Ten Prayers That Changed the World

December 14, 2015
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.

February 15, 2016
Isbouts examines the role of prayer in a series of essays featuring 10 figures culled from ancient and modern history, from Abraham to Jesus, Constantine to Joan of Arc, Martin Luther to George Washington, Gandhi to Mother Teresa. The premise is simple: Isbouts emphasizes a special moment from each person's life; at the conclusion of the tale, he turns from storyteller back to historian and approaches the story from a critical perspective. Did General Washington, for example, really kneel near Valley Forge, asking God to save his colonial army? Isbouts admits that a number of historians have dismissed it as a pious myth. But here, as with the book's other stories, he looks at it from both sides. Similarly, he discusses some of the criticism surrounding the otherwise saintly figure of Mother Teresa. He concludes with a question: Is there such a thing as a Divine being? He indicates that the answer is yes and that these narratives actually transcend religious faith, whatever people may call the name of a particular deity, whether Yahweh, God, Allah, Rama . . . A thoughtful examination of faiths and faith stories throughout the ages.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)