Penn Gillette's forthcoming atheist screed, GOD, NO! Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales, may be a late entry in the does-He-or doesn't-He-exist debate, but it's sure to be freshly funny. Playing counterpoint to the magician-comedian is an author who's entertaining enough to have earned a trip to The Colbert Report. Jim Martin, a Jesuit priest, wears his faith lightly in Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life. The book may well continue Martin's top-selling streak and earn him a return engagement with Colbert; maybe Comedy Central can offer him his own show.
Humor aside, the biliousness and nonstop nattering of contemporary cultural discourse can be countered with another tool that religion has honed long and well: silence. The relief and restoration afforded by silent prayer and Sabbath observance can be better understood in Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer by Richard Foster and The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath by Sen. Joe Lieberman. Foster is a longtime advocate of the spiritual disciplines that refresh the soul and cultivate the temperament, including the discipline of holding one's tongue. Lieberman as a politician has come under fire for various stances, but his religious commitment as an observant Jew has been steady and authentic.
Sabbath rest can be a provider of comfort, and the subject of comfort will be more fully explored in Comfort: An Atlas for the Body and Soul by Brett C. Hoover. Hoover is a Catholic priest who cofounded the Web site Busted Halo, an online magazine for spiritual seekers. The book promises a holistic and lyrical look at this basic human necessity.
The picture of the traditional monastic cell as a place where silence reigns is invoked with eye-opening irony by A Different Kind of Cell: The Story of a Murderer Who Became a Monk by W. Paul Jones. Jones was the spiritual adviser to convicted multiple murderer Clayton Fountain, who killed four people while he was in prison. Fountain's five-year-long religious conversion led him to become a Trappist monk. Cynics might well scoff, but Christianity is filled with powerful conversion experiences—St. Paul, anyone?
Conversion is dramatic, but consistency has its virtues, and the great Christian evangelist Billy Graham has been preaching publicly for decades. Past the age of 90, he lifts his voice once more to reflect on what comes next in Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well. Whatever Graham has to say at this point is the product of a long and faithful life, and what some anticipate as undiscovered country, he regards as home.
Also promising seasoned reflection is Healing the Heart of Democracy by Parker Palmer. Palmer's work is primarily in education and leadership, but his thinking about vocation is broad and deep enough to produce such contemporary spiritual classics as Let Your Life Speak. The introspective author brings a well-honed lens to a subject deeply in need of renewal, good sense, and a dose of the reflective and engaged silence that Palmer, a Quaker, is very good at.
Religion books aren't necessarily prized for their writing quality, but A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny by Amy Julia Becker is a happy exception. A title that deserves study and attention for the empirical evidence it offers is Why Priests Are Happy: A Study of the Psychological and Spiritual Health of Priests by Stephen J. Rossetti. For 13 years Rossetti headed Saint Luke Institute, where priests involved in sex abuse have been sent. Eye-opening, anyone?
PW's Top 10 Religion
GOD, NO!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales
Penn Jillette. Simon & Schuster, Aug.
Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life
James Martin. HarperOne, Oct.
Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer
Richard J. Foster. IVP, Sept.
The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath
Sen. Joe Lieberman. Howard, Aug.
Comfort:
An Atlas for the Body and Soul
Brett C. Hoover. Riverhead, Nov.
A Different Kind of Cell: The Story of a Murderer Who Became a Monk
W. Paul Jones. Wm. B. Eerdmans. Sept.
Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well
Billy Graham. Thomas Nelson, Oct.
Healing the Heart of Democracy
Parker Palmer. Jossey-Bass, Sept.
A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny
Amy Julia Becker. Bethany House, Sept.
Why Priests Are Happy: A Study of the Psychological and Spiritual Health of Priests
Stephen J. Rossetti. Ave Maria, Oct.
Religion
Abingdon
9/11: What a Difference a Day Makes, Ten Years Later by James W. Moore (Aug., paper, $7.50, ISBN 978-1-4267-4126-5) deals with the reassessment of priorities prompted by what happened on September 11, 2001.
