Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go [Paperback]

Richard Rohr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

One of Fr. Rohr’s bestselling books, this revised and updated edition explores St. Francis’s ancient call to the simple life, where joy, not dry theology, helps us build relationships and find peace in ourselves.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In this gem of a book, Richard Rohr introduces us to the vision of the Franciscan way of living, where joy, not dry theology, helps us build relationships and find peace in ourselves.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company; Rev Upd Su edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824521153
• ISBN-13: 978-0824521158
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Congregations & Orders
  • #25 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Sermons

More About the Author

Richard Rohr was born in Kansas in 1943. He entered the Franciscans in 1961, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970. He received his Master's Degree in Theology from Dayton that same year. He now lives in a hermitage behind his Franciscan community in Albuquerque, and divides his time between local work and preaching and teaching on all continents.

He has written numerous books including: Everything Belongs, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, On the Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations for Men, and Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent.

For information on all of the resources from Richard Rohr please visit the Mustard Seed Resource Center at www.cacradicalgrace.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is Simplicity Really This Simple?, May 16, 2004

By 

James Ward (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go (Paperback)

Richard Rohr dives below the surface of rational Western culture in a dialog about God's Kingdom, being poor, social justice and living in a deeper place of simplicity where we are at home with the Jesus in us. The thoughts in this book are profound, simple, and challenging. This book truly captivated me. I did not want to put it down. My mind was stretched and my heart defibrillated as I began to see how simple it all really is... Blessed are those with very little... Blessed are those who have lost something... Blessed are those... Is the Sermon on the Mount just imagery of a life which is unobtainable to us now? His Kingdom seems to be up-side-down. And as Jesus said, "The Kingdom is here now!"

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rohr as usual --- priceless!, July 29, 2007

By 

R. Hochwalt "arroyoseco" (North Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go (Paperback)

Richard Rohr certainly is among my five favorite Christian authors. Rohr is a priest, a preacher and a member of the Franciscan Order (OFM) within the Roman Catholic Church. He is both priceless and refreshing because he in a direct, forceful and honest way -- speaks the truth as he sees it. He doesn't view the Church as perfect, certainly not all its leaders. He is a consistent critic of the present capitalistic economic system. And, he points out the failings in socialism.

Although this book is entitled "Simplicity." only the last chapter really is devoted to that subject consistently.

Apparently the book is based on a series of talks Rohr gave in Germany and Switzerland in the late eighties.

The varioius chapters range from Christians being active in transforming society, to women's place in the church, to how the Church needs to save itself.

An example of speaking plainly, clearly and directly: "Chrisitian nations are among the greediest and the most intent on security of any in the world, while they maintain that Jesus is their Lord and their security."

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Simplicty - Not so Simple, September 1, 2008

By 

Kevin C (Ellicott City, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go (Paperback)

This book looks at simplicty and discusses it through many systems; American Society, Woman's roles, Catholicicsm, the American Church and your image of God. It is based upon talks Fr. Rohr has given and seems a bit disjointed. It is not until the last chapter that Fr. Rohr gets to approching simplicity from the individual perspective. He states "Our path, like Jesus' leads us to the wilderness where we have to look the exactly the same three demons in the eye: the need to be successful, the need to be righteous or religious, and the need to have power and everything under control." We also need to embrace the poor one "inside" so that we have room for compassion "outside". The Gospel calls us to identify with the poor and crucified Christ and in our weakness we are strong. We are called to service for our less fortunate brothers and sisters, "But faith means giving away what we thought we didn't even have." It was a good journey through this book, just not exactly what I was anticipating.