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Rating: 
Summary: A Life-changing Book!
Review: Chrysostum was a true saint and a man of humble spiritual enlightenment. His words ring true even in for modern times. Truth may go out of fashion but it is the same in every generation, and this dear man lived loved the truth. This is not the ordinary spiritual book but a masterpiece on matters of the soul. A book well worth adding to your library!
Rating:
Summary: A Life-changing Book!
Review: Chrysostum was a true saint and a man of humble spiritual enlightenment. His words ring true even in for modern times. Truth may go out of fashion but it is the same in every generation, and this dear man lived loved the truth. This is not the ordinary spiritual book but a masterpiece on matters of the soul. A book well worth adding to your library!
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Simplicity
Review: On Living Simply is a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the simple eloquence of St. John Chrysostom. His words illustrate his profound insight into life that is as applicable now as when it was origionally recorded in Late Antiquity. If you are interested in Patristic Christian thought or just in Ancient Wisdom, I highly recommend this book to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for those who love short clips
Review: This is an excellent book for those with little time or who love "snippits". Each page has a title and an outtake from one of St. John's many homilies. Due to its concise nature, this book has been edited and paraphrased by the author (whom isn't an Orthodox Christian if that matters to you)... It is unknown, but hopped, that he kept most, if not all, of the original words and intent... Anyway, this is worth reading and carries some very pertinent advice on "Living Simply".
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for those who love short clips
Review: This is an excellent book for those with little time or who love "snippits". Each page has a title and an outtake from one of St. John's many homilies. Due to its concise nature, this book has been edited and paraphrased by the author (whom isn't an Orthodox Christian if that matters to you)... It is unknown, but hopped, that he kept most, if not all, of the original words and intent... Anyway, this is worth reading and carries some very pertinent advice on "Living Simply".
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for those who love short clips
Review: This is an excellent book for those with little time or who love "snippits". Each page has a title and an outtake from one of St. John's many homilies. Due to its concise nature, this book has been edited and paraphrased by the author (whom isn't an Orthodox Christian if that matters to you)... It is unknown, but hopped, that he kept most, if not all, of the original words and intent... Anyway, this is worth reading and carries some very pertinent advice on "Living Simply".
Rating:
Summary: An incisive challenge for Christians of the Western world.
Review: This outstanding little book contains extracts from the sermons of John Chrysostom, especially on political and social themes. One could hardly imagine how relevant these 1600 year old teachings could be. And at the same time profoundly full of the spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ.Chrysostom (born 347) was raised in an aristocratic family, studied under the orator Libanus and forsook it all to follow Christ. He managed to offend the bishops of Constantinople by rooting out corruption, establishing new hospitals and criticizing immorality on all fronts. He stripped the patriarch's palace of its luxuries and gave the proceeds to the poor. This of course made him very unpopular with the elite and powerful, but the people rallied around him. Forced into exile by the church's bishops, he died while being forced to march in the rainy season to a fortress on the Black Sea. John strongly denounced the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and not only preached, but modeled sharing of wealth with the poor. In fact, "If everyone lived according to the teachings of Christ, there would be no rich and poor; all would be equal." John's observations cut to the quick for citizens of a modern capitalist world, and are as relevant as if writtten yesterday. Consider the following passage: "Commerce in itself is not bad; indeed it is and intrinsic part of God's order. What matters is how we conduct our commerce...each person specializes in the work for which God has ordained him; and by selling his skills or the goods he produces, he can obrain from others the goods which he needs. The problems arise because some people can obtain a far higher price for their work than others, or because some people employ others and do not pay a fair wage. The result is that some become rich and others poor. But in God's eyes one skill is not superior to another; every form of honest labor is equal. So inequalities in what people receive for their labor undermine the divine order". An elegant critique of the law of supply and demand from a Christian perspective, no? The book also contains excerpts speaking to other issues including marriage, repentance, friendship, sin, the body of Christ, pastoral leadership, secular rulers, fasting, sickness and exile. This book was used by a Christian Classics study group in which I participate and was clearly the most intently read of all the books we have studied so far. Highly recommended for study and meditation. Reviewed by Drane Reynolds
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