Hope and Other Superpowers: A Life-Affirming, Love-Defending, Butt-Kicking, World-Saving Manifesto

North Carolina pastor and blogger Pavlovitz (A Bigger Table) calls readers to action in response to the highly partisan cultural climate in this enjoyable book. Pavlovitz begins with a road map for activism and asks readers to consider key traits for cultivating personal and spiritual growth: compassion, sacrifice, courage, humor, humility, honesty, creativity, persistence, wonder, and gratitude. Pavlovitz’s honest examination of his own shortcomings is refreshing and reassures readers that mistakes and vulnerabilities can be seen as opportunities for positive transformation. He advises seeking out the company of like-minded people and being open to criticism and opposition in the pursuit of advocacy work. He is critical of the Trump administration and clear on his stance about hot-button issues such as immigrant rights and the need for civility in political discourse. Asking readers to reach back to a time before they felt burdened by the systemic problems of the world, Pavlovitz rouses with his call for everyone to become an “ordinary superhero.” This is not a Bible-based work, and sensitive readers should be forewarned that curse words abound. Readers looking to channel distress into self-betterment will definitely want to pick this up. (Nov.)