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The Courage to See: Daily Inspiration from Great Literature
Book lovers know there is something sacred in the stories, poetry, and insight of even the most secular books. This 365-day devotional celebrates the beauty of literature and its ability to illuminate elements of the Divine, present all around us. Pairing excerpts from more than two hundred literary works with thought-provoking Scriptures and brief prayers, this spiritual guide invites readers to draw closer to God through the words of both classic and modern authors.
- GenresReligion
376 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2019
37 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Greg Garrett
47 books77 followersGreg Garrett is the Austin, Texas author of two dozen books of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and translation. Like his literary heroes James Baldwin and Marilynne Robinson, Greg moves fluidly from fiction to nonfiction exploring the big human questions, and in his books, hoping to help his readers discover some answers of their own. Among his latest books are a book of conversation with his friend Rowan Williams, the past Archbishop of Canterbury (In Conversation), a lead trade title from Oxford University Press exploring our post-9/11 obsession with the zombie apocalypse (Living with the Living Dead, Starred Review in Library Journal), the tenth-anniversary edition of his searing yet hopeful memoir of depression and faith (Crossing Myself, featured on FOX News), and a novel retelling one of our great archetypal stories in the modern world of 24/7 news and social media (The Prodigal, Starred Review in Publishers Weekly). Greg's debut novel, Free Bird, was chosen by Publishers Weekly as a First Fiction feature, and the Denver Rocky Mountain News named it one of the best first novels of 2002. His other novels are Cycling and Shame. All have been critically acclaimed.
Greg is perhaps best known for his writing on faith, culture, race, politics, and narrative. BBC Radio has called Greg "one of America's leading voices on religion and culture," and he has written on topics ranging from spirituality and suffering to film and pop culture, written on U2, Harry Potter, American politics, and contemporary faith and practice. Greg's nonfiction work has been covered by The New Yorker, USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Globe and Mail, FOX News Radio, The Christian Science Monitor, BBC Radio, BBC Scotland, National Public Radio, CBS Radio, msnbc.com, DublinTalk Radio, The New Statesman, The National Review, Commonweal, Christianity Today, Vice, Playboy, Mens Health, and many other broadcast, print, and web media sources. Greg has written for Salon.com, The Washington Post, The Daily Mirror, Patheos, FOX News, The Huffington Post, The Spectator, Reform, The Tablet, and other print and web publications in the US and UK, and has spoken across the US and Europe, including appearances at the Edinburgh Festival of Books, the American Library in Paris, Cambridge University, Kings College London, Villanova University, Amerika Haus in Munich, the Greenbelt Festival in the UK, Google London, South by Southwest, Amerika Days in Stuttgart, and the Washington National Cathedral. Greg's current projects are a literary novel set in Paris against the backdrop of international terrorism, a book on race, film, and reconciliation for Oxford University Press, and a book on the wisdom of James Baldwin.
Greg is an award-winning Professor of English at Baylor University, Theologian in Residence at the American Cathedral in Paris, and an elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Jeanie and their daughters Lily and Sophia.
Greg is perhaps best known for his writing on faith, culture, race, politics, and narrative. BBC Radio has called Greg "one of America's leading voices on religion and culture," and he has written on topics ranging from spirituality and suffering to film and pop culture, written on U2, Harry Potter, American politics, and contemporary faith and practice. Greg's nonfiction work has been covered by The New Yorker, USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Globe and Mail, FOX News Radio, The Christian Science Monitor, BBC Radio, BBC Scotland, National Public Radio, CBS Radio, msnbc.com, DublinTalk Radio, The New Statesman, The National Review, Commonweal, Christianity Today, Vice, Playboy, Mens Health, and many other broadcast, print, and web media sources. Greg has written for Salon.com, The Washington Post, The Daily Mirror, Patheos, FOX News, The Huffington Post, The Spectator, Reform, The Tablet, and other print and web publications in the US and UK, and has spoken across the US and Europe, including appearances at the Edinburgh Festival of Books, the American Library in Paris, Cambridge University, Kings College London, Villanova University, Amerika Haus in Munich, the Greenbelt Festival in the UK, Google London, South by Southwest, Amerika Days in Stuttgart, and the Washington National Cathedral. Greg's current projects are a literary novel set in Paris against the backdrop of international terrorism, a book on race, film, and reconciliation for Oxford University Press, and a book on the wisdom of James Baldwin.
Greg is an award-winning Professor of English at Baylor University, Theologian in Residence at the American Cathedral in Paris, and an elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Jeanie and their daughters Lily and Sophia.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 31, 2020
This is not a devotional in the traditional sense but its is a daily collection of a quote from a secular book, a verse(s) from the Bible, and a closing prayer. Maybe a good resource to meditate on. Check out my highlights of some of my favorite quotes.
