A Home for the Heart: Creating Intimacy and Community with Loved Ones, Neighbors, and Friends

Described by the publisher as ""a psychologist, healer, feminist, Quaker, and social-justice activist,"" Kasl has written three books on women and recovery, including Finding Joy. In this series of essays on various aspects of relationship and community, she ruminates about such topics as communication, friendship and neighborliness. Kasl, however, is often unable to relay her wisdom to her readers. She is frequently vague or imprecise. She repeatedly disparages ""addiction literature and spiritual writings"" and New Age and psychology self-help books that, she claims, ""urge people to let go of their egos"" and say that ""we shouldn't try to figure people out."" Unfortunately, Kasl is obscure about the exact books that inspire her ire. While stating that ""instead of wanting to be right we [should] want everyone to be respected and heard,"" she herself seems to ignore or disdain those who disagree with her. Kasl laments at what she sees wrong in our American culture (television, the Internet, telephones and our general isolation from one another), yet her over-generalizations will leave readers feeling homeless and disheartened. There is little here to inspire or create change. (May)