Reviews
"This book is naïve in the best sense of the word. Essentially it is the reflections of an elderly man on a very full life lived in quest of God; the life itself interspersed with meditations which take the reader deeper into the doubts and illuminations which he experiences along the way. It is told with a beautiful simplicity, yet almost every page will bear re-reading." -- The Watkins Review, Composed from notes, poems, and vivid insights that have been collected over the years by a remarkable man, this is a book which, with huge generosity and honesty, offers these insights to all of its readers. -- The Messenger: Journal of the Orthodox Church of Russian Origin in England|9780856832604|, "This book is naïve in the best sense of the word. Essentially it is the reflections of an elderly man on a very full life lived in quest of God; the life itself interspersed with meditations which take the reader deeper into the doubts and illuminations which he experiences along the way. It is told with a beautiful simplicity, yet almost every page will bear re-reading." -- The Watkins Review, "This book is nave in the best sense of the word. Essentially it is the reflections of an elderly man on a very full life lived in quest of God; the life itself interspersed with meditations which take the reader deeper into the doubts and illuminations which he experiences along the way. It is told with a beautiful simplicity, yet almost every page will bear re-reading." -- The Watkins Review, This is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary man, who happens to be a member of my parish in Nottingham. I have been reading it slowly since the moment when it became available, marvelling at the life experience, wisdom, and spiritual teaching that John offers us here. I highly recommend this book for its fascinating, unusual, and deeply spiritual teaching. Composed from notes, poems, and vivid insights that have been collected over the years by a remarkable man, this is a book which, with huge generosity and honesty, offers these insights to all of its readers., Composed from notes, poems, and vivid insights that have been collected over the years by a remarkable man, this is a book which, with huge generosity and honesty, offers these insights to all of its readers. -- The Messenger: Journal of the Orthodox Church of Russian Origin in England|9780856832604|, Composed from notes, poems, and vivid insights that have been collected over the years by a remarkable man, this is a book which, with huge generosity and honesty, offers these insights to all of its readers. -The Messenger: Journal of the Orthodox Church of Russian Origin in England|9780856832604|, He has a beautiful, vulnerable style of writing about his life's experience, which I find most absorbing - almost captivating. But the whole purpose behind the book is to share the insights he has received over the many years he has been struggling to learn at least something about true prayer.' From the Foreword of the Very Reverend Daniel Joseph of the Russian Orthodox Church This book is naive in the best sense of the word. Essentially it is the reflections of an elderly man on a very full life lived in quest of God; the life itself interspersed with meditations which take the reader deeper into the doubts and illuminations which he experiences along the way. It is told with a beautiful simplicity, yet almost every page will bear re-reading, "An extraordinary book by an extraordinary man, who happens to be a member of my parish in Nottingham. I highly recommend this book for its fascinating, unusual, and deeply spiritual teaching." -Mary Cunningham, lecturer in patristic theology at Nottingham University, in The Messsenger, "An extraordinary book by an extraordinary man, who happens to be a member of my parish in Nottingham. I highly recommend this book for its fascinating, unusual, and deeply spiritual teaching." --Mary Cunningham, lecturer in patristic theology at Nottingham University, in The Messsenger, This is a moving, honest - and long - spiritual autobiography, interestingly given in two voices: contemporary notebooks interlaced with present day ruminations. Butler met the meditation early and it colours his early days of self-sustaining farming after Cambridge, and his many adventures described in detail and with compassion in South America, Africa (sharing keenness of hunger and the haunting splendour of the night skies) and India, culminating in coming 'home' to his core way in the Russia of his mother and its Christian orthodoxy. It was love that led him through the labyrinth of his life - a path we all recognise. As he says, 'to surrender myself and let the spirit act.' Throughout it is his honesty which makes the book valid for us. His spiritual insights have all been gained through the experience of this varied life which he seems to have accepted with the innocence and enthusiasm of a child. His way is our way. It is a book of vivid description and some very helpful insights., "The book is really a collection of poetry and reflections on experiences as they happened with comments added by [Timaeus]." -- UK News, "This book is naïve in the best sense of the word. Essentially it is the reflections of an elderly man on a very full life lived in quest of God; the life itself interspersed with meditations which take the reader deeper into the doubts and illuminations which he experiences along the way. It is told with a beautiful simplicity, yet almost every page will bear re-reading." — The Watkins Review, "The book is really a collection of poetry and reflections on experiences as they happened with comments added by [Timaeus]." -- UK News, "This book is naïve in the best sense of the word. Essentially it is the reflections of an elderly man on a very full life lived in quest of God; the life itself interspersed with meditations which take the reader deeper into the doubts and illuminations which he experiences along the way. It is told with a beautiful simplicity, yet almost every page will bear re-reading." -The Watkins Review, "An extraordinary book by an extraordinary man, who happens to be a member of my parish in Nottingham. I highly recommend this book for its fascinating, unusual, and deeply spiritual teaching." —Mary Cunningham, lecturer in patristic theology at Nottingham University, in The Messsenger, Composed from notes, poems, and vivid insights that have been collected over the years by a remarkable man, this is a book which, with huge generosity and honesty, offers these insights to all of its readers. — The Messenger: Journal of the Orthodox Church of Russian Origin in England|9780856832604|, "An extraordinary book by an extraordinary man, who happens to be a member of my parish in Nottingham. I highly recommend this book for its fascinating, unusual, and deeply spiritual teaching." --Mary Cunningham, lecturer in patristic theology at Nottingham University, in The Messsenger, "The book is really a collection of poetry and reflections on experiences as they happened with comments added by [Timaeus]." — UK News
