There are a lot of definitions for the word spirituality. Many of them are very complex. If there was a particular phrase that summed up what spirituality truly is it would be “what is the meaning of life?” More specifically, it is the inner relationship one has that is beyond the physical senses, time continuum, and material world. It’s as if you want answers to events in your life all of a sudden that never mattered before or you assumed that’s the way it always been.
If you are new to your spiritual search or a veteran far down the path these recently published books on spirituality will be a great addition for you to read and keep in your spiritual library. Beginning with number ten on through to the number one book will be these following exalted titles:
10.) Secrets of the Monarch: What the Dead Can Teach Us About Living a Better Life by Allison DuBois. Published Date: September 2007 – if the author’s name sounds vaguely familiar it ought to be as she is the inspiration for the hit television series “Medium”, based on her first book “Don’t Kiss Them Goodbye”. One of the important lessons she passes on from communicating with the dead in her third book on mediumship is “if you want to understand life, then you must understand death.
She uses personal stories about her family and work, in addition from her lectures, book tours, and consulting individually with people and their deceased relatives. A constant premise in her book is the preservation of the family legacy, by making the most of your life you can ensure a better life for those around you. DuBois uses the analogy of the monarch butterfly as being the result of its predecessors. Her current book is more or less a continuation from the other two.
9.) Finding Grace by Donna VanLiere. Published Date: March 2009 – for anyone who has asked why life is so difficult, why bad things happen to a sweet innocent child, and why the simplest of dreams are often denied this book may provide comfort and contemplation to the reader. It follows the same theme as Rabbi Harold S. Kushner’s book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”.
“Finding Grace” is a touching memoir about the pain and frustration of infertility and adoption. This exceptional author will take you on a soulful journey that is filled with her struggles, joys, and committed faith through it all.
8.) The Mandala of Being by Richard Moss. Published Date: January 2007 – this book has been heavily compared to Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” and takes it to another level. Moss is a former doctor and now a master at transformational teaching. The tools in the book help you to gain greater understanding and self awareness. Being on the spiritual path is not always easy as you will experience a deeper introspection within your personal growth that can be unsettling at times.
The axes of the mandala Ross uses helps to identify the Past, Future, Me-You in a simple x-y graphical representation of our conscious thought. The center represents the now, so the further you go away from the now, the further it prevents you from knowing who you truly are.
7.) Common Sense Spirituality: The Essential Wisdom of David Steindl-Rast by David Steindl-Rast. Published Date: October 2008 – it’s based on a collection of essays and meditations from previously published articles, interviews, and transcripts of talks. This is the culmination of over 30 years in the development of the author’s common sense approach to spirituality.
Through these meditations one can seek to nourish the mystic from within. There are three essential themes that are explored in the book: our peak or mystical experiences, sacred traditions, and spiritual experiences. David Steindl-Rast wants to bring out “the monk in us”.
6.) 90 Minutes in Heaven: An Inspiring Story of Life beyond Death by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey. Published Date: February 2008 – a truly remarkable narrative about a Baptist minister who drove home from a conference and collided with a semi-truck which crossed over into his lane. The victim, Don Piper, was pronounced dead at the scene. What follows are his accounts of what he experienced for 90 minutes. He described his extended time there as pure serenity, love, and guidance in the glories of heaven.
A fellow minister never believed he was actually dead and prayed for his return. Piper came back to life in an extraordinary miracle, but faced an excruciating recovery afterwards. This inspirational book is encouraging for those recovering from serious injuries or who’ve lost a loved one by knowing the other side is pure bliss. 569 customer reviews at Amazon.com gave “90 Minutes in Heaven” 4 out of 5 stars.
5.) Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Published Date: February 2007 – describing in vivid detail in her autobiography is an early life in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Kenya. She had witnessed for herself, and became a victim too, of the beatings, genital mutilation, and civil war in Somalia. Through an arranged marriage she eventually liberated herself and escaped to The Netherlands, not wanting to descend into madness like her sister.
