Rating: 
Summary: A Powerful Book
Review: Awe inspiring in simple prose and stating simple facts. The book gives a rational explanation of why we must suffer. The message is simple but difficult-love God above all else as Mary loved and obeyed God. Jesus Christ was and is our living example. The book brillantly explains the seeming contradiction of being humble and ambitious. One of the most important books I have ever read. A powerful book.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Book
Review: Awe inspiring in simple prose and stating simple facts. The book gives a rational explanation of why we must suffer. The message is simple but difficult-love God above all else as Mary loved and obeyed God. Jesus Christ was and is our living example. The book brillantly explains the seeming contradiction of being humble and ambitious. One of the most important books I have ever read. A powerful book.
Rating:
Summary: Kreeft makes another direct hit
Review: I think Peter Kreeft is a great thinker and writer. But be forewarned. If you are a person looking to begin a prayer life or you are a person looking to bring more meaning to your prayer life, I WOULD NOT suggest this book. At the beginning the book reaches out and grabs you with its potential. But as time goes by may become mired in lots of philosophical "if then" statements.My thinking is that most people buying this book want some help. They are looking for a "how to" book and this is not that book. A better book might be Prayer Primer by Fr. Thomas Dubay. I'm sure there are some that will get much out of this, but if you are a beginner to both prayer and a Christian life, you will find this book a problem.
Rating: 
Summary: Not really for beginners.
Review: I think Peter Kreeft is a great thinker and writer. But be forewarned. If you are a person looking to begin a prayer life or you are a person looking to bring more meaning to your prayer life, I WOULD NOT suggest this book. At the beginning the book reaches out and grabs you with its potential. But as time goes by may become mired in lots of philosophical "if then" statements. My thinking is that most people buying this book want some help. They are looking for a "how to" book and this is not that book. A better book might be Prayer Primer by Fr. Thomas Dubay. I'm sure there are some that will get much out of this, but if you are a beginner to both prayer and a Christian life, you will find this book a problem.
Rating:
Summary: Kreeft makes another direct hit
Review: Kreeft is straight-forward and direct. His thinking and writing are clear. This is book is immensely practical. It is small enough to be completed in a short time and deep enough to warrant re-reading whenever the beginning pray-er needs a boost. Kreeft's point is that we must begin to pray. Kreeft first motivates. Then he offers an intelligent summary of the major forms of prayer and the progression from rote to contemplative prayer. Kreeft speaks directly to the reader - to me - when he asks if I really want to pray, or if, by reading a book on prayer, I have deluded myself into thinking that I am doing it. What a challenge! What clarity of purpose!
Rating:
Summary: Recommended without qualm or qualification
Review: Read this book to as many of God's creatures as possible. Read it to the demons & they shall be converted. Read it to the desert waste; it shall rejoice and bloom. Read it to the thirsty and they shall be refreshed. Read it to the hungry and they shall be filled. Read this book to libertarians, vegetarians, Episcopalians -- to anyone under the sun & above the greeny grass. Read it to Susan Sarandon, read it to Hillary Rodham, read it to a potted plant. Read it to the radiant moon and all the shining stars. Read it in your sleep to the sugarplum fairies. Read it to Caliban; read it to Ariel. Read it to chefs, stevedores, marathoners, interior decorators, neo-pagan tree-huggers, & denizens of Bedlam. Read it to progressives & they will pelt you with heavy stones to demonstrate their tolerance, but it'll be worth your trouble. On a more serious note, Dr Kreeft's book is thoughtful and accessible, devout and practical & entirely within the clear sparkling main stream of Catholic devotion. His tone and substance are invariably helpful, & his exposition most deft. An evangelist for the God of Beauty and Truth, a writer of considerable charm.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended without qualm or qualification
Review: Read this book to as many of God's creatures as possible. Read it to the demons & they shall be converted. Read it to the desert waste; it shall rejoice and bloom. Read it to the thirsty and they shall be refreshed. Read it to the hungry and they shall be filled. Read this book to libertarians, vegetarians, Episcopalians -- to anyone under the sun & above the greeny grass. Read it to Susan Sarandon, read it to Hillary Rodham, read it to a potted plant. Read it to the radiant moon and all the shining stars. Read it in your sleep to the sugarplum fairies. Read it to Caliban; read it to Ariel. Read it to chefs, stevedores, marathoners, interior decorators, neo-pagan tree-huggers, & denizens of Bedlam. Read it to progressives & they will pelt you with heavy stones to demonstrate their tolerance, but it'll be worth your trouble. On a more serious note, Dr Kreeft's book is thoughtful and accessible, devout and practical & entirely within the clear sparkling main stream of Catholic devotion. His tone and substance are invariably helpful, & his exposition most deft. An evangelist for the God of Beauty and Truth, a writer of considerable charm.
Rating:
Summary: Prayer is Simple and Essential
Review: That is the message of Peter Kreeft in this small book with short chapters. In my opinion, the most striking chapter is on the Jesus Prayer as the "shortest, simplest, and most powerful prayer in the world" (p. 53). Also striking is Kreeft's analysis of the suggestion that prayer is a waste of time by pointing out that through prayer God will instead multiply our time (p. 124). As usual with Kreeft, the book is full of gems of insight that will strike readers in different personal circumstances with varying levels of significance. That is as it should be. There is something in this book for just about everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Prayer is Simple and Essential
Review: That is the message of Peter Kreeft in this small book with short chapters. In my opinion, the most striking chapter is on the Jesus Prayer as the "shortest, simplest, and most powerful prayer in the world" (p. 53). Also striking is Kreeft's analysis of the suggestion that prayer is a waste of time by pointing out that through prayer God will instead multiply our time (p. 124). As usual with Kreeft, the book is full of gems of insight that will strike readers in different personal circumstances with varying levels of significance. That is as it should be. There is something in this book for just about everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: beside the point
Review: The unanswered question is this: Why pray to an alleged deity who allows and even (if the Old Testament is to be believed) commands the destruction of the innocent? Kreeft's book serves up the same old hogwash. Ignore it. Read something substantial on this subject. Start with Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason. Having read that, Kreeft's pablum will evaporate.
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