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This is pretty much my favorite book (except the Bible). His thoughts are luminous -- no dry wisdom, but truth in the best sense, which he really lived out. Real food for anyone with a heart for truth, and a decent starting place for anyone else. you gotta read it! : ) It even has a few poems of his -- but check out "Diary of an Old Soul" for a whole book of them. The more I read of George MacDonald's the better I feel like I understand God and His Word-- he ties things together delightfully so they make sense. It's vivid. It is infused with that shining quality that CS Lewis aptly called "holiness" -- but not as we've imagined holiness!

This anthology is a wonderful collection of beauty and insight into the Christian life. George MacDonald had the rare gift of getting to the heart of the matter, whether it be to convict or to comfort. C. S. Lewis did a masterful job (as always) with the compilation and introduction. This little volume is truly a blessing.

I wouldn't say that this book inspired me to want to read all of George MacDonald's works, but it was worth the money I spent on it. This book gave me some new perspectives on faith and the importance of understand and doing what God wants me to do. I don't agree with all of it, but I was helped by most of it. A few quick samples: "Oh the folly of any mind that would explain God before obeying Him! That would map out the character of God instead of crying, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do?" "Thy hand be on the latch to open the door at His first knock. Shouldst thou open the door and not see Him, do not say He did not knock, but understand that He is there, and wants thee to go out to Him. It may be He has something for thee to do for Him. Go and do it, and perhaps thou wilt return with a new prayer, to find a new window in thy soul.""A man my sink by such slow degrees that, long after he is a devil, he may go on being a good churchman or a good dissenter and thinking himself a good Christian.""Every one of us is something that the other is not, and therefore knows something - it may be without knowing that he knows it - which no one else knows: and... it is everyone's business, as one of the kingdom of light and inheritor in it all, to give his portion to the rest."

I have never enjoyed the writings of George MacDonald, and even though Lewis tried to select "the best of" with his anthology, I did not benefit from reading this book. The fine introduction by Lewis is what prevents this book from receiving a rating of 1. Don't bother buying this unless you want to read what Lewis wrote.