The Spiritual Life

by Evelyn Underhill

An uplifting description of the pursuit of the spiritual life, written by one of the greatest mystics of the 20th century, who describes notr only the spiritual state of communing with God but also the state of cooperating with God!

Genres: Spirituality, Christianity, Mysticism, Theology, Christian, Faith, Religion

104 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Evelyn Underhill was an English Anglo-Catholic writer and pacifist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism.

In the English-speaking world, she was one of the most widely read writers on such matters in the first half of the twentieth century. No other book of its type—until the appearance in 1946 of Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy—met with success to match that of her best-known work, Mysticism, published in 1911.

Read more:

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_U...

The Evelyn Underhill Association
http://www.evelynunderhill.org/

Reviews

[Hesam · Rating 3 out of 5]

تابلوی شهسوار، مرگ و شیطان اثر دیورر

[Sarah Pascual · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small book that packs a lot of punch. Written in the 1930s, it’s amazing how relevant it is today. I’ll return to this one again and again.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Evelyn Underhill. I think she has such a clear way of writing that really cuts to the heart of the matter. I found this book inspirational and helpful to re-orient me in a very basic way to the spiritual life as connection to the life of God rather than just an inner, personal journey. As a chaplain whose primary work is pastoral counseling this is a reminder I really needed.

[Ian Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful little book that introduces the basics of the spiritual life for Christians. It's deceptively simple in style, but is filled with interesting ideas or pithy statements that catch the attention. Underlying it is a wealth of spiritual insight cultivated by a spiritual master.
Underhill was an Anglican who lived in England at the turn of the century. Her influence on people like CS Lewis is quite obviously. She was something of a mystic, yet her writing has a very down-to-earth style (at least this book does, I haven't read any of her other works). This was recommended to me by a mentor and I'm very glad that I read it. It's a book that I'll likely reread a number of times across my lifespan to get a spiritual boost.

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down--read it in 3 days. It was a charming book! Only pocket-sized and 124 pages (double spaced). Found it on my shelves last night (31 Mar 08) and hope to reread it.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spiritual classic, readable, understandable and rewarding. One of the great contemplative minds, and this book is an accessible way in.

[Othy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful little book that can be read in a sitting. Underhill has a strong, stubborn faith, especially in regards to action and suffering in Christian vocation that seems to me so early-19th century British. It is good to read, even if I am not wholly there

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little book published in 1936 based on four broadcast talks given by Evelyn Underhill on the subject of spirituality, for everyday people. (Other famous Christian publications that were the result of turning broadcast talks into book form include Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, delivered between 1941-44, during WW2.) In her preface (written during Advent, almost exactly 86 years ago, and three years before the War), she recommends the book for use during Lent.

Accessible, with some good stuff. I've been thinking about Tranquility, Gentleness and Strength ever since.

"We mostly spend [our] lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual—even on the religious—plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life."

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this captivating collection of four radio talks about what it takes to lead a spiritual life. Anglican mystic Evelyn Underhill doesn't shy away from the intense truths of what a life of faith and spirituality will require and demand of fallible humans. Reading this during Lent has a different poignancy as well, since the idea of sacrifice is always close by in mind and heart.

I appreciated her bold choice of words (especially in the '30's when she broadcasted these!), her dedication to the practical application of her thoughts, and her usage of quotations from other sage people of faith. Her advice never wavered from the knowledge that God must be at the centre of a spiritual life and I'll be gnawing on those descriptions for a long time.

I'm looking forward to pulling this back out again some time to reflect deeper on these thoughts. I highly recommend this for any wishing to deepen their spiritual life.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underhill is a great mystic and wonderful writer. If you are looking for an introduction to the spiritual life, this is a good read. You have to keep it in historical context though. This book was written based on broadcasts she did in the 1930s. It was a time when all things spiritual in nature was ruled by men. Wemon were not teachers in the church. Given that linces I think it explains some of the things she writes that didn't jive with me (ie, not concerning yourself with the politics of the world). Don't throw the baby out with the bath water and you will find a great deal of depth and insight in her words.

[Joel Cuthbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a recent booksale and brought it along for a "day of quiet" at the retreat house I often wander to on the edge of town. It has that elegant language of mysticism that seems to keep me confoundedly coming back to the religious world of my youth. Less obsessed with rigorous systematic ways of thinking and more poetic and philosophically interested in the profound longings of the human soul. Yes indeed. There wasn't, perhaps, anything revelatory or unfamiliar to me, but it was still a rich, invitational graze into the world of a deeper way of attention and being.

