Ten Prayers That Changed the World: Extraordinary Stories of Faith That Shaped the Course of History

Isbouts (Jesus: An Illustrated Life) studies the effect that 10 specific prayers have had on world history. Did they really work? If so, why? He probes history, the Bible, and eyewitness accounts for corroboration, and then fills in the blanks with his own imaginative recreations of the settings where the prayer was delivered. What was young Joan of Arc like? What were Martin Luther’s thoughts when he was prohibited from publishing books or giving sermons? Was Mother Theresa always certain of her calling? Some of the prayers are well known, such as George Washington’s prayer at Valley Forge (made famous in a painting of the general kneeling), the “Our Father” prayer of Jesus, and St. Francis’s sermon on becoming an “instrument of peace” (with a fascinating study of how this phrase made its journey into mainstream American life). Some are less familiar, but have had far-reaching impact. As a historian, Isbouts weighs the culture of ancient times against more modern thinking, suggesting new interpretations for legends and exploring alternative versions of stories. Taking a secular tack, he leaves open-ended questions about whether these prayers were heard by a higher power—and what form that entity’s response might take—while concluding that faith of all kinds makes the world a better place. Agent: Peter Miller, Global Lion Intellectual Property Management. (Mar.)