A lot has happened in America over the past couple of years. Beginning with war and rumors of more war, then the sub-prime mortgage crisis and now a looming recession, the national climate has grown cloudy. No surprise, then, that title output for spring religion/spirituality books reflects a more constrained approach, with many topics producing fewer titles than in recent seasons. The exceptions seem to be books on Catholicism—as robustly published as ever—and on social issues like the environment and economic inequality, but above all, in this crucial election year, on politics. This season's titles take a practical approach, aiming to equip people of faith to define and vote their values. (We will treat the issue in depth in the February 25 Religion Update, our quarterly supplement to PW.)
As we saw last fall, upcoming books seeking to counter “the new atheism” outnumber books by atheists themselves (this topic also is covered in our Feb. 25 issue). One notable exception is Lewis Black's Me of Little Faith, coming in June from Riverhead. The chronically enraged comic will be the featured performer at this year's BEA, and his humorous attack on religion might help keep the debate between believers and debunkers boiling.
Abingdon Press
Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White (Apr., $18 paper) by Adam Hamilton calls for a more balanced conversation on issues dividing our country and our churches.
Prayers for a Privileged People (Apr., $19 paper) by Walter Brueggemann reminds readers that idolatry of consumerism can be healed by faith in God's true abundance.
Abrams
The Book of Psalms (Mar., $16.95) by Mick Hale. Hale's landscape photos accompany each of 150 hymns, prayers of crisis and songs of devotion. 40,000 first printing.
ACTA
The Book of Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach (May, $14.95) by Alice Camille and Fr. Paul Boudreau details how forgiveness is the best lifestyle for this world and the next. Ad/promo.
Allen & Unwin
(dist. by IPG)
Buddhism for Mothers with Young Children: Becoming a Mindful Parent (Apr., $15.95 paper) by Sarah Napthali teaches attentiveness and contentment.
Andrews McMeel
Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Lisa Alcalay Klug ends Christmas tree envy by covering everything Hebraic, from womb to tomb.
ATF Press
(dist. by IPM)
A Way into the Old Testament (Apr., $12.95 paper) by Charles Biggs and Anna Grant-Henderson facilitates a study of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Atria
Gospel of Inclusion: Reaching Beyond Religious Fundamentalism to the True Love of God (Mar., $22) by Carlton Pearson charges that the controlling dogmas of religion are the cause of many world ills.
Augsburg
Being Well When We're Ill: Wholeness and Hope in Spite of Infirmity (June, $14.99) by Marva Dawn expands the Living Well series, which encourages positive changes in life.
Authentic
Bringing Home the Prodigals (Apr., $9.99 paper) by Rob Parsons advances the hope that the Christian community won't make it hard for prodigals to return.
Ave Maria Press
Closer: Musings on Intimacy, Marriage, and God (Apr., $11.95 paper) by Valerie Schultz maintains that marital intimacy is always permeated by Christ's presence.
Avon Inspire
For Pete's Sake (Apr., $12.95 paper) by Linda Windsor. Will landscaper Ellen follow God's plan for her and the widower next door? Ad/promo. Author publicity.
Hidden (May, $12.95 paper) by Shelley Shepard Gray. Fleeing a hurtful boyfriend, Anna retreats to an Amish inn where she finds true love. Ad/promo.
Baker Academic
Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible (May, $16.99 paper) by Daniel Carroll provides biblical guidance for Christians on immigration issues. Advertising. Publicity.
Baker Books
Guard Us, Guide Us: Divine Leading in Life's Decisions (Mar., $17.99) by J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom advises a deeper understanding and recognition of God's direction for one's life.
The Cell's Design: How Chemistry Reveals the Creator's Artistry (June, $16.99) by Razale Fana. The intricacies of the cell lead to belief in the truths of scripture.
B&H Books
American Heroes: In the Fight Against Radical Islam (May, $22.99) by Oliver North lauds the compassion, courage and faith of American soldiers. Ad/promo. Author tour.
God in the Marketplace (May, $16.99) by Henry and Richard Blackaby underscores what the Bible says about integrating faith into one's work life. Advertising. Publicity.
Barbour
365 One-Minute Meditations fromMy Utmost for His Highest (Mar., $9.97 paper) by Oswald Chambers. Thought-provoking excerpts are accompanied by relevant scripture.
A Sister's Hope (July, $10.97 paper) by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Martha wonders if the man she loves is the person attacking her Amish family.
Basic Books
Reinventing the Sacred: Finding God in Complexity (Apr., $27) by Stuart Kauffman argues that the ceaseless natural creativity of the world can be a profound source of meaning.
Baylor Univ. Press
The Hope of Liberation in World Religions (Mar., $34.95 paper) by Miguel De La Torre attempts to find common ground for liberation theology across religions.
Beacon Press
Sundays in America: A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith (Apr., $25.95) by Suzanne Strempek Shea visits storefronts and mega-churches from Massachusetts to Maui. Author publicity.
Surprised by God: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Religion (Aug., $24.95) by Danya Ruttenberg follows a spiritual awakening and a path to the rabbinate. Advertising.
Bethany House
Quiet Moments for a Woman's Heart and ...a Mother's Heart (Mar., $12.99 each) offer words of comfort in three-page meditations. 20,000 first printing each.
Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality (June, $13.99 paper) by Jim Burns enables kids to develop a good perspective regarding their bodies.
Bluebridge
(dist. by IPG)
The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully (May, $19.95) by Joan Chittister embraces aging as a time that can be active, contemplative, productive and rewarding.
