Every year from the more than 300 books we review on this website, we choose the Best Spiritual Books. In addition to 50 adult books, we also include 15 Best Spiritual Children's Books.
These are titles that have most impressed and inspired us. Since we only review books that we want to recommend to you for your spiritual journey, this selection actually represents the best of the best. Through diverse approaches, drawing upon the wisdom and practices of the world's religions, these titles explore the quest for meaning and purpose, wholeness and healing, commitment and community, contemplation and social activism.
We congratulate the authors and publishers of these exceptional contributions to today's spiritual renaissance. Click on the title link to read the full review.
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich
An eclectic and jaunty book list with summaries, themes, and importance of each title.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
A creative book that both asks the big questions and probes the little paths that light the way into the future.
Aging For Beginners by Ezra Bayda with Elizabeth Hamilton
Top-drawer collection of spiritual practices to deal with the pain, suffering, and losses of old age.
Almost Everything by Anne Lamott
The bestselling spiritual writer on the ever-present and surprising reasons for hope in our time.
America: The Farewell Tour by Chris Hedges
A prophetic critique of the United States designed to get Americans thinking about what is being lost.
The Art of Mystery by Maud Casey
An elegant analysis of fiction and other art forms that probe mystery and stimulate our wonder and imagination.
The Art of the Wasted Day by Patricia Hampl
A good case for daydreaming, reverie, and solitude.
The Ashokan Way by Gail Straub
Lyrical and pensive essays on the beauty and bounties of place.
Behold, America by Sarah Churchwell
A well-argued examination of some of the darker sides of American racism, nationalism, and political impotence.
Boundless Compassion by Joyce Rupp
A masterwork brimming over with insights, practices, exercises, and illustrative materials on compassion as a spiritual way of life.
A Call for Revolution by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Sofia Stril-Rever
A challenge to this generation of youth to care for the earth and develop their capacity for compassion.
Can it Happen Here? edited by Cass R. Sunstein
A thought-provoking collection of essays that asks where the United States is heading.
The Courage Way by The Center for Courage & Renewal and Shelly L. Francis
An overview of successful programs for cultivating courage among individuals and groups.
Creation and the Cross by Elizabeth A. Johnson
A theologian's argument for a cosmic redemption in a time of ecological devastation.
Dancing With the Gods by Kent Nerburn
A passionate and joyful celebration of working in the arts.
Everyday Gratitude edited by Saoirse McClory, Kristi Nelson, and Margaret Wakeley
A daybook with quotes and questions to help you discover the blessings in your life.
God Is Young by Pope Francis
A wide-ranging interview with Pope Francis addressing the hopes and dreams of youth.
Good Neighbors by Nancy L. Rosenblum
A creative and enlightening book on neighbors, democratic public life, and the rigors and toxins of politics in America.
Grateful by Diana Butler Bass
A celebration of the spiritual practice of gratitude as a heart opener, a soulful adventure, and a meaning maker in political circles.
Hearth by Annick Smith and Susan O-Connor
An anthology by distinguished writers from around the world on the significance of community and place.
How to Raise Kind Kids by Thomas Lickona
Helpful ideas for the creation of a positive family culture where virtues like kindness and respect are upheld.
In Search of Wisdom by Matthieu Ricard, Christophe Andre, and Alexandre Jollien
Wisdom shared by three accomplished teachers who have a firm grasp on what is important.
Kahlil Gibran's Little Book of Life by Neil Douglas-Klotz
Spiritual musings on the pulsating soul and the energized world.
Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin
A guide to the character qualities of a transformational leader.
Loneliness by Gerard A. Arbuckle
A rounded look at loneliness that reveals its complexity and influence in our public and private lives.
A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind by Shoukei Matsumoto
A masterful Buddhist guidebook on the spiritual benefits of cleaning
your house and polishing your mind, body, and soul.
More Together Than Alone by Mark Nepo
A masterwork on community animated by visionary vigor, philosophical rigor, a cross-cultural purview, and a poetic sensibility.
The New Childhood by Jordan Shapiro
A thrilling and prescient book that enhances and enriches our understanding of what it means to live in a connected world.