The Journey: Reflections for the Season by Adam Hamilton (Sept., paper, $10, ISBN 978-1-4267-1426-9; hardcover, $18, ISBN 978-1-4267-1425-2). Using historical information and archeological data, the popular pastor offers a look at the world-changing birth of Jesus Christ.
ABRAMS
The Face of Jesus by Edward Lucie-Smith (Oct., hardcover, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4197-0080-4) tells the story of the life of Christ in art; in a gift format.
ASHGATE
(www.ashgate.com)
Christian Moral Theology in an Emerging Technoculture by Brent Waters (Nov., paper, $39.95) argues that technology represents the principal cultural background against which contemporary Christian moral theology is formed.
Atria
Common Ground Bible by T.D. Jakes (Nov., hardcover, $35, ISBN 978-1-4391-7278-0) includes annotations and reflections from the influential pastor.
AVE MARIA
A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul by Lisa M. Hendey (Nov., paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-59471-273-9) introduces holy companions as guides for the vocation of Catholic motherhood.
Why Priests Are Happy: A Study of the Psychological and Spiritual Health of Priests by Stephen J Rossetti (Oct., paper, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-59471-274-6). The leading authority on the Catholic priesthood reports the results of the most comprehensive survey of priests' happiness and spiritual lives ever conducted.
AVE MARIA/SORIN
Streams of Contentment: Lessons I Learned on My Uncle's Farm by Robert J. Wicks (Oct., hardcover, $22.95, ISBN 978-1-933495-27-9) applies the lessons the bestselling author learned as a city boy spending summers on his family's farm to hectic contemporary life.
Bahá'í Publishing
(books.bahai.us)
Abraham: One God, Three Wives, Five Religions by Frances Worthington (Oct., paper, $17, ISBN 978-1-931847-89-6). The 4,000-year-old story of Abraham is presented from a fresh and intriguing interfaith perspective that joins together the scripture and traditions of five religions.
BAKER ACADEMIC
War and the American Difference: Theological Reflections on Violence and National Identity by Stanley Hauerwas (Oct., paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-8010-3929-4). The theologian examines how American identity and America's presence in the world are shaped by war.
Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics, edited by Joel B. Green (Nov., hardcover, $59.99, ISBN 978-0-8010-3406-0). Leading scholars in biblical studies and ethics provide a one-stop reference book on the relationship between Scripture and ethics.
Baker Books
The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook, edited by J. Daniel Hays and J. Scott Duvall (Sept., hardcover, $39.99, ISBN 978-0-8010-1296-9) brings the Bible to life with more than 1,100 full-color pages with illustrations, maps, and photos, and 112 in-depth articles.
A Place at the Table by Chris Seay (Jan., paper, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-8010-1451-2) challenges readers to eat like the poor for 40 days and to donate the money they save on groceries to charity. DVD and enhanced e-book also available.
Baker/Chosen Books
The Sermon on the Mount: A Verse-by-Verse Look at the Greatest Teachings of Jesus by R.T. Kendall (Aug., paper, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-8007-9472-9) offers an in-depth, verse-by-verse, and lay-friendly exposition of one of the most influential teachings in history, from an internationally respected pastor.
Baylor Univ.
The Betrayal of Charity: The Sins That Sabotage Divine Love by Matthew Levering (Aug., paper, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-60258-356-6) considers the many sins that aim to destroy love—hatred, sloth, envy, discord, contention, schism, war, strife, sedition and scandal—and reclaims love as the center of moral theology.
Becoming American?: The Forging of Arab and Muslim Identity in Pluralist America by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad (Oct., hardcover, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-60258-406-8) traces the history of Arab and Muslim immigration into Western society and argues that American Muslim identity is as uniquely American as is that of any other race, nationality, or religion.
Berkley
Katie's Way by Marta Perry (Nov., paper, $14, ISBN 978-0-425-24322-0). A quilt shop brings Amish and Englisch together, and trouble follows.
Bethany House
A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny by Amy Julia Becker (Sept., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7642-0917-8). Becker's child is born with Down syndrome, and the author offers her theological reflections and introspection on the unexpected.
