Bread Upon The Waters: A Pilgrimage Toward Self-discovery And Spiritual Truth

By Peter Reinhart

Book Overview

For Peter Reinhart there is no clear line between bread making and soul making. In this engaging memoir, he traces the many paths he's traveled on his journey toward becoming a spiritual adult. Drawing upon both his humility as a seeker and his authority as an internationally known master baker, he relates the twelve stages of bread making to initiations of the soul that progressively lead one to a richer, more spiritual life. With humor and wit, he recounts his struggle to forge a link between the timeless principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition and other world religions. Ever the pilgrim, he tells movingly of his own search for an inner priesthood, a search that led him to twenty-five years of seminary training and charitable work among an eastern orthodox service order; it was here that he discovered his talent and passion for the innately spiritual craft of bread baking. Bread Upon the Waters draws upon a rich life, one devoted to caring for others and to matters of the soul above all else. And woven throughout are inventive recipes drawing upon the ritualistic tradition of the bread baker-food for the body and meditations for the spirit.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738204323
• ISBN13: 9780738204321
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

A great read

this book is a great read and allows yourself to ask questions like .... how did I get where I am spiritually .... Peter has lived a very interesting life ....

Epiphany

This book is soooo good, I can't hardly stand it. Combining my culinary passions and my spiritual yearnings and pursuits, it is so full of "aha" moments, moments of challenge and encouragement - to use his words, for me, an "epiphany." Likening the baking of bread, in all its stages, for the spiritual life - all I can say is its a pity its out of print, and I will likely be buying several of these out of print copies to give away. Mine is already full of highlights, and I am even journaling what I am learning. And I had his "Struan" recipe in there, too - the bread that put him on the map, so to speak, with Brother Junipers. Cant recommend enough, or THANK Peter Reinhart enough for this book. This man is no mere "bread baker," but a man full of wisdom and depth. I hope I shall meet him one day.

Going Deeper

This is a thoroughly enjoyable memoir. Although I am not a big fan of extended metaphors, I found Reinhart's comparison of the stages of breadmaking to the stages of seeking God very effective. The recipes are a great inclusion and don't seem to require an overwhelming effort for the novice. The real gem in this book is the encouragement to go deeper, whether that be into an art like bread-making or into a spiritual path. Reinhart writes convincingly as a man who has done both.

Take THIS Bread

This book uses the unique analogy of the stages of baking bread and the stages of faith. I don't bake, but found the stories fun and insightful. It is another example of how many ways we can see God in this world. How many different paths will lead to the Creator. One works with one has. What Peter Reinhart has is an in-depth understanding and passion for baking bread. He has cleverly combined the spiritual journey for himself and for us. Rising, punching down, resting, proofing, etc. I liked the book. It added insight spiritually and inspired me to try baking bread. A miracle indeed!