By showing negativity to be the condition for humans to secure their supernatural destiny, this book challenges received understandings of Blondel's philosophy and its relation to the Christian mystical tradition. Genuine loss, renunciation, mortification, pain and sacrifice are all seen to be intrinsic to a life that quests for greater meaning and even revelation. Carefully researched, deeply scholarly, rigorously argued and composed with a rare eloquence.

David Grumett, University of Edinburgh, UK

This is an outstanding first book by a young scholar. It defends the acceptance of loss, sacrifice and even mortification on the grounds that the human will is energized and purified of projection and fabulism by consenting to loss; in fact, the more the will acquiesces in heteronomy, the more it is enriched and amplified. With learning that is deep but lightly worn, Nomi Pritz-Bennett shows that the very many readers who have avoided considering Blondel's positive embrace of loss and suffering have bypassed one of the great resources Blondel has to offer. We should not stop at saying that this work is an important contribution to Blondel studies. Rather, it adds a note to our understanding of the human condition.

Francesca Murphy, University of Notre Dame, USA