Help, Thanks, Wow (edition 2012)

Lamott encourages her readers to “not get bogged down on whom or what we pray to.” Rather one should identify prayer as communication from our hearts to “something unimaginably huge and not us.” Her slightly irreverent humor allows one to experience the distillation of anything one says “to the amazing energy of love we are sometimes bold enough to believe in” regardless of the name we attach.
In Help, Thanks, Wow Lamott has identified the content and context of prayer that asks for assistance, that appreciates the good we witness, and that expresses one’s awe at the world. These are the words that get us through the day, and show us the way forward.
Through anecdotes and stories she puts skin on those times one can be in motion, and stillness, and energy – all at the same time. All three prayers are the beginnings of a conversation with God about anything – barely, honestly, bitterly, insanely or brokenly – “probably the best possible conditions under which to pray.”
The simplicity of theses three prayers opens the complexity of our lives, our relationships, and our world into our messiest places and our greatest needs. Like flossing one’s teeth prayer must be repeated until it becomes habit, not because we can get our way, or can change God, but so God can change us, so we can “pray constantly between bouts of trying to live life on life’s terms.”
Whether a beginner or veteran user of the spiritual discipline of prayer, Lamott, once again leads us to breathe, to slow down, to pay attention so no opportunity to love and help God’s children, including learning “to love our depressing, hilarious, mostly decent selves.” Although most of the formative pieces of Lamott’s personality, sense of humor, descent into and ascent from addiction, deep spirituality, and intentional writing are mostly caught in the reader’s peripheral vision.
This is one book I want to take up space on a shelf, because she speaks to my meaning through her meaning formed by words seemingly strung along, but intentionally placed.
Other titles by Anne Lamott: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/)
Novels
• Hard Laughter. Viking Press. 1980. ISBN 0-670-36140-2.
• Rosie. Viking Press. 1983. ISBN 0-670-60828-9.
• Joe Jones. North Point Press. 1985. ISBN 0-86547-209-2.
• All New People. North Point Press. 1989. ISBN 0-86547-394-3.
• Crooked Little Heart. Pantheon Books. 1997. ISBN 0-679-43521-2.
• Blue Shoe. Riverhead Books. 2002. ISBN 1-57322-226-7.
• Imperfect Birds. Riverhead Books. 2010. ISBN 1-59448-751-0.
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Anne Lamott
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Non-fiction
• Operating Instructions: A Journal Of My Son’s First Year. Pantheon Books. 1993. ISBN 0-679-42091-6.
• Bird by Bird : Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Pantheon Books. 1994. ISBN 0-679-43520-4.
• Traveling Mercies : Some Thoughts on Faith. Pantheon Books. 1999. ISBN 0-679-44240-5.
• Plan B : Further Thoughts on Faith. Riverhead Books. 2005. ISBN 1-57322-299-2.
• Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. Riverhead Books. 2007. ISBN 1-59448-942-4.
• Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son. Riverhead Books. 2012. ISBN 1-59448-841-X
• Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers. Riverhead Books. 2012. ISBN 1-59463-129-8.

http://www.npr.org/2012/11/19/164814269/anne-lamott-distills-prayer-into-help-th... ( )

This is an incredibly easy read about an incredibly easy way to speak your needs, your gratitude and your appreciation to the Universe.

Everyone needs Help, whether it is making sure the groceries can be paid for, the souffle rises perfectly, or somewhere in between.

Everyone has something to give Thanks for, whether it is that the cop didn't seem to have the radar pointed in the right direction, or that the cancer seems to have cleared without a second round of chemo.

Everyone can be awed by something, whether it is a dandelion bouquet from a three year old, or the fact that Dayton Art Institute has a Monet.

Everyone should end their prayers and get ready for the next in a long line of words uttered to the Universe in our short lives. ( )

Keep it simple. pray with sincerity, not formulas. ( )

Help, Thanks, Wow Amen. This is what we pray when we don't know what else to say. Anne Lamont makes these simple words come alive. She opens my heart to experience the joy and comfort of knowing that someone listens to me. This is a short and simple book but holds such wisdom. I can't really think of anyone who would not benefit and ultimately enjoy reading Anne Lamont. She seems to know just what I need to hear, and she says it in ways that I can't ignore. Best of all, she has a wonderful sense of humor and know how to use it to her best advantage. I know that I will reread this book many times, and it will be a treasure that I will share whenever possible with others. As always, thanks Anne. ( )

http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/03/help-thanks-wow.html

Help. Thanks. Wow. Three simple words. Three powerful prayers. Anne Lamott's fundamental idea is that no matter how you believe in a God, a Higher Power and no matter what your creed, we all respond at times in our lives with a call for help, a recognition of what we receive, and an acknowledgement of wonder. It really is that simple. We may complicate it with history and circumstances, but the idea distills back down to those three words.

I am a little torn on how to rate the book for this reason - beautiful idea that did not need a book to elaborate on it. I love the idea of this book - the simplicity of it. I just don't know that it warranted an entire book - even a short one as this one is. The beauty of the idea is that it's simple and does not require much explanation. I found the book wandering through anecdotes and seeming to ramble on.

So, take the idea, but forget the book. ( )