Art of Prayer

Jones, a freelance writer and former managing editor at Ballantine's short-lived religion imprint, Moorings, has written a fine introduction to prayer, as well as a deeply reflective meditation on this much-written-about subject, to encourage those who already make prayer a practice. Jones opens the book with an eloquent exploration of common questions-such as ""Is God really approachable?"" ""Does God listen carefully?"" and ""What do I say when I pray?""-that often precede the practice of prayer. Laced with appropriate anecdotes and insights, each chapter begins with relevant quotes on prayer from a variety of sources and ends with short prayers from noted men and women of faith. While the book is written from a decidedly Christian perspective, it will appeal to a broad readership because of Jones's luminous prose and his lucid insights into the nature of a religious practice common to all religions. Jones's ""simple guide"" will be especially useful to people seeking to reintegrate the art and practice of prayer into their busy lives. (Apr.)