But before I launch a laudatory review of this fascinating book, a disclosure: Joseph Lynch is a friend - and my brother-in-law.
Because of those two things, at first I didn't think I would write a full review. A squib on Amazon, perhaps. Conflicts of interest are rife in the journalism business where I hang my professional hat.
But as I read through the book I kept discovering more and more revelatory stories, concepts and thinking I wanted to encourage people to sample.It's an amazing compendium.
I've written many hundreds of book reviews over the decades. Some were of best sellers, many of lesser known authors. But this is my first review of book that blends religion, personal experience and scripture so neatly and inspirationally.
If inspirationally caught you by surprise, read the second sentence again. I did say laudatory.
The book's preface and introduction are key to understanding why the book appears now. This book was written by someone who has read entire libraries, it seems.
It's a spiritual memoir, but contains many of the trademarks of regular memoirs. There are details about his growing up, education, family, emotional growth and, of course, a life of spiritual practice.
Perhaps most impressive is the intensive level of research and connection among people and ideas Joe makes throughout the entire book. (He is my brother-in-law, so I can call him Joe in a review. No need to call him Lynch.)
Joe cites experts across a wide range of philosophy, psychology, history, science and theology delving deeply into explaining things in a comforting, non-judgmental fashion.
After reading the book over several days, the word comforting jumps to the front of line when I have to find a single word to describe it.
Food for the Journey, Essays on What I Have Learned along the Way, can be read straight through like any book. But it also can be sampled.
Be prepared, however, to read a chapter and need to put the book down while you ponder what you read and how it applies directly to your life.
In my reading, out of the book's 16 chapters, that happened about, oh, 15 times.
Food for the Journey, Essays on What I Have Learned along the Way has a quote from Francis Bacon in the postscript at the end of the book. A printed copy of Bacon's words now hangs on my bulletin board at eye level where I am writing now.
"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man."
--- Michael J. Fitzgerald
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