Body and Gift (Pope John Paul II's)

Rating:
Summary: JPII for everyday folks
Review: Having reading the pope's "Love and Responsibility" (which he originally wrote and published in Poland in 1960), I found his prose very dense and "chewy." Hence, I was excited when I heard Sam Torode was "translating" the pope's Theology of the Body into everyday English.

This book is wonderfully understandable. With short chapters no longer than three pages, this book lends itself to daily reading and meditation. An added plus, on the copyright page, is the invitation for churches to include individual chapters in their bulletins or newsletters, with credit.

I highly recommend this for anyone, Roman Catholic or not, who is interested in the pope's teaching on marriage and sexuality.

Finally, this is the first of four volumes, to appear over the next year or so.

Rating:
Summary: A simplified presentation of the pope's fifteen-minute talks
Review: Highly recommended, especially for a Roman Catholic readership, Body And Gift: Reflections On Creation presents the words and wisdom of Pope John Paul II's speeches, seamlessly adapted into a series of essays by Sam Torode, concerning love, sexuality, and the human person. A simplified presentation of the pope's fifteen-minute talks which condenses the critical, core issues into a direct and unambiguous message, Body And Gift is an unparalleled work of insight and spiritual pondering.

Rating:
Summary: Clarity makes wisdom accessible for all....
Review: Sam Torode has done a tremendous service to Christian thinkers (and anyone interested in Biblically-based philosophy, Christian or not) with his translation of Pope John Paul II's theology of the body into everyday English.

The result is not dumbed-down or simplified. The people who publish the "Complete Idiot's Guide to..." books are not going to co-opt this title. Rather, Torode's translation yields clarity and aids in understanding.

My generation (I'm 25) is searching for things of eternal significance, for the ideas and principles based on the wisdom of ages, things our parents and grandparents seemed to forget. Torode has made the Pope's commentary accessible and clear in language that contemporary Americans will understand and still find intellectually engaging.

Can't wait for the next installment in the series!