Read this book. Just trust me on this... ( )

Anne takes us on a journey through her sometimes quirky faith. Whether writing about her family or her dreadlocks, sick children or old friends, the most religious women of her church, or men she has dated, she shows us the myriad ways her faith sustains her and guides her, shining light on the darkest part of ordinary life and exposing surprising pockets of meaning and hope. ( )

A thoroughly enjoyable read, without a lot of proselytizing. The author shares slices of life in a very accessible way, and her wit and humor come through clearly. I look forward to reading more of Anne LaMott's work.

Delightfully irreverent and yet faithfully steady: Lamott's spiritual essays are funny and full of heart, from the depths of a Dubya-hating, swearing, single mom, ex-hippie Jesus freak. ( )

Traveling Mercies doesn't reflect a "traditional" Christian viewpoint, but a very vibrant and personal faith journey. God moves in many ways. I read this several years ago and still remember and comtemplate some of the anecdotes she shared. I guess that's what you call inspiring... ( )

Lamott is such a soul-baring writer! This book of essays covers so much including angst, fear, grace, thankfulness, wisdom, our continual struggle to wrestle control of the universe from God and the beautiful relief when we finally give that up. ( )

I devour everything Lamott writes, but I do it slowly, to savor the language. It's listed as Christian, but it's a kinder Christianity, more spiritual than specific. ( )

The book is not about your conventional spiritual journey because Anne Lamott is anything but conventional. She writes with a directness and honesty that makes this book intense and involving but also very funny. She grew up in an unconventional family and struggled with drugs, alcohol, and eating disorders before realizing that she might not live much longer if she continued on that path. In addition, she found herself pregnant and single. If there is ever a time when you need a spiritual awakening, it would be then. And Lamott found her spiritual home in a Christian church where she was "adopted" by the old African-American women of the congregation. Her stumbling toward a faith that works for her is the heart of this book, and I think it is all the more relatable because she puts herself out there -- warts and all. She has written several other books on faith that I haven't' read yet (Grace Eventually: Thoughts on Faith and Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith) but they are on the "to read" list. ( )

I just love a Christian who can cuss like a sailor and write like nobody's business. Her writing makes me smile. Her faith inspires me. ( )

For those questioning their faith journey for whatever reason, this is a must read! ( )

From the very first sentence, Anne Lamott captures our hearts and our minds. She writes, "My coming to faith did not start with a leap but rather a series of staggers from what seemed like one safe place to another." In this book, she teaches us how to pray when we can't even get through a single word without being caught up with distractions. She writes with humility, grace, and an amazing sense of humor. ( )

The first and, I think, still the best of Anne Lamott's books on her finding Jesus. My favorite line: "It's enough to make Jesus want to drink gin out of the cat dish." ( )

While Anne is certainly a flawed charcter, she can teach us a lot about prayer, Christianity, and love for all. ( )

Wow... Wow, wow, wow do I love this book. Opened my eyes to otherness in the Christian faith. ( )

Amazing and real

This is one of the most amazing books I have read. Lamott is so gifted at telling her story. Immensely honest and real, she captures her owns demons and struggles, bears her soul, and takes risks that few of us would dare. Her writing is fresh and captivating. ( )

Anne Lamott is at her best when telling her stories of faith. She should stick to non-fiction. ( )

I loved this book. Anne is a Christian like me. I so related to how she felt raising her child and the feelings mothers cope with and then feel guilty about. Anne was not always a Christian and she approaches Christianity with a unique spin - or rather, different than the Christian faith has been presented to us lately. You do not have to be a Christian to appreciate her writing either. Her writing is very relevant today and they are really fun to read. ( )

Lamott describes faith as a living thing, for real people, not spiritual automotons. My favorite part is her daily prayer cycle. She wakes us and prays, "Help!" and goes to bed and prays, "Oh well." ( )

Well not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Anne takes us from her childhood to present day as she learns about faith and life in general. Each chapter is a little antidote on how faith brings her through or teaches her something new. ( )

Lamott is brash and crude and all that good stuff that makes a book fun to read. By the end of the book it's little stale, but her journey is so intruiging and very different from what I'm used to. Lamott is a good example for preachers of how to speak authenticly. ( )

This book. When I read it in college it made me realize that my faith was okay. I went to this conservative school, and the fact that I was a little liberal, and had had some rough times made me some times think my faith was "off" some how. This book changed all that.

I realized through her struggles that it is okay to sit in a bathroom and weep and tell God that you were really having a hard time right now. It was truly life changing. ( )

A wonderful affirmation of faith and friendship; written with warmth and self-deprecating humor ( )

"Traveling Mercies" is a leftist Christian memoir. Let that sink in for a second - the author is a politically liberal female who is also a devout Christian, something which seems to be exceedingly rare in the United States right now and something that brings comfort to my heart as a Christian who is decidedly not a "Christian conservative."

This book has the strengths and weaknesses of most memoirs. It's well written and goes along quite quickly, but even with some self-deprecation, it also has a strong sense of ego stroking but, interestingly, not in the sense of wearing Christianity as a badge of honor as you might expect.

The book is enjoyable and it puts a face on Christianity that is rarely seen in the mass media today and, for that alone, I recommend it to all who might be interested.

Not bad, although Lamott repeats so much between her various books (I've read Bird By Bird and Operating Instructions) that it took me almost 50 pages before I was sure I hadn't actually read this before and just forgot. One of the strengths of Lamott's nonfiction is her very personal style; you get the feeling when you're reading that you've been having an extended chat over coffee with an old friend who's telling you about her most recent failings and successes. I'd put this one below both of the other two I've read (Operating Instructions, her reflections on her first year of parenthood, being imho the best of the three,) but it's still interesting and worth a read.