October 4, 2021
Kathryn and I have developed a devotional practice with this book that has been great for both of us. We didn’t read it every day, but most days, and it has become such a treasure that we’re sad to come to the end. I highly recommend it!
October 9, 2019
Devotionals are meant to be brief, simple, but deeply insightful. They are there to reach out to a wide group of people, especially people of faith, believers on a pilgrimage, or those struggling to make sense between what they believe, what they experience, and how to live. We all need insights for living. We also need courage to live and to go forth especially to places where we have never gone before. The title of this book helps us do exactly that. As we develop inner courage to see, it is hoped that we will enter into the world without feeling being left alone, but to know that God is with us at all times.
Containing a year's supply of devotionals, this book helps us with a daily page filled with literary quotes, Scripture passage, and a prayer. The authors are acutely aware that good books will challenge us with a story to charm us, a thought to grip us, or a phrase to challenge us. It is a great way to escape into a book that captures our imaginations. Books shape us and our thinking. With this conviction, authors Garrett and Fountain shares a literary gem each day, followed by a Scripture text to accompany the quote. The page ends with a prayer to maintain our reflection heavenward. There are many inspiring works from Christian writers such as Wendell Berry, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Frederick Buechner, Annie Dillard, Anne Lamott, CS Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, Brennan Manning, Kathleen Norris, Marilynne Robinson, Dorothy Sayers, etc. Other writers include works from Maya Angelou, Robert Frost, David Henry Thoreau, and even JK Rowling!
Many devotionals focus on a story or an illustration before trying to connect with a chosen Scripture text. This book takes a different direction. Using a powerful paragraph from a book that has impacted the authors, the associated Scripture passage either affirms a particular aspect of that passage or gives a contrasting image of what the Bible says about that particular part of life. Interestingly, many of the literary passages come from poems, novels, and creative prose. They remind me that many works of fiction portray truths powerfully. Conversely, some works of non-fiction may appear relevant but ultimately unrealistic. Thus, I appreciate the authors for highlighting a powerful truth from a work of fiction to compare and contrast with a Bible passage. The title "Courage to See" is a reminder that the pen is mightier than the sword. This is exactly what the Word of God is about. Eternal. Empowering. Encouraging. There are themes of sorrow and joy; hope and promise; love and light; and many aspects about spirituality and relationships between the divine and humanity. What I like most about the book is the way it slows us down to ponder on the meaning behind the words. One quote often attributed to Pablo Picasso is this: "The Purpose of Life Is to Discover Your Gift. The Meaning of Life Is to Give Your Gift Away." This book helps us reflect on life from both angles of purpose and meaning. This alone is worth the price of this book.
Greg Garrett is professor of English at Baylor University and Theologian in Residence at the American Cathedral. Sabrina Fountain writes on art and culture.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Containing a year's supply of devotionals, this book helps us with a daily page filled with literary quotes, Scripture passage, and a prayer. The authors are acutely aware that good books will challenge us with a story to charm us, a thought to grip us, or a phrase to challenge us. It is a great way to escape into a book that captures our imaginations. Books shape us and our thinking. With this conviction, authors Garrett and Fountain shares a literary gem each day, followed by a Scripture text to accompany the quote. The page ends with a prayer to maintain our reflection heavenward. There are many inspiring works from Christian writers such as Wendell Berry, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Frederick Buechner, Annie Dillard, Anne Lamott, CS Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, Brennan Manning, Kathleen Norris, Marilynne Robinson, Dorothy Sayers, etc. Other writers include works from Maya Angelou, Robert Frost, David Henry Thoreau, and even JK Rowling!
Many devotionals focus on a story or an illustration before trying to connect with a chosen Scripture text. This book takes a different direction. Using a powerful paragraph from a book that has impacted the authors, the associated Scripture passage either affirms a particular aspect of that passage or gives a contrasting image of what the Bible says about that particular part of life. Interestingly, many of the literary passages come from poems, novels, and creative prose. They remind me that many works of fiction portray truths powerfully. Conversely, some works of non-fiction may appear relevant but ultimately unrealistic. Thus, I appreciate the authors for highlighting a powerful truth from a work of fiction to compare and contrast with a Bible passage. The title "Courage to See" is a reminder that the pen is mightier than the sword. This is exactly what the Word of God is about. Eternal. Empowering. Encouraging. There are themes of sorrow and joy; hope and promise; love and light; and many aspects about spirituality and relationships between the divine and humanity. What I like most about the book is the way it slows us down to ponder on the meaning behind the words. One quote often attributed to Pablo Picasso is this: "The Purpose of Life Is to Discover Your Gift. The Meaning of Life Is to Give Your Gift Away." This book helps us reflect on life from both angles of purpose and meaning. This alone is worth the price of this book.
