The Way to Love: The Last Meditations of Anthony de Mello

I’ll admit: I approached *The Way to Love* skeptical of yet another ‘Christian living’ book promising transformation. But within minutes, de Mello’s no-nonsense tone hooked me. His meditations feel like a one-on-one session with a therapist who’s equal parts compassionate and ruthless. Take the chapter on ‘attachments’—he doesn’t just tell you to let go; he exposes how even your ‘noble’ desires (for love, success, even holiness) can become chains. It’s unsettling in the best way. Paul Coutinho’s narration deserves special praise. His pacing is deliberate, almost hypnotic, with a slight gravelly texture that grounds the abstract ideas in something tangible. That said, the production isn’t flawless. A few transitions between chapters feel abrupt, jarring you out of the meditative flow. And de Mello’s relentless focus on self-emptying can border on nihilism if you’re not in the right headspace—this isn’t a book for passive listening. But that’s also its strength. When he declares, ‘Love is not a doing but a being,’ it’s not a bumper sticker; it’s a challenge. I found myself rewinding not because I missed something, but because I *resisted* it. That’s how you know it’s working.