Signs of the Times: Seven Paths of Hope for a Troubled World

by Jean Vanier

One of today's great Catholic humanitarians helps readers come to an understanding of themselves and the world they live in through meditations on seven words such as power and authority, isolation and community. †

151 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Jean Vanier was educated in England and Canada, entered the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, England in 1942. He went to sea in 1945 in the Royal Navy and in 1947 transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. He resigned from the Royal Canadian Navy in 1950 while serving H.M.C.S. Magnificent. He then went to France to work in a students' community outside of Paris. He studied philosophy and theology and obtained a Doctorate from the Catholic Institute in Paris.

At various times in his life, Vanier has been a(n)
author-
traveler-
founder-
humanitarian-
peacemaker-

Reviews

[Maria Longley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jean Vanier is taking the call to look at the signs of our times seriously and here he is drawing out some themes and signs and commenting on them. Having recently read a whole bunch of different philosophers for another purpose I found this restful in the sense that Vanier is talking about lived experience and thoughts that have come out of a real community. And having a little involvement with the l'Arche community too I do find reading his words very helpful in reflecting on my own experiences. But Vanier is talking about the broader community here and I think he really does identify paths of hope that are relevant to everyone whether or not you have any involvement with l'Arche.

[Luís Branco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I heard from Jean Vanier, I started reading and watching everything an I can find about him. He is a great philosopher and humanist, but instead of walking backward from God, he walks forward with God and encourages all of us to the same. This is a book about grief and how the Christian and the church must respond to the grief and pain of the whole world.