Greg Garrett is professor of English at Baylor University and Theologian in Residence at the American Cathedral. Sabrina Fountain writes on art and culture.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
October 17, 2019
The Courage to See by Greg Garrett and Sabrina Fountain is a hardcover devotional that combines literary quotes with Scripture and a concluding prayer. This daily devotional contains 365 entries and I read several a day in order to create a timely review. However, I think it would be lovely to read only one per day and combine the reading with a time of contemplation and prayer.
As to the content of The Courage to See, sometimes the correlation between the quote and the Scripture was obvious. Other times, I didn’t see how they were related until the prayer tied the idea together. I enjoyed the differing names of God used in the prayer portions. Not just familiar ones like Holy Father, Lord Jesus, and Christ Our Redeemer, but also Risen Lord, God who Speaks, Humble Christ, and Lord of Love.
I admired the diversity of literary passages in The Courage to See. Some derive from classic works of literature while others originate from modern novels. The topics address personal issues (healing, courage, forgiveness, etc) as well as broader issues (social justice, the mystery of life, the beauty of creation, etc).
I recommend The Courage to See by Greg Garrett and Sabrina Fountain to Christians who enjoy literature and seek a daily devotional to inspire and encourage. It would make a lovely gift for any literature lover, male or female.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
As to the content of The Courage to See, sometimes the correlation between the quote and the Scripture was obvious. Other times, I didn’t see how they were related until the prayer tied the idea together. I enjoyed the differing names of God used in the prayer portions. Not just familiar ones like Holy Father, Lord Jesus, and Christ Our Redeemer, but also Risen Lord, God who Speaks, Humble Christ, and Lord of Love.
I admired the diversity of literary passages in The Courage to See. Some derive from classic works of literature while others originate from modern novels. The topics address personal issues (healing, courage, forgiveness, etc) as well as broader issues (social justice, the mystery of life, the beauty of creation, etc).
I recommend The Courage to See by Greg Garrett and Sabrina Fountain to Christians who enjoy literature and seek a daily devotional to inspire and encourage. It would make a lovely gift for any literature lover, male or female.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
September 16, 2019
I usually end my reviews by writing: “I received an advance digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.” Instead, I want to start by writing that. I just finished this book, and I immediately went to Amazon to pre-order it for a friend. I highly recommend this book.
The cover says “daily inspiration from great literature.” I love to share encouraging quotes with my high school daughter each day, and I thought this book would be a good source of new material. Instead, I found so much more.
What I love about this book is that each daily inspiration from great literature is tied to a bible verse. It is incredible the way the quotes are so beautifully set to complement the bible. These literature quotes are not the common ones you see everywhere. Garrett and Fountain have obviously done some thorough research to find these gems. Twain, Hemingway, L’Engle, Steinbeck, Alcott – they are all here. More great writers are listed on the back cover.
I worked my way through the book fairly quickly, but I am now anxious to go back and savor each day individually – quote, bible verse, and prayer. I often blog about faith, family, and my own little patch of happiness at www.Patch405.com. I’m sure The Courage to See will frequently find its way into my blogging thoughts.
The cover says “daily inspiration from great literature.” I love to share encouraging quotes with my high school daughter each day, and I thought this book would be a good source of new material. Instead, I found so much more.
What I love about this book is that each daily inspiration from great literature is tied to a bible verse. It is incredible the way the quotes are so beautifully set to complement the bible. These literature quotes are not the common ones you see everywhere. Garrett and Fountain have obviously done some thorough research to find these gems. Twain, Hemingway, L’Engle, Steinbeck, Alcott – they are all here. More great writers are listed on the back cover.
I worked my way through the book fairly quickly, but I am now anxious to go back and savor each day individually – quote, bible verse, and prayer. I often blog about faith, family, and my own little patch of happiness at www.Patch405.com. I’m sure The Courage to See will frequently find its way into my blogging thoughts.
December 19, 2021
Absolutely brilliant!
A devotional type book.
Extracts from a whole range of books.
And then a scripture that goes with it.
And a perfect one line prayer.
I was very impressed with how the scriptures matched the quotes literature.
Thankfully not done in a cheesy way. But definitely linked up VERY very well.
Thank you.
For who love reading and also the bible.
Here secular and sacred stand side by side.
Brilliant!
A devotional type book.
Extracts from a whole range of books.
And then a scripture that goes with it.
And a perfect one line prayer.
I was very impressed with how the scriptures matched the quotes literature.
Thankfully not done in a cheesy way. But definitely linked up VERY very well.
Thank you.
For who love reading and also the bible.
Here secular and sacred stand side by side.
Brilliant!
