Customer Reviews

Praying Naked: The Spirituality of Anthony de Mello

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EASY READING, BUT SPIRITUALITY-LITE
There are lots of quotations in this book; in fact almost half of its pages are blank except for single quotations. The quotes are pretty good too, but their relationship to the text is not always evident. There are lots of good stories, most of them familiar, especially if you've read de Mello. And then there is the teaching. The author says he wishes to give the reader "as much pure de Mello as possible," but he has no trouble fitting in principles from Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Joan Borysenko, John Bradshaw, Eric Berne, Stephen Covey, et al. The important question addressed is not "Who is God," but "Who am I?" And the heart and soul of this book, according to the author (p. 121), is found in three stories that say freedom from inflexibility, rigidity and external pressure will lead to a breakthrough where we will get rid of our programming, wake up to who we are, and experience things making sense. There's a lot more good advice as well: admit you are asleep, become able to listen, stay alert, get rid of illusions about yourself and others, be grateful, be intimate with nature, be non-judgmental, focus, surround yourself with happy people, think positively, learn to correct self-created emotions, etc. All of this is good mental hygiene and much good psychological advice gathered together in one place, but is it spirituality? And, in particular, is this really a summary of the spirituality of a recognized Christian spiritual master, Catholic priest, and vowed Jesuit religious? There is little about God, Christ, or a relationship with either, little that could not be espoused and taught by an atheist. It's an easy book to get through and a good one to practice, but thin soup for someone who is expecting a more hearty meal.

Anthony de Mello is such an awesome writer that he doesn't need someone piggy-backing on his work. Read de Mello's original works rather than this book.

A marvellous presentation of de Mello's approach -- I think better for today's readers than de Mello's books themselves. The aim is to bring the reader into contact way down deep with himself where alone he can find God as He wishes to be found. I profited greatly and recommend this to all and not only to christians.

I'm a great admirer of Fr. De Mello's work, and picked this up without giving it much of a look. I don't often regret buying books, but this was an exception.

Fr. Stroud, who has otherwise done a good job of editing and promoting Fr. De Mello's work, here simply rehashes some of De Mello's ideas and stories, often without attribution, and provides some rather unhelpful commentary.

Almost half the book is nearly blank, with brief (and frequently rather inane) quotations on the left pages, quotations that often have little or nothing to do with the material on the facing pages. It's very bizarre. It's hard to shake the suspicion that he didn't have enough material for a book, and had to use the quotations to take up some of the space.

I don't know what this book is for. It might introduce De Mello to new readers, but it might actually turn them off, which would be a shame.

If you've read De Mello's work, you will find nothing of value here that you're not already familiar with. If you haven't, do yourself a favour and read his words directly. I recommend starting with Awareness, which was a life-changer for me.

This is an excellent Book for anyone who wants To Grow in their Emotional life, Mental life, Spiritual Life and wants to be healed in their Physical Life.