Uncommon Prayer

This is a great book. Learned so much, and spoke to me deeply. Highly highly recommend it.

More than 14 years ago, I picked up this book in Northern Virginia where I then lived. As a spiritual "seeker" about the same age as the author, I found the book fascinating and scholarly. The book includes the spiritual autobiography of Dr. Swanson and an excellent overview of prayer from the early church fathers and mothers. Dr. Swanson's story seemed to parallel mine, except he entered the Episcopal priesthood and I didn't. The reader will not find platitudes or certainties in Swanson's analyses. After all, what is faith if not tinged with doubt? Ironically, several years after I moved to Tennessee to enter seminary, Dr. Swanson relocated to Nashville from the east coast and is now the dean of Christ Church Cathedral. I am honored to claim Christ Church Cathedral as my spiritual home and Dr. Swanson as my pastor. I have since re-read his wonderful primer on prayer and found it more meaningful with age and experience. Read prayerfully, no pun intended, the serious reader may find renewal and solid advice for his or her own practices.

This is one of the best books on prayer I've ever read because it is not only extremely helpful, but highly readable. Kenneth Swanson does a wonderful job of weaving his own spiritual pilgrimage (and it is a colorful one) into some excellent teaching on the history and practice of prayer. His experiences are so rich and varied that Christians of all stripes will find something here they can relate to and use to deepen their own intimacy with God.