What's Inside

by Lynn Garrett -- Publishers Weekly, 3/26/2007

After years of campaigning by publishers and others, the term "Mind-Body-Spirit" has gained traction over New Age as the preferred handle for a big-tent category that embraces everything from alternative health to various forms of religion and spirituality. Though Buddhism certainly cannot be called New Age, its ideas and practices have heavily influenced mind-body-spirit, or MBS. Once a specialist interest, Buddhism is now firmly in the mainstream of our culture, and in this issue we examine what's happening now in Buddhist publishing. We also look at alternative or speculative histories in religion—a subcategory that has strengthened over the past few years and is drawing media interest and sales—and at the brave new world of MBS book marketing. Finally, we write about the potential effect of The Secret craze on all kinds of books that attract readers eager for positive change in their lives.