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Book Report: The Imitation of Christ

The Imitation of Christ
Author: Thomas a Kempis
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco, CA
Copyright: 2000
Pages: 272 + afterward
Stars: 3 or 4


        My biggest problem with this book is that I didn't read it as I think it needs to be read. I read it. I think it needs to be savored... slowly. It is really a series of journal entries that are conversations with God. Whether it was the original or the translation, the language sometimes was less formal and more casually flip than I like. At other times, I appreciated the casual tone. It's one I can and should return to someday.


      One of my favorite passages:
"These are my terrible 'to's,' O Lord.
To now what has to be known
To love what has to be loved
To praise what tickles You the most,
To appreciate what You think precious,
To vituperate what soils the eyes,
To put less reliance on visible and audible evidence when it comes to forming a judgment;...
To inquire always, first and foremost, in to the pleasure of the Divine Will. " (p 198)

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