Brazos Press
The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality (Apr., $39.99) by Evan B. Howard surveys all major streams of Christian belief. Advertising. Publicity.
New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church (May, $14.99 paper) by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. One of its founders introduces the new movement. Advertising. Publicity.
Cambridge Univ. Press
An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith (Apr., $24.99 paper) by Peter Smith discusses the religion that preaches universal harmony and the unity of all faiths.
Charisma House
Don't Miss Your Moment (June, $14.99 paper) by Judy Jacob helps readers realize the promise of God in life's circumstances.
Chosen
True Freedom: What Christian Submission and Authority Look Like (June, $13.99) by Steve Fry states that living within God's boundaries brings true freedom and safety.
Cider Mill Press
(dist. by Sterling)
God Made Easy (May, $6.95) by Patrice Karst simplifies the plethora of available religious and spiritual material.
Cistercian
God Alone: A Spiritual Biography of Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron (June, $16.95 paper) by Gonzalo Maria Fernández, O.C.S.O., follows a young Spanish aristocrat's efforts to give his life to God during the tumult of the Spanish Civil War.
Columbia Univ. Press
The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity, revised edition (Mar., $27.50) by Peter Brown. The 20th-anniversary edition includes a new introduction by the author.
Conari
Prayers for Hope & Comfort: Reflections, Meditations, and Inspirations (July, $15.95 paper) by Maggie Oman Shannon addresses a wide range of modern challenges, from illness to war.
Continuum
The Springfield Reformation: Christianity in the Simpsons (May, $65; paper $16.95) by Jamey Heit examines the theologically informed religious climate of the Simpsons.
The Gift of Responsibility: The Promise of Dialogue Among Christians, Jews, and Muslims (June, $19.95 paper) by Lewis S. Mudge urges resistance to destructive economic and political forces at work around the globe.
David C. Cook
Indispensable Relationships You Can't Be Without (Apr., $21.99) by Leonard Sweet gives a biblical blueprint for personal associations that can change lives.
I Heart Bloomberg (Apr., $13.99 paper) by Melody Carlson. Life, love and friendship form the focus of this novel about four 20-something women.
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (May, $13.99 paper) by Francis Chan. The pastor has provocative words for the people he loves.
Copperhouse
(dist. by Pilgrim Press)
The Art of Parables: Reinterpreting the Teaching Stories of Jesus in Word and Form (Mar., $32.95 paper) by Charles McCollough illuminates the most-used texts in the New Testament.
Council Oak Books
James and the Lost Heirs of Jesus: Tracing the History of the Original Followers to Their Legacy Today (May, $25) by Kenneth Hanson connects these first-century figures to a very active sect of contemporary Judaism. Ad/promo.
Crossroad Publishing
Win the World Without Losing Your Soul (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Dave Durand reveals how to thrive in finance, professional life and relationships without forsaking ideals.
Against the Grain: Christianity, Democracy, War and Peace (Apr., $24.95) by George Weigel puts forth a Catholic response to all threats against human dignity.
Crossway
The Christian Grandma's Idea Book: Hundreds of Ideas, Tips, and Activities to Help You Be a Good Grandma (Apr., $14.99 paper) by Ellen Banks Elwell offers advice on babysitting, books, traditions and more.
Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists (May, $15.99 paper) by Collin Hansen investigates just what makes today's young evangelicals tick.
Crown
Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America (Mar., $23.95) by Robert S. McElvaine argues that Jesus would never have been pro-war, anti-gay or pro-greed.
Da Capo Lifelong
Jewish Dharma: A Guide to the Practice of Judaism and Zen (Apr., $25) by Brenda Shoshanna centers on common issues that introduce disorder to one's life.
Deseret Book
Whisperings of the Spirit (Mar., $16.95) by Nancy Murphy inspires an ongoing communication with the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Secret (Apr., $19.95) by James L. Ferrell maintains that love for holiness transforms life itself.
Devora
The Eybeshitz Haggadah (Mar., $24.95) by Rabbi Shalom Hammer assembles homiletics on the Exodus and the Passover seder by the 18th-century scholar Rabbi Yonasan Eybeshitz.
Discipleship Resources
In Love Again and Making It Work: Successful Remarriage (May, $14 paper) by Dick Dunn works through the challenges facing individuals seeking to marry again.
Discovery House
A Better Country (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Dan Schaeffer seeks to change readers' views of heaven and the way they live on earth.
Doubleday
We Plan, God Laughs: Ten Steps to Finding Your Divine Path When Life Is Not Turning Out Like You Wanted (Apr., $18.95) by Rabbi Sherre Hirsch suggests readers need to honor who they really are. 35,000 first printing.
How Would God Vote? Why the Bible Commands You to Be a Conservative (June, $24.95) by David Klinghoffer asks what's so wrong if the right wants to impose a theocracy. 20,000 first printing.
Love as a Way of Life: Seven Traits That Will Transform Your Relationships (July, $19.95) by Gary Chapman maps a spiritual path to kindness, patience, forgiveness, humility, courtesy, giving and honesty. 125,000 first printing.
Dufour Editions
Work and Spirituality: Finding the Balance (June, $22.95 paper) by Greg Heylin considers the two at both individual and organizational levels.
Duke Univ. Press
Capitalism and Christianity, American Style (Mar., $21.95 paper) by William E. Connolly calls on the democratic left to counter the conservative grip on American religious and economic culture.