While in The Netherlands she witnessed other Muslim refugee women being treated like she had been as a child and a wife. Ayaan got involved in heated public debates about the tolerance and integration of Islamic refugees. Shortly thereafter she ran for the Dutch Parliament and was elected. Afterwards, the author helped Theo van Gogh, a filmmaker; produce a documentary about Islamic culture. Unfortunately there were tragic consequences for Theo van Gogh. Ayaan’s incredible real-life account of triumph over adversity is the stuff legends are made of.
4.) Sacred Places of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations by National Geographic Society Staff. Published Date: October 2008 – here is a beautifully visual book with lavish photographs taken by the amazing photographers from National Geographic. These landmarks, historical sites, pilgrimage routes, temples, shrines, and many more spiritual places range from the very famous to the not so well known. You could spend an entire year on a different location each day from the book.
Besides the stunning photos, there is a vast amount of information on locator maps, visitor points of interest, and articulate text on the history and significance to each site. This, must have, coffee table type book is perfect for the spiritual traveler, like myself, who loves going to historical, religious, and spiritual destinations. It’s also perfect for those who simply love to travel to unique destinations. Not your typical travelogue guidebook, more like a spiritual travel guide.
3.) The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. Published Date: April 2008 – an ironic twist of fate had Carnegie Mellon University professor of computer science, Randy Pausch, in line to give a speech from the university’s yearly lecture series known as The Last Lecture in September 2007. A faculty member then gives a hypothetical speech to the students before dying. It’s a tradition where the speaker and listener reflect on what matters most in life.
Why this speech was so special for Pausch had to do with him being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He was given approximately three to six months to live. This was all the more significant when he literally gave his Last Lecture at Carnegie Mellon, which he titled “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”. He focused on achieving one’s dreams in life. The book is a result of this lecture. It has been has been downloaded by over 10 million viewers online. Before he gave his speech Pausch received a standing ovation. He told the crowd “Make me earn it.” Then someone shouted out “You did”.
2.) Facing Your Giants: The God Who Made a Miracle Out of David Stands Ready to Make One Out of You by Max Lucado. Published Date: October 2008 – it was the subtitle that definitely got my attention. Everyone is familiar with the story of David and Goliath from the Bible. Lucado cleverly takes the story of David from the Old Testament using it as a metaphor to overcome whatever problems we face in our everyday lives.
We too can face the giant, whether that giant is dealing with job loss, foreclosure, financial uncertainty, or anything else that’s burdensome and slay the giant like David did. Absolutely the perfect book for immediate inspiration during these tough economic times we are dealing with.
1.) Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy, Nathan Whitaker, and Denzel Washington (Foreword by). Published Date: June 2008 – the Super Bowl XLI winning coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy, gives us an absorbing memoir telling us the secrets of his success by overcoming professional and personal loss, especially that of a child. He has won the respect of his players and the community, both in the Tampa Bay area and in Indianapolis, without having to compromise family and faith.
The answer is quite simple; he lives for God and family. I vividly remember when he was the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where I currently reside in Tampa. To this day people in Tampa Bay still look upon him with the fondest of memories. He was and still is a great inspiration. Those were some great years for the Bucs, thanks to Tony Dungy whom we still miss in the Tampa Bay area.
Many of these books showcased a determined spirit to overcome whatever tragedies, disappointments, and despair that are going on in your life. The other books gave you hope, encouragement, and composure to improve the quality of your mind, body, and soul. These eclectic Top 10 Books on Spirituality are among the best books written. You might even go so far as to say its food for the soul.
SOURCES:
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.macmillan.com
www.amazon.com
http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/readinglists/tp/booksSpirit.htm
http://www.donnavanliere.com/news.html
http://self-awareness.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_mandala_of_being
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2008/10/infidel-by-ayaan-hirsi-ali.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Lecture
www.cmu.edu/uls/journeys/randy-pausch
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=18436
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality
