Customer Reviews

A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons In Simplicity, Service, And Common Sense

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book speaks for me, a relatively new Quaker without the family support mechanisms birthright Friends might take for granted! My own friends and family members ask me why I chose to become a Quaker; acquaintances and curious visitors sometimes ask me what Quakers believe. The former is easier to answer than the latter, but this little book explains Friends in a welcoming manner that is easy to understand.

Robert Smith touches on the history of Quakerism, his grandparents and growing up in Moorestown, New Jersey. He wrote the book because he believes there is a need in the world today for what he calls the compassionate Quaker message.

The author voices his belief that "Quaker values of simplicity and silent contemplation, truth and conscience, seem more important now than ever before." He explains further. "To Quakers simplicity does not mean turning the clock back on progress or rejecting the benefits of modern science and conveniences of modern technology. Nor does it mean casting off one's possessions and embracing a life of poverty. And it certainly does not mean casting off joy."

With all the currently popular books on Simple Living and spirituality, Smith's book stands out, speaking briefly and clearly in chapters titled Silence, Worship, Truth, Simplicity, Conscience, Nonviolence, Service, Business, Education and Family. In these brief chapters, he covers more issues than I can fit into this review -- Quaker history, his own military part in World War II, intermarriage, the internet, and more are within these pages. He weaves in quotes from Jesus, Martin Luther King Junior, Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore, as well as those from Friends past and present.

The chapters fit together like quilt squares. Any one could be read and comprehended by itself, but as pieces of a whole, they reveal much more. A simple lifestyle, not necessarily "forsaking worldy goods" is connected with silent worship, bare walls, and simple folks. He tells us of his own childhood, of Quaker cousins who had more toys and possessions than he had, and of his own 'un-Quakerly jealousy." A trip to Toys 'R Us to buy a checker set with his grandson brings them down the action toys aisle, and leaves us to guess which his grandson found more appealing. He recognizes that there are increased difficulties these days when trying to sort out for children -- and for ourselves -- what is necessary from what is desired. The answer is the same as it has always been.

"'What do I need?' is simplicity's fundamental questions, a question that rubs against our natural proclivity for acquiring things, a question few of us feel ready to address. America's favorite weekend activity is not participating in sports, gardening, hiking, reading, visiting with friends and neighbors. It's shopping." (pg. 54)

He does not preach or focus on the Bible, but writes in an open and inclusive way about the variety within the Religious Society of Friends.

"But for all their differences, Meetings for Worship are fundamentally the same. At each Meeing, a group of individuals gathers and, open to the word of God, waits in attentive,expectant silence for a spark of the divine in their midst. Sometimes it comes in words; sometimes in silence. The language of truth can often be heard in silence, if only we know how to listen." (p. 29)

He closes the book with Ten Life Lessons, with explanations of each: Seize the Present; Love Yourself, whatever faults you have, and love the world however bad it is; Stop talking and listen to what you really know; Play soccer; Accept the fact that our lives are only partly in our hands; Believe in the perfectibility of yourself and society; Make your love visible in the world through your work; Seek justice in the world, but not in your own life; Look for the Light of God in everyone; Let your life speak."

I have been reading this book for a long time. Not because it is so long, but because I wanted to think about what it said.

I have long been fascinated by the Quakers, even before my association with a Friends school. Their belief that all people in the world are members of an extended family of equals appeals to me, as does their silent worship, which they call "the search for the truth within". They present "queries" at their meetings for worship and this author calls the queries "burrs under the saddle of the soul. "

Quakers believe that one's life should speak for oneself, that goodness is the most important part of that life. They have no written creed, no ministers, but there is a strong belief system. It is as much a movement as it is a religion, I guess.

One thing that I particularly like is the way the Quaker "service projects" are done. They go to places, often to foreign countries that are in need, and do not attempt to make any converts. They are there to work, much as those in the Peace Corps are. I learned that the Society of Friends was the first organization to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Some quotes from the book:

"The silence allows the opening of minds and listening to our best inner selves."

"So many of our young people are told that they must be good at something (math, music, sports) that they forget to pay attention to the primary command of the spirit: to be good at life."

"Simplicity is the cornerstone of Quaker faith and defines daily life. Simplicity has little to do with how much you own and everything to do with not letting your possessions own you."

While I would have liked to have learned a bit more about the Quaker religion, that was not really the intent of this author, and there are many other places to go for that information.

The book was enlightening and a very good read. In fact, the book was so well written, it was difficult to put down, once opened. The words of wisdom that are offered, are simply things have become common sense in today's society, but are sometimes forgotten or taken from granted. To read this book is a good reminder of what's important around us, and inside of us. And with all these wonderful things, a story of one man's life as a Quaker, is intertwined. A rich story, at that.

