S&P Awards

The Best Spiritual Books of 2003
A Place at the Table By William J. Elliott 27 diverse interviews with scholars, mystics, and evangelists that add meaning to the author's personal quest.
Abandon By Pico Iyer A marvelously inventive novel about the spiritual transformation of an Englishman studying Sufism who falls in love and opens up to the bounties of mystery and surrender.
Adam & Eve's First Sunset By Sandy Eisenberg Sasso Another children's book that inspires us to live by the lights of faith and hope whenever fear and anxiety grab us by the throat. For Children
Attention Shoppers! By Eve Eliot Turns shopping into an opportunity to nurture one's true self, to make important choices, to deepen self-awareness, and to bring about the spiritual process of transformation.
Awake Mind, Open Heart By Cynthia Kneen An inspiring overview of the Shambhala warrior training developed by the Tibetan Buddhist scholar and meditation master Chogyam Trungpa.
Beside Still Waters By Harold Kasimow, John P. Keenan, Linda Klepinger Keenan A watershed work in the increasingly important new field of multifaith studies.
Beyond Belief By Elaine Pagels Explains some of the reasons why it is difficult for many Christians to embrace pluralism or to accept the diversity of belief in the early church.
Breathing Space By Heidi Neumark A well-written memoir revealing the faith, stamina, and patience needed to work for change in a community known for its violence, drugs, and unemployment.
Creating True Peace By Thich Nhat Hanh A watershed work filled with everyday practices to prevent war in our personal and public lives.
Crones Don't Whine By Jean Shinoda Bolen An enlightening and winning little volume calling all women in the third phase of life after menopause to become crones.
Divinity in Disguise By Kevin Anderson Playful meaning-makers and superb examples of everyday spirituality.
Fingerpainting on the Moon By Peter Levitt An innovative resource for anyone who yearns for some fresh sources of inspiration and encouragement.
Healing through the Dark Emotions By Miriam Greenspan Shows how troubling emotions can be seedbeds for gratitude, faith, and joy when properly nourished.
Honoring the Medicine By Kenneth Cohen Reveals the breadth and depth of America's original holistic medicine.
In Search of the Hidden Treasure By Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan A soul-stirring gathering of Sufi wisdom for the ages.
Islam Is . . . An Experience of Dialogue and Devotio… By Mary Margaret Funk A salutary and illuminating work of interfaith wisdom by a Benedictine nun.
It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Y… By Marilyn Paul A superb resource with some sane spiritual perspectives.
John Muir By Thomas Locker A vivid revelation of this environmentalist's love of the wildness in wilderness. For Children
Knitting into the Mystery By Susan S. Izard, Susan S. Jorgensen Demonstrates the soul-making capacity of this service of nurturing.
Living the Japanese Arts & Ways By H. E. Davey An impressive overview of the principles behind bonsai, tea ceremony, calligraphy, and much more.
Mary of Nazareth, Prophet of Peace By John Dear A poignant revisioning of the mother of Jesus as a practitioner of nonviolence and peacemaking.
Meinrad Craighead: Crow Mother and The Dog God By Meinrad Craighead 250 reproductions of the paintings of this visionary artist, along with a generous selection of her writings.
My God and I By Lewis B. Smedes A captivating series of snapshots from the life and ministry of this unconventional teacher, preacher, and writer in the Christian Reformed tradition.
Passionate Presence By Catherine Ingram Discusses her spiritual journey and the supreme value of awakened awareness.
Peace to All Beings By Judy Carman Prayers, affirmations, and ethical activities for animal lovers.
Radical Acceptance By Tara Brach A lively and diverse compendium of spiritual practices to tap into our innate goodness and to draw it out.
Return to Stillness By Trevor Carolan Reveals the bounties of this discipline that brings peace, calm, and grace to the routines of his life.
Running the Spiritual Path By Roger D. Joslin Practices that can enrich your communion with God and open your heart while you are exercising.
Sacred Time and the Search for Meaning By Gary Eberle A philosophically rich work that reveals many avenues into finding a balance in your life between the temporal and the eternal.
Seeking Enlightenment . . . Hat by Hat By Nevada Barr A spunky spiritual memoir about a mystery writer's quest for God and community.
Somebodies and Nobodies By Robert W. Fuller A watershed work calling for a dignitarian movement based on reverence for the personhood of all people.
Spiritual Perspectives on America's Role as Superpow… By Editors of Skylight Paths 16 essays by religious and spiritual teachers on what role the United States should play in the world.
Taking Our Places By Norman Fischer An accessible and profound overview of the essentials of spiritual maturity that enables us to grow naturally into our true selves.
The Fasting Path By Stephen Harrod Buhner A rounded and fascinating look at a spiritual practice that is rarely discussed in contemporary circles.
The Fifth Book of Peace By Maxine Hong Kingston A blend of fiction and nonfiction exploring the meaning and value of pacifying the world through creative writing, play, dreams, questing, and nonviolent protest.
The Genesis Meditations By Neil Douglas-Klotz Describes the creation story as a meeting place for three religions and offers practices for personal meditations on its many meanings.
The Heart of Christianity By Marcus J. Borg A bellwether work that sets out in cogent, compassionate, and imaginative terms the direction of the Christian way in difficult times.
The Lord Is My Shepherd By Harold S. Kushner A devotional work that will bring comfort to those who are grieving and peace to those caught in a vise of fear.
The Path By Chet Raymo Will induce you to cherish the wonders in the place where you live.
The Power of Patience By M. J. Ryan A gem from a longtime practitioner of everyday spirituality.
The Power of Soul By Robert Sardello Challenges us to begin the work of inner transformation and to bring peace and healing to a suffering world.
The Sacred Art of Bowing By Andi Young Presents this sacred art in many different religious traditions.
The Saints' Guide to Happiness By Robert Ellsberg Insights into living out of the deepest part of ourselves.
The Spiritual Practices of Rumi By Will Johnson An overview of this pathway to ecstatic union with the Divine.
The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual For… By Keith Beasley-Topliffe, editor A summary of the key people, practices, and ideas of the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions.
The Way Things Are By Huston Smith, Phil Cousineau Philosophical insights, cross-cultural epiphanies, religious truths, memorable stories, and a wonderful batch of juicy quotations about the human adventure.
The Wisdom Way of Knowing By Cynthia Bourgeault A bold and visionary work reclaiming the lost cosmology of Wisdom.
Walking a Literary Labyrinth By Nancy M. Malone Recommends that we make better use of books as meditative tools in our search for wholeness.
What Jesus Meant By Erik Kolbell Inspired interpretation of the eight pillars of the Christian path and the spiritual practice of justice.
Wrestling with Grace By Robert Corin Morris Concrete practices that can deepen and enrich your experiences of the presence of God.