Dutton
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Mar., $24.95) by Timothy Keller utilizes personal experiences in a treatise on faith and doubt. Author tour.
Wm. B. Eerdmans
Beloved: Henri Nouwen in Conversation (Mar., $20) by Henri J.M. Nouwen includes a never-before-published interview reflecting on themes central to his life.
Wedding Rites: The Complete Guide to Traditional Vows, Music, Ceremonies, Blessings, and Interfaith Services (Apr., $20 paper) by Michael P. Foley infuses today's celebrations with time-honored traditions.
End Run Press
(Dist. by IPG)
Old Bug: The Spiritual Quest of a Skeptical Guy on a Road Trip Across America with a Long Lost Friend in a Beat Up Beetle (Apr., $16.95) by Dan Jackson aims at people who avoid religion but still have to deal with life. Ad/promo.
Faithwords
Enjoy Today, Embrace Tomorrow: Claim the Secrets of True Happiness (Apr., $23.99) by Joyce Meyer shares the author's access to victory and joy.
It's All About Us (May, $9.99 paper) by Shelley Adina. This novel focuses on the girls of Spencer Academy, who face high school challenges while keeping their faith.
100 Ways to Simplify Your Life (June, $16.99) by Joyce Meyer seeks to uncomplicate what we all must deal with.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
A Long Retreat: In Search of a Religious Life (Mar., $25) by Andrew Krivak tells of a religious calling that takes him to the Dominican Republic, Moscow and the South Bronx. Publicity.
Feldheim Publishers
The Guide to Serving God (Apr., $34.99) by Avraham ben HaRambam enables a stronger sense of closeness and intimacy with God.
Findhorn Press
(dist. by IPG)
11 Days at the Edge: One Man's Spiritual Journey into the Next Enlightenment (May, $22.95 paper) by Michael Wombacher promotes a new spiritual paradigm.
Focus On The Family
The Savvy Bride's Answer Guide (Mar.) and The Savvy Groom's Answer Guide (Mar., $13.99 each paper) by Philip J. Swihart and Wilford Wooten. Two family counselors give premarital advice.
Fons Vitae
Beads of Faith: Pathways to Meditation and Spirituality Using Rosaries, Prayer Beads, and Sacred Words (Apr., $25.95 paper with DVD) by Gray Henry and Susannah Marriott includes full-color photos and charts on every page.
Fordham Univ. Press
Heart of the City: Catholics in New York, 1808-1946 (Apr., $34.95), edited by Terry Golway, illustrates and chronicles the history, growth and legacy of New York's largest denomination.
Fortress Press
Mission and Menace: Four Centuries of American Religious Zeal (Mar., $22) by Robert Jewett reviews the U.S.'s self-perception as a nation with a divine blessing.
Free Press
I Don't Believe in Atheists (Mar., $25) by Chris Hedges proclaims that such religion debunkers as Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris will ultimately undermine our culture. Ad/promo. 8-city author tour.
Georgetown Univ. Press
Politics in the Parish: The Political Influence of Catholic Priests (Apr., $26.95 paper) by Gregory Allen Smith examines how congregations' views are shaped.
Guideposts Books
Lost & Found: One Daughter's Story of Amazing Grace by Kathryn Slattery (Mar., $17.99) gives an up-close look at the complicated relationship between mother and daughter through the author's own life.
Know the Bible in 30 Days: Discovering Historical Facts, Biblical Insights and the Inspiring Power of God's Word by J. Stephen Lang (Mar., $24.99) is a 30-day guide to understanding the Bible and finding inspiration.
Hampton Roads
Happier Than God: Turn Ordinary Life into Extraordinary Experience (Mar., $18.95 paper) by Neale Donald Walsch pinpoints just where it is that God fits in. 50,000 first printing.
Harmony
The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore (Mar., $24) by Deepak Chopra identifies the historical Jesus, the metaphorical Jesus and the spiritual guide to peace and love. 150,000 first printing.
Harperone
God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question—Why We Suffer (Mar., $25.95) by Bart Ehrman examines contradictory positions within the Bible.
The Lost Ark of the Covenant (Mar., $25.95) by Tudor Parfitt recounts an actual quest to recover the artifact that contained the Ten Commandments.
Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (Mar., $24.95) by N.T. Wright tackles the idea that most Christians misunderstand what happens after we die.
Harvard Univ. Press
The Faithful: A History of Catholics in America (Apr., $27.95) by James M. O'Toole lauds lay believers who have kept their faith despite persecution and abuse.
Harvest House
The Lion and the Land of Narnia (Mar., $16.99) by Robert Cording reproduces a series of full-color paintings based on C.S. Lewis's fantasy world.
Where Have All the Good Men Gone (Mar., $12.99 paper) by A.J. Kiesling addresses women who desire marriage but remain alone.
Hay House
An Introduction to the Dalai Lama: The Key Ideas and Teachings (Aug., $14.95) by the Dalai Lama extracts some of his most powerful writings and talks. 50,000 first printing.
HCI
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talkin' Faith (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Jack Canfield et al. recounts inspirational stories from a Christian teen perspective. 100,000 first printing.
Hendrickson
Born Again (Mar., $14.95) by Charles Colson. The man at the heart of the conspiracies that led to Nixon's downfall finds salvation.
Hidden Spring
Finding the Monk Within: Great Monastic Values for Today (May, $20 paper) by Edward C. Sellner appraises key dynamic monastic figures in the history of Christian spirituality.
