NOTE: This study guide is based on the Kindle version of Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, published November 13, 2012.

Three basic themes in prayer — “help,” “thanks,” and “wow” — are discussed by Anne Lamott in her nonfiction essay collection and spiritual guidebook Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers. Lamott tells her readers that prayer should be kept simple. In fact, she encourages the reader to not even concern himself too much with the force to which he prays. In the scope of simple prayers, Lamott believes that seeking help, giving thanks, and expressing awe are the basic three purposes of prayer.

Lamott relates the story of her own damaging childhood in which she and her siblings were encouraged not to pray. In the book, which is not only a memoir of Lamott’s spiritual life but is also a guide to teach others the benefits of prayer, Lamott discusses how simple and heartfelt prayer can be.

Lamott begins the book by giving her own definition of prayer. She indicates that prayer is a word or words of truth spoken to a greater force that is willing to deal with humans even though they may not yet have their lives completely together. In order to keep the reader from getting distracted from her lessons about prayer, Lamott indicates it does not matter to whom or to what a person chooses to pray. For convenience she tells the reader she will refer to the recipient of prayers as “God.”

The bulk of the book is dedicated to help, thanks, and wow, the three basic prayer themes identified by Lamott. She examines each of these three themes individually and describes the circumstances under which they would be appropriate. Examples of these prayers given to everyday events are also included. Lamott closes her book with a discussion of the meaning of the word “Amen” and ways the supplicant can make this traditional closing word for a prayer more meaningful.