Spirituality and Religion
 
March 2026

Recent Releases
A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve by Mother Teresa
A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve
by Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, canonized (declared a saint) by Pope Francis earlier this year, never wrote an autobiography -- she was too busy helping others. This collection of short, previously uncollected pieces offers information about her life's ministry through her own words in correspondence, interviews, and speeches. Organized according to the 14 traditional "works of mercy," her words, accompanied by comments from those who observed her ministries, provide examples of feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, bearing wrongs patiently, comforting the afflicted, and more. A Call to Mercy offers inspiration to Christians and opens windows into Teresa's life for those interested in learning about her.
Serving Up Scripture: How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and Others
by Jennifer Garcia Bashaw and Aaron Higashi

Using the metaphor of cooking, this book introduces readers to the art of interpreting biblical verses with greater clarity and confidence. It breaks down genres, context, and common pitfalls while encouraging curiosity, making biblical study feel approachable for individuals and groups alike.
The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us
by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

This thoughtful, curious book explores our deep need to feel like we matter and all the surprising (and sometimes painful) ways we build our lives around that urge. Blending philosophy, psychology, and vivid storytelling, it examines how our longing for significance shapes relationships, creativity, and conflict in a world hungry for purpose.
Are You There, Spirit? It's Me, Travis: Life Lessons from the Other Side
by Travis Holp

Travis Holp shares his journey toward self acceptance and spiritual connection, weaving insights from his work as a medium together with client stories. Warm and hopeful, this memoir reflects on grief, intuition, and the unexpected moments in which we sense something larger at work in our lives.
A Country Between: Making a Home Where Both Sides of Jerusalem Collide by Stephanie <span>Saldaña</span>
A Country Between: Making a Home Where Both Sides of Jerusalem Collide
by Stephanie Saldaña

Texas native Stephanie Saldaña wrote about her 2004 experiences in Damascus, Syria in The Bread of Angels, where she met a French monk in an ancient monastery. In A Country Between, she relates how she and the now-former monk, Frédéric, married in France and decided to live in Jerusalem, which drew both of them with its deep spiritual significance. Their neighbors in a house on the Palestinian side of the city included Palestinian merchants and Mexican nuns, and it was patrolled by Israeli soldiers -- a potential flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. Yet this thoughtful memoir about motherhood and family in the midst of uncertainty focuses on the power of faith and hope for peace in the future.
A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles... by Stephen J. Lind
A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles...
by Stephen J. Lind

While Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strip can be read simply as a humorous take on the challenges and vicissitudes of life, it often includes lighthearted philosophical and theological commentary. Although Christianity clearly has influenced the strip's content, Peanuts alone doesn't offer a spiritual profile of Schultz the man. In A Charlie Brown Religion, author Stephen Lind draws on written records and interviews, as well as the Peanuts comics and television specials, to create a religious portrait of the iconic artist and author. If you're interested in Schultz and his religious thought, be sure to pick up this book.
Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker...
by James Martin, SJ

This coming-of-age memoir looks back on the summer jobs, awkward moments, and small lessons that shaped a future Jesuit priest. Told with humor and humility, it reflects on work, character, and the surprising ways ordinary experiences can prepare us for a life of purpose. Readers drawn to this blend of warmth and everyday spirituality might also appreciate Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle.
David Bowie and the Search for Life, Death and God: A Spiritual Meditation on His Music and...
by Peter Ormerod

This spiritual portrait of David Bowie traces the religious, philosophical, and mythic influences woven throughout his music and evolving personas. It offers fresh insight into how his lifelong search for meaning fueled his creativity. For readers intrigued by the role of spirituality in creative musical work, consider Leonard Cohen: The Mystical Roots of Genius by Harry Freedman.
Conversations on Faith
by Martin Scorsese with Antonio Spadaro

In a series of intimate dialogues with Father Antonio Spadaro, filmmaker Martin Scorsese reflects on his Catholic upbringing, creative influences, and the spiritual questions that run through his films. Their conversations offer a candid look at the evolving faith behind a celebrated artistic life.
Uncomplicate It: Permission to Enjoy God in Your Unique Way
by Hosanna Wong

This inviting book encourages readers to discover a more personal and flexible relationship with God by honoring their own personality and life season. Through real-life stories and practical reflections, it offers gentle permission to release comparison, rethink expectations, and find meaningful connection in everyday moments.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Twin Falls Public Library201 4th Ave E
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
208-733-2964
twinfallspubliclibrary.org/