Hohm Press
(dist. by Scb)
Feast or Famine: Teachings on Mind and Emotions (June, $17.95 paper) by Lee Lozowick condenses 35 years of practical instructions and commentary.
Howard Books
Mistaken Identity (Mar., $21.99) by Don and Susie Van Ryn et al. recounts the aftermath of a tragic accident, when one university student was buried under the wrong name and the survivor was cared for by the wrong family.
Jerry Falwell: His Life and Legacy (May, $23.99) by Macel Falwell. His wife grants an intimate perspective into his life.
Ignatius Press
Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life: A Practical Guide to Prayer for Active People (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Robert Spitzer, S.J., proposes strategies for deepening prayer and one's relationship with God. $15,000 ad/promo.
The Quest for Shakespeare (Apr., $19.95) by Joseph Pearce concludes that the playwright was a believing Catholic throughout his life. 15,000 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo.
Inner Traditions
Jesus the Wicked Priest: How Christianity Was Born of an Essene Schism (Apr., $16 paper) by Marvin Vining decodes the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Intervarsity Press
The Attentive Life: Discerning God's Presence in All Things (May, $18) by Leighton Ford considers the monastic concept of praying through the hours of the day.
Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling (July, $20) by Andy Crouch urges Christians to reclaim the cultural mandate to become the creative cultivators God wants.
Just Courage: God's Surprising Plan to Rescue Us from Fear (Aug., $18) by Gary A. Haugen confirms that God reveals his goodness through the actions of believers.
Jewish Lights
My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries (Mar., two volumes, $24.99 each), edited by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman and David Arnow, draws commentaries from all parts of the Jewish world. $15,000 ad/promo.
Rabbi Harvey Rides Again: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Folktales Let Loose in the Wild West (Mar., $16.99 paper) by Steve Sheinkin follows the earlier Adventures of Rabbi Harvey.Ad/promo.
Jewish Publication Society
Jewish Voices, Jewish Choices: Body and ...Money (Apr., $16 each paper), edited by Elliot N. Dorff and Louis E. Newman, begin a new series on controversial topics.
An Introduction to Islam for Jews (June, $18 paper) by Reuven Firestone supplies a reasoned view of Islam and its relationship to Judaism.
Jossey-Bass/Wiley
The Promise of Paradox: A Celebration of Contradictions in the Christian Life (Apr., $18.95) by Parker Palmer reviews the central themes of Christian spirituality.
A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-filled, Open-armed, Alive-and-well Faith for the Left Out, Left Behind, and Let Down in Us All (June, $21.95) by Doug Pagitt encourages the renewal that comes with an expanded vision of life with God.
Judson Press
Morning Meetings with Jesus: 180 Devotions for Teachers (Mar., $16 paper) by Susan O'Carroll Drake applies spiritual insights to situations confronting educators in today's classroom.
Kimani Books
This Far by Faith (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Linda Hudson-Smith et al. offers three stories of mothers, daughters, faith and forgiveness.
Kregel
Mixed Ministry: Working Together as Brothers and Sisters in an Oversexed Society (Mar., $15.99 paper) by Sue Edwards et al. untangles the issues surrounding how to relate to the opposite sex in ministry and the workplace.
KTAV Publishing
And From There You Shall Seek (Apr., $25) by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. The late rabbi's work on the religious experience is translated into English for the first time.
Genesis and Jewish Thought (May, $35) by Chaim Navon muses on religion and science, commandment and morality, and individual and society.
The Light
The Qur'an in 99 Questions (June, $14.95) by Muhittin Akgul is based on Islamic sources. Ad/promo.
Liguori
Called to Be Sent (Mar., $19.95 paper) by Anthony J. Gittins completes his theology of discipleship by developing the concept of “sending forth.”
Church History 101 (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Christopher M. Bellitto describes the early, medieval, Reformation and modern churches.
Little, Brown
Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict (Apr., $23.99) by Tsultrim Allione. The American Buddhist leader weighs in on marital strife, depression, addiction and more. Author publicity.
Liturgical Press
Praying the Word: Illuminated Prayers and Wisdom fromThe Saint John's Bible (Mar., $39.95) by Donald Jackson furnishes unique calligraphy and artwork.
From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist (May, $29.95 paper) by Edward Foley is a revised and expanded edition.
Llewellyn
Witch School First Degree (Apr., $19.95), Witch School Second Degree (Apr., $24.95) and Witch School Third Degree (Apr., $29.95) make up the the Witch School: Lessons in the Correllian Tradition series by Rev. Donald Lewis-Highcorrell, which prepares readers for initiation into the Correllian Nativist tradition, one of the fastest growing in Wicca. 10,000 first printing each volume.
Loyola Press
More Than A Dream: How One School's Vision Is Changing the World (Mar., $22.95) by G.R. Kearney depicts a Jesuit vision to help underprivileged students in Chicago. 20,000 first printing. $35,000 ad/promo.
St. Paul's Lessons for Living: First-Century Wisdom for the Twenty-First-Century Christian (June, $12.95), edited by Joseph Durepos. Each of 100 selections from St. Paul's epistles is followed by a story, reflection or meditation. 20,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.
Magnus Press
God's Love in the End Times by Warren R. Angel (July, $13.95 paper) exposes false ideas about God's love and clarifies biblical ideas. $5,000 ad/promo.
Mandala
(dist. by PGW)
Yoga: The Greater Tradition (May, $12.95) by David Frawley is the fourth volume in the Wisdom Library series.
