The Unselfishness of God

by Hannah Whitall Smith

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Genres: Christian, Christianity, Biography

204 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

Hannah Whitall Smith, 1832-1911

Hannah Whitall Smith was a speaker and author in the Holiness movement in the United States and the Higher Life movement in the United Kingdom. She was also active in the Women's suffrage movement and the Temperance movement, helping found the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
Hannah was no stranger to the difficulties of life. Although she had seven children in all, only three survived to adulthood.

Reviews

[La'Kita Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feelings in all things must always depend upon facts. Quotes from Hannah Whitall Smith's writing is timeless. It has raised many questions about how I see my faith and how I see God?? I pray studying her writing will give me a better revelation of my personal truth. It will teach how to put things in perspective so I can walk this Christian walk on a daily basis.

I am enjoying this book almost as much as the Christians Secret to a Happy Life. Her writing is totally timeless and very practical.

[K Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and encouraging book. Hannah Smith is one of my favorite Christian/spiritual authors! Every page is full of encouragement in how to trust a trustworthy God.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're reading this book (and you should) please be sure not to miss these three chapters, which were omitted from the edition I read, but can be found here: https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&...

Oddly, those were the three chapters I first read, amid a glorious ramble through the dated but earnest Tentmaker website, and the ones which sent me looking, several years later, for this book to fulfil a Brighter Winter reading challenge: Read a book about a woman you admire.

I found it a difficult challenge; I don't think about who I admire so much as I think about who I see Christ in. And Hannah Smith is hardly the obvious latter. She is often sweet, relentlessly passionate, and occasionally annoying. The page can obscure Christ, and I never met Hannah in person. It's how we relate to real live people that tells who lives in our hearts.

Anyone recommend a good biography of her?

Reading Smith's memoir in conjunction with present-day preacher Sarah Bessey's—Miracles and Other Reasonable Things—made for some intriguing comparisons.

Overall, it's good book, and one I recommend. But I did (being also occasionally annoying and sometimes passionate) print off the three excised chapters above, and stuck them, looseleaf, into the copy of the book I was reading. Here's hoping that the local library will let them remain there. Publishers shouldn't so casually burglarize such integral chapters in a woman's story.

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. I was struck by Smith's description of growing up as a Quietest Quaker (skeptical), and yet the happiness and reverence in which she reflects on her family situation. Such a contrast to the predominant critique in a negative way of families today.

Also: God isn't selfish? That idea blew my mind for a bit. Still working through that.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Hannah Whitall Smith's spiritual autobiography and focuses largely on her discovery of how Christ daily sanctifies us.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Hannah Whitehall Smith's spiritual diary of how she was raised in the Quaker faith, came to saving faith in Christ, and was led on to experience the rest of faith.

[Mikkel F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

En meget inderlig, åndelig selvbiografi, af en af de største kvinder i Amerika, og i kristendommen i de sidste tohundrede år. Læste med ekstra opmærksomhed på hendes opdagelse af den universalistiske lære i Det Nye Testamente, der af hendes oplæg blev censureret i årene efter hendes død. Blev noget lang i spyttet til sidst, der blev meget repeterende, i det hun også opdagede helliggørelsen i dette liv.