Ordinary Grace: An Examination of the Roots of Compassion, Altruism, and Empathy, and the Ordinary Individuals Who Help Others in Extraordinary Ways

by Kathleen A. Brehony

A psychotherapist explores the origins of compassion, grace, and altruism through studies of religion and science, showing the deep motivations of selfless behaviors and demonstrating how the good can cast out the bad. 12,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology

242 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 1998

About the author

Kathleen Brehony is a personal and executive coach whose work blends decades of experience as a psychologist, writer, speaker, and media personality. Guided by the belief that people already hold the inner resources needed for growth, she helps clients pursue meaningful goals and live with purpose. A former Jungian-oriented psychotherapist, she spent more than twenty years in private practice and has taught at the university level while leading workshops on creativity, spirituality, and life transitions.
Kathleen is the author of several acclaimed books, including Awakening at Midlife, Ordinary Grace, After the Darkest Hour, and Living a Connected Life. Her work has inspired national media features, including a PBS special based on Awakening at Midlife. Alongside her writing and coaching, she has contributed widely to radio, television, and print, always aiming to bring insight to a broad audience.

Reviews

[EMP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I accidently found this book while looking for a novel of the same name. If I'd just read the first half of the book, I would have rated it higher. Brehony somehow gets bogged down during the second half and adds too much background info for her stories and keeps trying to bring you back to the beginning and tie together a group of stories. I enjoy reading about people who give altruistically. Brehony mentions that while researching the book, she came across so many wonderful stories. I think this book would have been better if she told more of those individual stories.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read that offered some timely, helpful, and encouraging reminders about the goodness present in human nature. I appreciated many of the examples that Brehony provided of people drawing on various aspects of faith, hope, and virtue to produce positive change in their lives and their communities. I particularly appreciated her list of principles in the final chapter that's designed to encourage readers to take meaningful action in their own circumstances, and to sustain the motivation to seek out and be open to the ordinary grace that she asserts is ubiquitous.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I shelved this with other Christian books, but it is not written from a biblical worldview. The author asks the question “Why do ordinary people do extraordinary good things?” and then explores the answers she finds through research and interviews. I don’t agree with her conclusions but there is still so much truth being shared, and I was glad to read something that highlighted what is right in the world instead of all that is wrong.

[Sonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

[Arlene Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish. It got tedious.

[KellySue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cried various times. It's a lovely book of the goodness of humanity full of good stories and what would be considered miracles, but really are just humans responding to grace.

[Sharon Isaacson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories, but reads like a dissertation.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

What wonderful perspectives and inspiring stories! A couple of my favorite quotes: "People who reflect grace are grounded in everyday things and get their hands dirty by working with the stuff of life." And... "There is within each of us a potential for goodness beyond our imagining; for giving which seeks no reward; for listening without judgment; for loving unconditionally....Everything is bearable when there is love." I could relate to several of the stories and found a certain comfort in some of the observations.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories in this book are very powerful. There is nothing "ordinary" about the choices these people made to help others.

The one drawback (for me anyway) is the very strong undercurrent of Christianity that runs throughout the entire book. The author tries to downplay the importance of this aspect, but it is still very prevalent.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It describes how ordinary people have been motivated to help others.

[Sharman Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book inspired me to donate my kidney to a co-worker 7 1/2 years ago. She is now one of my dearest friends.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I recommend it to everyone.