Upcoming Releases—Spiritual Living 2006
By Tania Barnes -- Library Journal, 5/1/2006
JULY
Chopra, Deepak. Power, Freedom, and Grace. Amber Allen. 248p. ISBN 1-878424-81-5. $15.The latest from best-selling author Chopra uses the the ancient spiritual tradition of Vedanta to lay the groundwork for lasting joy. Gibbs, David with Bob DeMoss. Fighting for Dear Life: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo and What It Means for All of Us. Bethany. 272p. ISBN 0-7642-0243-X. $19.99.
The deeply fraught Terry Schiavo case divided the nation. Gibbs, a member of the Christian Law Association and Schiavo’s parents’ attorney, comes down on the “right to life” side in his account of her last days. He lives near Tampa, FL; a 100,000-copy print run. Goswami, Amit. The Visionary Window: A Quantum Physicist’s Guide to Enlightenment. Quest. 342p. ISBN 0-8356-0845-X. pap. $21.95.
Physicist Goswami draws on Hindu tradition to claim that consciousness—not matter—is the origin of being. He lives in Eugene, OR. Flesher, LeAnn Snow. Left Behind?: The Facts Behind the Fiction. Judson. 160p. ISBN 0-8170-1490-X. pap. $14.
Although the “Left Behind” series has been widely popular, its biblical reading is wildly inaccurate, maintains this professor of Old Testament studies at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA.
Hansen, Mark Victor & Art Linkletter. How To Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life. Nelson. 272p. ISBN 0-7852-1890-4. $24.99.
Best known to the world as the “Chicken Soup for the Soul® guy,” Hansen and TV legend Linkletter argue that getting old doesn’t have to mean getting stale. Jordan, Lane P. 12 Steps to Becoming a More Organized Mom. Hendrickson. 250p. ISBN 1-56563-309-1. pap. $14.95.
Learn how to be the woman—and mother—“God intends,” with timesaving tips and biblical advice from author and stay-at-home mom Jordan. Kullberg, Kelly Monroe. Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas. InterVarsity. 256p. ISBN 0-8308-3387-0. $20.
Kullberg seeks out her own truth—“veritas”—in her latest spiritual quest. A Harvard grad and a Christian, she makes her home in Columbus, OH. Michaels, Mark A. & Patricia Johnson. Essence of Tantric Sexuality. Llewellyn. 240p. ISBN 0-7387-0900-X. pap. $17.95.
Michaels unlocks the secrets to transcendent Tantric sexuality for beginners and beyond. Ogden, Gina. The Heart and Soul of Sex. Trumpeter. 240p. ISBN 1-59030-294-X. $22.95.
Sex therapist Ogden, who practices in Cambridge, MA, argues that sex and spirituality are intimately linked.
Rowland, Amy Z. Intuitive Reiki for Our Times: Essential Techniques for Enhancing Your Practice. Healing Arts. 256p. ISBN 1-59477-099-9. pap. $19.95.
Fusing Eastern and Western practices, certified Reiki master Rowland’s guide focuses on the intuitive. Rowland lives in Pennsylvania. Waskow, Arthur & others. The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Beacon. 224p. ISBN 0-8070-7728-3. $24.95.
The story of the great ecumenical figure Abraham is told here by a rabbi, a Benedictine sister, and a sufi scholar. Can religious peace be far behind? Wojton, Djuna. Karmic Healing: Clearing Past Life Blocks to Present Day Love, Health, and Happiness. Ten Speed. 224p. ISBN 1-58091-178-8 [ISBN 978-1-58091-178-8]. $16.95.
Spring cleaning? Get rid of those pesky past-life blocks with this guide to karmic healing. A former columnist for America Online, Wojton lives in Philadelphia.
AUGUST
Aaron, David. Inviting God In: Celebrating the Soul-Meaning of the Jewish Holy Days. Trumpeter. 208p. ISBN 1-59030-337-7. $21.95.Not just the how but the why of Jewish holy days, from a highly respected rabbi. Alexander, Shaun. Touchdown Alexander: My Story of Faith, Football, and Pursuing the Dream. Harvest House. 250p. ISBN 0-7369-1937-6 [ISBN 978-0-7369-1937-1]. $22.99.
