Spirituality and Religion
January 2024

Recent Releases
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
by Tim Alberta

Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Tim Alberta returns with another look into American politics, specifically as related to the American evangelical movement and the rise of Christian nationalism. Read-alikes: Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobez Dumez and American Idolatry by Andrew L. Whitehead.
Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude
by Nicole Avant

Moving and candid, Think You'll Be Happy is part memoir, part exploration of grief and healing. The author, a former U.S. ambassador and daughter of long-time Motown executive Clarence Avant, recounts the tragic loss of her mother, how her faith helped her navigate the grieving process, and her tips for fostering positivity going forward.
Beautiful and Terrible Things: Faith, Doubt, and Discovering a Way Back to Each Other
by Amy Butler

This impassioned and incisive debut memoir by prominent minister Amy Butler chronicles her life, faith journey, and career (including stints at Riverside Church in New York and Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.), and her efforts to balance upholding church tradition with evolving to create open and affirming faith communities where everyone is welcome.
Dancing in My Dreams: A Spiritual Biography of Tina Turner
by Ralph H. Craig III

This well-researched religious biography of music legend Tina Turner explores her relationship with religion, from the Baptist church she was raised in to practicing Buddhism beginning in the 1960s and 70s. Of particular note is the way the author, scholar Ralph H. Craig, puts Tina's journey in context, following developments in pop culture and in society at large.
God's Monsters: Vengeful Spirits, Deadly Angels, Hybrid Creatures, and Divine Hitmen...
by Esther J. Hamori

Union Theological Seminary professor Esther J Hamori examines some of God's creepier creations in this compelling look at the more supernatural elements in the Bible. Readers are asked to contemplate terrifying angels with too many eyes, four-faced cherubs, six-winged serpents, and how even monstrosity can be divine. For fans of: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old...
by Liel Leibovitz

Though the Talmud is a notoriously complex text, this engaging and thought-provoking guide sets out to make seemingly impenetrable conversations between rabbis about theology and religious law accessible for curious readers searching for answers.
The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors
by Lama Rod Owens

Pulling from a mix of sources of spiritual wisdom from Christianity,  indigenous spiritual traditions, and his own Buddhist practices, Lama Rod Owens encourages readers to engage with suffering beyond their individual experience and explore ways to alleviate the suffering of others and of society at large.
The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors
by Dr. Emily Smith

In her inspiring and thought-provoking debut, epidemiologist Dr. Emily Smith examines social disparities and the means of bridging them through the story of the Good Samaritan. Smith challenges readers to think in new ways about what it means to love their neighbors and how this same framework can make confronting large social divides seem more approachable.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Sonoma County Library
707-545-0831www.sonomalibrary.org