The Return of the Prodigal Son
by Henri J. M. Nouwen
Nouwen spends days in front of Rembrandt's painting and finds himself in each figure: the younger son, the elder son, and finally the father he is called to become. Quiet, searching and the most-loved spiritual book of its generation.
Read it if…
you want a meditation on homecoming that will stay with you.
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Skip it if…
you want argument; it is contemplation.
Try instead: The Wounded Healer →
Three things you will actually use
- You are the younger son, the elder son, and called to be the father.
- Homecoming is being found, not finding.
- The father's hands are both strong and gentle.
Do this first
Look at the painting for ten minutes, then read the first part.
Our verdict
The most-loved spiritual book of its generation.
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