Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life (Paperback)

by Frederic Brussat (Author), Mary Ann Brussat (Author), Thomas Moore (Foreword)
Key Phrases: western spirituality, spiritual literacy, fruitful darkness, Native American, New York, Frederick Buechner (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Here is an astoundingly rich and needed addition to spiritual literature. With Sisyphean diligence, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat have managed to compile an extraordinary array of spiritual passages from writers across time and regardless of religious denomination, from the lyricist Leonard Cohen to the philosopher Jacob Needleman, from the mystic Christian Meister Eckhart to the novelist Annie Dillard, from the Zen master Robert Aitken to the poet Robert Haas. Read this book, contemplate it and learn the ABCs of spiritually, of life. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
The Brussats have put together a wonderful book in the William Bennett style that embraces the spiritual rather than the virtuous life. Believing that "Life is a sacred adventure" and that "Everyday we encounter signs that point to the active presence of the Spirit in the world around us," the Brussats break their book into such categories as "Place," "Nature," "Leisure" and "Creativity." Each chapter draws upon a wide variety of sources, including oral traditions, poetry and film, that pertain to the chapter's theme. Exercises at the end of each chapter are intended to help readers become more in tune with the spiritual in everyday activities.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (August 5, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684835347
• ISBN-13: 978-0684835341
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning and the end of what you need to know., September 1, 1998

By	Dr. Frances Kay Vickery (Reading, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews

If you aren't clear on the difference between religion and spirituality or think spirituality is weird, this book makes a clear and essential exposition of the differences. They use volumous resources to point out the basic values in life that count. As a therapist I use this book literally every day to help me meet the needs of my patients to understand themselves and where they are going with their lives and the importance of nourishing one's self, one's unique spirit. Spirituality applies to all aspects of life and the Brussart's start with the ABC's and go from there to explore the voice of hundreds of spiritual and religious persons to describe and enhance one's understanding of the basic values that apply to all of our lives if we intend to live up to any of our secret desires to be better persons.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shows the reader how to see the spiritual side of life., January 22, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life (Hardcover)

Oprah said, "I keep Spiritual Literacy right on my bedside table. I love this book!" when she introduced the segment devoted to it on her show last year.

Well, I beat her to it. I fell in love with the uncorrected advance proof which landed on my editor's desk because the Brussats are regular columnists for the magazine I work for, The Lutheran. It wonderfully teaches the reader how to see the spirituality already present in each of our daily lives--if only we know what to look for. That's given in a primer of spiritual literacy, from A for attention, B for beauty and C for connections straight through to X for the mystery, Y for yearning and Z for zeal. You don't have to retreat from the mundane to find spiritual truth. You have, rather, to plumb it.

My copy of Spiritual Literacy still sits on my bookshelf headboard. This is a book to last a lifetime.

And a marvelous bonus: Among the 600 some excerpts and passages you find authors that are old friends and are introduced to others destined to become new teachers.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous resource , December 24, 2004

By	C. L. Ferle (Midwest Reader and Writer) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Holding this hefty book in your hands, you cannot help but admire and respect the editorial efforts of the Brussats. They have put together a dazzling compendium of spiritual wisdom -- and have certainly done a lion's share of promoting many wonderful books that probably wouldn't have gained public attention otherwise! Many of the books they've quoted are now prized possessions on my book shelf, and I am grateful for having had this resource to light the path.

My only caveat -- and maybe it's just my issue -- is the way the book is organized and categorized. I find I have to spend a lot of time with the book before I can navigate its pages and figure out how/where to find things within the categories. To be fair, there's A LOT of material here, and not being an ediotr, I am not sure if there IS an easier way to package it all for the reader (?) Thankfully, there is a decent index and the book is worth keeping at your bedside for daily inspiration. You can dip into it anywhere and be nourished.