Living the Quaker Way: Discover the Hidden Happiness in the Simple Life

I loved reading Phillip Gulley's Living the Quaker Way. I was first introduced to Gulley as a fiction writer, hearing my brother rave about Gulley's Harmony series. When I looked at Gulley's author page to find out more about his books, I was thrilled to learn that he also had a nonfiction book on the Quaker faith and traditions. Having been interested in Quakers for some time, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to learn more.Gulley did not disappoint. He laid out the basic tenants of the Quaker faith: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality and then expounded on each one. Chapter by chapter, tenant by tenant, I found myself both resonating and being further challenged by Gulley's expositions. He manages to walk the line between challenging the reader to grow in their journey without completely overwhelming them with an impossible task. He calls us to greater heights and then admits his own failings (After all, who of us can be completely truthful all the time? Certainly not me, and thankfully not Gulley either).Gulley also interweaves the history of the Quaker movement and the diversities within the tradition as he writes. Like all denominations, Quakers have their more conservative and more progressive groups and have even had factions and divisions over the years. He also debunked an assumption I had that all Friends only sat in silence for their meetings. Some meetings have pastors that give a small message and sometimes there may be music involved with the meeting. Apparently there is no one right way to be a Quaker, which is quite a relief!What I love most about Gulley's Living the Quaker Way is that he presents Quakerism as a way of life. One does not have to attend a Friend's meeting to become a Quaker. Simply embracing the principles that are the heart of the religion and living a reflective life counts. To this end, Gulley actually includes a 30 day guide at the end of the book that takes the reader through the Quaker queries day by day. We are invited to meditate on how we are embracing simplicity by reflecting on questions such as "Do I keep my life uncluttered with things and activities, avoiding commitments beyond my strength and light?" and "Do I recognize when I have enough?" I am greatly looking forward to spending the next month meditating on these queries and seeing where they take me.I never got tired of reading this book. Gulley stays to the point and keeps the reader interested with personal stories. I did have to pace myself so that I could digest the material properly since the material is so rich and challenging.In short, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to know more about Quakerism or just curious about this group of people who simply call themselves "Friends."

El autor presenta el pensamiento político de los cuáqueros. Pero el autor se enfatiza tanto en lo político que termina no hablando de los cuáqueros. O sea, no menciona sus creencias sino de manera general. Eso nos deja con muchísimas interrogantes.

Everyone needs to read this book. It will bring you peace and hope. If we all lived this way there would be no war, mass incarceration, or environmental destruction

The book was well written, and offered practical advice on how to be a person of love and integrity, whether or not you’re a Quaker.

Very informative, good Quality, fast shipper

I love Philip Gulley's way of lightening a serious load. His naturally humorous personality permits him to be delightfully entertaining or deeply serious and thought provoking. I think I've read all of his books, beginning with the playful Front Porch tales and more recently his co-authored book on God's grace and this one on the Quaker way.Marriage moved me away from the Quaker community in which I was raised but I've always valued the emphasis Quakers place upon simplicity, integrity, community, service, non-resistance, contemplation, and peace within. These are the very qualities that Jesus teaches.There is much to challenge us today within these pages. Gulley does not condemn. He's brutally honest about his own temptations and shortcomings. And in the typically Quaker way, he is not proselytizing. He invites the reader into a way of living that seeks to see "that of God in every human-being" and into being a person of peace, love, forgiveness and grace.This would be a fine and challenging book for small group discussion.

I like to learn about how other religions think about the world and Pastor Gulley does a great job opening up the Quaker mindset for us to explore. While I may take issue from time to time, I still find the book to be most readable and educational. Understanding the basic premises of any Faith is the first step in truly understanding that Faith and their belief structure. It is not a text on theology per se but rather a statement of beliefs written in a simple yet thought provoking manner. Wonderful and touching personal anecdotes interspersed throughout the book give life to the principles and foundations of the Quaker beliefs. No matter what your Faith, you will find this to be an interesting read and one that perhaps will act in a positive manner to influence your personal thoughts and behaviors. But of course, I have found all of Pastor Gulley's books to do just that.............they all seem to make a positive impact upon the life of the reader.

The Way---I am much older than Phil Gulley, but am willing to readily admit that he surpasses me in the wisdom department. His two books “ If Grace is True” and “If God is Love” written some years ago with James Mulholland, were very helpful in my growth as a new, middle aged Christian, who had earlier rejected the Church as a den of hypocrites. In this book, I see the source of his wisdom – of course from God, but from God through the practices and beliefs of the Quaker Church. This book is a reminder that the true principles of right living are: Loving God (loving his created Natural Universe) and Loving Others (his created Creatures). This truth is independent of religion, but is especially emphasized by the Quaker Faith. I loved this book. It was another encouragement to continue on the same path, the Way, despite bumps and potholes, and all the hypocrites who appear along the way, as they did in Jesus’ day.

I have read many books on quakers and this is one of the finest, not least because he describes how the virtues of the quaker way are lived in practice. this is deeply reflective and thought provoking stuff! highly recommended.

Book is in good quality and delivery was quick!