Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life

I bought this book to aid in writing a research paper. The book arrived in "like new" condition. I have already found it to helpful to me as I write this paper!

Mirabai Starr translated Saint Teresa of Avila's memoir in such a way that the reader feels deep compassion and wonderment for the trials and spiritual breakthroughs this incredible saint experienced. As I am going through my own spiritual awakening and experiencing the wisdom of Kundalini Shakti, this book became a guidepost for being able to commune consciously with the One. This saint's story embodies infinite courage, faith, and perseverance--qualities necessary when we are committed to awakening while being of service to the Beloved. I highly recommend this book, it will touch your soul in profound ways.

I'm sorry that I am coming to the party so late in the review process of this book. Quite frankly I put this book away after I purchased it in early 2018. I am now a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) which I joined in late 2018. This is the same order founded by St Teresa of Jesus and St John of the Cross. Recently a question came up about St Teresa of Avila's (St Teresa of Jesus) life in one of our meetings and it was suggested that consult her autobiography. So I began to read this book and I was absolutely outraged how this wonderful woman was represented by this author. The author herself acknowledged that she had "taken liberties" with the Spanish translation of the autobiography written by St Teresa of Jesus.I read some of the reviews of this book written by others on the Amazon website in 2018. Several customers were disappointed with the quality of this book and these reviews were really well done. They were very helpful to me in developing my thoughts for this review. The effect of this book on me was to rip away any notion of sanctity in the life of this nun and understanding her struggles for holiness which defined this saint in her own autobiography. Reading this translation of her autobiography is more than just a waste of your time. It presents a portrait of this woman not recognizable from her own biography for the purpose of making her life more understandable through this free wheeling translation written in order to introduce this saint to our modern 21st century society. What you need is to hear from St Teresa in her own words to appreciate the beauty of this saint's life rather this fabricated nonsense provided in this book.BTW I looked to see whether this book was still being offered by Amazon for sale and I couldn't find it. Not sure what that means. You have to go back to the 2018 Amazon book reviews of this specific book to gain access for the reviews of this book. Again, sorry for the delay in writing this.

I consider Mother Teresa to be the best example of living for and walking with God in modern times. That lead me to question why she chose the name Teresa. My father was Methodist, my mother was Catholic, and I raised my family in the Assembly of God. I was raised Methodist and had no knowledge of saints. I picked up this book because of Mother Teresa. Teresa of Avila wanted to draw close to God. She chose to spend daily TIME with Him. Here is something she learned along the way: "As I have mentioned, I wasted precious time worrying that I lacked the humility necessary to be worthy of practicing prayer. And so far for a year and a half, I did not pray at all. All I succeeded in doing was plunging myself into hell. I didn't need any devils to drag me there. The spirit of evil is smart to lend its hand in this way, luring the soul away from prayer. The spirit knows that a soul who perseveres in prayer is lost to him." Buy the book if you are seeking to draw close to God and buy a highlighter too. You will need it.

This book reads more like a novel then a historical text. The print is large enough for me to see easily. I can highlight parts that have meaning to me.

Teresa's spiritual autobiography has one of the great lines in literature: "You understand, I haven't levitated often." Mirabai Starr's translation is a marvel because both she and Teresa grew up speaking 16th century Spanish. Here's a factoid to bear in mind when reading the book--Teresa of Ávila is one of only four women Doctors of the Roman Catholic Church. "Doctor" here has the original meaning of "teacher." The other three women Doctors are Catherine of Siena. Thérèse of Lisieux, and Hildegard of Bingen. Thirty-two of the Doctors are men, including Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. Francis of Assisi is not one of the Doctors. Teresa is distinguished by having the title, Doctor of Prayer.

If you're looking to study Christian mystics, contemplative prayer, or an intimate portrait of Teresa of Avila this book is for you. It does help to have an understanding of the world around Teresa at that time, as Starr explains in the Introduction. Teresa was under suspicion of being a heretic and wrote this book as an explanation of her spirituality and beliefs. By toning down Teresa's self-debasing pronouncements Mirabai Starr gives a clearer picture of Teresa and the spirituality she practiced. I find this to be a beautiful translation focused on spirituality, not a glossed-over hagiography.

It is not that this book is not "good", it is just that I think one must love the actual language of Teresa's life in her own words....and, her particular "take" on divinity. I found it too detailed and laborius. I discovered I would rather read about her than her life story in her own words reflecting another far away time. She was a brilliant woman with marvelous talents so for the academic or super passionate reader of "all things Teresa" this book will be important to you.

Excellent service and price. Thank you.

The translation is very good but above all Theresa is a wonderful saint. The book bring what she is experiencing from suffering, pain, disappointment, hope and blessings to the light. It is easy as a reader to feel what Theresa was feeling, to suffer with her and to be merry with her. I love the book and it is amazing how actual it is. I come from a catholic background and what she was experiencing in her church is still actual. I believe that if she was living today she would have experienced the same thing. What is also extraordinary is the intense love relationship with Jesus. You can just take her words, prayers and make them yours.Thank you for this exclusive book,Mikhael