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Spirituality and Religion May 2019
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| The Lost Gutenberg: The Astounding Story of One Book's Five-Hundred-Year Odyssey by Margaret Leslie DavisWhat it's about: Gutenberg Bible #45 (printed by the man himself in the 1450s) and the compelling stories of some of the book's remarkable owners.
Don't miss: the dramatic story of Estelle Doheny, who brought the book to America; the book's role in the development of new technology to examine rare books without harming them.
Reviewers say: "a gripping, well-researched account of the importance of books as cultural artifacts" (Library Journal). |
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The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life's Direction and Purpose by Oprah WinfreyWhat it's About: The award-winning global media leader and philanthropist offers a guide for identifying one's purpose and creating a framework for a life that is both successful and meaningful, sharing inspirational quotes by some of today's most influential cultural figures.
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Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E LipstadtWhat it's About: The award-winning author of The Eichmann Trial shares a provocative analysis of the persistence of antisemitism in today's world, identifying its overt practices by both the political right and left while sharing recommendations for what can be done
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| Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam HarrisWhat it is: a thought-provoking argument for secular meditation, with an exploration of the cognitive and emotional benefits that can be gained even outside of organized religion.
You might also like: Into the Magic Shop by James Doty and Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman; both of which explore the connections between the mind, body, and spirit.
Want a taste? "I am often asked what will replace organized religion. The answer, I believe, is nothing and everything." |
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| Siddhartha's Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment by James KingslandWhat it's about: the modern neuroscience behind ancient Buddhist practice, using the story of Siddhartha Gautama's journey of spiritual development as a framework.
Read it for: the straightforward and concise writing style; the exploration of modern mindfulness-based psychotherapies and the research on their effectiveness.
You might also like: An End to Suffering by Pankaj Mishra or The Quantum and the Lotus by Matthieu Ricard, both of which explore Buddhism and modernity. |
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| The Human Instinct: How We Evolved to Have Reason, Consciousness, and Free Will by Kenneth MillerWhat it is: an engaging and upbeat assessment of commonly held yet erroneous beliefs about the evolution of the human brain, as philosophical as it is science-based.
What sets it apart: the deft handling of the emotionally charged topics, such as the divide between the spirit and science; the approachable and conversational tone.
About the author: Kenneth Miller is the author of Finding Darwin's God and a biology professor at Brown University. |
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| Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search For The Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia by Michael ShermerWhat it's about: In this moving and accessible discussion of the afterlife, columnist Michael Shermer asks questions about why people have such strongly held beliefs about what happens after death.
Don't miss: the inclusion of topics like life extension and cryonics, which supports Shermer's assertion that science doesn't have all the answers yet either.
Try this next: Inventing Afterlives by Regina M. Janes; Glimpsing Heaven by Judy Bachrach. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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