S&P Awards

The Best Spiritual Books of 2014
100 Things That Make Me Happy By Amy Schwartz A picture book illustrating the practice of counting blessings. For Children
A Book of Uncommon Prayer By Brian Doyle Spunky, lyrical, and snappy informal prayers by one of the most imaginative souls in Christendom.
A Broken Hallelujah By Liel Leibovitz A fetching overview of the life, the music, and the meaning of Leonard Cohen as a spiritual seeker.
A History of Religion in 5 1/2 Objects By S. Brent Plate An elegant and illuminating book on the spiritual importance of objects in the religious life.
A Religion of One's Own By Thomas Moore A stirring and sumptuous work of creativity and insight into the present situation which calls for a personal religion.
An Indigenous People's History of the United States By Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz A radical re-visioning of U.S. history from an Indigenous people's perspective.
Anna's Heaven By Stian Hole Beautifully illustrated story aboaut a caring daughter who takes her restless father on a healing journey. For Children
Ask the Beasts By Elizabeth A. Johnson An exploration of the connections between the scientific insights of Charles Darwin and the Christian ideal of the presence of God in the natural world.
Belief Without Borders By Linda A. Mercadante Far and away the best assessment of the Spiritual But Not Religious movement and its many meanings.
Churchill's Tale of Tails By Anca Sandu A touching tale about the importance of friendship and things you can learn while on a quest. For Children
Conscious Living, Conscious Aging By Ron Pevny A book of immense value for those yearning for inner growth and spiritual renewal as elders.
Convictions By Marcus J. Borg A summing up by Macus J. Borg of his writings, teachings, concerns, and passions over the past 50 years.
Empathy By Roman Krznaric A masterful and edifying book that presents the practice of empathy as a transformative virtue that can change individuals and the world.
Fields of Blood By Karen Armstrong A plea for us all to take responsibility for wars and violence instead of blaming them on religion.
Flashlight By Lizi Boyd The wonders a boy sees at night when he focuses his attention. For Children
Gaza By Jean-Pierre Filiu A substantive history of the 140-square-mile strip of land between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.
How the World Was Won By Peter Conrad An exuberant and intellectually exciting account of the Americanization of the world through movies and entertainment.
Joan Chittister By Joan Chittister, Mary Hembrow Snyder, Mary Lou Kownacki A collection of the writings of one of the most popular and prophetic religious voices of our times.
Keeping the Faith Without a Religion By Roger Housden A beautifully written explanation of a secular spirituality for the seekers of our times.
Learning to Walk in the Dark By Barbara Brown Taylor A study that models the questing spirit of creativity, openness, and playfulness in an examination of the manifold meanings of re-learning to walk in the dark.
Lila By Marilynne Robinson A novel about the mysteries of grace, love, trust, aging, and transformation
Living the Secular Life By Phil Zuckerman A chart of the sea change brought on by the "nones", now the fastest religious orientation in the United States.
Lullaby By Debbie Friedman A soothing and loving children's picture book about the grace and presence of God. For Children
Never Say a Mean Word Again By Jacqueline Jules A wonderful cross-cultural tale about the spiritual art of turning an enemy into a friend. For Children
On Looking By Alexandra Horowitz A fascinating invitation to make the most out of ordinary walks around the block.
Paradise in Plain Sight By Karen Maezen Miller A Zen master who is a connoisseur of the commonplace on what she has learned from her garden.
Reflections of Amma By Amanda J. Lucia A solid and substantive overview of the life and service of the hugging saint.
Sacred Fire By Ronald Rolheiser A substantive sequel to The Holy Longing that deals with the three stages of discipleship.
Sacred Laughter of the Sufis By Jamal Rahman Superb and substantive meditations on Sufi teaching stories.
Sacred Seed By Global Peace Initiative of Women Spiritual teachers speaking in defense of the sacred seed and against genetically engineered seeds.
Second Wind By Bill Thomas An enthusiastic vision of the adventures which lie ahead for elders.
Seiki Jutsu By Bradford Keeney, Hillary Keeney An enthusiastic overview on the history, basic ideas, and daily practices of an energy practice that can transform your life.
Shh! By Chris Haughton A questing tale for children that illustrates the problem with aggressive behavior. For Children
Slowing Time By Barbara Mahany A fresh and richly lyrical tribute to the Divine wonders of the four seasons.
Stuff Matters By Mark Miodownik A spiffy celebration of stuff such as steel, concrete, and glass.
Thank You, God By J. Bradley Wigger A devotional celebration of a day during which we tally up our thanks for all God has given us. For Children
The Authentic Life By Ezra Bayda A wise, profound, and generous work by a Zen master who always has much to share with the interspirituality community.
The Book of Forgiving By Desmond Tutu, Mpho Tutu Wise counsel on four concrete steps we can take to walk the path of forgiveness.
The Book with No Pictures By B. J. Novak A thoroughly engaging children's book that gives parent readers a chance to be really silly. For Children
The Buddha Walks into the Office By Lodro Rinzler A top-notch resource for those who are serious about doing spiritual practice on the job.
The Crusades of Cesar Chavez By Miriam Pawel A full, rich, and impressive biography of America's most important Latino leader.
The Days Between By Marcia Falk Insights into the Jewish High Holidays from a master of devotional writing.
The December Project By Sara Davidson, Zalman Schachter-Shalomi An illuminating overview of the life and wisdom of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi.
The Divide By Matt Taibbi A hard-hitting look at the shameful happenings in America resulting from severe economic inequality.
The Ecstasy of Surrender By Judith Orloff An ambitious book, complete with tools, quizzes, and spiritual exercises, on the path of surrender as a route to a meaningful life.
The Endless Practice By Mark Nepo A grand spiritual call to say yes to life, to open our hearts, to improvise, and to be the light of the world.
The Four Virtues By Tobin Hart A wise and creative field guide to the inner life.
The Geese March in Step By Jean-Francois Dumont A delightful parable about those who march to the beat of their own private drum. For Children
The Grace in Aging By Kathleen Dowling Singh An accessible and spiritually rich resource on the value of spiritual practices in elderhood.
The Human Age By Diane Ackerman An optimistic picture of the future where wonder is a major spiritual practice.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up By Marie Kondo A fresh approach to decluttering based on a spiritual relationship with one's possessions.
The Meaning and Practice of Faith By Diarmuid O'Murchu An in-depth examination of the faith of the evolving adult generation.
The Next America By Paul Taylor, The Pew Research Center A hugely informative and insightful look at upcoming generational clashes.
The Power of Grace By David Richo An insightful and lyrical overview of the gift dimension of life available to all beings.
The Zero Marginal Cost Society By Jeremy Rifkin A map of the changes that are opening the doors to the Third Industrial Revolution.
This Changes Everything By Naomi Klein A cogent and brilliant overview of global warming and its economic and political ramifications.
Unquiet Vigil By Paul Quenon A steller collection of poems by a Catholic priest on watching and waiting.
We Make the Road by Walking By Brian D. McLaren A serious and sensitive year-long curriculum that brings us alive and sends us on our way rejoicing in service of others.
With Heart in Mind By Alan Morinis A substantive assessment of a 48-part Mussar spiritual curriculum.
Zen Encounters with Loneliness By Terrance Keenan A radiant and lyrical mix of edifying meditations and pensive poems.