Mcgill-Queen's Univ. Press
The Blue Banner: The Presbyterian Church of Saint David and Presbyterian Witness in Halifax (Apr., $39.95) by Barry Cahill et al. provides a social history of Presbyterianism in the Canadian city.
Mercer Univ. Press
Mormonism in Dialogue with Contemporary Christian Theologies (Mar., $50; paper $25), edited by Donald W. Musser and David L. Paulsen, locates a complementary balance between Mormonism and other beliefs of today.
Mesorah
Touched by a Story 5 (May, $20.99; paper $17.99) gathers nearly 100 uplifting tales to restore tranquility and refresh the soul.
Monkfish
(dist. by Consortium/Perseus)
From the Heart of the Lotus: The Teaching Stories of Swami Kripalu (June, $18.95 paper), edited by John Mundahl, demonstrates how to live yogic principles on and off the mat.
Moody/Northfield
The Heart of the Five Love Languages (Mar., $5.99) by Gary Chapman condenses the national bestseller. 50,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.
Porn Nation, Conquering America's #1 Addiction (May, $18.99) by Michael Leahy reports that over 20-million Americans are obsessed with pornography and sex-related web sites. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.
Morehouse
Bead One, Pray Too (Mar., $28) by Kimberly Winston cites people of all faiths using prayer beads as a spiritual tool and a mode of creativity. Ad/promo.
Grace on the Go: Quick Prayers for Compassionate Caregivers (Mar.), ...for New Moms (Mar.) and ...for Determined Dieters (Mar., $10 each paper) by Barbara Bartocci aim to strengthen those facing challenges. Ad/promo.
Multnomah
Sisterchicks Go Brit! (May, $12.99 paper) by Robin Jones Gunn. New fiction traces the group's journey across the pond.
New Birth or Rebirth (June, $16.99) by Ravi Zacharias imagines a dialogue between Jesus Christ and Krishna.
Wild Goose Chase (Aug., $13.99 paper) by Mark Batterson likens the spiritual journey to chasing a wild goose, the Celtic Christian name for the Holy Spirit.
National Geographic Books
National Geographic Essential Visual History of the Bible (Mar., $15.95). Students, scholars and armchair historians can use this palm-sized chronicle.
Navpress
Free to Be Bound (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove recounts his experiences as a white man in a black church and calls for true unity among Christians.Ad/promo.
Ask Me Anything 2 (June, $9.99 paper) by J. Budziszewski. The University of Texas professor answers his students' questions about anything and everything. Ad/promo.
Thomas Nelson
Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really. (Apr., $22.99) by John Eldredge examines what an intimate relationship with God is like.
The Tale of Two Sons (Apr., $22.99) by John MacArthur probes deeply into Luke 15.
The Power of God's Love: A 31-Day Devotional to Encounter the Father's Greatest Gift (June, $7.99) by Charles Stanley encourages the reader to live as one who is unconditionally loved.
New City Press
Created for Great Things: Spiritual Writings by Mother Teresa (May, $13.95 paper), edited by Gloria Hutchinson, includes a commentary by the editor.
New York Univ. Press
American Catholic History: A Documentary Reader (Apr., $75; paper $25), edited by Mark Massa and Catherine Osbourne, covers the topic from the early 16th-century missionaries up to the present.
Dreaming in the World's Religions: A Comparative History (July, $75; paper $23) by Kelly Bulkeley discusses how dreaming has shaped religious beliefs.
North Atlantic Books
Creating Peace by Being Peace: The Essene Sevenfold Path (Aug., $15.95 paper) by Rebbe Gabriel Cousens, M.D., seeks a holistic peace in life and for the planet.
North Point Press
The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation (Aug., $11 paper) by George Thompson suits the needs of students and teachers. Advertising.
Northstone
(dist. by Pilgrim Press)
The Spirituality of Nature (Apr., $34) by Jim Kalnin tells a new creation story based on what science has discovered of our cosmic history.
Orbis
Living Beyond the “End of the World”: A Spirituality of Hope (Mar., $18 paper) by Margaret Swedish posits that a series of interrelated forces could undermine the fabric of our society.
The New Atheists: The Twilights of Reason and the War on Religion (Apr., $20 paper) by Tina Beattie approaches religion by emphasizing the realm of symbol, imagination and creativity.
Our Sunday Visitor
Questions and Answers (Mar., $14.95) by Pope Benedict XVI supplies responses to queries we all want to ask about God and the Church.
Take Five: On the Job Meditations with St. Ignatius (Mar., $9.95 paper) by Mike Aquilina and Fr. Kris Stubna aims to enable the reader to build career and faith at the same time.
Overlook Press
The Gospel and the Zodiac: The Secret Truth About Jesus (Mar., $26.95) by Bill Darlison claims that the Bible is deliberately structured around the signs of the zodiac.
Oxford Univ. Press
Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance, and Religion on America's College Campuses (Apr., $24.95) by Donna Freitas reports that sexual promiscuity can shatter a young adult's religious identity.
Blood That Cries Out from the Earth: The Psychology of Religious Terrorism (Apr., $24.95) by James W. Jones associates this pathology with dogmatic, authoritarian and irrational fundamentalism.
Palgrave MacMillan
The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest's Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews (Aug., $26.95) by Father Patrick Desbois results from e mass grave sites in Ukraine.
Paraclete Press
Words of Light: Inspiration from the Letters of Padre Pio (Mar., $23.95) by Padre Pio reveals that he, like Mother Teresa, went through doubt and personal suffering.
Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment (Apr., $19.95) by J. Brent Bill testifies to God's presence in our lives.
Paragon House
Jewish Sacred Music and Jewish Identity: Continuity and Fragmentation (June, $19.95 paper) by Jonathan Friedmann and Brad Stetson finds music's place in Jewish religion and history.
Parallax Press
A Rose for Your Pocket (Apr., $8.95 paper) by Thich Nhat Hanh celebrates motherhood from a Buddhist perspective. Advertising.
Mindful Moments (May, $14.95 paper) by Thich Nhat Hanh and Wietske Vriezen demonstrates gentle exercises to become aware of body and breath. Advertising.
Pauline Books
Saint Edith Stein: A Spiritual Biography (July, $TBA) by Dianne Traflet discusses Stein's focus on the Eucharist, Mary and the cross.
Paulist Press
Before Dallas: The U.S. Bishops' Response to Clergy Sexual Abuse of Children (Mar., $27.95 paper) by Nicholas P. Cafardi cites the missed opportunities to halt the crisis much earlier.
Doing Time: Finding Hope at San Quentin (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Dennis Burke recounts the author's 10 years in prison ministry.
Penguin
Penguin Dictionary of the Bible (Apr., $17 paper) by John M. Court opens the Bible to general readers.
Church of the Dog (May, $13 paper) by Kaya McLaren encourages people to heed the power in every day life that is shared with those they love.
Pilgrim Press
The Living Book of Daily Prayer: Morning and Evening (Apr., $20 paper), edited by Kim Martin Sadler, presents devotionals for year after year.
Beloved, You Can Win! Strategies for Walking Your Talk (May, $16 paper) by Linda H. Hollies directs Christians to a “purpose-driven” life.
Pitspopany Press
Genesis—The Book with Seventy Faces: A Guide for the Family (Mar., $29.95) by Esther Takac brings parents and children together for shared Torah study.
Princeton Univ. Press
Religion in American Politics: A Short History (Mar., $24.95) by Frank Lambert tracks the uneasy relationship between religion and politics from the founding of the country to the 21st century.
Prometheus Books
The Secular Conscience: Why Belief Belongs in Public Life (Mar., $24.95) by Austin Dacey asks secular liberals to defend their moral vision.
Top Secret: The Truth Behind Today's Pop Mysticisms (Mar., $24.95) by Robert M. Price puts these trends into perspective.
Putnam Praise
God's Master Plan for Your Life (May, $19.95) by Gloria Copeland submits that living a godly life is within reach of every person. 100,000 first printing. 12-city author tour.
Dare to Be a Man (May, $19.95) by Bishop David G. Evans. The leader of the Bethany Baptist Church speaks to Christian men and the women who love them. 60,000 first printing. Author publicity.
Quest Books
Peeking Under the Mat: A Candid Look at America's Love Affair with Yoga (July, $19.95 paper) by Tom Pilarzyk depicts both the light and dark sides of yoga's popularity.
Random House
Founding Faith: The Birth of Religious Freedom in America (Mar., $25.95) by Steven Waldman focuses on the role religion played in the American Revolution.
Regal
The Language of Sex (Apr., $22.99) by Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham praises the beauty of sexual intimacy in marriage.
Recreate (July, $22.99) by Ron Luce enumerates ways to change the world that children live in.
Resurrection Press
Embracing the Wounds of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Invitation to Heal (Mar., $8.95) by Bernadette Cioch is informed by her own personal odyssey through pain.
Revell
Glimpses of Heaven (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Trudy Harris. A registered nurse gleans from her patients what the living can learn from the dying.
Riverhead
Me of Little Faith by Lewis Black (June, $23.95) is a humorous exploration of religion and faith in The Daily Show regular's trademark mad-as-hell style. First printing 150,000. Ad/promo. National author tour.
Roman Catholic Books
Sacred Then and Sacred Now: The Return of the Old Latin Mass (Mar., $15.95 paper) by Thomas E. Woods Jr. explains what led Pope Benedict to issue his motu proprio. Ad/promo. Conservative Book Club selection.
Ronin
(dist. by PGW)
Beyond Consciousness: What Happens After Death (Aug., $14.95 paper) by David Jay Brown draws from conversations with scientists, philosophers and visionary artists.
Rowman & Littlefield
American Evangelicals: A Contemporary History of a Mainstream Religious Movement (Apr., $39.95) by Barry Hankins reaches back to the Great Awakening of the 18th century.
One Nation Divisible: How Religion Is Breaking up America (June, $24.95 paper) by Mark Silk and Andrew Walsh takes a geographical approach to examine religion in this country.
St. Anthony Messenger Press
Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality (Mar., $19.95 paper) by Richard Rohr, O.F.M., uncovers what the Bible says about morality, power, wisdom and God's generosity.
People of God: The History of Catholic Christianity (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Anthony E. Gilles is a revised and expanded edition.
Schocken
Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights?: “The Four Questions” Around the World (Mar., $16) by Ilana Kurshan translates the Passover seder's four questions into 23 languages and portrays Jewish history in those countries.
Seabury Books
Disciples of the Street (Mar., $20) by Eric Gutierrez notes what hip-hop says to the church and the church to hip-hop. Ad/promo.
In the Eye of the Storm (Apr., $25) by Gene Robinson. Openly gay Episcopal bishop Robinson is deeply involved in the Anglican controversy over homosexuality. Ad/promo.
