Rating: 
Summary: Gems from George
Review: Although I have never read George MacDonald before, I figured if he is one of the more influential writers for C.S. Lewis, that I could certainly check out his "best of" book. The intro from Lewis is wonderful, and explains his regarding MacDonald as "his master." Lewis says that he has never written a book in which he hasn't quoted from MacDonald, and one can see after reading this book how many of Lewis' thoughts may have been shaped by MacDonald. My favorite entry in the anthology is entitled "The Knowledge of God," and reads: To say Thou art God, without knowing what the Thou means -- of what use is it? God is a name only, except we know God.
Rating: 
Summary: Positively life changing!
Review: C.S. Lewis called MacDonald "my master." Read this book and you'll see why. Though MacDonald's writing style is sometimes clumsy and sometimes confusing, at other times it soars. Lewis admits that MacDonald is not among the great writers if one defines literature as "an art whose medium is words." But creating fantasy, says Lewis, he "does better than any man." In this volume, you get primarily MacDonald's theological writings, taken mainly from his sermons. Again, Lewis says it best: "I dare not say that he is never in error; but to speak plainly I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself." I can't say enough about this book--full of profound insights!
Rating:
Summary: Open-ended Writing
Review: George MacDonald's writings are succinct and open-ended, permitting, even urging, the reader to ask life-changing questions which God, in His grace, never fails to answer. C. S. Lewis said of MacDonald "I regarded him as my master." Many of Lewis' written thoughts reflect truths as expressed by George MacDonald.
Rating:
Summary: Open-ended Writing
Review: George MacDonald's writings are succinct and open-ended, permitting, even urging, the reader to ask life-changing questions which God, in His grace, never fails to answer. C. S. Lewis said of MacDonald "I regarded him as my master." Many of Lewis' written thoughts reflect truths as expressed by George MacDonald.
Rating:
Summary: Worth a Read
Review: I wouldn't say that this book inspired me to want to read all of George MacDonald's works, but it was worth the money I spent on it. This book gave me some new perspectives on faith and the importance of understand and doing what God wants me to do. I don't agree with all of it, but I was helped by most of it. A few quick samples: "Oh the folly of any mind that would explain God before obeying Him! That would map out the character of God instead of crying, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?" "Thy hand be on the latch to open the door at His first knock. Shouldst thou open the door and not see Him, do not say He did not knock, but understand that He is there, and wants thee to go out to Him. It may be He has something for thee to do for Him. Go and do it, and perhaps thou wilt return with a new prayer, to find a new window in thy soul." "A man my sink by such slow degrees that, long after he is a devil, he may go on being a good churchman or a good dissenter and thinking himself a good Christian." "Every one of us is something that the other is not, and therefore knows something - it may be without knowing that he knows it - which no one else knows: and... it is everyone's business, as one of the kingdom of light and inheritor in it all, to give his portion to the rest."
Rating:
Summary: Just because it feels profound doesn't make it true.
Review: If you like to get people's perspective on God, then this is a good book. If you want emotion and reason to pull together to reveal truth, then it flounders. Even as does C.S. Lewis, George McDonald has a tendency to make movingly worded, but scripturally, or even reasonably, baseless statements. Culture and emotion are on his side, but that doesn't make him right. For example, he subtly comes from the perspective that to truly know God is to never to plan, want, or put forth effort. Adam created the names of the animals, king David created the pieces for the temple of Solomon, and Moses gave the people the law. God sustained them and gave them their creative abilities, but it wasn't through sitting around waiting for God that they were able to bring these things about. Further, he has the self righteousness that says "what a sinner I am", followed by "you should do such-and-such" or "we should all try to do such-and-such" meaning "you should do such-and-such". And has an over inflated view of the righteousness of children. However, I share his view that we are all sinners, held back from becoming monsters by the chains of God, and I identify with his melancholy, but I finish the book holding him in equal regard to C.S. Lewis. Read that however you please.
Rating:
Summary: Just because it feels profound doesn't make it true.
Review: If you like to get people's perspective on God, then this is a good book. If you want emotion and reason to pull together to reveal truth, then it flounders. Even as does C.S. Lewis, George McDonald has a tendency to make movingly worded, but scripturally, or even reasonably, baseless statements. Culture and emotion are on his side, but that doesn't make him right. For example, he subtly comes from the perspective that to truly know God is to never to plan, want, or put forth effort. Adam created the names of the animals, king David created the pieces for the temple of Solomon, and Moses gave the people the law. God sustained them and gave them their creative abilities, but it wasn't through sitting around waiting for God that they were able to bring these things about. Further, he has the self righteousness that says "what a sinner I am", followed by "you should do such-and-such" or "we should all try to do such-and-such" meaning "you should do such-and-such". And has an over inflated view of the righteousness of children. However, I share his view that we are all sinners, held back from becoming monsters by the chains of God, and I identify with his melancholy, but I finish the book holding him in equal regard to C.S. Lewis. Read that however you please.
Rating: 
Summary: A great introduction to George MacDonald's work
Review: MacDonald was a master Christian apologist of the late 1800s, and an enormous influence on CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, WH Auden, and Charles Williams, to name a few. His fantasy novels and sermons have been a source of inspiration for every generation of Christian apologists and fantasy novelists since his death. MacDonald's writings, however, inspiring though they are, are often laborious and difficult to read. Additionally, much of MacDonald's writing phases in and out of print regularly, and is sometimes not easy to find. It is for these reasons that CS Lewis, who called MacDonald "my master," compiled this `anthology' of MacDonald's theology. In this little volume are 365 "readings," short quotes from MacDonald's sermons, novels, or stories. Actually, more than 2/3 of this material comes from his sermons. Several of these quotations are uplifting and thought-provoking, and all bear the mark of a man who devoted his life to Christian apology through fantasy. An anthology like this is a good place to be introduced to MacDonald's thinking and writing, and also a large step in understanding such later apologists as CS Lewis. These readings, though sometimes taken slightly out of context, are a great look into the work of George MacDonald.
Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to George MacDonald's work
Review: MacDonald was a master Christian apologist of the late 1800s, and an enormous influence on CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, WH Auden, and Charles Williams, to name a few. His fantasy novels and sermons have been a source of inspiration for every generation of Christian apologists and fantasy novelists since his death. MacDonald's writings, however, inspiring though they are, are often laborious and difficult to read. Additionally, much of MacDonald's writing phases in and out of print regularly, and is sometimes not easy to find. It is for these reasons that CS Lewis, who called MacDonald "my master," compiled this 'anthology' of MacDonald's theology. In this little volume are 365 "readings," short quotes from MacDonald's sermons, novels, or stories. Actually, more than 2/3 of this material comes from his sermons. Several of these quotations are uplifting and thought-provoking, and all bear the mark of a man who devoted his life to Christian apology through fantasy. An anthology like this is a good place to be introduced to MacDonald's thinking and writing, and also a large step in understanding such later apologists as CS Lewis. These readings, though sometimes taken slightly out of context, are a great look into the work of George MacDonald.
Rating:
Summary: Having not read this particular book...
Review: Maybe it's too easy to take one thing that someone says (anyone says) and not make sense from it once it's out of context. I recommend reading MacDonald in context. His insight is impeachable if you're goal is to know God and be known by God. Otherwise, MacDonald's goal was never to write a theological treatise. Then again, neither was this Jesus' goal when he was here. "heptazane" (review above) should beware of being so flippant with things he doesn't fully understand.
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