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Relevant and practical in a time of church leader scandals and faith deconstruction, this book offers an empathy-filled way forward. It is a good addition to a religion or spiritual self-help section.
Readers may not always agree with Elie’s contentions in this fascinating, well-written book, but they will never be bored.
PREMIUM
Shamanism: The Timeless Religion
A convincing journey into powerful realms of religious knowing.
No matter how familiar readers are with the gospels, the stories Pagels has woven together offer new takes on who Jesus was and what it means to bring facts to faith with clarity and curiosity.
What makes this work different from others in the genre is its balanced approach to demonstrating how faith and belief in God make sense, while examining perspectives from experts with opposing viewpoints. The book’s organizational format makes it easy to follow the complex arguments and effectively highlights the centrality of faith in Christianity. A valuable addition to any library’s religion collection.
Smith’s diagnosis of obsolescence intentionally provides no prognosis, but it is a compelling analysis nonetheless. A careful and fascinating study with implications that go beyond the confines of religion.
PREMIUM
The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues
At times it can be difficult to determine the audience McClellan hopes to reach, as the book’s chapters vary in length and depth, leaving some readers to find it too verbose. The work will best serves readers hoping to resolve specific issues with how the Bible is used in arguments and defenses of particular beliefs.
A deeply comforting and hopeful read. Libraries should consider adding it to their collection for its spiritual insight but also for its practical tools for dealing with loss. Sampson’s book is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with grief, as well as for those seeking to support others through hard times.
PREMIUM
How To Read Genesis (Revised)
This is a short, valuable, and timely look at a misunderstood book.
An absorbing history of Christianity from a revealing angle. Timely, enjoyable, and thoroughly worthwhile.
PREMIUM
Isaac Bashevis Singer: Writings on Yiddish and Yiddishkayt; A Spiritual Reappraisal, 1946–1955
A wonderful collection by an expert storyteller, in a translation that lends vibrancy to the essays. Ideal for readers interested in Jewish studies and literature.
This book is a timely, uplifting resource that speaks to both the heart and mind. With a deep understanding of Scripture and descriptions about her journey, Herr expertly helps readers who want to integrate faith into their professional lives and navigate workplace challenges to reclaim a sense of purpose and hope.
Readers who enjoy richly detailed biographies that read like fiction will appreciate Hoffman’s latest. Many will note comparisons to modern televangelists and women religious leaders.
O’Toole’s thorough book provides an intriguing commentary on the evolution of the religious ritual known as confession and perceptions about what is moral and right, then and now. Recommended for religion collections.
A well-written and generally useful title for understanding and overcoming cognitive biases, for readers of Christian faith or who want to know more about Christian beliefs.
This excellent book skillfully showcases Smith’s method for identifying and healing from grief and finding wholeness. It can be read individually or as a study group. Each chapter opens with a quote by an accomplished Black woman, covers an issue that Black women face, infuses God’s Word, provides solutions, and ends with an encouraging letter to Black women.
This work can easily be used for individual and ministry training. In each chapter, specific characteristics of God are explained and demonstrated, followed by a listing of holy habits, reflection questions, and prayers.
Readers interested in the Catholic Church and religious history will enjoy this insightful work. Contributions from top theologians about the roles that various women played in papal households add considerable depth and detail to the stories of the popes.
Catholic readers celebrating Lent will appreciate Varden’s hopeful insights and distinctive Cistercian perspective on the passion of Christ. The book is designed and billed as a 2025 Lenten devotion, but it would be suitable for using other years or even outside of Lent, especially for people experiencing illnesses or chronic pain or readers interested in hymns.
Incorporating findings from recently released research and documents, this book reads like a fascinating thriller.
These volumes serve as a rich resource for understanding Christianity’s evolution and influence as Stuart guides readers through Christianity’s impact across centuries and continents. Useful for all levels of scholars on this subject.
Philosophically minded thinkers will find this clearly written, accessible work to be rewarding as a challenge to consider other perspectives.
Dougherty is one of only a few people challenging the New Thought philosophy, which has influenced current culture and thinking in the United States. Her book’s tone is conversational and integrates her personal experiences, which is an approach that will appeal to many general readers. It makes a good addition to religion and philosophy collections.
One gets the sense that there are two or three possible books vying for space inside this one packed tome that critiques public displays in the U.S. An important work for students of sociology of place and religion.
Easily the most comprehensive and scholarly work ever written on Francis of Assisi, this highly recommended work belongs in all religious collections.
This book by an author with solid credentials invites readers to pray, eat unprocessed foods, exercise mindfully, and incorporate self-care into their routines. Readers may disagree with some of Nugent’s assertions, but overall, the advice is sensible.
