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Souvenirs of Solitude: Finding Rest in Abba's Embrace

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Beloved author Brennan Manning is known for his thoughtful, challenging books, including RUTHLESS TRUST and THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL. His longtime fans will recognize SOUVENIRS OF SOLITUDE as a second edition of a work originally published in 1979, which offers a collection of Manning's thoughts from that era. Many of the themes that he has been teaching for more than 40 years are expressed with exuberance and exhilaration, one of which is simply God's boundless love for us.

Manning acknowledges that silence and solitude are treasured commodities in life, and notes that his restless self only discovers peace when he finds his rest in God. Yet convincing others of this truth has proven an uphill battle. He recognizes that part of his need for alone time can be attributed to his personality and describes himself as an "introvert-intuitive, feeler-perceiver type." As a result, one of Manning's primary needs is simply to be alone. He writes:

"As a hungry man needs food and a thirsty man water, I need solitude --- time to achieve a state of peace and recollection from which I can function and give to others what I was meant to in the personal plan of God for me."

Yet despite this need, Manning says he wrestled with feeling guilt. After all, isn't alone time just a way to skirt responsibility? Waste time? Embrace idleness? What he discovered was that the alone time with God is time to be treasured. The moments of silence and solitude reveal the love story of his passion for God. By revisiting these moments with God, Manning draws on a rich well of spiritual lessons, insights from God, and instances when he heard God's voice echo in his life.

SOUVENIRS OF SOLITUDE is a collection of these moments. Most of the memories (or souvenirs as he calls them) are only a few pages long, allowing the book to be used as a devotional as each of the short chapters ends with a prayer-filled poem. Chapters include "The Beauty of the Eucharistic Liturgy," "Hopeful or Wishful Thinking," and "Christmas Reflections at O'Hare." In a particularly insightful chapter, "Good Humor," Manning challenges readers to reflect on their own disposition on life and notes that a zealous and humorless evangelist can cause others to want to avoid religion altogether:

"Through good humor, a Christian triumphs over that subtle form of egotism that would make him pose as a martyr or at least a victim that makes him want to be noticed, consoled, or placed on a pedestal. And it makes community life richer and more delightful."

Such gentle reminders line the pages of SOUVENIRS OF SOLITUDE. Manning draws from life, literature and scripture to illustrate his message. Though some will long for him to go into more depth on some of the topics, most will enjoy the brevity. Fans will be glad to see this second edition of the book released and find themselves challenged by its thoughts and reflections. Recommended to those looking for a rich devotional.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

Souveneirs of Solitude is a book of devotional thoughts by Brennan Manning, author of the The Ragamuffin Gospel. I must admit as a reviewer it was somewhat difficult to speed through this book. It wasn't that it was difficult to read or that it was theologically demanding. Manning has provided some good devotional thoughts, but I felt as though there was no order to them. It would be a nice book to pick up from time to reflect on something Manning has to say, instaed of trying to digest it in the span of a few days.

Each chapter contains one devotional thought and a prayer. The devotional's subjects vary from chapter to chapter. One moment you are reading about the Eucharist and the next you are reading about Christmas. I found most of the devotionals to be beneficial, but not connected in any way. I enjoyed the prayers at the end of each chapter. In my life I have known people are who are good at praying. They just seem to be able to talk to God better than others. I believe we can learn some things from these people. Manning is an individual who is very much at ease when he talks to God. It is something that probably comes naturally to him. His prayers are a blessing to those who read them. Manning's book is not for everyone, but if you are looking for a devotional book to keep around the house and reflect on from time to time it may be just what you are looking for.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Navpress as part of their book review program for bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Be prepared to find out what Solitude REALLY should be Like. Brother Manning really tells us through his life stories what God desires in out quiet times. Think you know what Solitude with the Father is.......................you have NO clue. MY book of the year.............easily!!!!!! Peace-Mike

While reading Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning, I was reconnected with a mind and heart that I was introduced to years ago by Rich Mullins and the album A Liturgy, a Legacy, & a Ragamuffin Band.

The book opens with a poem by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The first lines read "We need to find God and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is a friend of silence..." If ever we in the US were ready for this, it is now.

I was immediately struck by the poetic prayers, written by Sue Garmon, at the end of each chapter, something new for this 2nd edition.

Each page was well worth the time to read. I recommend not reading this fast, but each week digesting a bit at a time. Each chapter touches on `souvenir' that Manning has in his memory from times that he recognized God's voice in his life. The scriptures sprinkled through the chapters make this a book usable as a devotional.
The book concludes with an eight day `retreat' schedule with scripture passages to meditate on, a discussion and prayer to start your meditation.

