Flunking Sainthood

Flunking Sainthood chronicles Jana Riess's year-long experiment with twelve different spiritual practices from various religious traditions. Each month, she attempts a new practice - from fasting to fixed-hour prayer to gratitude - documenting both her successes and failures along the way. The memoir follows Riess's monthlong attempts to incorporate these ancient spiritual disciplines into her modern life as a working parent and writer. Her pursuit of spiritual growth leads her through Orthodox Jewish traditions, medieval Catholic practices, and contemplative Protestant rituals. Through self-deprecating humor and frank admissions of her struggles, Riess tracks her progress through each new challenge. The narrative maintains a balance between her academic understanding of religious practices and her real-world efforts to implement them. The book addresses universal questions about spiritual growth, personal transformation, and the gap between religious ideals and human limitations. It offers perspective on how failure itself can become a pathway to deeper faith and self-understanding.

Readers appreciate Riess's honest, self-deprecating account of failing at various spiritual practices. Many note her humor and relatability in describing spiritual struggles. One reviewer said "her vulnerability about falling short made me feel less alone in my own practice." Readers value her insights about imperfection in faith journeys and her transparency about not completing challenges. Multiple reviews mention the book helped them accept their own spiritual shortcomings. Critical reviews point out repetitive writing and say some chapters feel superficial. A few readers wanted more depth in exploring each practice rather than quick monthly transitions. Some felt the premise was gimmicky. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (120+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30+ ratings) Common descriptors in reviews: - Humorous - Relatable - Authentic - Light reading - Self-aware Several readers note they bought copies for friends struggling with religious perfectionism.

Girl Meets God by Lauren F. Winner A memoir chronicles one woman's spiritual journey through Judaism and Christianity while examining religious practices and daily devotions.

The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs A writer documents his attempt to follow every rule in the Bible for one year, exploring ancient customs and religious laws in modern life.

The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris A poet's immersion in Benedictine monasticism reveals the intersection of secular and spiritual life through monasteries' daily rhythms and rituals.

An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor A former Episcopal priest shows how ordinary physical activities become sacred practices through mindful engagement.

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott A narrative follows one person's path from atheism to faith through life's struggles and unexpected moments of grace.

🕯️ Author Jana Riess attempted 12 different spiritual practices over 12 months, deliberately choosing ones that would challenge her, including fasting, fixed-hour prayer, and mindful vegetarianism. 📚 Despite considering herself a "spiritual failure" at most of these practices, Riess's honest account of her struggles resonated with readers, making the book a surprise hit in religious publishing circles. ⏰ The book's original working title was "The Twelve Spiritual Practices That Will Probably Change My Life" - the more humble "Flunking Sainthood" emerged after her experiences with the practices. 🍞 During her month of focusing on gratitude and simple living, Riess attempted to make all her bread from scratch - a practice that resulted in several memorable kitchen disasters. 🌟 The book spawned a companion volume called "Flunking Sainthood Every Day: A Daily Devotional for the Rest of Us," which offers brief daily readings for imperfect practitioners of faith.