Sentient Publications
The Way It Is: Realizing the Truth About Everything (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Chuck Hillig combines Eastern philosophy with Western psychology.
Servant Books
Lourdes Today: A Pilgrimage to Mary's Grotto (Mar., $13.99 paper) by Kerry Crawford invites readers into the famous Marian shrine.
The Mystery of the Transfiguration (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. CAP., says that we can be transfigured through prayerful contemplation of Christ.
Shambhala
Rules of Victory: Strategies fromThe Art of Warfor Transforming Chaos and Conflict (Mar., $26.95) by James Gimian and Barry Boyce opens the door to Sun Tzu's classic text. 40,000 first printing.
Embracing Mind: The Common Ground of Science and Spirituality (Mar., $24.95) by B. Alan Wallace and Brian Hodel approaches issues from Hindu, Christian, Sufi and Buddhist perspectives. 20,000 first printing.
Skylight Paths
Honoring Motherhood: Prayers, Ceremonies and Blessings (Mar., $19.99), edited by Lynn L. Caruso, offers traditions from many faiths, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Ad/promo.
Bread, Body, Spirit: Finding the Sacred in Food (Mar., $19.99 paper), edited by Alice Peck, posits that food nourishes a connection to the Divine. $15,000 ad/promo.
Contemplative Crochet: A Hands-On Guide for Interlocking Faith and Craft (Mar., $16.99 paper) by Cindy Crandall-Frazier aims to take readers deeper into spiritual awareness. Ad/promo.
Smyth & Helwys
Blessed Are the Jesus Chicks: A Christian Mother's Guide to Life, Love, and Work (Mar., $14 paper) by Miranda Bradley empowers working women to please God first.
Snow Lion
Vinegar into Honey: Seven Steps to Understanding and Transforming Anger, Aggression, and Violence (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Ron Leifer synthesizes psychoanalysis and Buddhism to deal with negative emotions.
A Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Apr., $14.95 paper) by John Powers surveys the topics necessary to understand the belief.
Sorin Books
Miles from the Sideline: A Mother's Journey with Her Special Needs Daughter (Mar., $18.95) by Maura Weis. The wife of the Notre Dame coach tells of her family's blessings and challenges.
Sounds True
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint John of the Cross and Hildegard of Bingen (Mar., $12.95 each), edited by Mirabai Starr, are gift-sized devotionals in the Devotions, Prayers, and Living Wisdom series.
Choosing to Love the World: On Contemplation (Apr., $27.95) by Thomas Merton excerpts the mystic's most inspiring books and letters.
Standard Publishing
Getting Rid of the Gorilla: Confessions on the Struggle to Forgive (Mar., $14.99 paper) by Brian Jones aims to heal the unforgiving heart that ruins relationships.
State Univ. of New York Press
Religious Naturalism Today: The Rebirth of a Forgotten Alternative (Aug., $75) by Jerome A. Stone maps a spiritual path without a supreme being.
Steeple Hill
Hideaway Home (Mar., $5.50 paper) by Hannah Alexander. In this novel, a ravely wounded soldier in WWII decides not to burden his sweetheart in Hideaway, Mo.
Homecoming (July, $6.99 paper) by Jill Landis. A young woman rescued from Comanches wonders who she really is.
The Face (Aug., $13.95 paper) by Angela Hunt. Deformed at birth, Sarah has been hidden away in a secret CIA facility.
Sterling
Young Jesus: Restoring the “Lost Years” of a Social Activist and Religious Dissident (Mar., $24.95) by Jean-Pierre Isbouts portrays Jesus as a grass-roots reformer with a social agenda.
Swedenborg Foundation
Secrets of Heaven (Arcana Coelestia), Vol. 1 (May, $15 paper) by Emanuel Swedenborg expands on Genesis 1—8. Ad/promo.
Tarcher/Penguin
The Lotus Still Blooms (May, $12.95 paper) by Joan Gattuso helps readers apply Buddhist principles to their lives.
Thames & Hudson
Motionless Journey: From a Hermitage in the Himalayas (Apr., $45) by Matthieu Ricard. The photographer and Buddhist monk presents a year of photos taken near Kathmandu.
Templeton Foundation Press
Tibetan Buddhism and Modern Physics: Toward a Union of Love and Knowledge (Mar., $19.95 paper) by Vic Mansfield discusses connections and differences between the two spheres of thought.
The Big Questions in Science and Religion (May, $16.95 paper) by Keith Ward answers such questions as: Has science made belief in God obsolete?
Ten Speed Press
The Gift of Grief (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz sees grieving as a means of positive transformation and renewal.
Trafalgar Square
How to Be a Good Atheist (Apr., $16.95 paper) by Nick Harding defines the difference between an atheist and an agnostic. An Oldcastle Books release.
The Big Questions (May, $12.95 paper) by Jonathan Hill quotes Christian thinkers on issues of life and existence. A Lion UK book.
Tyndale House
The Delusions of Disbelief (Mar., $12.95) by David Aikman exposes weaknesses in the arguments of today's atheist writers. Ad/promo.
Choosing Your Faith in a World of Spiritual Options (Mar., $19.99) by Mark Mittleberg encourages readers to examine why they believe what they do. Ad/promo.
We the Purple (Mar., $17.99) by Marcia Ford portrays voters who analyze issues from a Christian worldview. Ad/promo.