PREMIUM
Aflame: Learning from Silence
A nice addition to the literature on the blessings of quietude. Iyer’s observations about people, places, and himself are beautifully written and may offer readers some reassurance about these troubled times.
This is an advanced text that will be of interest to readers with an active Zen practice or a solid understanding of basic Zen principles and historical figures. It makes a strong addition to collections.
A unique, scholarly take on fast capitalism. González challenges readers to take vigorous social actions against the religion of consumerism that’s embodied by companies such as Disney, Amazon, and Starbucks.
Students with some background in philosophy might find this book more accessible. Readers interested in metaphysics will also appreciate it.
This book is distinctive, highly informative, and useful. Give to readers curious about interreligious relationships and religious history.
A well-researched, engrossing read that demonstrates why the Jewish and Christian communities went their separate ways and how Christianity not only became a spiritual practice but also a political force. Ideal for both religious studies individuals and Bible study groups.
Leach is an inspiring teacher and guide who invites readers (and leaders) to open their eyes, ears, and lives to love. They’re urged to allow the Word of God to be planted like a seed deep within them. This book is perfect for both groups and individuals.
This book parses letters and documents such as the Greek translation of Esther, 3 Maccabees, and Baruch and interacts with the current scholarly conversation on these ancient texts. A useful study for students of ancient Judaism.
Filled with vignettes and details revealing Higgins’s insider view of life at the Vatican, this highly recommended book often has the friendly and joyous feel of someone talking about a dear friend. Pair with Elisabetta Piqué’s Pope Francis: Life and Revolution or Francis: A Pope for Our Time by Luis Rosales and Daniel Olivera.
A compelling view of parables. Readers seeking a scripture-based path to spirituality will enjoy it.
PREMIUM
Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity
This book about the image of women and their perceived societal value is sure to spark much conversation and debate.
A handy guide for tired Christians, but some of its arguments and beliefs may be off-putting to many readers.
An informative, helpful book that will attract readers curious about beatific vision. It’s also a good pick for readers who want to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Christian theology and religious experiences.
Though there is much to consider with Lundgren’s approach and angle, the book’s potential value seems to dissipate. It reads like an unchallenged premise due to its lack of counterpoints and lack of evidence that adequately supports its argument about safety as a false idol.
Most of the recommendations offered in this book are not new to readers concerned about their weight and health. But this title packages wellness culture as a virtue, which could be dangerous if readers do not also seek help from medical professionals.
PREMIUM
Why I Am Roman Catholic
Levering uses numerous quotes from saints, theologians, and obscure sources to support his arguments about Catholicism, ecumenism, and theological interpretations. Best for traditionalist Catholics and like-minded readers.
This title presents simple explanations of how to examine an ancient text for authenticity and veracity. A valuable work for not only religion collections but also seminaries.
An important work of great value for liturgists, preachers, and prayer groups. Even if used only as a tool to reencounter God’s word, it will provoke thought and new considerations that can enrich preaching. A recommended addition to seminary and parish libraries and large theology collections.
This well-researched, well-written reference is packed with information on one of the world’s foremost intellectual, moral, philosophical, and social systems. It’s an indispensable resource for high school and undergraduate students doing term papers, reports, and projects.
PREMIUM
Feh: A Memoir
A page-turning memoir that shouldn’t be missed. Auslander’s nonfiction writing style is often compared to David Sedaris, and readers will see why with this title. It could motivate readers to keep trudging onward, even when life seems overwhelming.
An approachable set of lectures, especially helpful for readers studying Watts and Buddhism in the U.S. from the 1960s to 1973.
Kim has many laudable criticisms and analyses and offers readers insights into the workings of Christianity. The book would benefit, however, from more time spent on its heaviest topics.
Informative, challenging and ultimately quite engrossing, this highly recommended title carefully unpacks selected New Testament passages. It reveals new facets and offers insights into profound and depthless truths about Paul and his understanding of who and what Jesus was.
This recommended scholarly volume offers a fresh, feminist view of the Catholic Church’s history and teachings.
PREMIUM
Walking the Theological Life: Discovering Method for Theology in the Lives of Biblical Characters
Gaines’s approach is a novel one, and readers will gain much insight into theology. This book will be especially useful in academic settings.
This illuminating book aptly examines who really wrote the Bible and is accessible for both scholars and general readers.
A solid case for why the Catholic Church’s position against war is realistic. Cochran provides a much-needed reassessment and refinement of “just war” theory, which is an ethical and moral framework for determining when war is justified.
