93 Comments

I suggest "Hayy Ibn Yaqzan" by Ibn Tufayl. It's a classic 12th-century Arabic philosophical novel that greatly inspired Islamic philosophy as well as major Enlightenment thinkers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayy_ibn_Yaqdhan

Expand full comment

Thank Paul. This is exactly what I need right now.

Expand full comment
founding

I’m in! A classic that needs to be revisited regularly.

Expand full comment
founding

I'm excited about this project. In an age of universal, and generalized reading, I have noticed that the definition of "reading" is very varied, shall we say...

Ideas about finding the book away from amazon for people living outside of English speaking countries ? It sounds like it is not very mainstream...

Thank you.

Expand full comment

Abe books has several copies available

Expand full comment
founding

Thanks, Amy.

Expand full comment
founding

Abe in my neck of the woods does not have Paul's recommended translation. I am a stickler for translation, because I believe that different translators mean different books...

Expand full comment

bookfinder. com links to lots of copies. Just put in the title and then the translator's last name in the keyword space.

Expand full comment

That's too bad--I got the right translation from them. I'm a librarian so I totally get your vibe! I hope you found it.

Expand full comment

Biblio is a non-Amazon-owned book source and has listings from other countries. Also: Barnes & Noble, Powell's books (Portland, Oregon), Bookshop.org, Better World Books, Eighth Day Books (Kansas City, best for theological/Orthodox Christian spirituality, also has a large used selection of good literature). Check to see if you can buy direct from the publisher, if the book is still in print. I see from an online search that Blackwell's and Wordery have free international shipping.

Caveat: Avoid anything from Ergode Books in Texas. It's a bait and switch scam which I discovered from personal experience. They eventually returned my money, but it took weeks. They don't actually have the books they advertise; they simply list them and then try to find them if you order. I suppose that is strictly legal, but definitely not ethical. Go to any another source.

Dana

Expand full comment

I read this in my college days while studying in Moscow for a semester. It succeeded in expanding forever my then roughly Protestant view of God and the pursuit of Him. I look forward to reading it again, with different and, I hope, even more appreciative eyes. Thanks for selecting it.

Expand full comment

Glorious idea.

Expand full comment

Like it! Book on its way. My reading list still includes several books that you suggested as part of the 'machine' series. Why not include one of those? Simone Weil?

Expand full comment

The first book I was given by another Orthodox Christian convert here in Ireland, the late Raymond (Seraphim) Jacques of Cratloe, Co Limerick. He didn't lend it to me, he gave it to me, and said he hoped it would have as big an impact on me as it had on him. This book, perhaps, more than any other confirmed to me beyond doubt, that I was on the right path. I'm still travelling, still falling down, and still getting up again. This life is indeed a Pilgrimage.

Expand full comment

The first Divine Liturgy I ever attended was in Belfast whilst I was living over their for a few years. There were stirrings then of awareness of Orthodoxy, but it was still very, very small (this was nearly 20 years ago). I pray the Faith continues to grow around the whole island!

Expand full comment
Apr 8Liked by Paul Kingsnorth

I just finished reading the book!!! I was looking to understand more about the Jesus Prayer and understand what was happening to me while I was praying. It seems to be like a blessed coincidence that you should be talking about this subject. Although I've been born into orthodoxy, I was not truly a Christian until a few months ago while discovering the power of the Jesus prayer in a dark moment of my life. I have just started my journey in prayer and Christian path, I have many doubts, questions and feelings to sort through and reading other contemporary perspectives and experiences would be so helpful. I anxiously await your review and feel grateful for your writing always.

Expand full comment

Thank you!

Expand full comment

Wonderful...I'll try to get it thru the library or from a near by Maronite order that has a good selection of book available to seekers.

Expand full comment

The review will be a welcome birthday present for me! I would have first suggested "Laurus" which is a sort of spiritual successor to the work you have chosen first but, they may be too similar to do in quick succession. A few other reads from the past couple of years that I will recommend:

God is Rice

Masao Takenaka

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Neil Postman

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Philip K. Dick

(or most of anything else by him)

Expand full comment

I'm in! I just went through Walter Ciszek's "He Leadeth Me", so this should be quite interesting. Dreher has a new book coming out on reenchantment, "Living in Wonder". It might be a good book to include.

Expand full comment

I think Dreher spent time with Paul as a part of his research for that book?

Expand full comment

Found a kindle edition on Amazon and I’ve downloaded a free sample

Expand full comment

Paul,

There's a book coming out at the end of this month that lines up with quite a few of your interests. It looks specifically at the early Irish monastic movement for principles church leaders today can use to develop their own Benedict Option community or “modern monastic settlement.” (Specifically it examines Paul Doherty's idea that Irish "monastic towns" helped urbanize a rural land, and re-civilize/evangelize Western Europe as the Roman Empire disintegrated. In the process it provides an introduction to Architecture, Urban Planning, and place-making and explains why an understanding of these disciplines is necessary to create a healthy, effective faith community today. Anyway, I have an advance .pdf copy I can send you to look at to see if it's something that might interest you and your readers. It'll be available for purchase in book form in several weeks. I'm happy to send copies to anyone who wants it. Just send me your email address. God Bless! edwarddavis68@gmail.com

Expand full comment

Sounds fascinating. Can you share the title so I can keep an eye out?

Expand full comment

Feeble_Stirrings,

The title is, "Building the Benedict Option: Architecture, Urban Planning and Placemaking in a Post Christian Culture." Please note: there's another book with the same title by Leah Libresco. I'm happy to email you a .pdf of the book now if you'd like. You could always buy a hard copy later. Let me know. Blessings, Ward Davis edwarddavis68@gmail.com

Expand full comment

Please tell us the author of the correct book.

Expand full comment

One last thing. It's being published by the folks who put out Front Porch Republic's stuff.

Expand full comment