The Imitation of Christ (Vintage Spiritual Classics)
by Thomas a Kempis
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Book Summary Information
Author: Thomas a KempisTranslator: Joseph N. Tylenda
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); Latin (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-03-24
ISBN: 0375700188
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Vintage
Book Reviews of The Imitation of Christ (Vintage Spiritual Classics)
Book Review: Quiet & Introspective : An Underappreciated Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Is "The Imitation of Christ" the greatest book ever written? Quite possibly.
"The Imitation of Christ" to me, is everything the Bible would like to be - crisp, clear, inward, simple, and rich with message rather than parables. This immediate difference is admirable, though of course this book is steeped in Biblical teachings and completely relies upon the Bible for its' understanding of Christ and his message. What the author perhaps was unaware of is that this book works as a Guide for practicing the absolutely simple lessons of the Bible - and for anyone who has ever found themselves overwhelmed with the sheer details within the Bible (eg. someone who has toiled through sections of the Bible just to find a particular message or possible meaning) this book is the perfect solution.
That said, the book also works as a non-Christian spiritual guide, which is why I am recommending it for readers who aren't quite taken by Christianity, and especially to readers who are disillusioned by the Bible as a concept. "The Imitation of Christ", on this front, works as a spiritual work that transcends religion - one that deals with day-to-day behavioral issues and how to streamline one's thought processes so that one is in harmony with nature, and how to work towards peace and normalcy in ones' life. Perhaps this is why this book has resonated with so many readers around the world - but on some level still remains an unknown artifact even within the literary community.
The division of sections is particularly helpful, and the simplistic language masks nothing - this is a work where what you see is what you get, and there are no double meanings to sift through, nothing especially philosophical to ponder about. This 'meat and potatoes' approach to spirituality is something that one appreciates, especially if one cannot fathom some of the more fantastical elements of the Bible. To be more specific, parts of this book have been divided into almost quaint chapters named "Having a Humble Opinion of Self", "Monastic Life", and my personal favorite, and quite possibly the best chapter in the entire book - "The Love of Solitude and Silence".
Considering the person who wrote this book was a meditative and deeply spiritual person, the language used is loving, not at all too religious, and hardly preachy. Its almost as if a kind mother talking to her child and passing on her life's learnings in a very soft and gentle manner - something that is all too rare in the spiritual literature section these days. Consider, for example, the great truth in this passage:
"Very many great saints avoided the company of men wherever possible and chose to serve God in retirement. "As often as I have been among men," said one writer, "I have returned less a man." We often find this to be true when we take part in long conversations. It is easier to be silent altogether than not to speak too much. To stay at home is easier than to be sufficiently on guard while away."
But perhaps the greatest meditations come in the passage entitled "Ourselves", where the author speaks, almost with nostalgic wisdom, upon the self and ones' responsibility toward it. The mesmerizing words here could be from any religion, but as I had reaffirmed earlier, the texts are wholly spiritual in nature:
"We must not rely too much upon ourselves, for grace and understanding are often lacking in us. We have but little inborn light, and this we quickly lose through negligence. Often we are not aware that we are so blind in heart. Meanwhile we do wrong, and then do worse in excusing it. At times we are moved by passion, and we think it zeal. We take others to task for small mistakes, and overlook greater ones in ourselves. We are quick enough to feel and brood over the things we suffer from others, but we think nothing of how much others suffer from us. If a man would weigh his own deeds fully and rightly, he would find little cause to pass severe judgment on others."
"The Imitation of Christ" is a lot of things, but one thing it is not is boring. Even the most jaded reader will find something here that is of worth, and for the more developed or even academic reader, the words here will appear bare and stark upon first reading, but in their humility lies great truths. There is nothing here that hasn't been discussed or talked about, but the freshness of vision, and the clarity of thought, makes you forget that this book is actually hundreds of years old. If anything, this is clearly one of the greatest books ever written, primarily because its words are implementable, relatable, and will make sense in any era, epoch or time, be it now, or fifty years from now. In that sense, it is most assuredly 'timeless'.
Five Stars. A Masterpiece of Religious Literature, and one of the most important books ever published.
Summary of The Imitation of Christ (Vintage Spiritual Classics)
Only the Bible has been more influential as a source of Christian devotional reading than The Imitation of Christ. This meditation on the spiritual life has inspired readers from Thomas More and St. Ignatius Loyola to Thomas Merton and Pope John Paul I. Written by the Augustinian monk Thomas à Kempis between 1420 and 1427, it contains clear instructions for renouncing wordly vanities and locating eternal truths. No book has more explicitly and movingly described the Christian ideal: "My son, to the degree that you can leave yourself behind, to that degree will you be able to enter into Me." With a new Preface by Sally Cunneen, author of In Search of Mary: The Woman and the Symbol."God is our home but many of us have strayed from our native land. The venerable authors of these Spiritual Classics are expert guides--may we follow their directions home."
--Archbishop Desmond Tutu
The Thomas à Kempis fan club includes St. Ignatius, Thomas Merton, Thomas More, and even Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. (She reads a chapter of The Imitation of Christ every night before sleep.) Imitation has exerted immense influence on Christian worship, ethics, and church structure, because it gives specific yet broad-minded guidance about the central task of Christian life--learning to live like Jesus. Better to read this book a little here and there, now and then, than to try gobbling it cover to cover. Imitation is no triumph of orderly thinking, but it's a great monument and incentive to deep living. --Michael Joseph Gross
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