The Mercy by Beverly Lewis (Sept., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7642-0601-6). The top-selling author of Amish fiction concludes the Rose Trilogy.
B&H Publishing Group
The Resolution for Men by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Randy Alcorn (Sept., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4336-7122-7). Based on the new film Courageous, the makers of Fireproof and authors of the related book The Love Dare offer a call and guide for men to take full physical, social, and spiritual responsibility as fathers and husbands. 100,000 first printing.
The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer (Sept., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-4336-7401-3). In partnership with the new film Courageous, the makers of Fireproof and authors of the related bestseller The Love Dare challenge women to live intentionally to honor God and their families. 100,000 first printing.
Bloomsbury
Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints by Sam Brower, preface by Jon Krakauer (Oct., hardcover, $26, ISBN 978-1-60819-275-5) offers a behind-the-scenes account of the FLDS from the private investigator who pushed the case forward.
BRAZOS PRESS
Kicking at the Darkness: Bruce Cockburn and the Christian Imagination by Brian J. Walsh (Dec., paper, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-58743-253-8) engages with the theologically rich catalogue of musician Bruce Cockburn.
CHARISMA HOUSE
Change Agent by Os Hillman (Aug., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-61638-182-0) teaches readers how to affect culture by laying a foundation for personal and institutional impact.
Counterpoint
The Book of Books: The Radical Impact of the King James Bible 1611–2011 by Melvyn Bragg (Sept., hardcover, $28, ISBN 978-1-58243-781-1) sketches the range and impact of a work created 400 years ago.
CHURCH PUBLISHING/
Seabury
Rubble Nation by Chris Herlinger and Paul Jeffrey (Oct., paper, $25, ISBN 978-1-59627-228-6) is a work of photojournalism that gives immediacy to the story of the ongoing catastrophe in Haiti.
CROSSROAD PUBLISHING
The World as It Could Be: Catholic Social Thought for a New Generation by Thomas D. Williams (Oct., paper, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-8245-2666-5). The CBS Vatican analyst explains authoritative Catholic teachings on economic issues, abortion, capital punishment, and other pressing political issues of our day.
CROSSWAY
Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper, foreword by Tim Keller (Sept., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-4335-2852-1) helps readers navigate the painful landscape of racial sin, showing that the Christian gospel is the only hope for meaningful racial solutions.
ciency frees humanity from self-righ
Dutton
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Marriage with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller (Nov., hardcover, $25.95, ISBN 978-0-525-95247-3) offers the bestselling author-pastor's insightful look at the keys to happiness in marriage.
Wm. B. Eerdmans
Happiness by Joan Chittister (Sept., hardcover, $20, ISBN 978-0-8028-6481-9). Believing that happiness is about more than money, luck, or worldly success, Chittister embarks on a great happiness "dig" through philosophy, the sciences, and world religions to develop "an archeology of happiness."
A Different Kind of Cell: The Story of a Murderer Who Became a Monk by W. Paul Jones (Sept., paper, $14, ISBN 978-0-8028-6651-6). Clayton Fountain was serving life sentences in solitary confinement for five murders—yet from his cell, Fountain underwent the profound spiritual conversion that led him to become a Trappist hermit. His spiritual adviser, Jones, tells the story.
FaithWords
Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week by Joel Osteen (Sept., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-89296-991-3). The Houston megachurch pastor shares his wisdom on living a happy and meaningful life.
Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus by John Eldredge (Oct., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-0-89296-088-0) removes the religious varnish on conventional notions about Jesus to help readers discover stunning new insights.
Georgetown Univ.
Testing the National Covenant: Fears and Appetites in American Politics by William F. May (Sept., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-58901-765-8) draws on America's religious and political history to examine contractual and covenantal concepts at work in the founding of the country, contending that the biblical idea of a covenant offers more promise than the system of contract.
The Golden Sufi Center
(dist. by IPG)
Fragments of a Love Story: Reflections on the Life of a Mystic by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (Sept., hardcover, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-890350-34-5) offers a powerful personal portrait of the struggles, inner dramas, and rewards that come from 40 years of the author's life as both a student and as a teacher of the mystical way.