December 12, 2019
Garrett has put together a really lovely collection of quotes, verses, and prayers. Pulled from works of classic literature and modern literary fiction, each quote is allowed to stand on its own and gives the reader a chance to savor the profound thoughts of men and women thru the past several centuries. This would make an excellent graduation gift, and is suited to many other occasions. It is also a great way to expose people to different writers without them having to tackle a whole novel. If the samples interest you, then you will seek out more by each of these.
February 28, 2020
The authors of this compendium offer a lovely combination of a literary quote, a biblical connection (for example a psalm) and a short prayer to reflect upon each day. The list of authors is wide, from Louisa May Alcott to Jane Austen to Charles Dickens and F. Scott Fitzgerald along with many more. If you like to take a few minutes for daily contemplation, this title is a nice resource.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2020
This book is a gem. Some mornings I only have time for a short dip into devotional reading, but so many books with daily readings left me empty. "The Courage to See" is different. Each day's morsel was enough to fill my soul. The excepts from a wide-range of literature were thought provoking and flowed seamlessly into the Bible readings and short prayers that were expansive enough to meet each reader in some way. A book I will go back to again and again.
March 17, 2020
every day reader that ties the best of literature with a text from the Bible. curating is a kind of art and Sabrina Fountain is a champion at it.
December 28, 2021
I enjoyed the format of this devotional, where each entry begins with a passage from a classic or not-so-classic piece of literature, followed by a biblical passage and then a prayer written by the authors.
I enjoyed reading passages from works that were not familiar to me, such as The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, and poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke, as well as coming across familiar lines from favorites such as the Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.
I do wish the entries were by date instead of just numbered. It would’ve helped me to better keep up with the readings every day. But overall, reading such enlightening works of literature and the corresponding biblical passages was an inspirational way to start the day. I enjoyed it so much that I may read through it again in the new year.
I enjoyed reading passages from works that were not familiar to me, such as The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, and poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke, as well as coming across familiar lines from favorites such as the Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.
I do wish the entries were by date instead of just numbered. It would’ve helped me to better keep up with the readings every day. But overall, reading such enlightening works of literature and the corresponding biblical passages was an inspirational way to start the day. I enjoyed it so much that I may read through it again in the new year.
December 30, 2020
This is a different type of daily devotional, combining quotes from great literature, the Bible, and prayers written by the authors.
As would be expected, some of the quotes tie together nicely and some leave you wondering a bit about the meaning. Everything from Harry Potter to Wuthering Heights and the Romance poets is included,—nothing off the table.
Interesting and thought provoking, it is not your typical daily devotional.
Met the authors at a book signing and heard them speak on how they put the book together and their intentions.
Definitely worth the time it takes to read it—one day at a time.
As would be expected, some of the quotes tie together nicely and some leave you wondering a bit about the meaning. Everything from Harry Potter to Wuthering Heights and the Romance poets is included,—nothing off the table.
Interesting and thought provoking, it is not your typical daily devotional.
Met the authors at a book signing and heard them speak on how they put the book together and their intentions.
Definitely worth the time it takes to read it—one day at a time.
February 17, 2023
A book of daily inspiration, with quotes from famous authors, this book delivers in what it promises. What it lacks, however, is the ability to pull the literature together with Bible verses. At times, it was an inspiration to read, at other times, I found myself longing for more, as if something were missing.
December 30, 2021
An excellent devotional with a daily work of literature relevant to a daily scripture. Some of the works presented I have read a d will be looking at them in a different light, others have been added to my “like to read” list which is….SLT
Read
December 26, 2020Excellent devotional book for readers
February 1, 2021
A day- book for the year, I liked the literary excerpt and scripture for each day. They use: Austen, Dickens, Fitzgerald, Rowling, Dillard and many authors and match their words to biblical words.
October 30, 2020
In The Courage to See, the authors give us 365 short, yet thought-provoking devotionals. Each one begins with a quote from a classic work of literature. The authors pair each quote with a short scripture, then conclude the devotional with a brief prayer.
This devotional is perfect for anyone who is an avid reader, especially of great literature. The literature selections draw from several genres - poetry, fiction, short story, nonfiction, etc. They cover many different time periods and include literature from both American authors and foreign authors as well. The is a lovely way to introduce ourselves to unknown works and authors, as well as remind ourselves of those we hold dear.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
#TheCourageToSee #NetGalley
This devotional is perfect for anyone who is an avid reader, especially of great literature. The literature selections draw from several genres - poetry, fiction, short story, nonfiction, etc. They cover many different time periods and include literature from both American authors and foreign authors as well. The is a lovely way to introduce ourselves to unknown works and authors, as well as remind ourselves of those we hold dear.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
#TheCourageToSee #NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews