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tonyhabibi

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 12:21 AM

Hey , ive recently Re-injected my love for reading back into my life . and i sooo needed it .

I think any body whose smart enough to have a passion for reading books is smart enough to know that books can change the way u act , feel , and think . the power of reading will change ur life .. it just depends if ur picking up the right books .


so , i decided to make this thread to hear some of your book recommendations .... like seriously give us your top 5 list of the greatest books that have changed ur life in terms of the way u think , and feel , and act and ur perspective on life .


i am interested in hearing ur recommendations .

here is my top 5 so far .

# 1 .. The Bible .... ( well , duh . )
# 2 .. The autobiography of malcolm x
# 3 .. The heart of a woman by maya angelou

# 4 .. I kissed dateing goodbye ( it came at the right time in my life .theres a good message in the book )


# 5 - Woulden't take nothing for my journey now- Maya Angelou



I recently bought the book .... THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS by C.s Lewis .. and i have a feeling this book will have a great impact on the way i think .... which is ironic .. because lately ... it seems that i havent been thinking much .


with Curiosity ,
Tony .

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Cephas

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 02:40 AM

¿ Iryny nem agapy>

Tony,

The Screwtape Letters is a fantastic book. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. From what I hear, pretty much all of C. S. Lewis' books are really good. I would also recommend Paradise of the Spirit by the late Bishop Youanis. It is a fantastic book and there are 3 parts. Unfortunately, I don't think all 3 parts are fully translated into english, but the ones that are are incredible. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

Please pray for me.

_________________
Cevac ¨
<ere peniwt Abba Paule pimenrit `nte P=,=c

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
-- Philippians 4:13

"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
-- Mark 9:24

"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
-- Jeremiah 29:12-13

Joined: Aug 06, 2004 | Posts: 612
Location: St. Paul the Anchorite Coptic Orthodox Church, London, Ontario

Meghalo05

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 06:05 AM

Tony,

The Way of A Pilgrim is a great book and an easy read. It's so interesting and teaches the true meaning of prayer. Amazing book!

in Christ,
abe

Joined: Jan 18, 2005 | Posts: 304
Location: St. Mary and St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Indianapolis, IN

carolb

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 12:04 PM

I highly, highly, highly recommend "Father Arseny, 1893-1973: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father" - a compilation of very touching and inspirational short stories about Father Arseny, a Russian Orthodox monk who was imprisoned under Stalin's reign.

Available at orthodoxbookstore.org or amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/088141 ... e&n=283155

I promise it's a page-turner!

Joined: Mar 25, 2004 | Posts: 402
Location: Southern California

HopelessCase113

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 02:04 PM

I recently got a bunch of booking so i am trying out a bunch of thingd, but so many books I have I get bored reading because they drag on without making a claer point.. i have so many of Abouna Matta El Meskeen's books.. but i don't feel that I benefit from them...

Some books I would recommend is The Sayings of the Desert Fathers... I love that book.. plenty of cool stories and stuff..

I haven't started reading the others enough to let you guys know about it so i'll say later..

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

HopelessCase113

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 02:04 PM

oops..that is only one book and i said some books...o well

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

Publican

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 02:48 PM

Four Books that I fell in love with:

1) The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian
2) The Grain of Wheat- Fr. Matthew the Poor
3) The Imitation of Christ- Thomas A Kempis
4) Orthodox Prayer Life- Fr. Matthew the Poor

Joined: Nov 18, 2005 | Posts: 101

lowlyman

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 03:40 PM

toni,

do not miss the fifty spiritual homilies of pseudo-macarius. I feel the great saint fatherly love evry time i read a quote from st. macarius

also books by St. Ephraim are great..

st John of damascus has a great exposition of the orthodox faith

the homilies of st dorotheus of gaza

Joined: Apr 04, 2006 | Posts: 226

lowlyman

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 03:41 PM

forgot to add the first created man by st symeon the new theologian

Joined: Apr 04, 2006 | Posts: 226

tonyhabibi

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 05:36 PM

wow , these books sound like great books , ive always wanted to get a copy of " the sayings of the desert fathers " ....but to be honest , the book that i am HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY INTERESTED IN ... is the Father arseny book reccommended by carolb ...i did some little research on that book and many people say it changed there lives that book ... and i am a lover of history .. and i would like to know what russian prisions were like . and also ... for some reason ... i feel this book will do the most damage to my old way of thinking . .... so thanks carolb .i will get this book , and ill let ya know how i liked it .

i was wondering if any of u could recommend a book to me that is not written by a saint or priest . .... i am interested in hearing ur replies .

with heart ,
toeknee .


ive only read about 5 pages of screwtape letters .... but i have a feeling that some of the contents will be grossly repetative . .... i hope not .

Joined: Apr 09, 2004 | Posts: 1220
Location: IN THE back of your mind .navagating through your heart , resting in your soul .

HopelessCase113

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 06:18 PM

also this book called you are my delightful garden by abouna tadros malaty... that's a lovely book too

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

SaintaMaria05

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 10:18 PM

Hey Guys I recommend the book "the return of the prodigal son" by Henri Nouwen. It is awesome and you can read it any time not only during lent. On eBay the range starts from five bucks and up.
Enjoy!!
P.S. HopelessCase113
can you please let me know where can i find the book"The Sayings of the Desert Fathers" we don't have it in our church !!
thanks

Joined: May 31, 2006 | Posts: 37

HopelessCase113

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 10:22 PM

i got it from a church marad, but you can get it from orthodoxbookstore.org here:

https://www.orthodoxbookstore.org/produ ... ductid=971

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

SaintaMaria05

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 10:27 PM

Thanks !!

