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Spirituality and Religion July 2018
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| I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing BrownWhat it is: an impassioned account of what it's like to be a black Christian woman in the U.S.; a history of the author's journey into activism; and a study of how churches helped her find her identity -- and can play a role in racial reconciliation.
For fans of: candid and personal social critiques (such as Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me) and those interested in improving race relations at church -- and elsewhere. |
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| The Light Within Me by Ainsley EarhardtWhat it is: a memoir by Fox News journalist and Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt, in which she reflects on the role that faith has played in her personal and professional life.
Who it's for: Earhardt's many fans; readers looking for an inspiring account of letting one's faith provide guidance and support in challenging circumstances.
Ainsley Earhardt's Fox News webpage |
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Costly Grace : An Evangelical Minister's Rediscovery of Faith, Hope, and Love by Robert SchenckWhat it's about: The author recalls his life as a controversial Washington, D.C. evangelical minister and spiritual advisor to America's political class. He begins with his conversion from Judaism to born-again Christianity, and then finding his calling in public ministry. He chronicles his years as an activist leader of the most extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement, brazenly mixing ministry with Republican political activism. Finally he reflects on his unconscious abandonment of Christian principles in the face of fame and influence, and ultimately his return to the lessons Jesus imparted. Today Schenck works to liberate the evangelical community from a politicized gospel, urging partisan conservatives to move beyond social battles and forsake the politics of hate, fear, and violence.
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| Resist and Persist: Faith and the Fight for Equality by Erin WathenWhat it is: An examination of the challenges to women's equality in light of our current culture and political climate and calls women and men alike to break through the barriers that hold us all back. Who it's for: anyone who considers themselves a Christian feminist.
Reviewers say: "a much-needed manifesto" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Focus on: Stillness, simplicity, solitude
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| Out of the Woods: A Memoir of Wayfinding by Lynn DarlingWhat it is: a widow's journey of self-discovery in the woods of rural Vermont, precipitated by her daughter's departure for college. Stuck in a sort of frozen limbo, Lynn Darling explores the forest around her and discovers herself in the process.
Why you might like it: Though initially directionless, Darling's eventual determination makes her easy to empathize with; her candid exploration of middle age will appeal to those in a similar stage of life. |
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| How to Relax by Thich Nhat HanhWhat it is: a guide to mindfulness practices that emphasize the importance of recharging and relaxing.
Why you might like it: The short meditations, simple advice kindly delivered, and charming illustrations will help you stay calm and connected in a busy, stressful world. |
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| The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico IyerWhat it's about: the theory that in our tech-obsessed present, it's more important than ever to slow down, unplug, and sit quietly.
Start with: Author Pico Iyer's TED Talk on the topic.
Read it for: examples from the lives of people who have sought stillness, from celebrities like Leonard Cohen to academics like a French molecular biologist who became a Tibetan monk. |
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| Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown TaylorWhat it is: an elegantly worded meditation on darkness or, as the author says, "anything that scares me."
Why you might like it: Discussing darkness both literal (a cave, simulated blindness) to metaphorical (loss of faith, loss of life), Barbara Brown Taylor argues that time in the dark can lead to spiritual growth.
Reviewers say: "Taylor is always a wonderful guide to the spiritual world, and this book is no exception" (Booklist). |
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