live, imitating Christ as the title implies. Regardless of what you believe, I think if you read Thomas A Kempis' words and deeply reflect on them, I think they will move you to a profound truth that transcends all doctrine and dogma and really affects the spirit of all mankind.

From years in Southern Seminary, when Glenn Hinson introduced us to Devotinal Classics, Catholic Book Publishers had not printed their elite 1977 version! The new Foreword advises one, "As you thoughtfully and prayerfully read this book, turn pages slowly and allow the wisdom to penetrate your inner self." This gave me new insights after 55 or 60 years of devotional readings!

Chapters entitled: "On following Christ our Model; On having a Humble Opinon of oneself; On being Prudent in what we accept and do; On the reading of Holy Scripture!" Into 7 of "First Book of Useful Admonitions for A Spiritual Life," I have underlined 7 sentences: "It is not good to be taken in by every word//impulse that comes our way, but consider the things prudently and thoughtfully in order not to offend God... It is good that everything is not always to our liking; for adversity makes people look into their hearts in order to realize that they are exiles and must not put their hopes in any worldly thing. It is good for us to run into opposition... even when our intentions are good." These are sketchs of a few main ideas!

Altho we do not easily or kindly take advise, these are surely valuable and thought provoking words of admonititon! From a well-seasoned reader of Devotional Classics, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood, "Barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States)

As a person trying to grow everyday in Christian practice and thought, I found this book worth its weight in gold. It's easy to read (short segments) -- in fact, it's so easy you have to be careful you don't coast right past a diamond buried in every paragraph.

No wonder John Wesley found it to be on of his favorite guidance books!

This book helped me to embrace some of the qualities within myself that I had previously been trying to change. The want to do so was triggered by the constant feeling of missing out on something or being judged by my fellow brothers and sisters here on earth. I no longer care what people think or say. To quote Mos Def: "I give a damn if any man records my legacy, I'm trying to live life in the sight of God's memory." This book is one of many that helps make it easy to do just that.