Book Review - Finding Happiness by Abbot Christopher Jamison

Book Review – Finding Happiness by Abbot Christopher Jamison

March 9th, 2009 |

Author: admin

Finding Happiness: Monastic Steps for a Fulfilling Life by Abbot Christopher Jamison

In his second book, Abbot Christopher Jamison explains how the Benedictine Monks find happiness. Abbot Jamison takes you through the “Seven Deadly Thoughts”, also known as the 7 deadly sins, and teaches you how to take those thoughts and turn them around to make them positive things in your life, rather than negative things. Using the Bible and “The Institutes” written by J. Cassian as guides and words to live by, Abbot Jamison leads the reader through steps to living a happy life the way the “Desert Fathers” did a long time ago.

From the Back of the Book:

In seeking happiness, we need to keep in mind as a cautionary image the perils that await those prospecting for gold. We must be aware of “fool’s gold” the natural but inauthentic mineral that looks like gold, because I believe that there is such a thing as “fool’s happiness.” For example, some people claim that getting drunk makes them happy. But what sort of happiness is this? Is it “fool’s happiness” or real halppiness? I believe that happiness is like gold and fakes are possible.

My Thoughts:

Although I am not what I would consider a typical Christian, I still hold strongly to the basic beliefs and tennents of the Christian religion. However, I don’t know much about the Catholic tradition or the more fundamental traditions that the monks follow. Reading through this book, Finding Happiness, gave me information about the monastary and how the monks live their lives with grace and faith. It was an interesting read into that culture and that way of life.

I don’t agree with a lot of the sentiments in the book or with some of the steps that Abbot Jamison suggests, but there are many things that I do agree with inside the book. I agree that happiness is something that one must find within and no amount of money or material items can ever give you true happiness. I also think that there are times when “giving up” or letting go of material possesions can be a fantastic practice to get your spiritual life back into balance. I just don’t agree that this should be a practice done all the time. Nor do I believe that sexual desires can be negative on the human soul. I believe in the ideal of moderation…. all things in moderation, including religion.

Other than some basic things that I don’t agree with, I found this book to be very uplifting and inspirational. Not filled with dogma or guilt, it gives you ideas on how to live your life the way to connect with divinity and to keep your spiritual life open and free. Beautifully written, full of compassion and understanding, this is definitely a good book to read. Although if you’re not a “traditional” Christian, you may need to keep an open mind. Like with all religiously inspired books, it will not speak to everyone, but to those it does speak to it will give them great comfort.