Seattle Seahawks running back Alexander details how God inspired—and inspires—him to greatness. Bauman, Stephen. Simple Truths: On Values, Civility, and Our Common Good. Abingdon. 192p. ISBN 0-687-33341-5. $19.
A radio commentator and senior pastor of Christ Church in New York City, Bauman muses on simple but profoundly significant truths. Beattie, Melody. The Grief Club: The Secret to Getting Through All Kinds of Change. Hazelden. 250p. ISBN 1-59285-359-8. pap. $14.95.
Recovery-world icon Beattie draws on religions east and west (Christianity) and a 12-step program to reveal the secret to getting through grief: join the club. Borsellino, Chuck. Pinocchio Parenting: 21 Outrageous Lies We Tell Our Kids. Howard. 256p. ISBN 1-58229-572-7 [ISBN 978-1-58229-572-6]. $17.99.
Ordained minister and cohost of TV’s At Home with Chuck and Jenni, Borsellino gives the lie to statements like “you can be anything you want”; his parenting approach points children to God’s unique purpose for them. He lives in Dallas. Burns, Jim. Creating an Intimate Marriage: Rekindle Romance Through Affection, Warmth and Encouragement. Bethany. 208p. ISBN 0-7642-0243-X. $19.99.
Refresh your “marriage spirituality” and reconnect with your spouse under the Christian guidance of popular radio host Burns, who lives in California; a $150,000 ad campaign. Cosden, Darrell T. The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work. Hendrickson. 224p. ISBN 1-56563-669-4. pap. $17.95.
Live a “purpose-full Christian life” by synchronizing your work on Earth with God’s mission, from a theology and ethics lecturer at International College, Glasgow, Scotland. Dunn, Jeff & Craig Bubeck. The Gospel According to Dan Brown: The True Message Behind the Mysteries. Victor: Cook. 240p. ISBN 0-7814-4440-3 [ISBN 978-0-7814-4440-8]. $19.99.
Tease out gospel fact from fiction with this guide to Brown’s books. Dunn lives in Tulsa; Bubeck hails from Colorado Springs. Farrar, Steve. How To Ruin Your Life by 40. Moody. 176p. ISBN 0-8024-3322-7 [ISBN 978-0-8024-3322-0]. pap. $13.99.
The repercussions of mistakes made at 20 can resonate for years. Farrar’s “Godly” Christian advice encourages readers to contemplate consequences and act mindfully. Farrar is the founder of Men’s Leadership Ministries in Bryan, TX. Gugliotti, Nick. I Had Other Plans, Lord: How God Turns Pain into Promise. Life Journey: Cook. 256p. ISBN 0-7814-4304-0 [ISBN 978-0-7814-4304-3]. pap. $13.99.
Former marketing exec and current Christian counselor Gugliotti recounts his path to promise—and Christ—through the pain of illness. He lives in Oakville, CT. Hammer, Jill. The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons. Jewish Pubn. Society. 400p. ISBN 0-8276-0831-4. $30.
Rabbi Hammer offers daily readings, sacred stories, and more to carry you through the Hebrew calendar. Maxwell, John C. The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset. Nelson Business. 208p. ISBN 0-7852-6098-6. $17.99.
Your attitude can be your best asset, in business and beyond. Best-selling author Maxwell (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership) shows you how to adjust yours. Mithoefer, Biff. The Yin Yoga Kit: The Practice of Quiet Power. Healing Arts. 128p. ISBN 1-59477-116-2. $24.95 with CD.
An alternative to activity-oriented yang style yoga is yin yoga teacher Mithoefer’s more meditative approach. He lives in Vermont. Sheinkin, Stephen. The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom and Wit in the Wild West. Jewish Lights. 200p. ISBN 1-58023-310-4 [ISBN 978-1-58023-310-1]. pap. $16.99.
Move over manga: Sheinkin’s spiritual graphic novel retells favorite Jewish folklore as set on the Western frontier in the 1870s. Shultze, Quentin J. An Essential Guide to Public Speaking: Serving Your Audience with Faith, Skill & Virtue. Baker Academic. 112p. ISBN 0-8010-3151-6. pap. $12.99.
