The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom by Henri J. M. Nouwen Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom
Book Review: This book is a reference book to be used many times over.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is an honest journey of the human experience and enables one to understand the meaning of life. It is very useful to all adults whether one is dealing with first hand depression or someone close to you is. He is able to reach the inner most sensitive parts of every human being and give comfort where there is pain. This is a book that needs to be kept out so one can read it at anytime, any chapter. It shows how going through very painful periods in this physical world lead to peace and valuable information that needs to be shared. It looks at life through very healthy eyes with God as our director. I don't think anyone could possibly read this book and not feel hopeful afterwards.Book Review: Thoughts on the Inner Voice of Love
Summary: 5 Stars
One of Nowen's best books, coming from a highly personal experience. His sharing of intimate thoughts during a stage of intense suffering and loss and the process by which his relationship with God slowly lifted him from his dispair is a great source of comfort. The structure of the book, divided in individual "spiritual imperatives" makes it very powerful. One of the most moving and soul-nourishing book I have read.Book Review: Through the Pain
Summary: 5 Stars
Devotionals are a wonderful tool to focus and encourage us in the Lord. But many of them don't attempt to directly deal with our experience of utter spiritual impoverishment. Nouwen's book is a treasure because his words come from this place of darkness but are intent to move elsewhere. Though raw and desperate, the book is refreshing because someone else is experiencing the same things we do--but he is absolutely resolved to hold onto God with a stronger and stronger grip. Highly recommended! Here is the first entry entitled "Work Around Your Abyss" to give you an understanding of the tone:
"There is a deep hole in your being, like an abyss. You will never succeed in filling that hole, because your needs are inexhaustible. You have to work around it so that gradually the abyss closes.
Since the hole is so enormous and your anguish so deep, you will always be tempted to flee from it. There are two extremes to avoid: being completely absorbed in your pain and being distracted by so many things that you stay far away from the wound you want to heal."
Book Review: Voice of Anguish
Summary: 1 Stars
Nouwen's writings have always been personable, engaging, and inspiring. Without any difficulty, I could easily recommend any of his books except The Inner Voice of Love.Nouwen never intended to publish his journals when he wrote them while undergoing treatment for severe depression. The notes he wrote were a part of his therapy. They are personal and are a written record of the anguish he experienced. This book is a cry of rejection, disappointment leading to dispiriting emotions, where his words of consolation sound empty and insincere.
This is how it begins:
"There is a deep hole in your being, like an abyss. You will never succeed in filling that hole, because your needs are inexhaustible. You have to work around it so that gradually the abyss closes."
Midway through the book he continues:
"You have to be willing to live your loneliness, your incompleteness, your lack of total incarnation fearlessly, and trust that God will give you the people to keep showing you the truth of who you are."
This book is very depressing. Anyone not familiar with Nouwen should read Seeds of Hope: A Henri Nouwen Reader.
Book Review: Warning!
Summary: 1 Stars
Henri Nouwen's book, The Inner Voice of Love, is nothing short of New Age philosophy, and I would not recommend this book to any Bible-believing Christian. (I rated this book with one star because there were no options less than that available on this form.)