This is pretty much my favorite book (except the Bible). His thoughts are luminous -- no dry wisdom, but truth in the best sense, which he really lived out. Real food for anyone with a heart for truth, and a decent starting place for anyone else. you gotta read it! : ) It even has a few poems of his -- but check out "Diary of an Old Soul" for a whole book of them. The more I read of George MacDonald's the better I feel like I understand God and His Word-- he ties things together delightfully so they make sense. It's vivid. It is infused with that shining quality that CS Lewis aptly called "holiness" -- but not as we've imagined holiness!