Lessons in Living

Taylor, editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, in this new collection of inspirational writings, develops themes that marked her earlier book, In the Spirit, a collection of her popular columns. Intermingled with personal details of career, divorce, parenting and remarriage are Taylor's strategies for finding inner peace amid the stress of contemporary living. Borrowing from diverse cultural and religious traditions and emphasizing the necessity of honoring oneself, Taylor espouses a practical spirituality: ``Life is our finishing school.'' When she describes the spiritual armor she dons each day in her busy life, she projects a quiet assurance that has won her a wide audience, particularly in the black community. This affirmative philosophy is attractively packaged with ruled blank pages at the end for readers' personal use. 100,000 first printing; author tour; first serial to Essence; Literary Guild alternate. (Nov.)