Gravity and Grace

Gravity and Grace

by Simone Weil 

Routledge, New York, New York     ©  1952    160 pp.

An unusual book by an unusual author, Gravity and Grace is composed of aphorisms, quotes, and excerpts from Simone Weil. She was a brilliant theological mind and heart in mid-twentieth century Europe. Although the book presents a patchwork of Weil's writing under various chapter titles, the

reader must be prepared to do some work to understand what is being said. Simone is bold and declarative in her writing, but in this format there is not much explanation. It is up to the reader to ponder the words. If nothing arrives in the mind, it may be best to move down the page.

Sticking with Simone, one stumbles into dazzling little explosive gems like this:

"But we should have with each person the relationship of one conception of the universe to another conception of the universe, and not to a part of the universe." (p. 129) Wouldn't this help our current national discourse?!

"The object of our search should not be the supernatural, but the world. The supernatural is light itself: if we make an object of it, we lower it." (p. 118)

Highly recommended for those who are willing to look for precious stones on the beaches of this book.

-- reviewed by Wesley Lachman

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