A Simple Path (Random House Large Print)

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Summary: A Simple Path but an Extraordinary Book
Review: A Simple Path by Mother Theresa is an inspirational book. Mother Theresa wrote it as an informative narrative of segments of her life. It tells of her many good works and the works of others. Collectively, they share their many tales of heartwarming acts of love for the poor and less fortunate, the diseased and the broken-hearted, and the wounded and lost souls of the world. The sisters heal the wounds of those who have strayed away from the path of God and they urge everyone to help bring people back into the light, back to God.
The focus of the book is to promote serving others. It was once said that the best way to lead is by serving. This is the simple message and the simple path Mother Theresa explains throughout her many encounters with people of every age, race, and religion. She urges the reader to take this path as Jesus took up his cross. "One must not love and expect love in return, because that is not real love," as Mother Theresa once said. Love can be received by serving another and by watching that individual's happiness grow because of one kind act.
Mother Theresa does not want the reader to save the world, but to help in one small way. She says, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." It does not require money, but it does require time to love. A Simple Path describes the life every human should take up, the life of service. This book is inspirational and serves as a spiritual seed, helping spirituality to grow and flourish. It helps one's faith to grow and teaches how to act on faith as opposed to just claiming faith. This book helps to prioritize what is truly important in life, and that is God. In a world that is full of hatred, violence, and misery, it points to God. Mother Theresa shows the way to hope. She leads by serving. She serves by loving. A Simple Path shows the way.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: I bought this book about 6 years ago. It's one of those books that you pick up and cannot put down. I was totally enthralled with it from the first few pages and every chapter became more and more inspiring. I was not a Christian when I read this book, so it's not just for believers. Rather it is a book for those who long for something more in their lfe, to walk in a deeper yet more 'simple' way. All of the chapters such as the ones on prayer, love, faith etc touched me deeply and even though it's been several years since I read it, I would read it again most definately. I lent it to someone and have never been given it back. I may just have to buy it again! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Rating:
Summary: This is a 5 + star book.
Review: I have read a few of Mother Teresa's books. This is the best. I read it cover to cover all in one sitting...as soon as I got the book. Mother Teresa made me humble. It is a shame how most of us are frantically running around, to find happiness (which we think is in how much money we make, what big house we built, what type of car we drive around)and yet at the end of the day, we are still not there yet. This book reveals how we can find that happiness by following a very simple path. If all of us can follow that simple path, the world would be lot more peaceful. But can we?? This question makes me think, that this woman, Mother Teresa, is no ordinary human, she is beyond human. Reading this book time and time again daily, may help us all to bring peace and happiness to the world! It is a wonderful book, very meaningful and thought-provoking. If only we can follow her path - a very simple path.

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Summary: Fake
Review: Mother Teresa was a self-aggrandizing fake. How can you all be taken in by her????

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Summary: Makes you think?
Review: Mother Teresa...everytime the name is heard, thoughts come to mind about her love for the poor, her charity for the suffering and the dying, and above all, her faith and love for God. This book is another compilation of Mother Teresa and her Sisters' and Brothers' thoughts, beliefs, stories, etc. This was an excellent book that spiritually helped me. I wasn't even fully done with the book and I saw a change in my life. Mother Teresa's words of love and charity made me see that I should love as Jesus loves, not as what I think feels good. And if I did something wrong, I could envision Mother Teresa nodding her head and telling me to do better next time, as a true mother would. Excellent book "for Catholics and non-Catholics alike," as the book jacket says.

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting book by a true Mother
Review: Mother Teresa...everytime the name is heard, thoughts come to mind about her love for the poor, her charity for the suffering and the dying, and above all, her faith and love for God. This book is another compilation of Mother Teresa and her Sisters' and Brothers' thoughts, beliefs, stories, etc. This was an excellent book that spiritually helped me. I wasn't even fully done with the book and I saw a change in my life. Mother Teresa's words of love and charity made me see that I should love as Jesus loves, not as what I think feels good. And if I did something wrong, I could envision Mother Teresa nodding her head and telling me to do better next time, as a true mother would. Excellent book "for Catholics and non-Catholics alike," as the book jacket says.

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Summary: To understand, rather than be understood.
Review: The book is perfectly titled. Mother Teresa's biographical information is minimal and the book does not canonize her. Apart from introducing the thoughts of volunteers who work with the Missionaries of Charity, her own words are few. What we find are simple views of a simple path, and beauty in simplicity. This is the not the story of a famous nun, it is the story of a way of seeing ones world and of living without self-focus. Mother Teresa, and those who work in the missions that she and others have established and conducted, convey an attractive invitation to service to others. The path has been set before us in the Gospels of Matthew (25:34-40) and Luke (10:30-37). This small volume contains no rancorous sectarian, philosophical, or theological arguments. The themes are peace, love, joy, and fearless devotion to the welfare of others. The simple path is well summarized in the words of St Francis of Assisi:
"Lord grant that I seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,
To understand than to be understood;
To love than to be loved . . ."
The book makes little mention of the opposing worldview, but I briefly will. The opposite worldview is the ever-popular celebration of slavery to self. There are, of course, many variations on this theme. One notices how offended, even angered, the culture of self can be when it is rejected, in this case by Mother Teresa. Articles and books have been published which denigrate her, and she has been called a hypocrite. I doubt she terribly cared. A sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan children's home in Calcutta reads in part:
"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
Love them anyway
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives,
Do good anyway . . .
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
Do good anyway . . ."

Rating:
Summary: A good reminder
Review: This book is a good reminder of how to love. Many of us discuss, debate and guess at what real love looks like. This book reminds us that love can range from serving to just holding someone who is living their last days. This book often wisely suggests that we could preach less and serve more. Inspiring.

Rating:
Summary: Makes you think
Review: This book is about Mother Teresa and all the work she has done in her life. It states all the foundations that she has created and all the volunteers she has encouraged to help. I have never read a book like this before. It makes you feel like nothing in your life has ever been wrong, nor will anything ever compare to the turmoil that these poor people go through and will always go through. Most of these people have nothing to live for but Mother Teresa encourages them to go and fight for their lives. "...As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus." (Page xxvii) This was something that she said at the beginning of the book. That statement amazes me because I don't see how it's possible for someone to devote so much of themselves to just one thing. She showed great dedication to everyone she helped and she probably helped millions of people or at least effected some that she didn't even know. To be known as such a great person must be the best feeling in the world and I could never imagine being that way, but I do admire her. She did so much for so many and all they could do in return is say thank you, and that was more then enough for her. This woman was a wonderful, loving and caring person to do such things for strangers. In the book it mentioned how she some how in a way trained the volunteers to see past the turmoil and try and make these people realize that everything would be ok and whatever problems that they had going on in their lives would have to be put aside. Even thought this book was really great, there were a few things that I would have gone without putting in. There were a few prayers and things that they did daily at each volunteer place that was talked about but could have been avoided. I didn't go away with anything more then I had to beginning with after reading it. I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone, especially if you are a religious person you'll understand some of the things that go along with prayers and that, that were talked about. At the same time even though I am Catholic I still didn't understand a lot of the things that were being said. Another thing that I didn't like was that they had pages of prayers and all these different people talking about Mother Teresa rather then Mother Teresa herself. One thing that I thought was weird but didn't really bother me was that after about two or three pages it went into talking about something else.

Rating:
Summary: What a humble, beautiful soul she was!
Review: This book truly touched my heart and transcends the materialistic view that I previously exalted.