5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous.

s. · 19 April 2014

I have read many books on quakers and this is one of the finest, not least because he describes how the virtues of the quaker way are lived in practice. this is deeply reflective and thought provoking stuff! highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars New Perspectives

Y.S. · 11 February 2015

I cannot remember where or when I first read about them. They have fascinated me for a while, the Quakers. When I heard Isaac Newton was one, I was surprised and curious. So it was that when I first saw the book, Living the Quaker Way by Phillip Gulley, I felt a pull. An irresistible pull.The book starts with a simple question – What and Who is a Quaker? The answer seems to be: anyone. Anyone who seeks truth and strives to live pure.To become a Catholic, you must undergo some rites. This is the same with most Christian denominations and religious groups. In contrast, there is mostly no formal induction for anyone wanting to be a Quaker. The Friends, as Quakers are sometimes called, have this tendency of valuing “inward convictions over outward rituals.” So if you want to call yourself a Quaker, by all means go ahead, as long as you “live out as best we can the virtues of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality.” The book points out that one of the key characteristics of Quakers is the lack of uniformity in beliefs and practices, though it later hints that this has not always being so:“While our earliest decades in the mid-1600s were marked with a surprising uniformity of thought and practice, Friends would eventually, even eagerly, strike out in new directions, inspired by their sense of divine leading. Some would actively resist and reject war; others would not. Some would labor to free slaves; others would own them.”The book surprises me by saying some modern Quakers are Atheists. It explains that these are not Atheists that reject God or a form of God they were taught as kids but “their sense of integrity would not permit them to claim to a Divine Presence they had not encountered.” It goes further to say that the main difference between Quakers and other Christians is that,“Unlike other Christians, the Quakers did not elevate the Bible as the final repository of truth. While they valued the Bible, incorporating its precepts into their daily lives, they were careful not to invest it with ultimate authority... Neither did they bend the knee to a church authority, hierarchy, or tradition in their search for truth.”Now, having defined what a Quaker is, the rest of the books expatiate on the Quaker way of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. On simplicity, it says that there is no blanket rule for living a life of simplicity as needs and wants differ from one person to another. It says :“The life of simplicity does not mean owning a bare minimum of goods. It is a commitment to live a liberated life, freed from constant distraction, devoted to our spiritual and emotional growth and the betterment of others. This can, and will, take many forms, depending upon our priorities, insights, needs, and life stages.”On community, the book states that TV, video games, and other forms of entertainment have taken us from our porches to indoors. The result is that we are no longer physically in touch with people like years past; neither do we care for our neighbours any more. The book lays a bit of blame at the feet of the Church for not stemming this tide of isolation.“In the midst of this decline in community stands the church… the church is not the unifying force it once was. The culture wars have divided us. In my own town, the conservative and progressive pastors no longer join together in a ministerial association, something they once did with mutual joy and benefit. Theological differences are no longer viewed as opportunities to learn, but as positions to attack and defend.”The books also slams the culture of wealth accumulation and the disenfranchisement of the poor. It shines a spotlight on the way we pass the buck to excuse ourselves from taking responsibilities for our lives. It also decries the lack of corporate and individual integrity in today's society.The book does not shy away from the some shameful events that sullied the fabric of Quaker's supposedly clean history. It tells the story of James Nayler, who went against the core beliefs of the Quakers in the 1600s and was “read out of the meeting” a tame term for excommunication. He was treated shabbily by his Quaker brethren and later died as a result. On his deathbed, he forgave his detractors and was remembered as a unique Quaker of his time.“The life of James Nayler illustrates the best and worst of Quaker community. Before his spiritual misjudgments, Nayler enjoyed the deep respect of his fellow Friends. In his Quaker community, he found support, a sense of belonging, and encouragement. After the passion of his faith became an embarrassment to Friends, he discovered firsthand the expectations of unquestioned conformity, the tendency to punish and isolate those who act unilaterally…”Malcolm Gladwell once said that “Good writing does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head.” If you then decide that what you saw in that person’s head isn’t a reality you want to live in, that is your prerogative and therefore, okay. On the basis of good writing, Living the Quaker Way by Phillip Gulley succeeds immensely. It has most things I love in books - great stories, credible research, incisive analysis, solid spiritual principles and engaging arguments.Though I disagree with few of its conclusions and practicalities on spirituality, I will say this is a fantastic book. I learnt a great deal and I am happy recommending it to anyone seeking new perspectives about the issues of life and spirit.

A most thought provoking book...

