Mind, Body & Spirit

Aslan is one of the smartest religious scholars out there. This book reads as both a study of Islam and a commentary forces impacting religion in the modern world (he is especially adroit about extremism and orthodoxy). His perspective will make you fall in love with the beauty of the world’s second-largest religion and think deeply about how we navigate faith in the 21^st century. - Clara

How can we improve our eco-karma? From the ashram to your personal life, this beautiful book will be your guide. One chapter shows how to use Gary Snyder’s poems to increase one’s environmental consciousness. Others contemplates Buddhist consumer activism, and ways to get your community directly involved. It’s time to bring your practice into the world. - Jason

This is a classic of the modern Witchcraft movement. Adler takes a close look at the religions and spiritual movements of those outside of the norm of organized religion, shedding some light on an otherwise oft-misunderstood demographic of the country. This is perfect for anyone curious about the swiftly growing movement of contemporary witches and pagans. - J Gallo

Are you a fan of the popular sitcom The Good Place?  Would you like to dig a bit deeper into the ethical dilemmas explored on the show? If so, this book is for you! Russell uses traditional and modern thought experiments to provide a concise, illuminating tour of the main issues humans face when trying to "do the right thing". This is a great introduction to Ethical Philosophy. - Trey

Get ready to have your mind blown, because everything you “know” about food and dieting is a big ole LIE. Dooner lays out the history of diet culture, the physical, mental, & emotional effects of dieting, and how to heal from disordered eating. Heal your body. Heal your relationship with food. Eat. Rest. This book is life changing, potentially lifesaving, so f*ck it! - J

The historic moon landings were achieved against remarkable odds and within the space of just a few years. How can we apply the secrets of this astronomical success to our own goals to achieve the impossible in work and in life? Richard Wiseman brings together history, psychology, and self-help in this unique and powerful guide to achieving the impossible in work and in life. “What does lunar travel have to teach us? According to Wiseman and the members of Apollo’s mission control he interviewed: the importance of failure, passion, self-belief, and flexibility.” —Publishers Weekly

Long known as a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field, Abby Wambach expands her play to the rest of the world with Wolfpack, an inspiring rally cry for a new way forward, based on her 2018 commencement speech at Barnard College. Her presence on the page is powerful, joyful, and inclusive; her rules are ones we should all adopt. Abby has found a new pack to lead, and we are so lucky to run with her. - Melinda

How does she do it? How does Anne Lamott capture the tension of mystery and truth in a way that makes you want to follow her anywhere and believe everything? If you opened this book to any random page you’d find something you’d feel compelled to read aloud to the stranger at the next table. Her familiar writing style spreads a blanket in the sun, lays out trinkets for you to consider, then gathers up the corners, ties it to a stick, sets it on your shoulder, and nudges you to walk on with hope. -Jenny

For years, I was obsessed with the Nag Hammadi Library, or Gnostic Gospels, and Princeton’s professor of religion Elaine Pagels is by far the leading authority on the subject. In this memoir, Pagels retells the story of her life and examines the questions she faced her entire career, from others and herself: How can an academic believe in religion, and what place does religion have in the modern world? - Aric

Is chocolate heart-healthy? Does yogurt prevent type 2 diabetes? Do pomegranates help cheat death? News headlines bombard us with such amazing claims. They are reported as science and have dramatic effects on what we eat. In her new book, food expert Marion Nestle (Food Politics, What to Eat), explains how these studies are more about marketing than science, why it’s time to put public health first, and what we can do to make that happen. “Marion Nestle is a national treasure. She has the courage to take on multinational corporations and the wisdom to separate the facts from the spin.” ―—Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation