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Spirituality and Religion May 2026 |
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| Why I Am Not an Atheist: The Confessions of a Skeptical Believer by Christopher BehaAfter years committed to atheism, this thoughtful memoir traces one writer’s return to religious belief through philosophy (engaging with Bertrand Russell in particular), literature, and his own experience. Taking on big questions about meaning, suffering, and hope, it offers a rigorous and deeply felt journey for readers wrestling with their own faith or doubt, always leaving room for wonder. |
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| The Supreme Gift: Love Is the Greatest Thing in the World by Paulo Coelho, translated by Margaret Jull CostaDrawing on spiritual traditions across cultures, this brief meditative work posits that love is humanity’s highest calling. Originally published in 1991 in Brazil and told in Paulo Coelho’s signature parable‑like style, it adapts a 19th-century sermon for a more modern audience, inviting readers to consider how compassion, care, and generosity shape personal purpose more than faith alone. |
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| Braving the Truth: Essential Essays for Reckoning With and Reimagining Faith by Rachel Held EvansThis posthumous collection of essays from Rachel Held Evans, who unexpectedly passed away in 2019, reflects her ongoing commitment to questioning inherited beliefs while remaining deeply engaged with faith and community. Written with honesty and warmth, the pieces explore doubt, grace, and belonging, modeling a generous, open‑handed approach to belief during times of personal and cultural change. |
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| Heal Your Hurting Mind: Biblical Hope for Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, and the... by Craig Groeschel with Dr. Wayne ChappelleCo‑written by a pastor and a licensed psychologist, this compassionate guide blends pastoral care with clinical insight to address anxiety, depression, burnout, and difficult emotions sometimes left unspoken in faith communities. Through personal stories, biblical reflection, and practical strategies, it offers a hopeful path toward emotional healing and spiritual resilience. |
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| How to Know Your Self: The Art & Science of Discovering Who You Really Are by J. Eric OliverIn an age obsessed with self-analysis, this lively and thought-provoking book asks whether the “self” we’re trying so hard to understand is quite what we think it is. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and ancient philosophy, J. Eric Oliver suggests that earlier traditions were less focused on inward identity and more concerned with how to live well among others, inviting readers to loosen their grip on selfhood and live more spaciously. |
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| A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness by Michael PollanEmbracing the mystery of consciousness from every angle -- scientific, philosophical, spiritual, and literary -- Michael Pollan asks the question: what does it mean to be aware? Ranging far beyond the human mind, he explores how consciousness may take shape both artificially and throughout the natural world, encouraging readers to look more closely at their own inner lives and to consider the possibility that the universe itself is more alive than we might think. |
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| The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change by Rebecca SolnitSurveying decades of cultural, ecological, and social change, Rebecca Solnit’s hopeful reflection argues that profound transformation often unfolds quietly and unevenly. By tracing movements toward interconnection and collective responsibility, she invites readers to look beyond despair and recognize how new ways of living emerge from endings. |
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| The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary by Terry Tempest WilliamsThrough lyrical essays and closely observed stories, this book gathers moments of grace (which the author calls “Glorians”) found in nature, teaching, protest, love, and loss. Written in the shadow of environmental upheaval and collective grief, it invites readers toward stillness, attentiveness, and a renewed sense of the sacred woven quietly through ordinary life. |
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| Spirit Daughter: Own Your Power, Change Your Life by Jill WintersteenPart memoir and part spiritual guide, this book traces astrologer Jill Wintersteen’s journey from burnout and anxiety toward intuition and inner clarity. Rooted in mindfulness and cosmic spirituality, it encourages readers to trust their inner wisdom, work with cycles of change, and release comparison in favor of a more aligned, self-directed life. |
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| Shaolin Spirit: The Way to Self-Mastery by Shi Heng Yi with Stefanie Koch, translated by Caroline WaightRooted in Zen, Taoist, and Buddhist philosophy, this guide draws on the Shaolin tradition to explore self‑discipline, resilience, and clarity of mind. Blending historical insight with practical exercises in movement, breath, and attention, it presents self‑mastery as an embodied practice -- especially for readers seeking steadiness and ethical grounding in an increasingly reactive world. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Prospect Heights Public Library District
12 N. Elm St., Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070
847-259-3500https://www.phpl.info |
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