Book Review: How to Pray by John Pritchard
If you’ve ever felt unsure how to pray, or worried you’re not doing it “right” this book is a gentle and freeing guide. How to Pray by John Pritchard is one of the most accessible, encouraging books I’ve read on the subject. It doesn’t overwhelm or overcomplicate. Instead, it quietly reassures you that prayer doesn’t have to be perfect it just has to be real.
What struck me most was how many different ways there are to pray. This isn’t a book that pushes one method or formula. It opens doors.
Pritchard offers everything from silence and stillness to creativity, imagination, intercession, and everyday conversation with God. There’s a real sense of permission throughout the book. Permission to be yourself in prayer, to explore, to try, to fumble, to rest.
At one point, he writes:
“Praying is a bit like sunbathing. You just have to be there — the sun does all the work.”
That image stayed with me. It captures so well the book’s invitation to stop striving and just start talking to God. Prayer becomes less about performance and more about presence.
Another strength is how practical it is. The book is full of ideas you can try straight away, whether you’ve been praying for years or are just starting out. There’s a section for when you don’t have much time, a chapter for when you’re stuck, and even prayers for when words won’t come.
It’s also surprisingly light in ton, not flippant, but approachable, like having a wise, kind companion alongside you rather than a teacher standing at the front of the room.
I’d recommend How to Pray to anyone who wants to begin a prayer life but isn’t sure how to start, or who’s been carrying the unspoken fear that they’re somehow not doing it right. It’s also a great read if you’ve been praying for years but want to rediscover it in a fresh, more personal way.
There’s no guilt in these pages. No pressure. Just grace, gentle guidance, and the reminder that prayer is for everyone – and that includes you.
