Conversations in the Spirit: Lex Hixon’s WBAI ‘In the Spirit Interviews’: A Chronicle of the Seventies Spiritual Revolution

Thirty abridged transcripts chosen from more than 300 episodes of the New York–based WBAI radio show In the Spirit, which ran from 1971 until 1980, thoughtfully and cleanly edited by Sheila Hixon, widow of host Lex Hixon. Lex—East-West spiritual integrator, consummate conversationalist—paints a portrait of the rich, multicultural spiritual awakening of the New York City of that generation in these diverse interviews. Hixon’s distinctive voice and careful preparation come through clearly in intimate interviews that engage the ideas and the personalities of his guests at a high level, free of antagonism and always open to the best of what each has to offer—whether Hixon is interviewing international luminaries visiting New York such as Dudjon Rinpoche and Mother Teresa, Brooklynites gone Zen like Bernie Glassman, Jewish mystics like Reb Zalman Schachter, academics like Huston Smith, creatives like Allen Ginsberg, or quirky local spiritual leaders like Mother Serena, many of whom have since passed away. Even if the reader chooses not to engage with the powerful ideas expressed here, there’s enough cultural history in the book to make reading it worthwhile. Add in the smorgasbord of ideas from around the world offered in clear and accessible language, and this becomes a treasure trove of high-end pointers toward the ineffable in theory and practice. B&w photos. (Oct.)

This review has been corrected to correct the book's subtitle and fix misspellings.