Letters from an Extreme Pilgrim: Reflections on Life, Love and the Soul Hardcover – 4 Feb. 2010

This book is based on a disarmingly simple idea: to write letters to those who have played an important part in the author's life, whilst exploring and reflecting on the spiritual nature of those relationships and what they have meant to him.But do not be deceived. On one level certainly the book may be undemanding. But it is also on another level spiritually challenging and in today's fractured world we need to accept that challenge and be receptive to the new era of spirituality and consciousness that we now enter. We need to rediscover our spirit and our soul, and the author will help us do this.The author is honest, open and courageous as he bares his own uncertainties and vulnerabilities to reflect on love, beauty, the soul, and the nature of God. There is a certain poignancy to some of his letters, for example the story of the lost love of the Girl in the Field. Here he sensitively explores the different types of relationship between man and woman, the different experiences of enchantment, intimacy, desire, and he certainly helped me understand a little more about my own relationships. And by way of contrast he is not afraid to tackle religious fundamentalism head on with his letter to Osama, which must surely make us all examine our own position on love and faith and respect of our fellow beings.I like The Times description of the author as "the bravest vicar in Britain...a man living with his soul." The book is unusual and refreshing for that. I can recommend this little volume - it will help us all make more sense of this world, help us understand a little more of who we are and I hope will help us reconnect with our own souls for a better world, something dear to my own heart as readers of my own book, Healing This Wounded Earth, will know.

This letter to Peter Owen Jones is my review.Dear Peter:Thanks for giving us a wonderful afternoon at Worth Abbey.Yesterday was the birthday of my son-in-law, a Coptic Christian, born in Egypt. He now lives in Maryland with our daughter. As birthday present I sent him a copy of your book, LETTERS FROM AN EXTREME PILGRIM.I wrote him that you had written the book, a letter a day while in a cave outside the monastery of St. Anthony in Eastern Egypt.. He replied that St. Anthony is his patron saint, and that he had visited the cave.I also gave a copy to his Uncle and Aunt who happen to live in Horsham. His aunt is a retired Psychiatrist. She wrote me,"About the book of Peter Owen Jones ... I found it interesting and profound. Those letters to God and to the devil, to Obama and to Osama, One gets to know the man s life story though his letters to various people in his life: An orphan whose kind adopted father dies when he is so young, that's two fathers lost. He later seeks God, perhaps he is looking for a father that does not die, may be may be something else. I think I will read some chapters again. God's peace be with you always."The book is not published in America as yet. I hope it will be soon. It cost me as much as the book to send it to the USA.I included a little of it in my Father's Day Sermon.Perhaps you can enjoy the sermon, when you put up your feet and have a glass of cold white wine. Love and blessings, RichardRichard BoekeHorsham, West Sussex, UK

This book is absolutely beautiful. It has raw emotions. He wears his heart on his sleeve. To write these letters to people, some of whom are still alive and then publish them for the world to see, whilst the author is alive also, is nothing other than extremely brave, especially for someone who is a public figure - a vicar, a writer and a TV presenter.Even if you had never seen Pete on the 'telly', you could fall in love with him from the writing in this book! Forget the film, "What Women Want" or the book, "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus". Pete Owen Jones is a man who has what it takes and yet he doesn't even realise it! At last an open heart and mind, a guy who isn't afraid to show his feelings, who understands that love is the key to everything and isn't afraid to state this and is passionate about his beliefs and yet fame has not gone to his head.Thank you Pete, for restoring my faith in men! I love you so much, I would even marry you myself, if you asked.... (from, "The girl who slipped through the net....")

These are very personal letters to people Peter knows and some he does not. They come out of spending time in prayer and silence out in the desert. They come out of the heart. It's a compact book, easy to read, but full of thought provoking commentary on his own life and the place we humans find ourselves in today.

This man's honesty outshines all else for me in this book. He is a great storyteller, a showman, selfish, but above all provides a refreshing and somewhat unique look at the ideas that we all take for granted. He teaches us, not through pedagogy but through example, how to look at what we know with totally new eyes.You don't have to be a believer to get something from this book, it speaks to anyone in its self-deprecating and honest view of life from a man who is a parish priest.

This small book which reflects just one man's search for reality, somehow touches on the experiences of many people. The pleasures, whether real or imagined, and the hurts that accompanies us throughout our life are all here. Yet, it is the prevailing sense of simplicity, of acceptance of how things are and the a realisation that we are all part of a greater whole, part of nature itself, that prevades the whole of this book. A small book, but one that touches the core of the human condition.

because it is letters to different people, it is a book which I found i could just pick up if i had a few minutes. Through the letters he tells us of his life in an unusual way and how people effected him.I would like to meet this man he seems wise , kind, intelligent.

This is the best spiritual book I have read for some time. Each letter touches your heart with its depth of wisdom and searing honesty. Peter Owen Jones is truly a prophet for our times; his message is delivered with great humility and truth.