The Little Book of Prayers

By David Schiller

Book Overview

The perfect gift for seekers, the curious, and the spiritually hungry, The Little Book of Prayers now has a stunning new cover and a more prayer book-like format.

Gathered from holy books and prayer books, from songs and spirituals, spoken traditions and poets, it is an unexpectedly approachable collection of common and uncommon prayers from around the world. The entries, one per page or spread, are chosen for their depth of feeling, beauty of expression, spiritual intensity, and sense of the universal. The book is organized into broad categories of praise, entreaty, contemplation, mourning, and grace; and two indexes--one by authorship, and the other by topic--make it immediately accessible.

There are familiar prayers, like the Lord's Prayer and 23rd Psalm, which, placed in new context, shine with a renewed beauty and wisdom. You'll find prayers unfamiliar to many in the West, such as the "Opener" from the Koran or the four vows of the Boddhisattva, chanted every evening in Zen monasteries around the world. And the surprising--from the "Prayer of the Unknown Confederate Soldier" to the blues of Lightnin' Hopkins to the poetry of Rumi.

God help us to live slowly:

To move simply:

To look softly:

To allow emptiness:
To let the heart create

for us.
Amen.
--Michael Leunig

You, whose day it is, make it

beautiful. Get out your rainbow

colors, so it will be beautiful.
--Nootka Song

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761177582
• ISBN13: 9780761177586
• Release Date: September 2013
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 396 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 3.9" x 5.9"

Customer Reviews

Buy one for yourself and one for a friend

This is a great book. It reminds one that prayer can be simple and powerful. While I don't consider myself a very religious person, I found this book to be comforting and inspirational. I am going to order several more as gifts for friends during the holiday season.

soul-illuminating

there are prayers here for everyone, and I think everyone will end up praying everything! Powerful in their subtlety, these prayers are especially effective in their: 1) sincerity by speaking directly from the heart and, 2)ability to touch by latching on directly to the heart. Poetry, prose, song, and scripture combine in a collage of soul-illumination -- 5 stars!

What a beautiful book...

This book includes some of the most beautiful ruminations on faith and prayer I've ever heard. It combines the work of theologians and holy people with poets, both modern and ancient. Some of the most touching entries have inspired me to find a book of poetry by its author... I give this book as a gift all the time. It has also helped me in moments of wavering faith... I'm endlessly grateful for this book!

A great variety of prayers from many religions and regions

A wonderful little "bathroom" book with over 300 pages of prayers and blessings from Muslim, Zen, American Indian and East African prayers to bible verses; quotes from Martin Luther and Martin Luther King, excerpts from books (Color Purple) and plays (Shakespeare). A great stocking stuffer.