Marie asked me to find her some books to read, and while searching the mediatech, I came across one of my old books (1997), The Lessons of Saint Francis: How to bring simplicity and spirituality into your daily life, which I recommend and that is still available in four stores today.

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The Lessons of Saint Francis: How to Bring Simplicity and Spirituality into Your Daily Life by John Michael Talbot with Steve Rabey (published by Dutton in 1997) is an inspiring guide that applies the wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi to modern, chaotic living. The book is organized around core Franciscan virtues, including simplicity, humility, and prayer.

Book Overview and Structure

• Core Theme: Translating the historic, self-sufficient, and simple lifestyle of St. Francis into practical steps for modern readers.
• Authors: Written by John Michael Talbot ( Grammy-winning musician and founder of a Franciscan lay community) alongside co-author Steve Rabey.
• Format: 255 pages featuring thematic chapters, historical writings from St. Francis and his biographers, plus modern meditations and exercises.

Key Topics Covered

1. Simplicity: Cutting out material obsession to find inner freedom.
2. Humility & Compassion: Learning deep empathy and love for all creation.
3. Solitude & Service: Balancing active community involvement with quiet, restorative prayer.