The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life

by Paula Huston

“Using the Christian tradition of solitude, silence and contemplation as her foundation, Huston offers one of the best books available on living the simple life.”
— Publishers Weekly , starred review “This book will give solace and guidance to those who, like Paula Huston, have felt the interior call to simplicity, the intense gravitational pull of the God within.”
—Bruno Barnhart, Camaldolese monk and author, Second Simplicity  An Invitation to a Simple, More Peaceful LifeIs leading a simple life possible in a world of chaos and complexity? Driven by this searching question, Paula Huston, a busy forty-something college professor, wife, and mother, embarked on a spiritual journey to find a peaceful, less cluttered kind of life. The Holy Practices for a Simple Life is the fruit of Huston’s arduous search. Two discoveries sustained that she herself could experience simple living just as a nearby community of Catholic monks did and, more important, that she could find the keys to such a life in the lives and writings of the great monastic saints. Drawing on these discoveries, Huston examines a variety of measures that point the way toward the practical, day-to-day simplicity of a life that so many desire.

Genres: Spirituality, Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Catholic, Theology, Biography

358 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't "Oh my gosh!" inspiring. The title of the book is a bit off. "My Search for the Holy Way" would be more appropriate. The book is more a story of one pilgrim's incomplete journey, than a how-to book. That said, I found it an interesting story most of the time. A few times I got tired of hearing the author talk about herself. The book reads much like a limited autobiography. I was impressed with the author's persistence at following the call to holiness, despite the limits placed on her by her temperament, lifestyle and past. I was also impressed with her patience and ability to pick one thing (such as silence or fasting) and work on it for years until she made it work for her. She was very honest about her weaknesses and failures and I sometimes winced when I saw myself. One of the most surprising things to me is that she doesn't talk at all about the Eucharist! I don't know if she was trying to make the book appeal to non-Catholics or if she honestly hadn't yet discovered the wonderful power and grace of the Eucharist. I kept wondering how much faster she would have progressed in her journey if she had focused more on the Eucharist and the graces received when properly disposed to receive that sacrament. She also failed to mention the Holy Spirit, so I was under the impression that she had not yet learned to pray to the Holy Spirit and ask (beg!) for the gifts needed to progress in the spiritual life. For the most part she seemed to struggle along under her own willpower and I kept thinking she needed to work harder on her prayer life. She also did not mention Mary or ask for the Blessed Mother's help on her journey, which I thought was odd. She has written two books since this book, and I'm anxious to read them to see how much more she has learned and progressed. I feel like the author is a personal friend now, lol. One book is called "By Way of Grace" and the other (she is a co-author) is "Signatures of Grace" and deals with the sacraments. If you are looking for a how-to book, this is not it. If you like reading stories of people quite a bit like you on the journey, the author will become your friend.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on my Google Reads lst, but was really interested in it because I've heard some retreat conferences the author gave on YouTube, which I enjoyed. Paula Huston is, among other things, an oblate of New Camaldoli Hermitage in California, and that is what is key to this book. Huston talks about her experience of coming to faith, discovering the importance of silence and contemplation in her life and how she adjusted her life to make room for that. As someone who is slowly growing towards contemplation, that is one very good reasons to read this book because she really does give a road map of how to simplify and make space for silence.

I really enjoyed this book because has an almost Kathleen Norris feel to it- combining well-thought out and researched perspectives on faith and life with personal stories on how she (the author) practically applied what she learned at the Hermitage. I know everyone finds their own way, but I find this combination compelling, along the the honesty about talking about mistakes and faults. I know this will be a book I"ll return to.

[Joyce Fazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for Lent this year, twice. This is literally my story. Loved it and will be a touchstone.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice combination of life story and learn8g/explaining different practices.

[Michael Stockdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book jammed in among hundreds of others on a shelf in a thrift store in Grass Valley, California. The title jumped out at me, and—once off the shelf—the cover spoke of peacefulness and simplicity; I bought it and was soon reading it in the shade of old oaks in the nearby woods.