This fascinating book expertly weaves together a formidable mass of scholarship into an accessible, inviting summary that contextualizes an extensive history of religious encounters within a relatively brief work. It also sheds light on the long and global interconnections of religious ideas and highlights the often ridiculous ways that people have misunderstood and misrepresented one another throughout time.
Rosetti is to be commended for writing the first scholarly book about Musser. This accessible volume puts him in his rightful place among Mormon thinkers; recommended for readers interested in American religious and sectarian history.
While much of the book is aimed at the Catholic Church, the points are applicable to Christianity as a whole. Will appeal to readers interested in a scholarly analysis of the current state of Christianity in the modern world.
An excellent memoir with a sense of humor. It’s full of insight and context regarding a distinctive slice of American Buddhist history.
A helpful title that frames religions as a business. Graduate students, scholars, and readers with a solid religious education will value this title the most.
The essays feel as raw and as powerful as Pavlovitz’s blog. His confrontational style lends itself more to prodding and validating his fellow progressives than persuading conservative evangelicals. Still, his hopefulness about the fight for social justice is refreshing.
A much-needed look at evangelicalism from a perspective that’s both investigative and personal. It offers intriguing, compelling insight with expert reporting.
A compelling, thematically rich, and deeply personal book, for readers exploring spirituality, personal growth, and the intricate relationship between faith and the natural world.
General readers will enjoy this book’s many stories about spiritual experiences and the accessibility of its arguments. Academics, too, can appreciate how the author situates the specifics of the Mormon experience in the larger theoretical discourse of spirit manifestations in other cultures.
Readers interested in military and Korean War history and faith-based stories will enjoy this book about a man whose simple yet profound piety influenced all who came in contact with him, regardless of their faith or background.
An intriguing, illustrated volume that showcases the link between Jewish artifacts and U.S. history.
Written from the perspective of progressive British Judaism, this will appeal to readers looking for a modern take on the Torah. While this type of book could be read weekly in conjunction with the Torah passage for that week, there is enough ongoing narrative to sustain a straight-through reading.
A relevant and useful title that’s perfect for readers interested in Judaism, theology, religious ethics, or social justice.
A stunning debut volume in which the photography reigns and the clear and brief descriptions add to the enjoyment of the viewed item. No need to be a practitioner of Buddhism to appreciate and understand the beauty of these art works. Best suited for anyone who enjoys art, Buddhism, and the history of Asia.
An extensively researched look at the text of the Qur’an. It is sure to appeal to Muslims, religious scholars, and any readers interested in learning more about the sacred scripture of Islam.
An expertly written, compelling read about prophets as humans, which is distinctive since that topic often goes unaddressed in scripture scholarship. Ideal for religious studies readers and for Bible study groups.
Readers looking for a quick fix might want to skip the history and preamble and jump right to the five resets; this book allows them to pick up and start anywhere.
Readers interested in biblical theology or in the New Testament more generally will find this book to be helpful.
Gentle Christian wisdom that offers a fresh take on the link between suffering, faith, spirituality.
A fascinating look at how leading contemporary theologians see the priesthood and what the implications may mean for the office of priestly ordination. Best suited for those interested in religion and pastoral ministry.
A biblically dense read and a valuable resource that encourages people to confront and understand what evil is and how to fight it.
A book about Mormonism that will stand the test of time. General readers should be riveted by a story well told; scholars will be engaged by arguments worth debating.
Best for readers interested in the historical context of biblical scripture and evangelical beliefs.
Some readers may view this as a covert attack on the authority of scripture, but many others will find the questions posed in this title to be incidental to gaining a deeper and more nuanced appreciation of biblical prophecy.
Fans of most sports and readers of varied interests and levels of spirituality will find humor, insight, and wisdom in Chopra and Levin’s book. It’s very readable and highly recommended.
An interesting tribute to a man that shared the essence of Buddhist practice with others for more than five decades. Readers interested in Buddhist practice will find his writings and teachings approachable and inspiring.
With Turner’s recent death, this tome is a thoughtful tribute. Its scholarly approach may appeal more to students of religion and pop culture than the average Turner fan.
A powerful example of faith in action. Readers seeking more knowledge about this type of spiritual approach will come away wondering why there aren’t more people like Bennion. Highly recommended for its clear prose.
A personal history of opportunities won and lost. Cohen makes an entertaining, searching argument that atheists should actively engage societal assumptions.
Skeptics of religious belief and fans of science fiction are likely to love this book. People of faith may be somewhat uncomfortable with the topics discussed, but Wilson handles these subjects in a respectful and considerate manner.
Despite the book’s unabashedly Christian folksiness, Todd is intent upon addressing hard subjects, such as generational trauma, the venomous yearning for public validation, and the crippling effects of abuse, shame, and denial. Vibrant Christian collections will want this.
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