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Rating: 
Summary: Good Intentions, but Weak Overall
Review: Fr. Groeschel has a great sense of humor, and a truly moral character. But in this book, alas, he does not provide any particularly profound ideas on how to deal with tragedy. Instead he rambles, drifts from topic to topic, and finally leaves behind a few trite observations on how deep suffering can be redemptive. Having dealt with tragedy myself, I read this book searching for some new insights. I closed it thinking, "yeah, I considered all of those things the first day after it happened!" It's not that he says anything wrong - it's just all the hard questions he leaves unanswered.Of course, everyone's response to such things is deeply personal. I'm sure there are others who will get more out of it than I did.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book to help through lifes challenges
Review: Great Catholic-oriented book dealing with struggles of all sorts. The writer (from St. Crispin Friary in Bronx, NY) has a fresh and realistic approach to loss, lifes shortcomings and suffering. However, I purchased this book for a friend who had recently lost his young wife, and was left with two young children. The chapter on death was a little too tongue and cheek (i.e. "They better not be any Hallulujahs at my funeral") and short on the empathy for the survivors. The author also talks a little too much about Purgatory, without explanation. What is nice about this book is that the author ends each chapter with an approriate prayer for the struggle. If bought for the purpose of working through grief, I would recommend it in conjunction with other meatier books on grief.
Rating: 
Summary: Fr. Benedict is the best!
Review: I have been reading Father's books and viewing his videos for 20 years now. He never disappoints! Having met this wonderful man in person (what a sense of humor, and what profound insight into the human condition), I can tell any potential reader that he or she will receive many blessings and consolations from the man's wisdom. My husband and I recently used this particular book as part of our Lenten reading. What an awesome book to share! I think some of the best attributes of this book are when Father shares stories of his own personal experiences as well as other people with whom he interacts. That empathy is always there. I also recommend his SPIRITUAL PASSAGES, HEALING THE ORIGINAL WOUND, and his videos ON THE ROAD TO GOD (how to overcome some stumbling blocks to our faith) and THE GATES OF HELL (about the media and its influence on faith). With good reason, he was named in 1999 as one of the 100 most outstanding Catholics of the century. If you ever have a chance to meet him in person, do so. You will come away blessed in so very many ways. Sadly, he recently had an accident, so is now recuperating. His order's website is: www.franciscanfriars.com
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