Guideposts Books
Passion to Action: One Family, One Purpose, One Passion: How God Uses Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things by Jay and Beth Loecken, with Laura Morton (Sept., hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-8249-4857-3). The Loeckens and their four children share their story of their ministry of service.
Harmony
War of the Worldviews: Science vs. Spirituality by Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow (Oct., hardcover, $26, ISBN 978-0-307-88688-0). Two bestselling authors in the fields of spirituality and physics debate the most fundamental questions of human existence.
HARPERONE
Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life by James Martin (Oct., hardcover, $25.99, ISBN 978-0-06-202426-8). The unofficial "chaplain" on The Colbert Report and media go-to person on all things Catholic offers a look at how humor and laughter can change lives.
The Novice: A Story of True Love by Thich Nhat Hanh (Aug., hardcover, $23.99, ISBN 978-0-06-200583-0). The renowned Buddhist teacher's timeless parable about the first Buddhist nun explores the four key aspects of love in the Buddhist tradition: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and freedom.
Harvest House
Angels and Heroes: True Stories from the Front Line by Robert D. Lesslie (Aug., paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7369-3775-7). In this gathering of true stories, Lesslie chronicles extraordinary experiences from police, firefighters, and emergency response workers.
Hay House
The Boy Who Met Jesus: Segatashya of Kibeho by Immaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin (Nov., hardcover, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-4019-3581-8). Segatashya was a shepherd born in the most remote region of Rwanda, who also experienced a visit from Jesus.
Hay House/SmileyBooks Publishing
Faith in the Fire: Wisdom for Life by Gardner C. Taylor, edited by Edward L. Taylor (Aug., hardcover, $21.95, ISBN 978-1-4019-2962-6). The civil rights activist and social justice pioneer Gardner Taylor shares wisdom gained throughout his career as one of America's acclaimed preachers.
Hendrickson
Sunday's Best (Oct., paper, $14.95) is a collection of messages from today's most influential pastors, including Francis Chan, Tim Keller, John Ortberg, and others.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The Grace of Everyday Saints: How a Band of Believers Lost Their Church and Found Their Faith by Julian Guthrie (Aug., hardcover, $25, ISBN 978-0-547-13304-1). A group of Catholic churchgoers in San Francisco fight to reopen the doors of their beloved place of worship after it was closed following sex abuse scandals.
Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World by H.H. Dalai Lama and Alexander Norman (Dec., hardcover, $24, ISBN 978-0-547-63635-1) urges movement beyond religion for guidance to improve human life on individual, community, and global levels.
Howard Books
One Perfect Word by Debbie Macomber (Jan., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-4391-9059-3). The bestselling novelist relates true stories that illustrate the profound impact focusing on a single word—such as balance, surrender, or believe—for a whole year can bring.
The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath by Sen. Joe Lieberman with David Klinghoffer (Aug., hardcover, $22, ISBN 978-1-4516-0617-1). The Connecticut senator takes readers on a journey to rediscover the sustaining meaning of the Sabbath.
IGNATIUS PRESS
(dist. by Midpoint)
Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait—50 Inspiring Stories Never Before Told by Leo Maasburg (Nov., hardcover, $22.95). The longtime companion, confessor, and translator for Mother Teresa tells 50 previously unknown true stories of miracles he witnessed in the life of the admired nun.
Extreme Makeover: Women Transformed by Christ, Not Conformed to the Culture by Teresa Tomeo (Oct., hardcover, $21.95). Syndicated radio host Tomeo contrasts the self-image of American women distorted by pop culture with the transcendent dignity and true freedom of being a daughter of God.
InterVarsity Press
God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue by Daniel Walker (Sept., paper, $15, ISBN 978-0-8308-3806-6) is the story of an undercover investigator's experiences infiltrating the global sex industry.
Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer by Richard J. Foster (Sept., hardcover, $16, ISBN 978-0-8308-3555-3) describes the riches of meditative prayer, offering biblical teaching and step-by-step help to begin this time-honored prayer practice.