On the Brink of Everything by Parker J. Palmer
Reflections on gaining insights and finding new ways to engage with life as we age.
One Kiss or Two? by Andy Scott
A cross-cultural exploration of the meaning and impact of greeting rituals.
Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg
A tour de force on how places and spiritual spaces are resurrecting democracy.
Pause, Breathe, Smile by Gary Gach
An engaging text that explores the ethical dimensions of mindfulness.
The Problem of Wealth by Elizabeth L. Hinson-Hasty
An ethical perspective on the gap between the rich and the poor.
Radical Joy for Hard Times by Trebbe Johnson
A compassionate vision of healing and finding beauty in wounded places.
Radical Love by Omid Safi
Terse and wondrous poems from the mystical Islamic path.
Read & Riot by Nadya Tolokonnikova
An unconventional call to radical and creative activism.
Selfies by Craig Detweiler
An in-depth exploration of the seemingly ubiquitous form of self-expression.
Standing at the Edge by Joan Halifax
An important work on compassion, five close virtues, and a path to transform obstacles into fresh possibilities.
Ten Poems for Difficult Times by Roger Housden
A top-drawer collection of poems to cling to as life rafts.
These Truths by Jill Lapore
A bold, well-written, and immersive one-volume history of the United States.
They Will Inherit the Earth by John Dear
A creative vision of nonviolence and environmental renewal.
Training in Tenderness by Dzigar Kongtrul
An immensely appealing tribute to the spiritual practice of an open heart.
Unlearning God by Philip Gulley
A witty and wise affirmation of faith that is open, expansive, playful, questing, and hospitable.
Violence by Brad Evans and Natasha Lennard
Twenty-eight glimpses of a culture drowning in a sea of violence.
Voices in the Air by Naomi Shihab Nye
Ninety-five poems encouraging us to listen to the many sources of wisdom all around us.
Walking Each Other Home by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush
Teachings for reflection on death, dying, fear, and letting go of attachments.
Walls by David Frye
An engrossing account of the influence of walls mixing history, military might, and impermanence.
The Way of Kindness edited by Michael Leach, James T. Keane, & Doris Goodnough
The spiritual practice of kindness given the red carpet treatment.
The World-Ending Fire edited by Paul Kingsnorth
A fine collection of essays from the prolific farmer, philosopher, and author Wendell Berry.
Zen in the Age of Anxiety by Tim Burkett
Insights, epiphanies, and good medicine for what ails us as individuals and as a society.
Children's Books
Abracadabra! by Maria Loretta Giraldo
An engaging story about the magic of perseverance, with helpful end notes for parents and caregivers.
Angel in Beijing by Belle Yang
A luscious exploration of the streets of Beijing through the eyes of a little girl searching for her kitty.
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
A wonderful catalog of all the ways we can be kind to others.
First Laugh — Welcome, Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe and Nancy Bo Flood
A tale about a Navajo family’s wait for their baby’s first laugh before a welcoming celebration.
Good Morning, Snowplow! by Deborah Bruss
A bedtime story that looks forward to the plow's overnight adventures before a bright new day.
Herodotus the Hedgehog by Jean-Luc Buquet
Charming picture book about a hedgehog who becomes curious about what animals believe in.
I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey
A humorous and heartwarming tale about a porcupine no one wants to hug.
Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera
The life story of the 51st U.S. Poet Laureate, inviting children to imagine who they can become.
Joy by Corrine Averiss
A heartwarming story about giving a loved one a whoosh of joy.
Just Breathe by Mallika Chopra
A children's guide to a healthier, happier life through meditation and mindfulness practice.
Lulu is a Rhinoceros by Jason Flom and Allison Flom
A winsome story about a bulldog who cannot seem to convince others of her true identity.
Meeting Trees by Scott Russell Sanders
An introduction, through a father-son walk, to some of the most common species in a climax hardwood forest.
Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Rob Sanders
An alphabet book of big, bold ways to make positive changes in the world.
A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker
A centuries-long biography of a meteorite that brings cosmic perspective to a young girl's grief.
When God Gave Us Words by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
An imaginative tale about God's desire to give people language even when angels objected.
