God’s Path to Sanity

Dee Pennock’s book, God’s Path to Sanity, is a brilliant summary of the patristic method of overcoming the ancestral sin ad attaining sanity in the love of Christ. It is a virtual guide to human restoration in Christ, both in the psychological sense and in the spiritual sense. This is a wonderful book, filled with wisdom and resplendent hope, a proverbial “must read.” – Archbishop Chrysostomos, (PH.D. Princeton), former professor of psychology, theological writer, author of A Patristic Reader
Review
Great presentation of the powers (and illnesses) of the soul! October 22, 2012
By Ser from Alaska

Several years ago, I read this author’s “Path to Sanity” and very much enjoyed it. I recently felt the desire to reread it, and so I bought a copy of this one with a slightly changed title. To my delight, I discovered Ms. Pennock has updated it with information from another of her books and added review questions at the end of each chapter. She also provides very simple, but powerful, prayers to help with healing the three powers of the soul. As it now stands, the book can be used as a little course on psychological healing to afford improved communications in relationships and a more peaceful self with the evil passions managed appropriately.

While the book is surely helpful to persons who consider themselves troubled, it is also most helpful to those of us who fall within the very broad trough of normality. It provides a good model of the workings of the human soul such that problems with anger, addictions, compulsions, and such behaviors as showing off and people-pleasing can be understood and disciplined. It is easy to trace the dynamics of the evil passions through the lens of this tool. This is a fine “housecleaning tool” as a self-help reference and adaptable, as well, as a little course for a group or family to be led by a Christian counselor or pastor. The ancient tools are made available to those who want them for sweeping sins not only from the body, but also from the soul. The author knows whereof she speaks; she is a retired professional counselor and an Orthodox Christian who has spent her life working along this path.

I recently heard a most favorable podcast review of this book and a critique of another by the same author given by a Christian Orthodox priest whose background includes many years of teaching and counseling at seminary

Transformational and Easy to Read August 6, 2012
By M. Barker

This simple little book is a summary of some really deep theology and patristics, made palatable and do able by being broken down into simple language and a warm voice in the writing. It is amazing. The chapters are short so there are stop and reflect points in your reading, and at the chapters end there are thought provoking questions to let you ponder if you really “get it”. After four years of struggling this book was recommended to me by a friend who said it was one of her favorite books. Easy to see why.

A must read for Orthodox Clergy and laity June 2, 2013
By Charles Bouton
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Dr. Pennock has hit the nail on the head. I’ve been searching for years to discover an easy to digest and understand text which explains this process to laity. Many of my fellow clergy don’t seem to grasp the process. Dr. Pennock has an exceptional knack for bringing the Church Fathers texts to a understandable level for laity as well as making the entire text relevant to current society. It is a wonderful follow up to her excellent book: The Adam Complex. This book should be required reading in all Orthodox Seminaries, and every Orthodox priest should use it in the process of teaching the faithful and catechizing new converts. A book which finally asks the right questions and offers very practical methodology for pursuing the correct answer. 5 stars is way too low of a rating for this text. Its application to both Orthdox psychology and simply understanding what the Orthodox way of life is beyond measure.

Provides another view and words from our Church Elders and Saints. December 19, 2012
By Sam
Format:Paperback
Taking into consideration our daily life and adding the direction and voices from our Church Fathers and Saints. This book has shed some light on some questions I have had, and it helps with a clearer perspective on how to look at and incorperate Jesus’s Word into our daily lives.

This book really does a great job of letting us know the messages from our Fathers and Saints which I never knew existed, and puts it together in an easy to read format. This is a must read for everyone who seeks the stronger message from the Church’s Spiritual Physicians.