When personal spiritual direction and counselling is so eagerly sought for, not only by priests and religious, but by lay people, the "Introduction to a Devout Life" - which is nothing but a collection of letters written to a lay person - could once more become a popular book. It has remained a classic over the years, its sales only being exceeded by the Bible and The Imitation of Christ. If it is largely neglected today it may be because of its style, quaint examples and complicated presentation with so many small chapters and subheadings.