Speak in public with confidence—and Christian virtue, from the chair in faith and communication at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. Silk, Louise. The Quilting Path: A Guide to Spiritual Discovery Through Fabric, Thread, and Kabbalah. Skylight. 200p. ISBN 1-59473-206-X [ISBN 978-1-59473-206-5]. pap. $16.99.
In the prosaic the profound? Quilt your way to divinity with aptly named professional quilter Silk, a member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. Stott, John. Through the Bible, Through the Year. Baker Pub. Group. 416p. ISBN 0-8010-1267-8. $24.99.
Follow the church calendar and be enriched. Though he lives in London, England, Stott was named one of Time magazine’s “25 most influential Evangelicals in America.” Summerall, Pat. Summerall. Nelson. 240p. ISBN 0-7852-1492-5. $24.99.
American Sportscasters Hall of Famer Summerall tells the story of his life—chock-full of not just the drama of the games but personal drama as well: a near fatal battle with alcoholism and his discovery of Christian faith. Waddell, Marshéle Carter. Hope for the Home Front: Winning the Emotional and Spiritual Battles of a Military Wife. New Hope. 176p. ISBN 1-59669-032-1 [ISBN 978-1-59669-032-5]. pap. $10.99.
Waddell equips military wives with the spiritual and emotional artillery to survive the separation. Founder of One Hope Ministries, Waddell herself is a military wife and lives in Virginia Beach.
SEPTEMBER
Ashley-Farrand, Thomas. Chakra Mantras: How To Liberate Your Spiritual Genius Through Chanting. Weiser. 288p. ISBN 1-57863-367-2 [ISBN 978-1-57863-367-8]. pap. $16.95.Liberate your chakras and let your spirituality bloom. Ashley-Farrand—preeminent authority on yogic mantras—knows of what he chants. Chapman, Gary & Jennifer Thomas. The Five Languages of Apology. Moody. 224p. ISBN 1-881273-57-1. $22.99.
Apologize with sincerity and sustain your vital relationships. Chapman is a pastor at Calvary Baptist church in North Carolina and a New York Times best-selling author. Chödrön, Pema. Practicing Peace in Times of War: A Buddhist Perspective. Shambhala. 128p. ISBN 1-59030-401-2. $15.95.
American buddhist nun Chödrön, who resides in Nova Scotia, heralds a call to peace in our war-torn times. She says it starts with the individual. Easwaran, Eknath. Take Your Time: How To Find Patience, Peace, and Meaning. Nilgiri Pr. 224p. ISBN 1-58638-018-4. pap. $15.
It is actually our minds and not external events that are making us feel manic. Spiritual guru Easwaran engages meditation—and eschews multitasking—for a mind over mind approach. Farrington, Debra. Ark and Covenant: The Blessing of Animal Companions. Paraclete. 160p. ISBN 1-55725-472-9. pap. $16.95.
We live in a covenantal relationship with animals we bring into our homes, Farrington argues. She investigates what this means in terms of their birth, care, illness, and death. Hendricks, Patricia. Hungry Souls, Holy Companions: Mentoring a New Generation of Christians. Morehouse. 128p. ISBN 0-8192-2196-1 [ISBN 978-0-8192-2196-4]. pap. $15.95.
Young people represent the future of the church; they also present unique challenges. Learn how to be the spiritual companion to this iconoclastic group. Hendricks is a spiritual director and leader of the Christos Spiritualist Center in Milwaukee. James, Steven. Sailing Between the Stars: Musings on the Mysteries of Faith. Revell. 224p. ISBN 0-8007-3164-6 [ISBN 978-0-8007-3164-9]. pap. $12.99.
Author James explores Christianity’s paradoxes to reveal a God who is irrational, unrealistic—and remarkably true. He lives in Johnson City, TN. Joynes, Monty with Neale Donald Walsch. Conversations with God: The Making of the Movie. Hampton Roads. 160p. ISBN 1-57174-499-1. $24.95.
