04 The Book of Uncommon Prayer
The Book of Uncommon Prayer
for Naughty Boys and Girls (of all ages)
Plain & Simple Press
Honest prayers for the sins we usually excuse.
We are often very good at noticing other people’s faults. Our own can be rather harder to spot.
The Book of Uncommon Prayer is a collection of short, honest prayers about the everyday misdemeanours of the human heart — the irritations, selfishness, impatience, pride, excuses and thoughtlessness we often barely notice.
The prayers are short, direct and sometimes funny. But beneath the humour lies a serious purpose: to help us recognise ourselves, speak honestly to God, and rest again in His mercy.
135 prayers •
Paperback •
Hardback •
eBook
Available from 17 November 2026
About the Book
It began with a stolen supermarket parking space.
The idea for The Book of Uncommon Prayer began with an apparently trivial incident in a supermarket car park.
Someone took a parking space I was waiting for. I was irritated. I rehearsed the injustice. I developed an excellent case for the prosecution. And eventually I realised that the person who most needed prayer was not necessarily the offending driver.
That small moment raised a larger question: what about all the ordinary sins and misdemeanours of the heart that rarely seem important enough to pray about?
The grumbling. The gossip. The resentment. The slightly improved story. The apology that still contains a defence. The good deed we quietly admire ourselves for performing.
The result is a book that is playful without being flippant, serious without being gloomy, and designed to produce that slightly uncomfortable moment of recognition: “Yes. I do that too.”
Who This Book Is For
For anyone who has ever blamed someone else first.
- Christians who want to pray honestly about the ordinary sins that are easy to excuse.
- People who find traditional devotional language difficult and appreciate something shorter and more direct.
- Readers who enjoy humour when it serves a serious purpose.
- Anyone willing to notice ordinary sin before it becomes somebody else’s problem.
- Naughty boys and girls of all ages — which is to say, most of us.
Key Features
Short prayers. Uncomfortably familiar situations.
- 135 short, direct prayers about the ordinary sins, habits and weaknesses we are often rather good at excusing.
- Everyday situations rather than abstract spiritual problems.
- Humour with a purpose — to help us recognise ourselves.
- Honest self-recognition without pretending that ordinary sins do not matter.
- Accessible language that does not require theological training.
- Designed to dip into rather than necessarily read straight through.
Why “Uncommon” Prayer?
Because ordinary life gives us plenty to pray about.
These prayers begin with the ordinary moments in which something about ourselves becomes visible.
Notice It
The irritation, pride, envy, distraction or selfishness that would otherwise have passed unnoticed.
Admit It
Stop renaming it, excusing it or explaining why it was understandable.
Bring It to God
Speak honestly to the One who already knows — and rest again in His mercy.
Available Editions
Choose the edition that suits you.
The Book of Uncommon Prayer is available in Paperback, Hardback and eBook editions.
Prefer to order direct?
Readers in the UK and US can order print editions directly from Plain & Simple Press, with printing and delivery fulfilled by IngramSpark.
Direct print ordering will be available from publication day, 17 November 2026.Plain & Simple Press
Paperback
Standard print edition.
UK Price
£9.99
US Price
$10.99
ISBN
978-1-0667730-7-7
Hardback
Casebound print edition.
UK Price
£14.99
US Price
$17.99
ISBN
978-1-0667730-8-4
eBook
Digital edition for eReaders and reading apps.
UK Price
£3.99
US Price
$4.99
ISBN
978-1-0667730-9-1
The book will also be available through retailers and local bookshops.
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