Of the many contemporary books published on the spiritual life, most will pass quietly and quickly from the scene. Those that survive are rooted in the writers' intimate knowledge of the spiritual legacy of the past, on their appreciation of the best spiritual work of our era, and on a willingness to "take over" the wisdom of behavioral psychology and the social sciences. The best and most helpful writings on spirituality are vitalized by the personal experience of the authors. That is what gives this work the aura of authenticity which imparts to the reader the confidence that what is written in its pages has been lived and experienced deeply.

This handy manual presents everything you might want to know about spiritual direction. But its focus is technical rather than inspirational. This being understood, it would be hard to find a more comprehensive treatment of the subject. The qualities of the good spiritual director are clearly set forth. Above all, the authors note, there must be a willingness to love and to listen with patience and gentleness, yet with courage to speak the often unpalatable truth. On the directee's side, there must be openness to the unexpected and willingness to wait with patience and sometimes pain for signs of progress. There must be the realization that God is the ultimate spiritual director, guiding every soul according to his timetable of what is best suited to the uniqueness of the individual.