Zen and the Art of Knitting: Exploring the Links Between Knitting, Spirituality, and Creaexploring the Links Between Knitting, Spirituality, and Cr

Before writing this review, I looked over the others that had been written. It seems that many people are buying this book assuming that they will receive knitting tips, patterns, etc. Please review the title CLOSELY before purchasing the book; it says everything. I am a working mother, nurse, wife. For me, my time to craft {I crochet, knit, cross stitch} is my time to reconnect with myself and my inner dreams of spending my days making things for other people to wear and enjoy. Bernadette Murphy touched on this beautifully in this book. Enthralled with celebrities-well yeah, she lives near Hollywood, what do you expect? It's the same with anyone who lives in New York City! There have been many articles recently about women rediscovering their true feminine roots and this book explores this throughly. Unless you craft only for profit, and I mean, it can only mean profit for you, anyone who follows these arts are touched, spritually and mentally, by what their hands create. That is what this book is about.

After reading this book, I not only noticed calmness and peace in my knitting but saw it in my whole life!!! The stories share other knitters views and reasons for knitting. I think everyone looks for the why and how in life, in some way, shape or form. Without having to buy a exercise machine, join the gym, meditate, or diet, this book will leave you with a sense of understanding life just a little bit more. Sue Kneller

So many people go through the motions in life, well Ms. Murphy brings to life the motions in knitting. She looks at an age-old art form and gives a wonderful new meditative spin to it. I was impressed with the breadth of interviews that are woven throughout the book, from a missionary in Africa, to a social worker, to professional women, to people using knitting as physical therapy. You get to appreciate the stories shared of the history and community of knitting, with a focus on the psychological and emotional benefits this craft provides. I was even suprised to learn about the knitting revival among young women and some celebrities who have given it a higher profile, so knitting isn't just for your grandmother anymore.The day I had finished reading this book, a woman I work with noticed the book and asked to look at it. She just wanted to check it out, but she started reading the introduction and then moved into chapter one, I was getting worried she wasn't going to give it back. She finally handed it to me and said she was go to have to go out and buy her own copy. I am sure other people are going to have the same kind of impression.

What a wonderful book! Murphy includes fascinating stories about people from all walks of life and their emotional, psychological, and spiritual relationship to knitting, as well as her own exploration of craft and faith. (And good knitting tips, too.) She really gets into the heart and soul of knitting - and the writing is so beautiful, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this one.