Paula Huston’s journey toward an enlightened life begins by looking back upon a centuries old monastic rule and sequestering herself among the monks of the New Camadoli hermitage in Big Sur, California. Methodically she explores the foundational elements of monasticism and then painfully applies those lessons to herself, discovering the joy of simplicity along the way. Peeling back layer after layer, she contrasts the lives and lessons of past monks with the fast-paced, cosmopolitan life of wife, mother, writer, professor and coastal resident she lives; in the end, she chooses a hybrid of the two that leans heavily upon the quiet inner life of the monk.

Through solitude, silence, asceticism, purity, devotion, labor, confidence, integrity, generosity and tranquility, Huston takes the reader on a path to discovering the God who whispers love, peace, joy and eternity to our souls, and she does it gently.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Holy Way is one of my all time favorites. I just finished it for the second time. It's certainly not a book to read quickly. To glean the most, one must read slowly, chewing a little bit at a time.

The author's journey toward simplicity began as an exhausted, searching soul trying to keep up the American pace - climbing the career ladder, building the dream home, compounding debt. Having reached so many goals, she discovered that happiness and fulfillment eluded her still.

Ever so slowly - the book never says the amount of time but I'm guessing years - she learned practices that have given her a simple peaceful life. This book is about those practices.

She writes that simplicity is living against the natural flow of things, deliberately departing from status quo and business as usual. It's meant to free us from anxieties and distractions that pull us away from the real purpose of our life on earth.

The practices she teaches are meant to draw us closer to God and bring us a quieter, slower, more thoughtful life.

For anyone who has thought, "there's got to be more," this book is a great tool.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paula Huston, almost crazed with her hectic
life as a college instructor and a busy mom,
sets out to simplify her life and deepen
her spirituality, following the lead of
great spiritual leaders of the past.

I actually gasped out loud when I read the
chapter where Huston realizes that the more
effort she put into her spirituality, the
more judgmental she seemed to be about other
people; yep, I saw myself. While I liked
some of Huston's ideas for simplifying and
spiritualize-ing, I noticed that my mind
kept wandering away from the pages of the
book. Not sure why.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the finest books on practical Christian spirituality I have read in a long time. I read it twice, back-to-back. Some people won't like its personal and experiential tone, though I found her honesty and vulnerability attractive and very human. Her use of classical Christian authors from antiquity to the present (Anthony, Pachomius, John Cassian, Augustine, Benedict, Aelred, Francis, Catherine of Siena, Ignatius, and Bede Griffiths) was helpful. I was repeatedly encouraged to practice my faith in the ways suggested and not made to feel guilty over not always succeeding. Though I am not an RC, and she is, I strongly recommend Paula Huston's book.

[Jonathan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book's author, Paula Huston, was seeking a way to deeper spiritual life. What she discovered was 10 ways! She shares with the reader what each way entails, and her own work incorporating the way in her life. There is a lot material in this book, and I feel that it may take a few more readings for me to gain all the help this book has to offer, for someone seeking a more intimate relationship with God.

[Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, like many books, was one of those that is a collection of quotes that are linked together with prose by "the author." Unlike most other books, this one has many quotes that are engaging, you've never read before, and come at just the right time in the structure.
I read it while doing a juice fast which may have made it seem better than it was -- but it spoke to me!! :)

[Collette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, but I'm somewhat disappointed. Detailed examples of what to expect when you have a professional career and begin to simplify. Little practical advice. I think I may need to reread some chapters to glean the bits that I did find helpful. Agree with the reviewer who said that "My Search for the Holy Way" would have been a more appropriate title.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really great book. i highly recommend it. along with kathleen norris's book, i really can't say enough.

[Del · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rich and deep book dealing with Christian spirituality for the rest of us -- those who are broken, stretched and weary of the shallow way.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful book...not for everyone but thoughtful and meditative

[Gerlinde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on seeking your path. The author's personal story adds clarity to what she is teaching.