The film Conversations with God charted Walsch’s rags-to-riches journey from homeless man to spiritual guru. This book charts the cinematic process, with Walsch’s commentary. Joynes is coauthor, The Celestine Prophecy: The Making of the Movie. Kisly, Lorraine, ed. The Inner Journey: Views From the Christian Tradition. Morning Light. 350p. ISBN 1-59675-008-1. $22.50.
Explore what it means to be a Christian—with such notables as Elaine Pagels, Thomas Merton, and Philip Zaleski—in this collection from the pages of Parabola magazine. Levey, Joel & Michelle Levey. Luminous Mind: The Essential Guide to Meditation and Mind Fitness. Conari. 272p. ISBN 1-57324-296-9 [ISBN 978-1-57324-296-7]. pap. $11.95.
Engaging wisdom both old and new, the Leveys offer meditation practice (and spiritual peace) to the harried, sick, and stressed. McGraw, Robin. Inside My Heart: Choosing To Live with Passion and Purpose . Nelson. 288p. ISBN 0-7852-1836-X. $24.99.
The wife of Dr. Phil urges women to seek out their unique purpose—and find life satisfaction. Meyer, Joyce. The Confident Woman: Start Today Living Boldly and Without Fear. Warner Faith. 256p. ISBN 0-446-53198-7 [ISBN 978-0-446-53198-6]. $29.99.
Become a bold, confident woman through faith in Christ. A best-selling author and minister to women, Meyer resides in St. Louis. Morgan, Brandt. Vision Walk: A Simple Path to Clarity on Life’s Toughest Questions. St. Lynn’s. 200p. ISBN 0-9767631-4-1. pap. $16.95.
Find the answers you seek through 30-minute waking dream meditations. Morgan is a teacher of Toltec and Native American traditions. Oliver, Joan Duncan. Good Karma: How To Find It and Keep It. Sterling. 176p. ISBN 1-84483-323-2. pap. $12.95.
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Augur good reactions—karma—through good acts. Oliver has written about spirituality for publications such as Health and the New York Times.
Parrott, Les & Leslie Parrott. Your Time-Starved Marriage: How To Stay Connected at the Speed of Life. Zondervan. 192p. ISBN 0-310-24597-4 [ISBN 978-0-310-24597-1]. $18.99.
This Christian living titles shows couples how to maximize the moments they have together—and have more of them. The Parrotts codirect the Center for Relationship Development, Seattle Pacific University. Ryan, Marcus. Restless Journey. Harvest House. 250p. ISBN 0-7369-1735-7 [ISBN 978-0-7369-1735-3]. $18.99.
There are plenty of books geared toward the Christian woman seeking spiritual direction; here’s one for Christian men. From the director of Internet content and development for Charles Stanley’s InTouch Ministries, Atlanta. Thompson, Janet. Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer. Howard. 400p. ISBN 1-58229-575-1 [ISBN 978-1-58229-575-6]. pap. $19.99.
Spiritual and practical support for women suffering from breast cancer. Thompson leads the woman’s mentoring ministry at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA.
OCTOBER
Adam, Betty. The Magdalene Mystique: Living the Spirituality of Mary Today. Morehouse. 128p. ISBN 0-8192-2231-3 [ISBN 978-0-8192-2231-2]. pap. $13.95.Mary Magdalene was more than just one of Jesus’s followers, she was a disciple with a gospel of her own. Episcopal priest (and resident theologian at Chirst Church Cathedral in Houston, TX), Adam sheds light on her mystical vision. Allardice, Pamela. Slow Up: 199 Ways To Calm Your Mind, Relax Your Body and Inspire Your Spirit. Allen & Unwin. 256p. ISBN 1-74114-622-4. pap. $15.95.
For busy women everywhere: a guide to a balanced life through meditation, yoga, and simple, delicious food. Doades, Joanne. Parenting Jewish Teens: A Guide for the Perplexed. Jewish Lights. 200p. ISBN 1-58023-305-8 [ISBN 978-1-58023-305-7]. pap. $16.99.