Jewish Lights
The Torah Revolution: Fourteen Truths That Changed the World by Rabbi Reuven Hammer (Oct., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-1-58023-457-3) examines the teachings that transformed ancient beliefs and paved the way for the religion that eventually became Judaism.
The Sabbath Soul: Mystical Reflections on the Transformative Power of Holy Time by Eitan Fishbane (Oct., paper, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-58023-459-7) offers original translations from a broad range of Hebrew Hasidic sources and commentary to enrich the Sabbath experience.
JOSSEY-BASS
Healing the Heart of Democracy by Parker Palmer (Aug., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-470-59080-5) builds on Palmer's extensive experience as an inner life explorer and social change activist to examine the personal and social infrastructure of American politics.
Judson Press
Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God's Fiesta by Janet Perez Eckles (Aug., paper, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-8170-1701-9) tells the inspiring story of a woman who lost her eyesight, went through the anguish of her son's murder and the acquittal of the man responsible, endured infidelity, suffered financial devastation, and now ministers to others as writer, speaker, and teacher.
Kregel Publications
From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology by John Dyer (Aug., paper, $13.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-2668-1) examines technology's influence and looks for biblical principles of guidance on how to use digital tools and social media.
LIGuORI PUBLICATIONS
Catholic and Cornered: Answers to Common Questions About Your Faith by Kenneth L. Parker (Sept., paper, $10.99, ISBN 978-0-7648-2025-0) focuses on the questions recent converts to Catholicism may encounter regarding their conversion decision and helps all Catholics answer questions and navigate through misconceptions of the faith.
Lion UK
(dist. by Trafalgar Sq. Publishing/IPG)
Landscapes of Prayer: Finding God in Your World and Your Life by Margaret Silf (Nov., hardcover, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-7459-5528-5) describes seven landscapes of prayer in an illustrated book that invites prayerful self-discovery.
LITURGICAL PRESS
The Radical Christian Life: A Year with Saint Benedict by Joan Chittister (Sept., paper, $15.95, ISBN 978-0-8146-3365-6) shows how the insights and values of the sixth-century visionary can illuminate today's search for a meaningful life.
Abide: Keeping Vigil with the Word of God by Macrina Wiederkehr (Sept., paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-8146-3383-0) teaches the ancient practice of lectio divina as a way of dwelling with God's word.
Loyola Press
Charged with Grandeur: The Book of Ignatian Inspiration by Jim Manney (Nov., paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-0-8294-3613-6) contains 365 insightful and inspiring Ignatian thoughts presented in a daily-reading format to encourage believers to draw closer to God.
Forgiveness: A Guide for Prayer by Jacqueline Syrup Bergan and Marie Schwan (Nov., paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-0-8294-3612-9) provides opportunities for people to grow deeper in their relationship with God through prayer.
Mercer Univ.
Jesus of Nazareth: Background, Witnesses, and Significance by Gerald Borchert (Oct., paper, $25, ISBN 978-0-88146-266-1) offers a comprehensive introduction to Jesus and the gospels.
MIT Press
Meditating Selflessly: Practical Neural Zen by James H. Austin (Oct., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-262-01587-5). The latest findings in brain research inform this guide to Zen meditative practice.
Monarch Books
(dist. by Kregel Publications)
The Beautiful Disciplines: 12 Steps to Help Young People Develop Their Spiritual Roots by Martin Saunders (Oct., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-85721-055-5) aims to help young people develop a deep-rooted and lasting faith, and includes activities and stories.
Moody
The Ring Makes All the Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage by Glenn T. Stanton (Sept., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8024-0216-5) makes a case for why marriage is still the best arrangement for the flourishing of couples and society.
A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman (Sept., hardcover, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-8024-0264-6). Married couple Jake and Marlee are about to call it quits on Christmas Eve. But a mysterious accident on the way to a lawyer's office is the occasion for Marlee to journey through her past and consider possible futures.
Multnomah Books
The God Pocket: He Owns It. You Carry It. Suddenly, Everything Changes by Bruce Wilkinson (Oct., hardcover, $12.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-185-2) expands on the most talked about chapter in the author's bestseller, You Were Born for This, and shows how anyone can partner with God for a financial miracle.
