Although Bounds rightly emphasizes the importance of prayer, sharing inspiring anecdotes of its place in the lives of great preachers and missionaries, especially, he de-emphasizes Scripture and distills to the message that if one's ministry is not successful, it is because he has not prayed hard or long enough. The examples of men who spend ten hours a day in prayer makes me think not of how we should all do this but of how they must have had generous congregants willing to put up with poor sermons and do without visits from the pastor. The Gospel is not central to this book, but man's own fervor on his knees seems the key to all progress in the faith. Skip this one and learn from the actual prayers of Scripture (John 17 in Jesus' prayers for His people before the Cross, Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple and Daniel's similar plea before the Lord, Psalms, the greetings and benedictions of the Epistles, etc. etc.)
A classic volume on the need and power in prayer. Never look at prayer the same again!