Has your Jewish teen morphed from loving child to angry adolescent? Fret not, this field manual, the first of its kind, is here to the rescue. Doades is a resident of New York. Dollar, Creflo A. Claim Your Victory Today: Ten Steps That Will Revolutionize Your Life. Warner Faith. 200p. ISBN 0-446-58005-8. $NA.
There is a time and a season for everything. This insight grounds this guide, from founder of World Changes Church International, to accessing God’s abundance. Dollar makes his home in Atlanta. Emoto, Masaru. Water Crystal Healing: Music and Images To Restore Your Well-Being. Beyond Words: Atria: S. & S. 60p. ISBN 1-58270-156-3. $29.95.
Emoto maintains that classical music and crystals will heal you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. A best-selling author, he has millions of books in print in over 25 countries. Harley, Willard F., Jr. I Promise You: Preparing for a Marriage That Will Last a Lifetime. Revell. 208p. ISBN 0-8007-1893-3. $17.99.
By some estimations, 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. Marriage counselor Harley aims to show couples how to land on the winning side of a losing equation. He lives with his wife of 40 years in White Bear Lake, MN.
Hawkes, Joyce Whiteley. Cell-Level Healing: The Bridge from Soul to Cell. Beyond Words: Atria: S. & S. 176p. ISBN 1-58270-146-6. $22.95.
Biophysicist—turned—spiritual healer Hawkes teaches readers how to heal the body through communion with the soul. Illian, Jason. Undressed: The Naked Truth About Love, Sex, and Dating. Warner Faith. 256p. ISBN 0-446-52674-6. $NA.
Illian guides singles in making uncomproming moral—and Christian—choices in the fraught world of dating. Jewell, Joe B. The Elements of Prayer: Learning To Pray in Real Life. New World Lib. 128p. ISBN 1-57731-547-2. $16.
The format’s the same, the content is different: Methodist pastor Jewell uses The Elements of Style as a blueprint for his prayer primer. Kelly, Matthew. Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Happiness. Ballantine. 288p. ISBN 0-345-49440-7. $22.95.
Find inner peace by living in the now and creating realistic expectations. Immensely popular inspirational speaker Kelly, a native of Australia, makes his home in Cincinnati; with a 35-city lecture tour. Lafouge, Jean-Pierre, ed. For God’s Greater Glory: Gems of Jesuit Spirituality. World Wisdom. 240p. ISBN 1-933316-11-X. pap. $22.95.
For all those who seek to know God comes this compilation of writings from three of the most important representatives of the Jesuit order: Louis Lallement, Jean Pierre Caussade, and Claude de la Columbiere. Lovern, Sandy. Engaged!: A Devotional To Help a Bride-To-Be Navigate Down the Aisle. New Hope. 176p. ISBN 1- 59669-035-6 [ISBN 978-1-59669-035-6]. $14.99.
This three-month devotional will help guide the bride down the aisle confident in herself and her faith. Marshall, John, III. Keep Going: The Lakota Way of Life. Sterling. 144p. ISBN 1-4027-3607-X. $17.95.
After the death of his father, Lakota Indian Marshall sought his grandfather’s counsel—and learned the necessity of perseverance. Tie-in with Native American Heritage month (Nov.). Raiten-D’Antonio, Toni. The Velveteen Principles for Women: More Wisdom on Becoming Real. Health Communications. 224p. ISBN 0-7573-0561-X. $16.95.
This follow-up to her highly successful (and widely praised) Velveteen Principles finds author and psychotherapist Raiten-D’Antonio delving deeper into her 12 principles for an authentic life. She practices on Long Island, NY. Robertson, Jon. Fire and Light: An Off-Road Search for the Spirit of God. Ten Speed. 240p. ISBN 1-58761-266-6 [ISBN 978-1-58761-266-4]. pap. $16.95.
Wending his way through the Bible, the Qu’ran, the Bhagavad Gita, the teachings of mysticism and psychotherapy, and more, author Robertson—a resident of Virginia Beach—locates a divinity accessible to all. Struecker, John. The Road to Unafraid. W: Thomas Nelson. 224p. ISBN 0-8499-0060-3. $19.99.
