Dame Maria Boulding, who died in 2009 aged 80 was for most of her life an enclosed Benedictine nun. She first wrote this book in 1979 and SPCK have reissued it – unfortunately with rather mediocre quality print and an outdated layout which can be off-putting. This is a pity, as this book has more than stood the test of time and, although somewhat old-fashioned in places, has much of value to say on the subject of contemplative prayer. ‘Prayer is not a hobby but a life, and to live is to change’: this book encourages us in that journey. It is a book to be savoured and read slowly as there is much dense yet practical material to be absorbed. It could be an ideal book to read in Lent as the themes of Christ’s death and resurrection run through the book. Despite living in an enclosed order, Dame Maria is very much in touch with the world and has a realistic approach as to how life can be for many of us. She has very helpful insights into ‘creativity’ – both God’s and ours and suggests ways in which, through prayer, we can become more aware, more integrated and more at ease with ourselves. In this noisy world she is concerned that we should all find times of silence not just physical but also inner, but to do this will perhaps mean some change in lifestyle. She also writes sympathetically about some of the more difficult aspects of prayer yet the importance of finding time to sense more of God’s presence through both the good times and the bad. ‘Prayer may then become less an effort to love God and more a matter of letting him love you.’