Univ. of Alabama Press
It's a New Day: Race and Gender in the Modern Charismatic Movement (Apr., $34.50) by Scott C. Billingsley charts the rise of women and African-Americans following WWII.
Univ. of California Press
Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State, from Christian Militias to al Qaeda (May, $27.50) by Mark Juergensmeyer revises and expands his 1992 book The New Cold War.
Univ. of New Mexico Press
The Ancient Spirituality of the Modern Maya (Apr., $39.95) by Thomas Hart delves into a largely oral culture that has adapted and survived for more than 500 years.
Univ. of North Carolina Press
Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America (Mar., $59.95; paper $19.95) by John G. Turner traces the work of the college ministry founded in 1951.
Univ. of Notre Dame Press
Deep Rhythm and the Riddle of Eternal Life (Mar., $25 paper) by John S. Dunne ponders the end of earthly life and the prospect of life thereafter.
Univ. of Wisconsin Press
Religion and the Culture of Print in Modern America (Apr., $65), edited by Charles L. Cohen and Paul S. Boyer, deciphers how print media have shaped and been shaped by faith since the Civil War.
Univ. Press of Kentucky
God Speaks to Us, Too: Southern Baptist Women on Church, Home, and Society (Apr., $40) by Susan M. Shaw proves that these women are more complex and rebellious than outside observers may think.
Upper Room Books
Birthed in Prayer: Pregnancy as a Spiritual Journey (May, $16 paper) by Kim Barker et al. honors the experience of approaching motherhood. Ad/promo.
Viking
Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America (Aug., $24.95) by Gustav Niebuhr responds to religious fanaticism and to books decrying religion. Ad/promo. 5-city author tour.
Wake Up: A Life of the Buddha (Aug., $24.95) by Jack Kerouac. This biography is available in book form for the first time.
Visible Ink Press
Angels A to Z (Apr., $24.95 paper) by Evelyn Dorothy Oliver and James R. Lewis depicts angels from various religions as well as those from pop culture.
Waterbrook Press
A Dangerous Faith: True Stories of Answering the Call to Adventure (Apr., $13.99 paper) by James Lund and Peb Jackson. Jungle missionaries, mountain climbers and fighter pilots find that following God is the only way to live.
Spaghetti for the Soul: A Feast on Faith, Hope and Love (May, $13.99 paper) by Kathy Troccoli and Ellie Lofaro. Recipes accompany a call for women to accept what Jesus offers.
Love As a Way of Life: The Seven Secrets Behind Every Language of Love (July, $19.95) by Gary Chapman suggests that a lifestyle of love can lead to deeper satisfaction in relationships. Copublished with Doubleday.
Watkins
(Dist. by Sterling)
The Return of the Perennial Philosophy: The Supreme Vision of Western Esotericism (Apr., $17.95 paper) by John Holman contends that these tenets are at the heart of all world religions.
Wayne State Univ. Press
When the Church Becomes Your Party: Gospel Music at the Turn of the 21st Century (Mar., $24.95 paper) by Deborah Smith Pollard assesses performers' innovations and their roots in the African-American Christian church.
Weiser Books
Cosmic Navigator: Design Your Destiny with Astrology and Kabbalah (July, $26.95 paper) by Gahl Sasson provides tools to help readers create purpose and serenity.
Westminster John Knox Press
God and the New Atheism: A Critical Response to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens (Mar., $16.95 paper) by John F. Haught charges that these authors use logical inconsistencies and generalizations. Ad/promo.
Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation (Mar., $16.95 paper) by Rodney Clapp utilizes Cash's life and music to demonstrate how tensions form the bedrock of our culture.
The Collected Sermons of William Sloane Coffin—The Riverside Years (June, $49.95). This two-volume set contains sermons delivered between 1977 and 1987.
Whitaker House
As America Has Done to Israel (Apr., $13.99 paper) by John McTernan recounts America's integral role in fulfilling God's plan for the rebirth of the Jewish nation.
Courting Emma (Apr., $9.97 paper) by Sharlene MacLaren. In the third entry in the Little Hickman Creek series, hard-edged Emma begins to change.
White Cloud Press
The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and That Veil Thing (Aug., $18.95 paper) by Sumbul Ali-Karamali talks of her faith, religious practice and her American experience.
Wiley/For Dummies
Lost Books of the Bible for Dummies (June, $21.99 paper) by Daniel Smith-Christopher and Stephen Spignesi adds a new dimension to Bible teachings.
Wisdom Publications
Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution (Mar., $15.95 paper) by David R. Loy details methods for radical, positive change in language, culture, spirituality and planet.
The Buddha's Teachings on Prosperity: At Home, at Work, and in the World (Apr., $16.95 paper) by Bhikkhu Basnagoda covers all the quotidian stuff of life.
Word Among Us
Mary and the Christian Life: Scriptural Reflections on the First Disciple (Mar., $11.95 paper) by Amy Welborn brings Mary to life as mother and first disciple of Jesus.
Yale Univ. Press
Resurrection: The Power of God for Christians and Jews (Apr., $30) by Kevin J. Madigan and Jon D. Levenson explores the common belief that God will raise the dead at the end of time.
Zondervan
The Faith (Mar., $18.99) by Charles Colson and Harold Fickett names the truths that offer grounds for faith in uncertain times.
Dawn's Light (May, $13.99 paper) by Terri Blackstock concludes the Restoration series with the end of a global electrical blackout and murder.
The End of Reason (May, $12.99) by Ravi Zacharias repudiates Sam Harris's Letter to a Christian Nation.
