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Jun 21, 2008

Meghan rated it:

Using Jesus’ well-known parable and Rembrandt’s painting of The Return of the Prodigal Son, Nouwen performs a thorough and meaningful close-read, expounding on the spiritual roles of Father, Brother, and Son (or, more appropriately, Parent, Sibling, and Child, since Nouwen does not dwell on gender specificity). Divided into three main sections, the book describes each of these figures, drawing further insight from Rembrandt’s painting and corresponding events in the painter’s life. The discussio More...

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Jul 24, 2008

Longfellow rated it:

So much of the time it feels like Nouwen is writing about my life as much as his own. So far, this is yet another example.

Beautiful book that for me needed to be soaked up slowly. 3-4 months for me to read 140 pages. After finishing, and claiming no expertise in the matter, I'm going to say all pastors should read this book.

Why? Because of this conclusion: "Our community is full of wayward and angry children, and being surrounded by peers gives a sense of solidarity More...

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Apr 19, 2008

Karen rated it:

It is a book I read and appreciated, but have revisited often. This story was one I always disliked. It goes against my desire to be rewarded for doing good, and to see OTHERs punished for doing evil!

As I have revisited it -- I find myself moving through the Biblical characters, just as Rembrandt did...just as Nouwen did....

I caused me to explore Rembrandt's paintings and life, and it has given me a deeper insight into how art expresses the inexpressible, and how great More...

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Mar 06, 2009

Lana rated it:

The author is a priest who has made a lifetime study of the parable of the prodigal son, in connection with the painting "Prodigal Son" by Rambrandt. Although there are a few points of doctrine that differ from my own faith, I learned from him as he explored how each of us can relate not only to the prodigal son, but to the older son who was not immediately willing to welcome home his brother and how each have to come to the Father and receive his embrace. My favorite part was the th More...

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Jan 23, 2012

Dave rated it:

The Return of the Prodigal Son is a cross between an analysis of Rembrandt's painting "Return of the Prodigal Son" and a collection of meditations on the actual biblical story which can be found in Luke _________. Nouwen's starting poitn is a 198__ visit to a friend at _________ where he first sees a poster portraying Rembrandt's famous painting. The painting so moves Nouwen that he spends much of his life contemplating the painting and the parable it represents.

He begins t More...

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Sep 23, 2011

Phil rated it:

This is an exceptional book describing God's unconditional love. The author uses Rembrandt's painting the Return of the Prodigal Son as a vehicle to give us an inside look at the parable of the Prodigal Son. He shows us that we are or could be the Prodigal Son, the Elder Son and the Father. Jesus upset the us rulers with a story of how a father would welcome home, forgive and celebrate the return of his way ward son. He also shows that those who are the elder son having difficulties with the fat More...

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Dec 28, 2011

Dennis rated it:

Nouwen spent two days at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg contemplating Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son, a painting depicting the parable in Luke. I appreciated some of Nouwen's reflections, especially in regard to Rembrandt's life and Nouwen's. However, I took exception to seeing Jesus as the perfected younger son and perfected older son. I found his ideas on God the Father in chapter 8 so far from my Reformed position as to consider them demeaning of God. For instance, "God More...

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Aug 07, 2011

Ruth Ann rated it:

We used this book for a Sunday school study over a four-week period. Henri Nouwen's in-depth analysis of Rembrandt's painting in conjunction with the Bible passage and Nouwen's personal experiences provided a beautiful basis for group discussion.

I feel that Nouwen's search for love and acceptance is aptly expressed in the following passages:

The question is not "How am I to find God?" but "How am I to let myself be found by him?" The questions is not "How

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May 22, 2009

Walter rated it:

I have now read this book three times, twice about 20 years ago and again now. I believe that I have matured a good deal and can therefore appreciate it even more. I remember being awed and a bit overwhelmed by it in my youth; I am totally awed and overwhelmed by it now. Simply put, it is a powerful work of spiritual insight and development.

Foremost among the things that make this book so incredible and indelible in its impact is the honesty of its author, Henri J.M. Nouwen, a Cat More...

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Jan 16, 2009

Rachelle rated it:

What a beautiful book. This book has opened my eyes to the way the scriptures should be studied. For years and years, Henri Nouwen has studied the Rembrandt painting and scriptural parable "The Return of the Prodigal Son" and has found depth and truth and understanding that I have never drawn from the parable. In such a humble and unassuming way, Nouwen speaks of the younger son, the elder son and the Father. He allows himself to be put into each role and learns much as he compares More...

