New books at Soul Desires
Here you’ll find some of the hot new titles that our customers are enjoying — from Richard Rohr to Thich Nhat Hanh and Barbara Kingsolver — you’re sure to find something you’ll like.
The Upper Room Disciplines: A Book of Daily Devotions, 2011, $12.00
Allow God’s Word to speak to you through the daily meditations in The Upper Room Disciplines. Each page offers a unique perspective on daily Bible readings selected from the Revised Common Lectionary that will help you reconnect with God.
Field of Compassion: How the New Cosmology Is Transforming Spiritual Life by Judy Cannato, $15.95
In the tradition of Teilhard de Chardin and Thomas Berry, Judy Cannato invites spiritual seekers to embrace the way in which an understanding of religion and the spiritual path is informed and illumined by cutting-edge science. Cannato’s newest book is a must-read for those interested in how the new cosmology and the Christian story can be understood in harmony with one another.
God Is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu…: God Dwells with Us, in Us, Around Us, as Us by Carlton Pearson, $25.00
The author of the “Gospel of Inclusion” makes a case for a view of God not limited to or defined by any one religion–be it Christianity, Judaism, or Islam–but a God that dwells within each person.
The Future of Islam by John L. Esposito, $24.95
In this brilliant portrait, one of America’s leading authorities on Islam draws on a lifetime of thought and research to sweep away the negative stereotypes and provide an accurate, richly nuanced, and revelatory account of the fastest growing religion in the world.
If The Church Were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus by Philip Gulley, $23.99
Here, Quaker pastor Philip Gulley, author of If Grace is True, explores how the church has lost its way. This eye-opening examination of the values of Jesus reveals the extent to which the church has drifted from the teachings of the man who inspired its creation. Many Christians might be surprised to discover how little Jesus had to say about the church, and that he might never have intended to start a new religion. But the church is here to stay, and Gulley is determined to help the church find its soul. He provides a profound picture of what the church would look like if it refocused on the real priorities of Jesus.
Journey to the Common Good by Walter Brueggemann, $16.95
In this timely volume, respected author and theologian Walter Brueggemann turns his discerning eye to the most critical yet basic needs of a world adapting to a new era, an era defined in large part by America’s efforts to rebuild from an age of terror even as it navigates its way through an economic collapse. What are we to do? The answer, of course, is the same answer God gave to the Israelites thousands of years ago: Love your neighbor and work for the common good. Brueggemann considers biblical texts as examples of the journey now required of the faithful if they wish to move from isolation and distrust to a practice of neighborliness, as an invitation to a radical choice for life or for death, and as a reliable script for overcoming contemporary problems of loss and restoration in a failed urban economy.
Devotion: A Memoir by Dani Shapiro, $24.99
In her mid-forties and settled into the responsibilities and routines of adulthood, Dani Shapiro found herself with more questions than answers. Was this all life was–a hodgepodge of errands, dinner dates, e-mails, meetings, to-do lists? What did it all mean? Shapiro explores the varieties of experience she has pursued–from the rituals of her black hat Orthodox Jewish relatives to yoga “shalas” and meditation retreats. A reckoning of the choices she has made and the knowledge she has gained, Devotion is the story of a woman whose search for meaning ultimately leads her home. Her journey is at once poignant and funny, intensely personal–and completely universal.
Uncommon Gratitude: Alleluia for All That Is by Joan Chittister and Rowan Williams, $16.95
Some things we are naturally grateful for: God, peace, wealth, life, faith, and unity. But when these are set alongside other things we would never think to sing alleluia about—death, divisions, sufferings, and even sinners—we begin to see that life is an exercise in learning to sing alleluia here in order to recognize the face of God hidden in the recesses of time. The authors offer a sweeping set of things and circumstances to be grateful for—things for which we can sing alleluia.
Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert, regularly $26.95—our price $18.87
Picking up where her bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love left off, Gilbert details the extraordinary circumstances that surround her love with Felipe, the man she swore never to marry. Told with Gilbert’s trademark wit, Committed is a celebration of love with all the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.
Jesus Freak: Feeding, Healing, Raising the Dead by Sara Miles, $21.95
In her new book, Miles tells what happened when she decided to follow the flesh and blood Jesus by doing something real. For everyone afraid to feed hungry strangers, love the unlovable, or go to dark places to bless and heal, she offers hope. She holds out the promise of a God who gave housewives and fishermen authority to forgive sins and raise the dead, and who continues to call us to action. And she tells, in vivid, heartbreakingly honest stories, how the ordinary people around her are transformed by taking up God’s work in the world.
Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels for Christian Preachers and Teachers: Feasts, Funerals, and Weddings by John Shea, $29.95
Wisdom, wit, and Sacred Writ are the outstanding interactive hallmarks of this fourth and final volume in The Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels for Christian Preachers and Teachers series. In the same style and format as the first three volumes, Shea presents evocative reflections to enhance Scripture-based preaching and teaching for liturgical feast days, funerals, and weddings. Christian preachers and teachers and anyone interested in the spiritual life will find Feasts, Funerals, and Weddings an insightful and relevant resource.
Holiness and the Feminine Spirit by Janet McKenzie, $28.00
Explores how holy women throughout history have empowered themselves and others. Includes reflections by Sr. Joan Chittister, Katharine Jefferts Shori, Paula D’Arcy, Diana Hayes, and others working to bring about the reign of God. Janet McKenzie’s paintings and the accompanying reflections follow the life of Jesus through the women who gave him birth and carried his message to the world. A beautiful gift book that includes a reflection on Mary Magdalene by our own Susan Calef of Creighton University.
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh, $19.95
This new book focuses on Buddhist techniques and practices we can use to cut through the busyness and anxieties of daily life and discover the simple happiness of living in the present moment.
The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See by Richard Rohr, $19.95
The enlightenment you seek in other religions has been present in Christianity from the beginning. Richard Rohr, a global leader in spiritual awakening, helps you recognize the forces, such as ego resistance and dualistic thinking, that separate you from your deeper self. Then, drawing from the Gospels and the greatest Christian contemplatives, he shows you what it means to be spiritually awake.
Quilting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time by Katherine Bell, $19.95
This follow-up to Knitting for Peace profiles individuals and organizations who are devoted to making quilts and other necessities for the needy. This timely book also includes 15 projects and guidelines for quilters who want to participate in the effort.
New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith by Brian McLaren, $24.99
We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in the church. Not since the Reformation five centuries ago have so many Christians come together to ask whether the church is in sync with their deepest beliefs and commitments. These believers range from evangelicals to mainline Protestants to Catholics, and the person who best represents them is author and pastor Brian McLaren.
The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church by John L. Allen, Jr., $28.00
What will the Catholic Church be like in 100 years? Will there be a woman pope? Will dioceses throughout the United States and the rest of the world go bankrupt from years of scandal? In The Future Church, Allen puts forth the ten trends he believes will transform the Church into the twenty-second century. From the influence of Catholics in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on doctrine and practices to the impact of multinational organizations on local and ethical standards, Allen delves into the impact of globalization on the Roman Catholic Church and argues that it must rethink fundamental issues, policies, and ways of doing business. Allen shows that over the next century, the Church will have to respond to changes within the institution itself and in the world as a whole whether it is contending with biotechnical advances—including cloning and genetic enhancement—the aging Catholic population, or expanding the roles of the laity.
The Political Impact of Faith by Lowen Kruse, $20.00
Senator Kruse represents mainline religion and writes for the broad range of moderate citizens who could be energized to speak up on moral issues in legislative debate. He strongly protests the undue influence of religious extremists who seek to control public policy, and who even propose ways to knock holes in the “wall of separation” of church and state. Pastor/Senator Kruse speaks directly to the steps that lead to effective actions: know the long history of Church/State debate, develop understanding of the shared faith of most religious persons, identify moral issues in proposed legislation, and learn how to effectively address these issues while respecting the separation of Church and State.
Life Among the Lutherans by Garrison Keillor, $23.99
Fans of A Prairie Home Companion will enjoy this book. Keillor’s distinctive voice is there and the collection of stories reflect everything you’ve come to expect of this master storyteller — with some very funny spots in it. Keillor’s pacing and command of every little detail of life in Lake Wobegon from pontoon rides to potlucks is bound to entertain you. Surprise you. And yes, make you feel at home, whether you’re Lutheran or not.
Gourmet Today: More Than 1000 All-New Recipes for the Contemporary Kitchen by Ruth Reichl, $40.00
Featuring the best of Gourmet Today magazine, menus for holidays and other seasonal occasions, an authoritative glossary of ingredients, and hundreds of sidebars, this is the indispensable book for today’s cook. This is the modern Joy of Cooking!
Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street: A Moral Compass for the New Economy by Jim Wallis, $24.00
When we start with the wrong question, no matter how good an answer we get, it won’t give us the results we want. Rather than joining the throngs who are asking, “When will this economic crisis be over?” Jim Wallis says the right question to ask is “How will this crisis change us?” In the pages of this book, Wallis provides us with a moral compass for a new economy—one that will guide us on Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street.
