Welcome to the Wisdom of the World

Chittister, a Benedictine abbess, popular lecturer and prolific spirituality writer (Called to Question ; Transformed by Hope ; etc.), returns with a probingly helpful guide to life's most pressing questions. Spurred by letters from fans who often pour out their hearts and seek advice from her, each chapter tackles a separate existential question such as "Where is God?" or "What does it mean to be a spiritual person?" She begins each of the 25 chapters with a description of a particular person's struggle to find meaning amid hardship, moving the narrative toward a wisdom story or parable from one of five religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A concluding meditation rounds out each section. Ecumenical readers will find that the God that lies behind these stories is acutely aware of human misery and helps us in surprising and meaningful ways. Chittister writes, "If the question is, Where is God? The answer is distressingly uncomplicated: God is wherever we know God to be, wherever we bring God to be, no more and no less at any time, anywhere, or in anyone." This refreshing book will be welcomed by Chittister's many admirers and is sure to win new ones as well. -- Publishers Weekly