The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life

By Henri J.M. Nouwen

Book Overview

Throughout the forty-some books that Henri Nouwen wrote and the hundreds of talks that he gave, the subject of Prayer runs through them all and unites them. For him a life of faith is a life of prayer. Drawn from many decades of his life, the compilation of Henri's thoughts, feelings, and the struggle with prayer, reveal the core of the man and his belief that prayer is the only necessary thing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824524934
• ISBN13: 9780824524937
• Release Date: August 1970
• Publisher: Crossroad Publishing Company, The
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Well appreciated

As an avid reader of Henri Nouwen, I appreciate the care and integrity used in this compilation. I feel it gets at the sense of who Nouwen was and the sense of his spiritual journey. His compassion and humility shine through.

The Only Necessary Thing

Outstanding. This was written by a close friend of Henri Nouwen. She has done a wonderful job of collecting & editing. This book is a tribute to Nouwen, and will be a joy to read and use for meditation, perhaps during Lent.

Essential for those of us needing to be taught how to pray..

Nouwen's work is always worthwhile, even when it is not his best effort. This book is his very best work on the most important topic he consistently addressed- prayer. Much thanks need to be given to Wendy Greer who gleaned these excerpts from his many books. She has done an admirable job. This book, due to it's format, is very conducive to being read over a course of time, maybe for one's devotions. The wisdom in it makes for a book that I will return to over and over again. I have given this book to my closest christian friends, who like me have a conviction that the prayerful life, a life lived always in the awareness of our relationship with Christ, is the only life worth living.