A lovely book for the right person. I was looking for more depth and analysis in the verses. Writing that encouraged me to consider the message from a different angle. And for me, this fell short just a wee bit. That said, there is still something here for other readers looking for a bit of faith.

This book is a healthy dose of perspective wrapped up in what feels like a long, cozy walk and a warm blanket.

Catherine Bird explains what prayer is, as a definition and then a purpose, before providing context and perspective on creative/interpretive avenues to prayer and connection with God on a uniquely personal level.

This is a beautiful book filled with vulnerability, openness, and compassion.

I'd highly recommend it to any patron (teenage - adult years), who expresses a desire/curiosity to learn more about Christian prayer.

I found this book to be very interesting and it gave me a lot to think about my own walk of faith.

Prayer has always been something I feel like I have been decent at. I feel like prayer should just be talking to God the way you would a friend or mentor feel like this book has helped me see the ways that I can improve my prayer life.

I believe this author does a great job in this book off really making the point of how important our spiritual walk is and how we can improve our lives through prayer.

As a spiritual director I speak with a lot of people about prayer and what it looks like and different ways of praying. I tend to reference things like Long Wandering Prayer and Practicing the Presence of God. I wanted to read this book to see if it might be a good resource to add to my list. It is clearly a book for "beginners" in a life of prayer and I realized pretty quickly it wasn't what I was looking for. I started with a kindle version that I was sent free for review. And I really struggled to get into the flow of the writing, but I assumed it was because the font was so tiny and, surprisingly, non-adjustable. So, I ordered a paper copy and waited for it to arrive. And I discovered that I still have the same problem. I just have trouble with the author's train of thought. I'm not understanding her topic flow. It seems to me as if she jumps around from idea to idea and a couple of times it wasn't until the end of a chapter that I read something that helped me understand how her points fit together. Other chapters I never did find the connections between paragraphs and the chapter title. It seems like good material, just not joined together in a way that made it readable for me personally. Maybe it is just my personality, but in the end I didn't finish the book. It might suit someone else.

This was a great book on prayer and creative ways to pray... especially for someone like me who struggles with prayer! My only downfall was I really wished I had a paper copy of the book, having an ebook meant I missed out on a lot of the paper elements. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC.

This book shares the process of praying and how to do so. A little bit devotional and how to. The book does include some art peoves to color or add to one's prayer journal or Bible.

I was looking for more calligraphy with prayers, but did not find it here.

This book is a must. I grew up in the church and feel like I have a strong foundation and relationship with God but prayer was always something kinda tough for me. And don't even think about asking me to prayer out loud (heavens no!) My prayer time was always super personal and ALONE. Praying out loud shoots me into the craziest panic attacks and the devil sure knows how to work it.

Bird uses humor, facts, personal stories, and application to make prayer a less.. how shall we say?... intimidating thing. I wholly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand prayer more, learn how to pray more confidently out loud, or just looking for some soul food.

This was so inspirational and beautifully crafted. I will definitely be purchasing this book to own a physical copy. This helped show the beauty and intricacy of prayer in a new light. It made prayer not seem so daunting. I loved this so much and hope other readers will as well.

I was immediately drawn in by the imagery that Catherine Bird creates while telling anecdotes throughout this book. She is completely relatable! The tips and Biblical truths in this book are phenomenal. Highly recommend for anyone who struggles with prayer!

Personal, spiritual, and beautiful. Catherine Bird writes about prayer humanly, honestly, and with humor. I enjoyed The Art of Amen as a believer and recommend this book widely. I appreciate Bird's use of her own family and history in the process of sharing.

Catherine Bird's "The Art of Amen" offers readers a fresh look at prayer--why we pray, how the Holy Spirit helps us pray, and how to pray in creative ways. Starting with the idea that prayer can be "both relational and creative," Bird helps readers catch a vision for how to walk it out in everyday life. Perhaps this line best sums up her approach to the book as she helps readers take their prayer lives to a deeper level: "Prayer is our lifeline to our creator, a loving God, who longs for us to share with him in an easy, open, honest relationship." While many see prayer as a daunting task, Bird helps readers embrace it as simply an ongoing relationship with the One who created them--not overly complicated, but something that deserves the investment of time and attention.

I like the fact that this isn't just a book to read, it's an experience. Bird will have reader look up some Bible verses and write them down, answer some thought provoking questions, and try various creative ways to pray (Bible journaling, nature walks, crafting, praying aloud, among others). On top of that, Bird's easy-going, friendly, transparent way of communicating helps readers see into her life and how, amidst challenges and joys and busyness, she has continued to seek God in prayer. She helps readers grasp that this prayer thing--it is doable, and it is rewarding beyond measure. It's practical, it's biblically based, and it will encourage the reader. Bird even includes some traceables and coloring pages, and a great prayer-full playlist of songs. Whether you're new to the idea of prayer as relationship or you're looking for ways to spice up your existing prayer life, The Art of Amen will not disappoint. It's a winner!

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

If you are like me, you have the best intentions to have a closer and more meaningful prayer life. No matter how good our intentions, somehow family, work or life gets in our way. Catherine Bird has written a wonderful book that is a must ride for people like us. This book will draw you into having a more fulfilling prayer life. Cat doesn't just talk about it. She gives us ideas to encourage us to try new ways to get in touch with the God who created us and wants to have a close intimate relationship with us. I loved her chapter on Bible Journaling. Using this method has made a huge difference in my prayer and Bible study time. You do not have to be an artist to express back to God your appreciation of his handy work. But speaking of artist, you will appreciate Cat's artwork throughout this beautiful book. I received a complementary copy of this book from Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.