The Way of Wisdom

"Wisdom is a creating force," writes Silf (One Hundred Wisdom Stories), and indeed she has used wise words to build this collection of quotations, gathering ideas from contemporary spiritual leaders, timeless traditions, scientists, popular authors, and scripture. Expanding on the passages are the author's eloquent reflections on humanity's connectedness, the gift of life, and feeling God's presence. Seven "wisdom themes" are used to organize the work, among them "Original Wisdom," which explores human understanding of how the universe came to be; "Indigenous Wisdom," which collects Aboriginal and Native American perspectives; and "Desert Wisdom," which refers to the spiritual desert, an experience of struggle that can provide opportunities for new growth. Though she embraces diverse religious traditions, readers should know that Silf is primarily a Christian writer. Often, in the midst of pan-religious balance a Christian passage or sentiment is given more weight, as, for example, the unequivocal phrase "Jesus of Nazareth, the purest image of the living God." This is a readable and uplifting anthology, but Silf should have remained universal or else focused specifically on Christian wisdom rather than subtly privileging it amid universal references. (Nov.)