Wow! Immediately want to go out and buy everything this man has written. What a real, raw story of grace. I wasn't familiar with Manning until I read this, so I was a bit confused at some parts, but what an amazing story. Loved.

brutal, honest, vulgar grace.
beautiful

One of the best Christian autobiographies, no, autobiographies in general, ever. Typically honest, insightful, helpful, grace-highlighting, and brilliant Brennan Manning has given us a gift. Please read it. It will do your soul some good.

As someone who is a big fan of Brennan Manning's writing and his overall message about grace, love, and acceptance I truly enjoyed learning more about him. Hearing the background of his struggles and triumphs is exactly what I expected. I love is raw honesty about his not so perfect life. Great person!

Beautiful thoughts about life and mistakes and grace from someone who's lived all of them for a long time and proven the latter most of all.

Short review: This is Manning's last book. He is in very poor health and needed someone to help him write this. I have really enjoyed reading last books by people that I respect. If done well, and this one is, then it really can show what is important for that person. There is always a hint of sadness in a last book, but usually at least a hint of hopefulness as well.

This is not a long book (just over 4 hours on audio), but it does a very good job showing why for Manning 'All is Grace'. He lived by grace and was in great need of grace. He had a rough life, continued to struggle with alcoholism, even recently.

This is the type of spiritual memoir we need more of. It, without glorifying at all, shows the problems of sin, the need for grace and the role for people to love one another in spite of their sin. If you have read Ragamuffin Gospel or his other books, this will give some historical context to the rest of the books. If you have not, this is a great introduction to why Grace is the central theme of Manning's life (and Christianity.)

My full review (probably too long at around 1100 words) is at http://bookwi.se/grace/

“This vulgar grace is indiscriminate compassion. It works without asking anything of us. It's not cheap. It's free, and as such will always be a banana peel for the Orthodox foot and a fairy tale for the grown-up sensibility. Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try to find something or someone it cannot cover. Grace is enough. He is enough. Jesus is enough.”

I last read books by Manning in 2008. Somewhere along the way, I was able to download this book, his autobiography. I read it last May, but forgot to write down my thoughts.
Manning had a hard life and his recognition of G-d’s grace in his life did not come easily or quickly. Like many of us, he had to learn the lessons of love over and over again.

Although I am not sorry I read this book, I believe that Manning’s book, The Ragamuffin Gospel is far superior. If you haven’t read that one, start there.