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Nov 19, 2011

Esther rated it:

Nouwen writes about his fascination with the painting of the Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt. He examines Rembrandts' life, and why he might have portrayed the famous parable in this particular way (the was his second treatment of the subject, and very different from the first). He is so moved by the painting that he cannot help but see himself in it and in the trio of characters from the parable. This book is the inner reflection of a man I deeply respect - for his humble honesty, and f More...

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Jul 26, 2011

Al rated it:

If you are one who desires what it means to be the "Beloved of a Heavenly Father" you will enjoy this book. Henri Nouwen in reflecting on Rembrandt's painting the "Return of the Prodigal son" takes one on a journey through the stages of growing in our capacity to receive the love as a prodigal as well as to one day be able to give that love to others. In identifying the people portrayed in this amazing painting he takes the reader through three stages on our journey. First, o More...

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Aug 08, 2009

Carol rated it:

Wow!!! Nouwen is so open & honest. He sums it up this painting as human expression of divine compassion.
Loved his encounter of 2 days observing the painting at the Heritage in Saint Petersburg & how the light at different times during the day changed what he saw in the painting. In his life (journey) Nouwen discovers himself in all 3 characters - the younger & older sons as well as the father -- which applies to us as well. There is so much more . . .

Check out Robert Morris gre More...

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Mar 07, 2010

Paul rated it:

This book must be among the best of Henri Nouwen's writing. In it he gives some very deep and penetrating insight into the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and its illustration in Rembrandt's painting of the Return of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen shares with the reader the meaning he found for his own spiritual journey in studying the painting; how it illuminated the ways he was like the younger son, the elder son and how he felt called to be more like the father. Readers may see simil More...

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Apr 29, 2009

Art rated it:

Nouwen parallels his life to that of the lives of the prodigal son, the elder son, and their father, from the parable told by Jesus in John's gospel, chapter 15, and from his favorite Rembrandt painting about the same story. And he invites his readers to do the same. I liked how Nouwen asked his friends for their opinion of his own character in comparison to the parables characters. Their opinions often gave him lots of insight. Nouwen then goes even deeper into the parable of the prodigal s More...

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Feb 14, 2009

Michael VanZandt rated it:

I found reading this book emotionally overwhelming, at times. Henri Nouwen provides a reflection which I think can be applicable to nearly anyone. He speaks with the authority of experience, but also the grace of enlightenment. It is clear that he is the Jedi, and I but a young Padawan.

Having read this, immediately after Siddhartha (while listening to Sigur Ros), was intriguing, combining the sense of longing, the pursuit of homecoming, where one finds peace and emptiness. Nouwen More...

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Nov 30, 2010

Jo rated it:

I listened to this book as an audiobook. I went to a retreat early this past Summer based around this book. The retreat moved me deeply. For some reason I can't quite explain, the book did not. It's a good book, it just didn't touch me as I expected. I even got rather impatient with the author on occasion (I normally like him). It may be because I don't seem to be able to read books requiring deep thought since my brother died later last Summer or it might be that I'd already "gone there" More...

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Oct 05, 2009

Andrea rated it:

This book pulls some very powerful universal lessons out of the parable of the prodigal son via the painting by Rembrandt of the same name. I loved how the author married art and religious thought. It was interesting. I liked the author's rambling train of thought as he discovered new aspects to the parable. I liked the progression to greater and greater truth. I didn't mind reading his Catholic "voice". Any Christian will benefit from this book. It is written without the cultur More...

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Feb 28, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

I almost feel bad giving this a bad review since so many people have loved it, but I was disappointed in it. I'd heard so many wonderful things about it, and then when I read it, I was looking forward to the end of it. I personally thought he focused a little too much on the painting and while I wouldn't have minded some mentioning of the painting, I almost thought the talk of the painting was to help stretch the book into a longer length. While this is an all time favorite book of one of my f More...

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Jul 30, 2009

Dawn rated it:

I wish that I could give this book 10 stars. This and the Pursuit of God are my two favorite 'spiritual books'. I wish for one day that I could crawl into Henri Nouwen's head and experience God as he does. That would indeed be a wonder.