In the midst of fear, God taught Struecker—a Black Hawk Down hero, the army’s top ranger, and now an army chaplain—to focus on faith. Wesemann, Tim. Jack Bauer’s Having a Bad Day: An Unauthorized Investigation of Faith in 24: Season 1. Life Journey: Cook. 240p. ISBN 0-7814-4384-9 [ISBN 978-0-7814-4384-5]. $19.99.
24 isn’t just a hit TV show, maintains Wesemann, it also offers life lessons in faith. A former pastor, Wesemann lives in St. Louis. Zahn, Tina with Wanda Dyson. Why I Jumped: My True Story of Postpartum Depression, Dramatic Rescue & Return to Hope. Revell. 256p. ISBN 0-8007-1891-7 [ISBN 978-0-8007-1891-6]. $19.99.
On July 19, 2004, driven to the depths of postpartum depression, Zahn threw herself from a bridge in Green Bay, WI. This is the true story of her fight back to life—and hope.
NOVEMBER
Barks, Coleman. A Year with Rumi: Daily Readings from His Poems. HarperSanFrancisco: HarperCollins. 448p. ISBN 0-06-084597-X [ISBN 978-0-06-084597-1]. $19.95.Take a 365-day spiritual journey with the world’s most popular poet, featuring never-before-published poems. Barks taught at the University of Georgia for 30 years. Borg, Marcus J. Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Surprising Relevance of a Spiritual Revolutionary. HarperSanFrancisco: HarperCollins. 288p. ISBN 0-06-059445-4 [ISBN 978-0-06-059445-9]. $25.95; lrg. prnt. ISBN 0-06-114592-0. $25.95.
Jesus is as relevant today as he was two millennia ago, argues Jesus-expert Borg—and as inspirational as ever. Borg resides in Portland, OR. Eldredge, John. The Way of the Wild Heart. Nelson. 256p. ISBN 0-7852-0677-9. $22.99.
Through the six stages of manhood, Eldredge argues, God equips men with the tools to initiate their own sons into manhood. He is the founder and director of Ransomed Heart™ Ministries in Colorado Springs. Jenson, Robert W. & Solveig Lucia Gold. Conversations with Poppi About God. Brazos. 160p. ISBN 1-58743-186-6 [ISBN 978-58743-186-9]. $18.99.
The great theologian Jenson muses unscripted with his eight-year-old granddaughter on everything God: from the meaning of the Trinity to what He looks like. Manser, Martin H. The Quotable Bible. Gramercy. 448p. ISBN 0-517-22855-6. $9.99.
Want to know what the Bible has to say about love? What about power or ambition? This collection, organized thematically, makes it easy. Manser, a reference books editor and writer, lives in England. Merrill, Nan C. Journey into Love. Continuum. 160p. ISBN 0-8264-1904-6. pap. $16.95.
Exploring the paths Jesus took, ecumenical author Merrill (Psalms for Praying) looks at prospects for world peace post-9/11. Smith, Harold Ivan. A Long-Shadowed Grief: Suicide and Its Aftermath. Cowley Pubns. 176p. ISBN 1-56101-281-5. pap. $14.95.
Suicide casts a long shadow; grief and spirituality speaker Smith guides family and friends back into light and faith in its wake. St. Augustine, John. Living an Uncommon Life: Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People. Hampton Roads. 272p. ISBN 1-57174-510-6. pap. $15.95.
Nationally syndicated talk-radio host St. Augustine saw a pattern among the thousands of extraordinary guests he interviewed, from Oprah Winfrey to John Denver; they all refused to give up. Wilson, Kimberly. Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life on and off the Yoga Mat. Inner Ocean. 224p. ISBN 1-930722-71-0. pap. $16.95.
Want to live a “mindfully extravagant life”? Well, who doesn’t? Designer, fashionista, and yoga guru Wilson shows you how. She lives in Washington, DC.
DECEMBER
Gordon, David. Mindful Dreaming. Career Pr. 256p. ISBN 1-56414-922-6. pap. $14.99.Nationwide lecturer and dream specialist Gordon helps decode dreams’ spiritual lessons—and urges us to take them to heart. He runs the Dreamwork Institute in Norfolk, VA.
