All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir

Written just a few years before he died, these memoirs describe some of the author's early life, his longing for affection and his descent into alcoholism. Yet he writes without self-pity, showing real, flawed individuals in his life, and constantly acknowledging his own failings.

The writing is excellent, the story moving, and the overwhelming feeling was of how this man's life was so enriched by the unfailing grace of God. Despite all his many faults, Brennan Manning was clearly a tremendous influence for good through his writing, his public teaching, and also his close friendships and work as a Catholic priest.

Powerful, moving and a fitting tribute to this incredible man.

Longer review here: show more target="_top">https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/03/all-is-grace-by-brennan-manning.htm... show less

Brennan leaves you pondering. Can grace cover ongoing failure and can God use mightily such a broken vessel? Short and painful narration of Brennan's life, lowlighting his failure rather than highlighting his success. Succeeds in being a poignant reflection on his life and what God is able to do by His grace.

"As a writer I live in daily awareness of how much easier it is to edit a book than edit a life. When I write about what I believe and how I should live, it sounds neat and orderly. When I try to live it out, all hell breaks loose. Reading Brennan's memoir, I see something of a reverse pattern. By focusing on the flaws, he leaves out many of the triumphs. I keep wanting him to tell the stories tha...t would put him in a good light, and there are many. Choosing full disclosure in a narrative that might burnish his reputation, Brennan presents himself as the apostle Paul once did, as a clay jar, a disposable container made of baked dirt. A poem by Leonard Cohen says it well: "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect show more offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Phillip Yancy ~ Introduction to All Is Grace, the autobiography of Brennan Manning.

I wouldn't give this to someone instead of The Ragamuffin Gospel.


If felt authentic. Real person with real struggles from a tough background overwhelmed by the wonderfulness of grace. I couldn't stop reading it once I started and finished it in a few hours. show less

I am so glad that Brennan wrote this. It shows the honesty and vulnerability of someone who knows they are loved by God. Oh if I could only learn these lessons. If at the end of my time my memoir was All Is Grace. It is a wonderful read full of his heart and backwaters that made him who he was while here.

I can see how Manning's story of God's grace in his hard life could be very powerful. However, it didn't connect with me that much. I read it because a friend liked it and offered to lend it to me, and to understand more about "the ragamuffin guy" because of the association with Rich Mullins. No mention of Mullins. It's a quick read.

I have several friends I greatly respect who have long adored Manning. That’s never been me. But this was a great read, his last book, I believe.

Unfinished. Just couldn't connect to the author or his writing.