S.D. · 19 October 2013

I like to learn about how other religions think about the world and Pastor Gulley does a great job opening up the Quaker mindset for us to explore. While I may take issue from time to time, I still find the book to be most readable and educational. Understanding the basic premises of any Faith is the first step in truly understanding that Faith and their belief structure. It is not a text on theology per se but rather a statement of beliefs written in a simple yet thought provoking manner. Wonderful and touching personal anecdotes interspersed throughout the book give life to the principles and foundations of the Quaker beliefs. No matter what your Faith, you will find this to be an interesting read and one that perhaps will act in a positive manner to influence your personal thoughts and behaviors. But of course, I have found all of Pastor Gulley's books to do just that.............they all seem to make a positive impact upon the life of the reader.

Beautifully written with humility, awareness, and deep honesty

K. · 3 March 2025

This is a book for ANYONE drawn to the Quaker way of life. Although the author’s tradition has ministers and often refers to the Divine as “God”, the author has the humility and open-mindedness to acknowledge and welcome all approaches to walking the Quaker path. Early in the book, he addresses the subject of nontheist/atheist Quakers: “At one time, I would have mightily resisted that view, but now I am quite willing to welcome as brother and sister those persons whose integrity will not permit them to affirm a god they have not encountered. Though our perceptions of the Divine may differ, our mutual commitment to the Quaker way allows us to stand with one another as Friends and friends. It is this Quaker way - the way of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality - I wish to explore in the pages ahead.”In the chapters that follow, he beautifully weaves together information and stories about Quaker approaches to life and how he and others follow Quaker values in the modern world. He doesn’t promote a single “right way” to live these values, instead he acknowledges that something like Simplicity might look very different for two different Quakers, and that our goal should be to find ways to embody these values in our own lives, not to judge the approaches others take.Everything about this book is gentle - no pressure, no judgement. It is an invitation to explore, not a prescription for what you must do.

Gulley Does Not Disappoint In This Rich Explanation of Quakerism

D.H. · 18 March 2015

I loved reading Phillip Gulley's Living the Quaker Way. I was first introduced to Gulley as a fiction writer, hearing my brother rave about Gulley's Harmony series. When I looked at Gulley's author page to find out more about his books, I was thrilled to learn that he also had a nonfiction book on the Quaker faith and traditions. Having been interested in Quakers for some time, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to learn more.Gulley did not disappoint. He laid out the basic tenants of the Quaker faith: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality and then expounded on each one. Chapter by chapter, tenant by tenant, I found myself both resonating and being further challenged by Gulley's expositions. He manages to walk the line between challenging the reader to grow in their journey without completely overwhelming them with an impossible task. He calls us to greater heights and then admits his own failings (After all, who of us can be completely truthful all the time? Certainly not me, and thankfully not Gulley either).Gulley also interweaves the history of the Quaker movement and the diversities within the tradition as he writes. Like all denominations, Quakers have their more conservative and more progressive groups and have even had factions and divisions over the years. He also debunked an assumption I had that all Friends only sat in silence for their meetings. Some meetings have pastors that give a small message and sometimes there may be music involved with the meeting. Apparently there is no one right way to be a Quaker, which is quite a relief!What I love most about Gulley's Living the Quaker Way is that he presents Quakerism as a way of life. One does not have to attend a Friend's meeting to become a Quaker. Simply embracing the principles that are the heart of the religion and living a reflective life counts. To this end, Gulley actually includes a 30 day guide at the end of the book that takes the reader through the Quaker queries day by day. We are invited to meditate on how we are embracing simplicity by reflecting on questions such as "Do I keep my life uncluttered with things and activities, avoiding commitments beyond my strength and light?" and "Do I recognize when I have enough?" I am greatly looking forward to spending the next month meditating on these queries and seeing where they take me.I never got tired of reading this book. Gulley stays to the point and keeps the reader interested with personal stories. I did have to pace myself so that I could digest the material properly since the material is so rich and challenging.In short, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to know more about Quakerism or just curious about this group of people who simply call themselves "Friends."

Excellent book on living as a Friend

W.H.G. · 25 February 2015

This is the best book that I, a lifelong Friend, have read on Friends faith and practice, particularly practice. Gulley takes up five prime Quaker values---simplicity, community, peace, integrity, and equality. Each receives a thorough, thoughtful, modest, and clear discussion, with a generosity of spirit I found quite remarkable. He is a progressive Friend; he has more than entered the current century. But his values are as strong and solid as those of the founding Friends, and his style is accessible, respectful, and pleasant. I highly recommend this book for a good understanding of contemporary Friends. It is not entirely theoretical; it includes human experience. Very fine.

a fantastic book to read for understanding how to live a Quaker life

C.A. · 10 April 2024

I couldn’t put this book down. I looked forward to reading this book every day. It brought me insight and inspiration. I hated to have the book end. I highly recommend this book.