Lost Souls: Finding Hope in the Heart of Darkness [Hardcover]

Niles Goldstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0609610376 | ISBN-13: 978-0609610374 | Edition: 1st

These days it is no longer just adolescents who feel that the universe is falling apart. In Lost Souls, Niles Goldstein writes of the chaos and fear so many of us experience in our public and private lives and makes it clear that we are not—nor have we ever been—alone in our angst. To illustrate the different stages we often encounter when we feel lost—whether the trigger for our disorientation and despair is the loss of a loved one or a job, or the result of an injury or depression—Goldstein interweaves contemporary stories of men and women he has met through his work as a rabbi and a law enforcement chaplain with those of biblical figures such as Cain, David and Bathsheba, Samson, Tamar, and several of the prophets. As in his last book, God at the Edge, Goldstein explores the “shadow” side of the human condition. His accounts are often disturbing, but his insights are always inspiring. What he brings us is a message of particular relevance today, namely, that a journey through the wilderness—be it emotional, existential, or geographical—is a transformative and strengthening process, even though it may not seem so at the time. In chronicling the stories of survivors who have traveled through perilous and at times unexplored territory, Goldstein not only shows us how to face the challenges of being human, he also delivers a promise of meaning, direction, and hope in our lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There are untold numbers of books designed to help readers deal with losses: of a spouse, a job, a pet. Here, Rabbi Goldstein offers a moving meditation on the meaning of losing one's way. Drawing on autobiographical vignettes, psychoanalytic theory, biblical tales and Hasidic wisdom, Goldstein suggests that being lost is "bewildering," but it also can be "transformative." For when we are lost, we can clarify what is really important to us, and place ourselves on a new, more authentic path. Goldstein most clearly illustrates this with a vignette about his friend Elizabeth, who barely survived being shot in the head by a stranger. Initially angry and confused, Elizabeth learned to think of the shooting not as a nadir or tragedy, but as a turning point, "a mystery that nourishes her soul." Goldstein writes with Jewish inflections, but this book will be accessible to readers of any faith background. The book is not flawless. Some of the biblical stories feel like fluffy filler, barely relevant to Goldstein's larger points. The references to "existential conflicts" and Nietzsche are overkill, threatening to turn an otherwise elegant reflection on a poignant theme into a late-night conversation among black-clad college freshmen. And the theme of loss sometimes threatens to become vague and inchoate, though Goldstein generally brings it back to earth with concrete examples. Readers who can tolerate those occasional lapses will find this short, courageous book on the elemental feeling of being lost informative, instructive and inspiring.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

“This is the book for this moment. Have we ever felt such a mixture of fear, anger, and bewilderment as we look ahead in this unpromising century? Niles Goldstein’s eloquent voice opens a way to negotiate these shoals with confidence, even with style.” Harvey Cox, Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard University

“A learned and deeply spiritual book, rigorous and sensitive, it should appeal to free thinkers and believers alike.” Martin Peretz, editor in chief, The New Republic

“Niles Goldstein has an extraordinary ability to take the Bible’s most poignant and emotionally wrenching episodes and show how, thousands of years later, they still offer wise guidance to us all.” Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of The Book of Jewish Values

“Niles Goldstein writes like a gentle guide, a sage teacher, and a trusted friend. Lost Souls reminds us that loss and misfortune need not unmoor us from ourselves but can challenge us to enrich and elevate our souls. This book will bring solace and comfort to many.” Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Harmony/Bell Tower; 1st edition (October 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609610376
• ISBN-13: 978-0609610374
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,803,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Niles Elliot Goldstein is a rabbi and the award-winning author or editor of nine books. He served as the founding rabbi and spiritual leader of The New Shul in Manhattan's Greenwich Village for over a decade (1999-2009), and he is now its Rabbi Emeritus. Niles has written for Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and many other publications, and he has been featured in Time, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, and other national venues, as well as on radio and television. Niles served as a U.S. Army chaplain and for the past 15 years has worked with the federal law enforcement community. His passion for adventure travel has taken him from the steppes of Central Asia and Mongolia to the dog mushing trails of Alaska and the Arctic. To unwind, Niles hikes, rides horses, and practices the martial arts (he holds a black belt in karate). Niles lectures all over the country and speaks on various topics in the areas of spirituality and religion. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.