This book is not a bad book per se (I'd give it three and a half stars if that were possible), but it definately leaves out A LOT of information. I'm taking it upon myself to give the rest of the information the book should have given, in four major points:

1) This book represents just one type of Quakerism, namely the Liberal Quakers, and the author himself is from the liberal end of the Liberal Quakers. That's not a bad thing in and of itself, but it should have been pointed out on the book, or somewhere in the description. Most Quakers in the world today are Christian and we always have been a Christian Society. Many of the values this book discusses are debatable at best and do not represent Quakerism as a whole. That's why I think it could have been called "A Liberal Quaker Book Of Wisdom" or "A Hicksite Quaker Book Of Wisdom". If that's what one is looking for, great--but it should be made known before the book is purchased, I feel.

2) The "life lessons" in this book are actually just essays (more or less) loosely on different topics by the author. The book kind of portrays itself as a whole volume, i.e., one that is more "solid", but it could have been published as a bunch of little books as well.

3) The school that the author used to head, Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., is one of the most expensive day schools in the county (and probably in the world). Mainly politicians' kids and children of important public figures go there--precious few Quaker kids could ever afford it. That isn't mentioned at all in the essay on simplicity and it really should have been. His former status of head of the school is used as a selling point of the book, but in my view, it doesn't tell the whole story for those not familiar with Sidwell Friends School.

4) It doesn't really contain that much information. The book itself is very small and square shaped, and it is printed in large font with what looks (to me) to be double-spaced or nearly double-spaced lines. The cover (on the softcover version) is actually rather thin, even for a softcover book, and prone to ripping. I personally feel that even $9 is too much to pay for this book.

In conclusion, I really don't like to give a negative review of a Friends' book, but this one is less than excellent and in many ways does not tell the whole story.

If a person is new to Quakerism or just looking for general Quaker infomation, I would whole-heartedly recommend Wilmer A. Cooper's book, "A Living Faith" (ISBN 0944350534). It is truly one of the better Quaker books written in recent years. It addresses both Liberal and Orthodox Quakerism as well as other groups such as Conservatives and Independent Meetings. It far excels this one in just about every way, but it does cost a few dollars more (it's a much larger book).

This is a wonderful book, whjich clearly and poignantly tells what Quakerism means to a first-class educator and a deeply decent man. I am a Quaker myself and it rings true; but readers who know nothing about Quakerism will enjoy it just as well.

The wisdom of this book is that it doesn't presume to prescibe solutions that will work for everyone as much as it provides a practical framework for individuals to think about their lives and spirtuality. I found the simplicity of the message to be refreshing and inspiring and would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to uncomplicate his life by first uncomplicating his mind. William Penn, a prominent Quaker, in stressing the need to make one's life speak, wrote that one might be told "Well Done", but not "Well Professed". Mr. Smith has made his life speak and deserves to be told both Well Done and Well Professed!

This is an excellent book, which I reccommend for anyone, be they Quaker, Catholic, agnostic, whatever. This book simply offers basic ideas for how to live a meaningful life, and the content is truly universal. Far from trying to convert, the author is very open-minded. He doesn't look at the labels people give each others and themselves, but instead looks at what people do.

Appreciate the stories told by this author about his life and consider the insights that he has gained from reflection on his experience; but, please, do not base your understanding of Quakerism on his presentation. In spite of the fact that Smith is a lifelong Friend and a former Quaker educator, he quotes George Fox (an important leader in the early Quaker movement) and the Bible inaccurately or out of context several times. In addition, some of Smith's statements about facets of Quaker faith and practice are historically unfounded or ignore the diversity within the Religious Society of Friends today. If you are interested in learning about Quakerism, read Wilmer A. Cooper's book, A Living Faith: An Historical Study of Quaker Beliefs (Friends United Press: 1990). Read Robert Lawrence Smith's book as a book of wisdom written by a Quaker, but not necessarily a Quaker book of wisdom.

This book was so refreshing. I'm not a Quaker, but have always deeply admired the Friends. This book is full of true wisdom, in a time when wisdom and common sense are few and far between, and shows why the Quaker religion has survived and flourished since the 17th century.

There are many books on Quakerism as well as practical guides to living a life of faith. But Robert Smith's book is truly special in that he covers all the important parts of the Quaker life in an unassuming, often humorous, self-depreciating manner. I'm giving this book to my friends and family members - Quaker and non-Quaker - since I know it will both delight and inspire.