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone serious about walking with God.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning was originally published in 1979, but I can understand why they decided to re-release it. The principles are fresh and new even 30 years later. As a long-time fan of Brennan Manning, I have always read about his spiritual retreats and longed to go to one. I can honestly say that after reading this book I feel like I have been given a taste of that opportunity....and it was awesome!


Each chapter deals with a separate subject, and although I read it in one sitting, I intend to re-read it one chapter at a time to allow myself to really meditate on each truth, or souvenir, as the author calls them. Also at the end there is an eight day retreat guide that I will be using in my personal devotional time this week. The entire book will make a great devotional guide.


When I tell someone about a book like this I always like to give a favorite quote or passage to share. You know, one of those special moments where a spark goes off in my heart. Reading this book, I marked so many passages to share that I'm restraining myself from re-typing the entire book, so I will be strong and share just this one part from Chapter 3,


"In the final analysis, the real challenge of Christian growth is personal responsibility. The Spirit of Jesus calls out a second time. Are you going to take charge of your life today? Are you going to be responsible for what you do? Are you going to hope not because people say you should hope, but because you are confident of vindication? Are you going to love not because it is a commandment, but because it is a joy?.......What we do about the Lordship of Jesus is a better indication of our faith than what we think. What the world longs for from the Christian faith is the witness of men and women daring enough to be different, humble enough to make mistakes, wild enough to be burnt in the fire of love, real enough to make others see how unreal they are."


What can I say about this book? I found myself on these pages. I found Brennan Manning's souvenirs mirroring my own....and those truths calling me back to a place of solitude with my Abba. And I think you will too.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Brennan Manning is a master at comforting the beatin and battered with the grace of the gospel message. There is nothing more soothing than resting in the loving arms of our Father and His finished work!

In Souvenirs and Solitude, Brennan Manning reminds us of the importance of meeting God in the void. Of taking time to be by ourselves and shutting everything off. It is during these times that our Heavenly Father lavishes us with his unrelenting love. These times are also times of refreshment. "When I am able to disengage myself from others and allow the Lord to liberate me from an unhealthy dependence on people," Manning says, "I can exist more for them, listen more attentively, love more unselfishly, speak more compassionately, play more playfully, take myself less seriously, and become more aware that my face is bright with laughter in the midst of a game I thoroughly enjoy". The goal, then, of silence and solitude is to center ourselves in God in order to give ourselves away to others. Only when we are full of Christ are we able to accomplish this selfless act of love.

First published in 1979, the stories and insights Manning illuminates are as effective and as relevant today as when they were first recorded. The relatively short chapters all stand alone nicely, making this book a sort of devotional. As a whole, though, the theme of God's love for us permeates every page. Souvenirs and Solitude gives readers an excellent representation of Manning's ability to make you laugh on one page and cry the next. Readers of Manning will be familiar with his honesty and candor, powerfully evident, for example, in chapter fifteen, "One For The Road." As a recovering alcoholic, Manning shares his gut-wrenching experience at a program and his struggle with "what could have been."

Punctuating each chapter is a poem by the late Miss Sue Garmon. Simple, yet, thoughtful, Garmon puts words to the thoughts in our head after reading what Manning has written. A perfect compliment. Ultimately, Manning and Garmon provide us with a tool to help us turn from ourselves to our Father and then, to others; an experience that is sorely needed in these days of mass information overload. Let us heed their advice and take time out to listen and be refreshed by our Lord.

These devotions are magical and stirs the Spirit. Very fresh and ground-breaking and will also make you smile and feel like soaring. Just amazing.

Brennen Manning has such a way of being real and yet godly. He makes it easy for each of us to take time with God and enjoy it.

Souvenirs of Solitude are selections taken from Brennan Manning's personal journals/reflections over the years. Many focus on the theme of needing to consciously set aside time to seek out and meditate on God, since there are few culturally built in silences anymore. Other selections focus on how God can be seen and experienced at the most seemingly unlikely places (airport, poverty) if we just look for Him. There are 21 short (4 - 5 pages) chapters, each of which includes a prayer written by Sue Garmon.

I wasn't sure I would like this book. Devotion type books can be so lame and `fluffy'. Not this one. I was challenged and comforted by each selection long after I had finished reading. I particularly liked the inclusion of so many quotes from other writers/philosophers. I did not think I would like the inclusion of Miss Garmon's prayers at the end of each chapter, but they ended up being my favorite part. Each one captured the spirit of Manning's reflection in a unique and creative way. Another feature I almost overlooked was the 16 page appendix with guidelines and reading for an 8 day retreat. It seemed do-able and practical.

A simple concept. A compelling read. Very well done.

I received a complementary copy of Souvenirs of Solitude for review purposes from NavPress. No other compensation was received.