Rick Steves’ Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves, $16.95
One of the world’s most famous travel writers shows how international travel can foster cultural understanding, peace, and help individuals tackle their own insecurities and fears.
It’s Really All about God: Reflections of a Muslim Atheist Jewish Christian by Samir Selmanovic, $24.95
It’s Really All About God is a very personal story and a thrilling exploration of a redeeming, dynamic, and radically different way to hold one’s religion. Readers will deepen their religious identities while discovering God, goodness, and grace beyond their own religious boundaries.
The Breath of the Soul: Reflections on Prayer by Joan Chittister, $12.95
This simple little book from a great spiritual giant attends to what we human beings are most inclined to forget: preparing for and engaging in prayer. It is an examination of what we ourselves must bring to the discipline of prayer — whatever form it takes — in order to make prayer authentic and real, a deep and profound part of our lives.
Dogs & Devotion by the Monks of New Skete, $16.99
Dogs & Devotion commemorates that special relationship with a gorgeous volume sure to delight any dog lover. Like the Monks’ previous book, I & Dog, this book takes readers on an eloquent exploration of the profound attachment between human and dog, with spectacular photography alongside inspirational passages from the monks.
A Mad Desire to Dance: A Novel by Elie Wiesel, regularly $25.00—our price $17.50
From the Nobel laureate author of “Night” comes a searing new novel about a man whose life is shaped by his changing grasp of the horrors of the 20th century.
Prayerfulness: Awakening to the Fullness of Life by Robert J. Wicks, $20.00
Blending insights from Christian contemplative practice and Buddhist mindfulness, a well-known speaker, therapist, and spiritual guide introduces what he calls prayerfulness, a way of being truly in the present to experience God and life in dynamic new ways.
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, regularly $26.99—our price $18.89
In her first novel in nine years, Kingsolver tells the story of Harrison William Shepherd, an unforgettable protagonist whose search for identity takes readers to the heart of the 20th century’s most tumultuous events—from the Mexico City of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR, and J. Edgar Hoover. “The Lacuna” is a poignant story of a man pulled between two nations as they invent their modern identities.
Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild by Michael Forsberg, $45.00
The Great Plains were once among the greatest grasslands on the planet. But as the United States and Canada grew westward, the Plains were plowed up, fenced in, overgrazed, and otherwise degraded. Today, this fragmented landscape is the most endangered and least protected ecosystem in North America. But all is not lost on the prairie. Through lyrical photographs, essays, historical images, and maps, this beautifully illustrated book gets beneath the surface of the Plains, revealing the lingering wild that still survives and whose diverse natural communities, native creatures, migratory traditions, and natural systems together create one vast and extraordinary whole.
Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother Daughter Story by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor, regularly $25.95—our price $18.17
In this intimate dual memoir, Sue and her daughter, Ann, offer distinct perspectives as a fifty-something and a twenty-something, each on a quest to redefine herself and to rediscover each other. Between 1998 and 2000, Sue and Ann travel throughout Greece and France. Sue, coming to grips with aging, caught in a creative vacuum, longing to reconnect with her grown daughter, struggles to enlarge a vision of swarming bees into a novel. Ann, just graduated from college, heartbroken and benumbed by the classic question about what to do with her life, grapples with a painful depression. As this modern-day Demeter and Persephone chronicle the richly symbolic and personal meaning of an array of inspiring figures and sites, they also each give voice to that most protean of connections: the bond of mother and daughter.
Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical Terms by Rolf A. Jacobson, $17.99
Communicating key stories and messages of the Christian Bible in a form that is fun, accessible, and appealing, this cheeky volume is an alphabetically organized dictionary that contains approximately 275 entries relating to events, Bible individuals, and more.
Voices of a People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove, $22.95
Timed to coincide with the documentary, this book tells America’s story from the point of view of—and in the words of—women, factory workers, African Americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. Zinn shows that many of our country’s greatest battles were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. In this updated companion to A People’s History of the United States he introduces four new voices: Camilo Mejia, the first U.S. soldier serving in Iraq to go public with his refusal to continue fighting Bush’s war; Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in action in Iraq, and whose speeches galvanized sentiment against the occupation of Iraq; Kevin Tillman, whose brother Pat, a former NFL player, was killed in Afghanistan in a case of “friendly fire”; and twelve-year-old Evann Orleck-Jetter, who testified before a 2009 public hearing of the Joint Senate and House Judiciary Committee in Vermont in support of equal rights for gay and lesbian families.
