Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go (Paperback)

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Product Description

One of Fr. Rohr’s best-selling 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.

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.

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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: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,807 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #1 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Congregations & Orders > Specific Congregations & Orders #5 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Evangelism > Sermons #19 in  Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Philosophy of Religion

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	61% buy the item featured on this page: Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go 4.4 out of 5 stars (10) $12.21
	12% buy Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer 4.8 out of 5 stars (35) $11.53
	11% buy Things Hidden: Scripture As Spirituality 4.7 out of 5 stars (19) $13.57
	10% buy The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See 5.0 out of 5 stars (4) $13.57

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews 5 star:  (6) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 82 of 86 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)    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!" 14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Rohr as usual --- priceless!, July 29, 2007 By  R. Hochwalt "arroyoseco" (Las Cruces, NM United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    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." 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Simplicty - Not so Simple, September 1, 2008 By  Kevin "SFO" (Ellicott City, MD) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase 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.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book club or study group material This book was the selection for the Fall book club at our church. Although I was expecting more of a "how-to" format, I found it to be provocative and engaging. Read more Published 13 months ago by Elaine Scholl-iglecia 5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME READ!!!!! I have been reading about Simplicity for a little over a year and have found that practicing Simplicity truly enriches your life. Read more Published 15 months ago by Jeremy Sanders 5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity is good. I just finished this book tonight and would also recommend the lecture series by Rohr entitled "Letting Go: A Spirituality of Subtraction". Read more Published on October 25, 2007 by Jim Beaner 5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity for everyone Richard Rohr writes beautifully, provacatively, and movingly of what we need to do to live lives of meaning. Talk about a voice crying in the wilderness! Read more Published on July 28, 2007 by Hope Florence 5.0 out of 5 stars Startling Insights This book is a mind blower. Thea author pulls no punches. As when for example he calls bishops echo chambers of the Vatican. Read more Published on February 6, 2007 by TRHaney 3.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity - a reviewing the challenge Richard Rohr book is a personal exploration of how to respond to the Gospel's without glazing over the bit we often find confronting and try to ignore- Jesus's comments on wealth... Read more Published on February 21, 2006 by Joe McKay 4.0 out of 5 stars Letting Go I guess the basis for Rohr's book is to Let go of the pre-conceived notions that we all have in regards to God, the church, and differing classes of people including ourselves. Read more Published on October 17, 2005 by Walter D. Stefnoski Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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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: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,807 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Congregations & Orders > Specific Congregations & Orders
  #5 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Evangelism > Sermons
  #19 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Philosophy of Religion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 86 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)

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!"

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	R. Hochwalt "arroyoseco" (Las Cruces, NM United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Kevin "SFO" (Ellicott City, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.