I relate to this book because I think in my life's journey that I have been the older brother (very self-righteous) and the younger brother...broken over the ways I have hurt others and completed broken from the things I have done; both sons so in More...

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Mar 24, 2009

Jackpl rated it:

An interesting journal of a difficult spiritual journey to self-acceptance. Father Nouwen was a Belgian priest who was struck to his soul by seeing Rembrandt's "Return". He went to St. Petersburg to see it at the Hermitage. He takes each of the characters in the bible parable as depicted by Rembrtandt, and puts himself in their shoes - always focusing on his own shortcomings. He wrote over 18 other books on the spiritual life.

In my view, too much agony over who you are. It i More...

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Feb 05, 2012

Jim rated it:

An astounding book. Nouwen was doubly perceptive. His insight into the images of Christ's parable of the Prodigal Son will stay with me for the rest of my life, and his use of Rembrandt's painting, "The Return of the Prodigal" led me further into the parable, and gave me a deep love for Rembrandt's painting (which had been my least favorite painting of that subject.

Nouwen was able to do for the elder brother what I have not heard any preacher do: he opened my eyes to identi More...

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Dec 22, 2009

Lee rated it:

Amazing insight on the parable of the Prodigal son. His doctrinal interpretation transcend any religious barriers. One of the 12 Apostles (Jeffrey Holland) referenced this book in his talk a few years back on the topic of the other (referring to the elder son) prodigal son.

His overall conclusion is that our ultimate goal in this life is not only to make our way back to the Father, but to become like Him.

"...I was prepared to accept that not only the younger son, bu

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May 30, 2007

Jonathan rated it:

This was my introduction to Nouwen. I'd never have guessed that an Ivy League prof would write (or maybe even could write) such unadorned prose.

Nouwen witnessed the titular Rembrandt painting at a museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was transfixed by it. In this tome, he looks at the biblical story that provides the scene depicted, but he does it from the perspectives of all three central players: the prodigal son, his "Where's mine?"-crying brother, and the father. Each More...

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Jun 24, 2009

Amy rated it:

Based on Rembrandt's painting of the prodigal son returning home, the author discusses the parable from three perspectives: the younger son, the older son, and the father.

He talks about how he relates to each, and how important it is for us to avoid being like the older son, and to work to become like the father, reaching out in love to those who need it.

Nouwen always writes with compassion, humility, and brokenness, and I found this book to be very expressive, reflecti More...

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Jun 25, 2008

Tony rated it:

A brilliant meditation on the truths revealed in Rembrandt's representation of the great parable. It might have been a pamphlet, however, because at times Nouwen gets longwinded with his points. Reading it as a psalm rather than an apologetic, however, alleviates that irritation. The chief insight for me is how many of us identify with the prodigal, but might well consider how much we have in common with the son who stayed home.

Excerpts:
"All the time and energy I spend in More...

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Jun 20, 2009

Julie rated it:

This is one of the best books I've ever read. Henri Nouwen studies Rembrandt's painting of the Prodigal Son and gives deep and spiritual insight into it's meaning. His reflections are incredible and it's a book to read over and over again and study. I kept falling asleep when I read it...not because it's boring, but because I kept thinking about what he was teaching and my pea brain had to work extra hard to grasp it. Poor me.

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Jul 17, 2011

Frank rated it:

The book reminded me of Dallas Willard (my favourite author), and thus I recommend it highly. The book was a series of reflections on the parable of the prodigal son, based on both, the painting by Rembrandt, and the scripture account. The amount of use that Nouwen was able to attain from both the painting and the scripture was immense. His reflections were spiritually emotional as well as useful.

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Mar 13, 2009

Lori rated it:

This reads like a text book, but I'm really glad I read it. It's a detailed description and analysis of Rembrandt's painting 'Return of the Prodigal Son.' It really makes you think and analyze yourself in real life - seeing where you fit into the picture; whether you are the son that sinned and returned to his father, the obedient but loathing brother, or the forgiving father. It is really spiritually thought provoking. In my copy there is a print of the painting for you to reference as you More...

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Sep 15, 2009

Kathy rated it:

This is a wonderful book by a struggling wounded priest. It details our struggle to come home to the Father whether we are a wandering younger son or a bitter elder brother. It also includes guidance to become the father, a person who loves joyously no matter what. There is lots to think about and practice in this simple book.

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

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