Joined: May 31, 2006 | Posts: 37

HopelessCase113

posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 10:53 PM

no problem.. these sound cool.. about spiritual world of st. isaac the syrian.. is it anything like daily readings with st. isaac of syria because i am reading that book and it is pretty good..

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

Publican

posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 02:06 AM

Tony,
For spiritual novels, I would sugguest Crime and Punishment and the Brothers Karmazov written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. After you read them there is an amazing book called the Gospel in Dostoevsky.

Joined: Nov 18, 2005 | Posts: 101

SherryMikhail

posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 07:35 AM

I have an issue with books.. Its not that i hate books.. i like reading.. but its only slective reading...like The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis is an old favourite, of wich I own, and have not read but willing... soon.. one day... i just keep opening and closing it.. can't get myself to actually read that.. although i reallly want to...another thing is that I like buying HHPS3's books.. but in all honesty.. ive never finished reading a book of his.. ive always fell asleep in them or just cant concentrate when reading his books.. and ive tried but failed.. so now im with reading Any other church book but the Popes.. so yeh
and i reckon these recomendations are Excelent!! ill take some in consideration.
God Blesssss

_________________
Saint Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral Sydney, Australia

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth " -( Ec 12:1 )-

"At the beginning of every task, call on the name of the Lord your God, and begin it with prayer, that the Lord may prosper you to begin it and complete it. And from this it is evident that a Christian ought not to begin anything that is contrary to the Law of God, but only that which is in agreement with it."

- (Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk) -

Joined: Jun 04, 2004 | Posts: 611
Location: St Marks COCathedral Sydeny, NSW, Australia, Southern Hemisphere, Earth, and then God Knows Where..

ChristinaA

posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 12:54 PM

The screwtape letters is the most amazing book. I recomend it to EVERYONE. It takes you inside the mind of the devil and shows you things from his perspective. If u can get your hands on it to read it then please do.

Baba Yasoh behebok. :>

Joined: Jun 25, 2005 | Posts: 26

HopelessCase113

posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 04:36 PM

yeh, lately i have been lazy in reading, but i want to get rid of it.....

Imitation of Christ.. is that a good book? I started reading it because one of my sunday school servants gave it to me, but he said only take it if you are going to read it.. i read the first four chapters and then i stopped.. i should start again..

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

sparrowchild

posted on Aug 27, 2006 - 12:55 PM

The two books that have stuck with me are:
THE DIVINE ROMANCE,by Gene Edwards
THE INNER KINGDOM,by Bishop Kallistos Ware
I treasure them.

While we're on the topic, I'd like to know if anyone has read the GNOSIS books, by Boris Mouravieff.They are esoteric teachings of an ancient Christian knowledge tradition. I quote:
"Struggles between Hellenic thought, which tended to humanize the divinities, and the Good News announced by Jesus calling for the divinization of the human in man by a second birth...ended in victory for Orthodoxy.....Because of this it was possible- notably in the oriental Orthodoxy- to preserve the esoteric Tradition mysteriously hidden in its original purity, just as it had been transmitted by the Apostles and their disciples."
Neither my spiritual mentor, nor Abouna are familiar with these books. Is anyone?

Thank you.

Joined: Nov 04, 2004 | Posts: 49

tonyhabibi

posted on Aug 29, 2006 - 05:31 PM

The Screwtape letters is such a difficult book to get through . every page is bringing me back to the dictionary .

though i realize that the book is meant to teach ... i always am anticipating some more action than reading letters to WOODWARD .
to be very simple in this post ill just say this ....

after reading acouple of pages of screwtape ... i feel drained and tired , and uninterested .. but then i say to myself ... this is probably what the devil wants .... and this is percisely what screwtape tells woodward to do to a human .
so then i force myself to read some more ... but i just am so .... tired of reading it .

i prefer books from maya angelou . i finish her books in a matter of hours .

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HopelessCase113

posted on Nov 05, 2006 - 11:48 PM

tony,

i found a link where you can read some of the sayings of the desert fathers:

http://popekirillos.xoompages.com/EN/books/Sayingsd.pdf

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My joy is in Your praise, my splendor is in Your glory, O My Lord Jesus Christ, to You is due all glory.

Who am I, who is weaker than all who are on the earth, to speak of your honor, O Mary, the daughter of Joachim.

Holy Mighty, who by weakness showed forth what is greater than power.

Joined: Oct 11, 2004 | Posts: 227

Fortunatus

posted on Feb 28, 2007 - 01:27 AM

+Iryny nem `hmot,

BUMP!

It's Lent... keep these coming.

Please pray for me.

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Vortounatoc
Amyn, Maren a;a!

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nadernyc

posted on Feb 28, 2007 - 03:14 AM

The Lenten Spring - Fr Thomas Hopko (Former Dean of St Vladimir's Seminary)

This was recommended by HG Bishop Suriel when he was here in NY with us last year.

Joined: Jan 26, 2004 | Posts: 133
Location: Queens, New York

Publican

posted on Feb 28, 2007 - 03:41 AM

On the Incarnation--St. Athanasius

The Lord's Prayer/The Beatitudes--St. Gregory of Nyssa (Ancient Christian Writers)

The Ladder of Divine Ascent--St. John Climacus

Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father 1893-1973--Bouteneff

The Communion of Love--Fr. Matthew the Poor

The Cross in the Life of Fr. Bishoy Kamel--Fr. Bishoy Kamel

Loving Jesus--Mother Teresa

Joined: Nov 18, 2005 | Posts: 101