The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

  • Type: Audiobooks
  • By: James Martin
  • Age Category: Adults
  • Genre: Non-Fiction
  • Recommended by: Eric S.
  • ISBN/UPC: 9780061432682
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An inspirational read with bit of history

This book initially caught my eye because of its quirky cover. After I picked it up, I was particularly interested in perusing it because of my own personal background. I graduated from a Jesuit High School in Detroit in the 1980s.  The Jesuits (or Society of Jesus) is a religious order of Catholic priests and brothers that was founded in the early 16th century by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Given that the Jesuits origins occurred in the wake of the Protestant Reformation and the corresponding Catholic Counter Reformation, I found Martin’s biographical sketch of Ignatius to be very interesting from a historical perspective.

However, the bulk of the book is an examination of Ignatian Spirituality. It primarily focuses on how readers, regardless of their religious belief, can use St. Ignatius’ spiritual exercises to address the major challenges (suffering, decision-making, career, relationships, etc.) that we all face in life.

Although Martin, who is a Jesuit priest, is writing from a Catholic Christian point of view he makes it clear, early on, that he wrote this book to appeal to readers from a wide range of spiritual perspectives - atheist, agnostic, devoted believer, seeker, as well as believers from other faith traditions. This is what I really liked about this book. It has a very inviting and accepting tone. I believe it would be an interesting read for anyone who is seeking to develop a richer spiritual life.