Living a Gentle, Passionate Life [Hardcover]

Robert J. Wicks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

Bob Wicks again delivers his gentle healing philosophy through poignant, humorous stories that will warm and educate the heart. With a refreshing sense of simplicity, Wicks invites readers to seek perspective and develop a strong inner life. His work helps move beyond the vague desire to live more peacefully to actually living one's dream: a life that is noble and meaningful, with a sense of joy, hope, and commitment.

Wicks shows how to find the curative value of listening to ourselves and to others, how to discover in solitude a "good loneliness," and how to appreciate the gift of now. In this gentle, yet realistic approach, both joy and pain must be accepted in order to thrive, as they are forever intertwined, just as the development of one's inner life is intertwined with reaching out to others.

This is Wicks' life work; while not autobiographical, the book breathes with the themes he's lived through his distinguished career, most notably the hopeful message of finding spiritual freedom and greater meaning in daily life. The book is perfect for anyone under stress or suffering loss, for spiritual seekers, for ministry professionals, counselors, and for all those in the helping professions.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wicks, a psychologist on the faculty of Loyola College who specializes in treating physicians, nurses, priests and ministers, offers a persuasive guide to strengthening one's inner life, based on a combination of his two specialties: psychology and religion. Drawing on his experiences with patients as well as episodes from his own life, Wicks (Touching the Holy) shares the principles he has learned for creating a meaningful life in a world that he acknowledges may be filled with pain and negativity. His guidelines for developing a spiritually rich internal voice include finding time for daily self-reflection and prayer, living in the here and now, reaching out to others while accepting them for who they are and adhering to a personal philosophy based on simplicity and ordinariness. All of the author's advice is based on his conviction that the foundation of a meaningful life lies in the interaction between mindful prayer and compassionate behavior. Although devotees of the literature on simple-mindful living are unlikely to find new insights here, Wicks's book is accessible and leavened by gentle self-deprecating humor.

Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

A persuasive guide to strengthening one's inner life. -- Publishers Weekly

Packed with useful insight and reflection. -- Praying

Robert J. Wicks has crafted a how-to book on living with a sense of joy, compassion, hope and commitment. -- Stanley M. Grabowski, Pastoral Life

Shows you how to achieve a healing life philosophy in a simple and accessible way. -- Phyllis Straughan,

This book should be referred to from time to time as part of the 'quiet time' the author prescribes. -- The Sunday Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)

This is a book that should be kept close, to be referred to from time to time. -- The Sunday Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)

This is a wise and wonderful book. -- Sisters Today

Wicks gives us a how-to book on living with a sense of joy, compassion, hope and commitment. -- Stanley M. Grabowski, Pastoral Life --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Pr (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809104997
• ISBN-13: 978-0809104994
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,670,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Robert Wicks received his doctorate in psychology from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. Presently, he is a professor at Loyola University Maryland. In 1994, he was responsible for the psychological debriefing of relief workers evacuated from Rwanda during their bloody civil war. In 2006, he delivered a presentation on self-care at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and Walter Reed Army Hospital to health care professionals responsible for Iraqi war veterans with multiple amputations and severe head injuries. Dr. Wicks is author of numerous books including The Resilient Clinician (OUP, 2008), Overcoming Secondary Stress in Medical and Nursing Practice (OUP, 2006), and the acclaimed best seller, Riding the Dragon: 10 Lessons for Inner Strength in Challenging Times (Sorin Books, 2003). He lives with his wife Michaele in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, Introspective and Common Sense, December 27, 2000

By 

Tonda R. Williams (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living a Gentle, Passionate Life (Hardcover)

This is by far one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. It helped to refocus and redirect my energies inwardly. Many times we become so consumed with looking for complex messages, mysteries or solutions, it becomes very easy to miss the simplicity and practicality of wisdom and spirituality! This book enabled me to remember where my authentic power is rooted. It is in my spirituality! It also reminds me that the most passionate parts of life are gentle and simple!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 13, 2009

By 

T. Faver - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living a Gentle, Passionate Life (Paperback)

Got this book in the amount of time that was given. This was a used book in great shape and the author had even signed it for the original reader so I thought that was really cool that I ended up with a signed copy. I will definitely use this company again for other books.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I Kept Waiting for Substance..., November 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Living a Gentle, Passionate Life (Hardcover)

I can't believe it...I kept waiting for something of substance to reflect on and continually came up short. For example, near the end of the book in Chapter 12: Taking Yourself Lightly the author states, "I think that pouting for a brief period of time is fine, as long as we don't do it too long." Wow! Now there's a statement to reflect on for hours!! In general I found the book superficial and a bit patronizing to anyone who is attempting to take their spiritual life seriously.