Book of the Year

Anyone who knows me, would know I would pick Philip Yancey's book Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? as my favorite book this past year. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy from the publisher Zondervan because I am on a Philip Yancey mailing list, and they were looking for volunteers to read the book, and then submit a survey. So, was the book good? Yes, very much so. It was classic Yancey, taking a hard look at a subject about which volumes have already been written. It's not a feel good piece of fluff that one might expect from say, a Max (Shudder) Lucado, but a well thought out book that raises questions of its reader without necessarily providing answers in neat little packages that is so common in Christian books. It definitely forced me to look at my own prayer life and desire to make some drastic changes. By all means, get this book. It gets an A from me.
On a side note, I was able to hear Philip speak at a church in the Bay Area a couple of months ago. I was excited and anxious about hearing him, as seldom do the people admired from a distance come off as anticipated. It was a great relief to find both Philip and his wife Janet exceptionally nice people, especially as I groveled on about what a great writer he was as he signed my book at the speaking engagement. A true highlight for me, even as I resisted the urge to ask him what Bono was like in person.