I'm so glad I got to review this book. Len Sweet commented on it in an endorsement saying, "In this so beautiful book, Robert Benson provides the sky in which your soul can soar. You can fly." He says it much more poetically than I could, but the end result is the same; this is a wonderful and beautiful book. I'm sure I will be processing it for some time. There are so many profound "one line" thoughts...that capture the essence of a lifetime of experience and conversation.

Over and over, with each turn of the page, my heart was resonating with affirmation, agreement, and understanding of the words that I read. I realize this is the goal of the poet-writer, to elicit this type of response, but I also know this is not a gimmick for this book. The Echo Within is real. The Whisperer and the Voice is real; I have heard it and I am following it even now as I write this review.

I enjoyed the casual and friendly writing style of Benson. Coincidentally, I recently had ordered and received another book by Robert Benson. I have yet to read the book, In Constant Prayer (Part of the Ancient Practices Series Edited by Phyllis Tickle), but it is on my bookshelf having recently arrived just a couple weeks before the opportunity to review The Echo Within presented itself. It is interesting to me that this sequence of events has unraveled in the context of the story of finding one's calling and life vocation. Interesting indeed.

There are wonderful nuggets throughout the book that were bonuses for me. I loved the excerpts and quotations from Thomas Merton, Annie Dillard, and Robert Mulholland in particular. I was also introduced to the Academy for Spiritual Formation (I was unaware this organization existed prior to reading The Echo Within). I have no doubt that I'll be sharing other words influenced by this book in my journal and on my blog; still lots to be unraveled in my head and heart from this read.

This little book is packed-full of wisdom and beauty. Robert Benson masterfully and poetically describes the journey of discovery... of finding your true calling. He shares openly and honestly from his life the many lessons learned in becoming the man God spoke into being.


I enjoyed The Echo Within immensely. I found it to be entertaining, thought-provoking and enriching. You will benefit from this book... read it as a devotional for a month or just devour it in one sitting.

I had the privilege to review this book and participate in a "blog tour" this week.
When I first read the description of this book, I thought of my friend Adam who has been struggling with what God is calling him to do. I gave him my extra copy and I hope when he reads it, he is able to find some words of wisdom.
For me, I know that at times in my life I have struggled with whether it's my voice or God's voice that I'm hearing. I think the author explains this in a great way.

"There is within each of us an echo of the Voice of the One Who whispered us into being. We must listen for that echo and to that echo; we must listen fiercely and faithfully and fearlessly. Within the echo of the Voice that spoke us into being is the sound of our own true voice."

"The fact that the Voice that calls to us often sounds like our own is not something to be mistrusted or feared. It is a sign of how close God is to us."

Throughout the book it uses examples in the author's life where he had to wait,listen,know,live,choose,be and even dream to figure out his path in becoming a writer.
No one can tell you if you are going the right path...only you will know that. There are signs that make it a little less murky and he shares those in each of the chapters.
The author describes himself as an introvert and I think I connected to his thoughts because of that. I have a difficult time with change and I like my "ducks in a row".
The following quote describes what I feel to a T:

" Sometimes what we want is to be allowed to hunker down in the life we are living, or are hoping to live, or are constructing for ourselves. Without any upset, without any change in plans, without any of our ducks being disturbed.
But sometimes when we say yes to some new thing that seems to be calling to us from the echo within, then we may as well be prepared to head for God knows where after that. And to head there with God knows who as well."

This is a small book which can be easily read in a day but it is something that I think you will refer back to and chew on for longer.

For years my wife and I have looked for/pursued/quested after/sought/yearned for some deeper significance to living, to existence. Benson's explanation of "the echo within resonating" now makes perfect sense of these past years. We're not crazy, we're not incorrigible dreamers. Rather, we are seeking that which resonates within OUR hearts. Not everyone can hear our echos and likely we can't hear their echos. But God-given echos deep within ourselves are real and it is possible to find that which resonates with our souls.

The Echo Within is a short book in which Robert Benson describes his own search for (and eventual finding of) his calling in life. He describes this search as listening for the voice of God within ourselves - i.e. the echo within. He talks about the integration of his spiritual experiences, work experiences, relationships, and other life experiences into who he now is.

This book is short - less than 200 pages. There is not much detail about Robert Benson's life, yet he manages to put much of himself into those 180 pages. Much of what he said resonated with me. I know about wanting to know my calling in life. But, I'm also learning that my calling in life is wherever I am right this minute.

There is much in this little book that is encouraging and helpful. I recommend it, particularly for those of us coming in to middle age who are starting to wonder if we are really doing the "right" thing in life. Mr. Benson has many good insights.

The Echo Within: Finding Your True Calling by Robert Benson is an easy, sweet, poetic little book about how to listen to the voice within you, God's voice, directing you down the path for which you were created. Specifically, it is about how to find a career best suited to your natural gifts, calls, talents and personality, a profession which will fulfill you. Robert Benson draws on his own life experience and makes you feel good if you wander down several wrong paths before finding the right one, and explains a circuitous journey is sometimes required.
The Echo Within is funny, entertaining and guaranteed to make you think about your authentic self without judgments. We are all wonderfully made, but sometimes we try to cram ourselves into a "should" profession rather than one that comes naturally -- the one for which we were ideally created.

This weekend I read Robert Benson's wonderful little gem, The Echo Within: Finding Your True Calling. The jacket cover description would lead you to believe that this is a helpful "how to" type of book that may give you the advice you need to improve your life. I suppose that this book could be that for some people but I feel like that description missed the mark. Benson will be the first to tell you that there is probably not much he can say that will give you the blueprint for finding your way. And that is exactly why this book is such a great read. Rather than map out the 3, 6, or 12 steps to better living, Benson tells a powerful story that invites the reader to listen to the familiar voice that knows you better than the self-help gurus. Instead of advice on what to do or not do, Benson gives us permission to find our true calling by recognizing that our calling is a moving target. Since this calling can only belong to us we cannot follow anyone else's footsteps as we pursue it. When we set our sights on that target and learn to follow it where ever it leads we will discover that we are at our best when we live into the story of who we are.

The book has the feel of Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and is easy to read. The conversational feel of the narrative is disarming and helps let some of the subtle strength of the book sink in. While there is a lot of talk about spiritual themes, the book is far from being "preachy." Benson is not trying to evangelize or proselytize anyone. He is more concerned with helping you hear your own echo within than amplify his for others to hear.

There are a lot of things I loved about this book that tie into my own ecclesial dreams. I wish I could have read it 20 years ago. In fact, if you are looking for a good, affordable gift for a graduate this spring Benson's book would be a great option. Benson encourages all of us to learn to value the totality of our journey -not just the good things, but the mistakes, wrong turns, course corrections, and failures as well. Perhaps the best way to summarize the book is to restate one of the quotes from Thomas Merton that Benson scatters throughout the book:

Jesus lived the ordinary life
of the men of His time,
in order to sanctify the ordinary lives
of men of all time.
If we want to be spiritual, then,
let us first of all live our lives.

Excellent addition to my considerable numbers of books on vocation and discernment. Very good resource for the average person interested in a life of purpose and meaning.Written in a easy to read style. Makes for excellent spiritual reading.