Torn: Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces by Jud Wilhite (Aug., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-073-2) offers pastoral help for those dealing with the pain and grief of dashed hopes and overwhelming odds.
NavPress
The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Jerry Bridges (Jan., hardcover, $16.99) examines how the Christian gospel is the power behind real spiritual transformation.
NEW CITY PRESS
Ecclesial Movements and Communities: Exploring Aspects of the Church's Charismatic Principle by Brendan Leahy (Aug., paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-56548-396-5) argues that the development of ecclesial movements over the past 50 years exemplifies the church's charismatic dimension.
W.W. Norton
The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life Without Illusions by Alex Rosenberg (Oct., hardcover, $25.95, ISBN 978-0-393-08023-0) offers itself as a book for nonbelievers who embrace a reality-driven life.
O BOOKS
(dist. by NBN)
Enlightenment Ain't What It's Cracked Up to Be by Robert K.C. Forman (Oct., paper, $16.95, ISBN 978-1-84694-674-5) gives an account of what enlightenment actually feels like and how it can be incorporated into everyday life.
ORBIS BOOKS
The Homeless Bishop: A Novel by Joseph F. Girzone (Sept., hardcover, $25, ISBN 978-1-57075-925-3). The bestselling author of the Joshua series introduces a new hero for our time: Carlo Brunnini, a bishop who chooses to become a homeless beggar to discover why Jesus loves the poor.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone (Oct., hardcover, $28, ISBN 978-1-57075-937-6). The force behind Black Liberation Theology examines the passion of the lynching era to explore how life can be made meaningful in the face of terrible injustice.
Our Sunday Visitor
Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle (Sept., paper, $14.95, ISBN 978-1-933271-28-6) relates the author's deeply personal experiences with one of the greatest souls of modern times.
Oxford Univ.
Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood by Christian Smith with Kari Christoffersen, Hilary Davidson, Patricia Snell Herzog (Sept., hardcover, $27.95, ISBN 978-0-19-982802-9) offers an eye-opening look into the unique challenges facing emerging adults, highlighting the difficult societal terrain that they must navigate.
Faith No More: Why People Reject Religion by Phil Zuckerman (Nov., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-19-974001-7) explores the phenomenon of the growing numbers of Americans turning away from religion and the complex reasons behind their apostasy.
PARALLAX PRESS
(dist. by PGW/Perseus Books Group)
Fidelity— How to Create a Loving Relationship That Lasts by Thich Nhat Hanh (Aug., hardcover, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-935209-91-1) is a guidebook for anyone looking to create long-lasting and satisfying intimacy.
Paulist Press
A Catholic Handbook on Sex (Nov., paper, $10.95, ISBN 978-0-8091-4737-3) surveys church teaching about sex in a breezy but staunchly orthodox style that will both appeal to and challenge young adults.
Penguin
The Best Spiritual Writing 2012, edited by Philip Zaleski (Sept., paper, $16, ISBN 978-0-14-311990-6). The annual roundup of outstanding essays and poetry on faith and spirituality includes work by Philip Yancey, Richard Rodriguez, and Robert Bly.
Princeton Univ. Press
The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion by Hugh B. Urban (Sept., hardcover, $27.95, ISBN 978-0-691-14608-9) provides an evenhanded history of Scientology and its long and complex journey to recognition as a religion.
Prometheus Books
In Bad Faith: What's Wrong with the Opium of the People by Andrew Levine (Oct., paper, $21, ISBN 978-1-61614-470-8) reviews the work of those post-Enlightenment authors who wondered why belief in God persists and then shows how today's believers are characterized by intellectual inauthenticity.
PublicAffairs
The Good News Club by Katherine Stewart (Jan., hardcover, $25.99, ISBN 978-1-58648-843-7) provides an exposé of the well-funded and coordinated effort by Christian Nationalists to use public schools to advance their agenda.
Regal Books/Gospel Light
God Has an App for That!: Discover God's Solutions for the Major Issues of Life by Dudley Rutherford (Jan., hardcover, $17.99, ISBN 978-0-8307-6088-6) invites readers to explore the book of James and discover God's user-friendly solutions for their biggest challenges in faith and life.
