Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913) was a Methodist minister and devotional writer. Addressed primarily to preachers and pastors, 'Power Through Prayer' has also been popular among lay people for over a century. The book expounds the idea that prayer is the life-giving force behind the ministry. He states that believers depend on God just as much as he depends on them, and that, although the relationship is simple, it requires a lot of communication. Bounds discusses the essentiality of prayer, tendencies to be avoided, the primacy of the heart over the head, and gives examples of praying men from the scriptures.