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Spirituality and Religion July 2020
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Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart D. Ehrman What it is: an accessible and thought-provoking look at historical conceptions of heaven and hell across continents, cultures, and faiths.
Topics include: the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homeric Hades, Plato's views on the idea of an immortal soul, and what the Bible actually says about the afterlife.
About the author: Noted biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman is the author of numerous books about early Christianity, including Misquoting Jesus and Jesus Before the Gospels. | | The Dairy Restaurant by Ben Katchor What it's about: the deeply rooted relationship between Judaism and food, from the Garden of Eden's forbidden fruit to Tevye the dairyman to the long history of kosher restaurants in New York.
Read it for: the nostalgic tone and use of images which enlivens this entertaining journey into an overlooked topic.
Reviewers say: "...this graphic history shows again Katchor’s gimlet eye for curious connections and obsessive attention to detail" (Publishers Weekly). | | The Knights of Columbus: An Illustrated History by Andrew T. Walther and Maureen H. Walther What it's about: the history of American Catholic religious order the Knights of Columbus, which was established in Connecticut during the Gilded Age.
Who it's for: readers interested in the immigration of Catholics to the United States; anyone looking for insider information (as both authors have ties to the organization that give them unique access). | | Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution by Mona Eltahawy What it is: a well-researched, impassioned critique of difficulties faced by women in parts of the Arab world, with an exploration of their social and religious origins and the continued efforts of women to advocate for themselves.
Is it for you? Egyptian-American author Mona Eltahawy isn't afraid to discuss distressing topics in depth, from her own experiences with sexual harassment and assault to the difficult-to-eradicate practice of genital mutulation. | | The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem by Stacy Schiff What it's about: the road to and fallout of the notorious witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.
Read it for: the analysis of the social, political and religious forces that created the perfect circumstances for paranoia and superstition to spiral out of control.
Author alert: Guggenheim fellow and Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff has also written biographies of historical and cultural notables such as Cleopatra, Vera Nabokov, Benjamin Franklin, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. | |
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Boca Raton Public Library 400 NW 2nd AvenueBoca Raton, Florida 334321501 NW Spanish River Blvd. Boca Raton, Florida 33431 561-393-7852www.bocalibrary.org/ |
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