Revell
I Am in Here by Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virginia G. Breen (Nov., hardcover, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8007-2071-1) is the inspirational story of a mother and her nonverbal autistic daughter.
Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Aug., paper, $12.99, ISBN 978-0-8007-1996-8) provides an intimate glimpse into the everyday lives of real Amish families and helps readers share their wisdom.
Riverhead
Comfort: An Atlas for the Body and Soul by Brett C. Hoover (Nov., paper, $16, ISBN 978-1-59448-548-0) examines what drives our never-ending human quest for comfort.
Rizzoli
Love Is the Explanation of Everything: 365 Meditations with the Pope by John Paul II (Sept., hardcover, $29.95, ISBN 978-0-8478-3670-3) draws from the late pope's writings on matters of life, faith, and conscience.
Rowman & Littlefield
Becoming Jewish: The Challenges, Rewards, and Paths to Conversion by Steven Reuben and Jennifer Hanin (Sept., hardcover, $22.95, ISBN 978-1-4422-0848-3) is a step-by-step guide to converting to Judaism written by a rabbi and a convert that focuses on developing a healthy spiritual life.
What the Bible Really Tells Us: The Essential Guide to Biblical Literacy by T.J. Wray (Sept., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-0-7425-6253-0) provides essential background information, then gives readers tools to interpret and understand passages. The book explores what the Bible really says about key issues today—including heaven and hell, wealth and money, and sexuality—then encourages readers to pursue Bible reading on their own.
Saqi Books
(dist. by Consortium)
The Meaning of Mecca: The Politics of Pilgrimage in Early Islam by M.E. McMillan (Nov., hardcover, $37.95, ISBN 978-0-86356-437-6) studies sources that shed light on the early development of the hajj, Islam's required holy pilgrimage.
SIMON & SCHUSTER
GOD, NO!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales by Penn Jillette (Aug., hardcover, $24, ISBN 978-1-4516-1036-9) memorably combines filth and heart as the performer offers a collection of essays inspired by the 10 Commandments.
SkyLight Paths Publishing
Religion Gone Astray: What We Found at the Heart of Interfaith by Pastor Don Mackenzie, Rabbi Ted Falcon, and Imam Jamal Rahman (Oct., paper, $18.99, ISBN 978-1-59473-317-8) looks at the deeper dimensions of interfaith dialogue to better understand what divides people personally, spiritually and institutionally.
Smithsonian Books
The Jefferson Bible, Smithsonian Edition: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth by Thomas Jefferson (Nov., hardcover, $35, ISBN 978-1-58834-312-3) is a facsimile reproduction of the Smithsonian's Jefferson Bible, formally titled The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, Jefferson's effort to distill the wisdom of Jesus and correct misinterpretations.
SNOW LION
Preparing for Tantra by Rob Preece (Aug., paper, $18.95, ISBN 978-1-55939-377-5). The Tantric Buddhist practitioner, meditation teacher, and psychotherapist shows how to make preliminary tantric practices psychologically meaningful and spiritually transformative.
SOUNDS TRUE
(www.Soundstrue.com)
Untie the Strong Woman: Blessed Mother's Immaculate Love for the Wild Soul by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Oct., hardcover, $26.95, ISBN 978-1-60407-635-6) contains stories and blessings honoring the Blessed Mother Mary compiled by spirituality teacher Estes, who has a particular veneration for the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Spiegel & Grau
An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life by Mary Johnson (Aug., hardcover, $27, ISBN 978-0-385-52747-7) is a spiritual autobiography about a search for meaning that begins in a cloistered order working with Mother Teresa and ends in the secular world.
St. Augustine's Press
(dist. by Chicago Distribution Center)
The Kingdom Suffereth Violence: The Machiavelli/Erasmus/More Correspondence and Other Unpublished Documents by Philippe Bénéton, trans. from the French by Paul Archambault (Oct., hardcover, $30) uses new materials to examine the confrontation between morality (based on religion) and necessity in politics.