Highly recommended for a retreat read, and will certainly be on the monastic library shelf!

[Pranada Comtois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this elegant, little book is as important as Underhill's seminal work "Mysticism," which is a tome. I find myself underlining many passages I want to revisit and think deeply about. Though Ms. Underhill died in 1941, her books are spiritual classics. Though I'm a follower of another metaphysical path, I'm grateful that she boldly wrote. I found this an important addition to my library.

[Blake Chenoweth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book always leaves me silent for a few hours after I read it. It is one of my favorites when thinking about the spiritual life. Ms. Underhill writes in a way that brings out the quietness of her life. She never traveled far from her home and loved working in the garden and experiencing the spiritual life from that.

Another short read of a 100 or so pages that every Christian should read in their lifetime. Blesses me greatly every time.

[Ginger Ciminello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful tiny little book. I struggled with parts one and four, but parts two and three were a direct hit. Such simple and direct conviction coming from this work.

“Our spiritual life is His affair; because, whatever we may think to the contrary, it is really produced by His steady attraction, and our humble and self-forgetful response to it. It consists in being drawn, at His pace and in His way, to the place where He wants us to be; not the place we fancied for ourselves.”

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent book for a quick reminder on what's important in life. Not many digressions into examples, hypotheticals, or stories, which would have made this book better, but the lack of those things made it readable in two days. While the book is 3-stars, the ideas in it are undoubtedly 5-star material.

[Tamara Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These transcripts from four of Underhill’s radio broadcasts pack much depth and mystery in concise paragraphs surrounded, aptly, by a lot of white space on each page. This is the perfect book to read and re-read devotionally for those who wish to grow closer to God within the paradox of His mystery and His invitation to intimacy.

Highly recommend!

[Juls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be eagerly searching for Evelyn Underhill in second hand bookshops from now on. I felt like a beached fish being put back into water reading this.

[Robert Heckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, intelligent, practical introduction (/reminder) to the Spiritual life. Could be read in a day, but hardly understood in a lifetime.

[Margie Dorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evelyn Underhill at her best. My favorite of all of them. This is a book I will read repeatedly.

[Clayton Keenon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually a four star book. It is full of wisdom and insight. I was nourished by it, and I will certainly refer back to it. I’ll probably even quote it in a sermon one day.

And yet, it really bothered me that for being a book about Christian spirituality, she never once mentions Jesus. The Bible is quoted. Christian theologians and mystics are quoted. Titles like God, Reality, and Creative Love are used all over the place, but never the name of Jesus. There is one mention of the cross, but as a way of explaining the sacrificial love of Christian, not of Christ.

Obviously, at the foundation all she said was the person and work of Christ, but I wouldn’t have known that from reading this book. It’s all assumed and implied. I can fill in the gaps, but it was frustrating to read a hundred pages on “the Spiritual Life” and not have Jesus mentioned directly once.

[Ibrahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Evelyn Underhill I’m reminded of Christ’s call to me in my spiritual walk, “ Launch out into the deep.” While our beloved author had the best of intentions in making this book as simple as possible, some people can’t help it no matter how hard they try: they are just rich in everything they say, deep in their thoughts even when they are as simple as a dove, and that’s why E. Underhill speaks straight to my heart and mind, and I alternate between reading and praying when I’m enjoying a book like this. Thankfully there’s an online copy of the book here https://web.archive.org/web/200605160...

[Margaret E. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the clarity of writing in this century-old book. Evelyn Underhill has a wonderful, dry sense of humor. She also has a depth of spirituality which she articulates clearly for the Christian and non-Christian alike. This is a short read, consisting of edited transcripts of some radio broadcasts. I loved it!

[The Cholo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very brief, simple book that makes a lot of "sense" about spiritual things. Originally, this was four separate "addresses," but this book presents them together. It's like a very poignant message you might hear at an exceptionally good church, minus the smoke machines and tapered jeans.

[Zachary Mays · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good fairly straightforward book on the essential economy of the Spiritual life. Nothing earth shattering, but I enjoyed the way Underhill emphasized the spiritual informing all aspects of life, including the political, and it was a nice blend of the contemplative and the practical.

[raysilverwoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

a balanced and rather practical, down-to-earth view of what it means to live "spiritually". underhill puts it all in simple terms, which is no easy feat. much needed read in the chaos of this year.

[Andrew Likoudis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise but full of wisdom.

[Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worth while read!

[Connie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful little book! Very inspiring.

[Tim Littleford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, insightful little book. Great for dipping your toes in.

[Bobbi Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little book. Recommend for Lenten weekly devotional exercises.