Sterling Publishing
Out of the Depths: The Story of a Child of Buchenwald Who Returned Home at Last by Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, foreword by Elie Wiesel (Oct., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-4027-8631-0) is the tale of one of Buchenwald's youngest survivors and how he grew up to be the Chief Rabbi of Israel.
Thomas Nelson
Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well by Billy Graham (Oct., hardcover, $19.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-4832-9). The influential evangelist shares his personal experience of growing older and some lessons on how to view time spent here on Earth.
One Call Away: Facing the Unexpected with Resilient Faith by Brenda Warner (Sept., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-4719-3) tells the story of Brenda Warner's resilient faith in the face of the unpredictable events of her life, both before and during her marriage to NFL star quarterback Kurt Warner.
Twelve
Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine by Eric Weiner (Dec., hardcover, $26.99, ISBN 978-0-446-53947-0). The author of the bestselling Geography of Bliss returns with this funny, illuminating chronicle of a globe-spanning spiritual quest to find a faith that fits.
Tyndale House
A Heart for Freedom: The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissident, Her Daring Escape, and Her Quest to Free China's Daughters by Chai Ling (Oct., hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-4143-6246-5) tells Ling's dramatic story as commander-in-chief of the student protesters at Tiananmen Square and witness to the massacre of thousands of Chinese civilians. She escaped to the U.S., where she was educated, and eventually encountered and embraced a faith that had once been forbidden.
Univ. of North Carolina
How to Read the Qur'an: A New Guide, with Select Translations by Carl W. Ernst (Dec., hardcover, $30, ISBN 978-0-8078-3516-6) offers a compact introduction and reader's guide for anyone, non-Muslim or Muslim, who wants to know how to approach, read, and understand the Qur'an in historical, literary, religious, and political context.
Univ. of Notre Dame
Monk's Tale: Way Stations on the Journey by Edward A. Malloy (Aug., hardcover, $25, ISBN 978-0-268-03522-8) is the middle volume of a projected three-volume memoir by Malloy, covering his years at the University of Notre Dame before he became the institution's president.
UPPER ROOM
Behold! Cultivating Attentiveness in the Season of Advent by Pamela C. Hawkins (Aug., paper, $14) invites readers to focus on a single word and prayer method each week and pay close attention to the new way the Advent story unfolds.
WaterBrook
Raised Right: How I Untangled My Faith from Politics by Alisa Harris (Sept., paper, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-307-72965-1). After a childhood of picketing abortion clinics and an adolescence spent campaigning vigorously for George W. Bush, a young woman becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the politicization of her faith and seeks a way to withdraw from the culture wars.
The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall (Oct., hardcover, $14.99, ISBN 978-0-307-44654-1) is a holiday novella from a bestselling author about everyday gifts and second chances among the Plain folk.
Watkins
(dist. by Sterling Publishing)
Masters of Wisdom: His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Infinite Compassion for an Imperfect World by Alan Jacobs, foreword by H.H. Dalai Lama (Aug., paper, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-78028-006-6). This anthology covers the major themes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's thought, including science and religion, compassion, peace, awareness, and Buddhist teaching.
WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX
The Gospel According to Twilight: Women, Sex, and God by Elaine A. Heath (Sept., paper, $15, ISBN 978-0-664-23678-6) offers a feminist critique and theological review of the Twilight books and films.
Yale Univ.
Ten Popes Who Shook the World by Eamon Duffy (Oct., hardcover, $25, ISBN 978-0-300-17688-9). The eminent English historian of Christianity offers his portraits of 10 Catholic popes whose influence has not been confined exclusively to church matters, but has extended to Europe and the wider world.
ZONDERVAN
God's Story, Your Story by Max Lucado (Oct., paper, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-310-29403-0). The pastor and bestselling author shows individuals how their life story is part of a grand, overarching narrative that demonstrates God's hand at work.
Beyond Boundaries by John Townsend (Oct., hardcover, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-310-33049-3). Psychologist Townsend shows how to trust again after setting appropriate boundaries, how to connect deeply without being hurt, and to grow intimate relationships safely.
