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[[Category:Spirituality and Religion|*]]__NOTOC__ <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->__NOTOC__{{Frontpage|author=Frederic Seager|title= Jesus, the Man and the Myth: A Jewish Reading of the New Testament|rating=4.5|genre= Spirituality and Religion|summary= I was brought up in a family where religion played little or no part. Culturally Irish Catholic on one side and Welsh Methodist on the other, nobody really discussed religion and the adults around me ranged from lapsed to agnostic to atheist. Other than the odd church wedding or baptism or the school nativity play, I didn't think too much about faith or what people did or didn't believe.|isbn=B092BWWG9Y}}{{Frontpage|author=Peter Owen Jones|title=Conversations with Nature|rating=5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary= One of the comments made when I was offered this beautiful book for review was that it's not very long. Having read the book twice over, I'm brought back inescapably to the Spanish proverb that Life may be short, but it is broad. In this case I'm brought to the idea that the length of life is not the point; the point is its depth. Peter Owen Jones dives deep.|isbn=1912992418}}{{Frontpage|author=Richard Brook|title=Understanding Human Nature: A User's Guide to Life|rating=4.5|genre=Lifestyle|summary= I am a firm believer that sometimes we choose books, and sometimes books choose us. In my case, this is one of the latter. Not so very long ago, if I had come across this book I'd have skimmed it, found some of it interesting, but it would not have 'hit home' in the way that it does now. I believe it came to me not just because I was likely to give it a favourable review [ ''full disclosure The Bookbag's u.s.p. is that people chose their own books rather than getting them randomly, so there is a predisposition towards expecting to like the book, even if it doesn't always turn out that way'' ] – but also because it is a book I needed to read, right now.|isbn=1800461682}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Hill_Atlas|title=The Atlas of Monsters|author=Stuart Hill and Sandra Lawrence|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=There are monsters and mysterious characters, such as trolls, leprechauns, goblins and minotaurs. They're the stuff of far too many stories to remain mysterious, and every schoolchild should know all about them. There are monsters and mysterious characters, such as Gog and Magog, Scylla and Charybdis, and the bunyip. They are what you find if you take an interest in this kind of thing to the next level; even if you cannot place them all on a map you should have come across them. But there are monsters and mysterious characters, such as the dobhar-chu, the llambigyn y dwr, and the girtablili. To gain any knowledge of them you really need a book that knows its stuff. A book like this one…}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1999731506|title=Spiritual Atheist|author=Nick Seneca Jankel|rating=2|genre=Lifestyle|summary=''Spiritual Atheist'' is a new 'bible' for the spiritual not the religious, according to the tagline. This is a taboo smashing book which solves the problem of modernity and explains how to be a 'spiritual technologist' who can live and love freely in 'spiritual fullness' without relying on a belief in god. Touching on everything from 'brain science' to AI, Jankel offers a 'path to meaning', allowing us to move beyond consumerism towards an ethical life.}}{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789015200|title=Be Your Higher Self|author=Mitch Albom Samesh Ramjattan|rating=4|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=There are a lot of self-help books about: it's one of the most thriving sections of the average bookshop, but it's not always easy to find the book you need. Samesh Ramjattan has addressed this problem in ''Be Your Higher Self'', a book which allows us all to make sense of our place in the world, as most of us only glimpse our true potential and few people ever achieve it. Even with hard work and dedication, obstacles present themselves and it's difficult to understand why or how they can be overcome. Ramjattan offers us a guide to the spirit world, the chakras, karma and reincarnation as well as information about the age of Aquarius and the ego. It's a slim book - just 128 pages - so can it provide us with the answers we seek?}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Mahnke_Lore|title=Have The World of Lore, Volume 1: Monstrous Creatures|author=Aaron Mahnke|rating=4.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=Every country, every town, every village has a folktale – a story passed down through generations that often focuses on the dark and unexplained. No matter how the modern world moves on, there's a still a Little Faithpart of everyone that is vulnerable to a good tale. From ghosts to werewolves, by way of wendigos and elves, author Aaron Mahnke delivers the reader legends from all over the world, whilst examining how they've become part of our collective imaginations, still striking fear into the hearts of many of us today.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Saxena_Jaya|title=Basic Witches|author=J Saxena and J Zimmerman

|summary=One day, Mitch Albom's eighty-two year old rabbi asks him Before I started this book I was expecting to write his eulogy. Thinking that he must be close thrown into the world of magic and would know how to death Albom reluctantly agreeslevitate by the end of the first chapter. Unsurprisingly, I was wrong. However, but decides to meet with 'what I was met by was a book that explores the Reb' origins of witchcraft, teaches you how to try to get dress and act like a witch and contains spells ranging from accepting compliments to know him better as conjuring up a man firstrelaxing Netflix binge.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Wright_Universe|title=The Universe and Life but Not Everything|author=Anthony Christian Wright|rating=3. What then develops is an eight year friendship as Albom continues 5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=I often wonder - usually after a moment of shaking my fist at the news on TV - what my manifesto for life and society would look like were I to regularly meet with write it down. I have all sorts of thoughts about these things, from the Rebmetaphysics of who we are and where we come from, who was obviously stronger than he lookedright down to detailed critiques of quite insignificant government policies. I've never done such an exercise - mostly because I lack the time, discussing life the patience and religion the diligence required. It seems like an enormous task.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1850788332|title=Rosie: Note to Self |author=Claire Connor and death and loveG P Taylor|rating=3. At 5|genre=General Fiction|summary=In the same time Mitch becomes involved with first of a pastor five book deal Claire Connor, writing in Detroit called Henrypartnership with GP Taylor, brings us a reformed drug dealer, who modern romance based loosely on the story of Ruth from the Bible. This is preaching from an old, runtotal chick-down church with no powerlit, no heat and from the first few pages I thought it was just going to be a hole in its roofvery light, funny romance story. Albom relates However, the Reb's story, quickly takes a depressing turn and thoughts on life, against the back drop rest of the struggling Henry, querying issues like forgiveness, doubt book is as much an exploration of grief as it is a romance novel.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Santiago_Returning|title=Returning Home|author=Stephan Santiago|rating=3.5|genre=Spirituality and faith.Religion|amazonuksummary=<amazonuk>1847442919</amazonuk>[[:Category:Stephan Santiago|Stephan Santiago]] has experienced life in a way that's led him to believe we're all on a soul journey back home – that place we inhabited before we were born. This book is a guide as to how we can optimise this journey for ourselves, those around us and our children.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tamim Ansary Wilbourne_Shepherd|title=Destiny Disrupted: A History Shepherd of the World Through Islamic EyesAnother Flock|author=David Wilbourne

|genre=HistorySpirituality and Religion|summary=I enjoyed history at school and whilst we didn[[:Category:David Wilbourne|David Wilbourne't always work our way through it chronologically I came, over time, to have s]] CV looks like a working knowledge career path for people who are hard-of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans-humoured. I knew about the rise Banker, teacher of Christianity and spoke knowledgeably about medieval EnglandAncient Greek, vicar, the Renaissance and the Reformation but was perhaps less taken by the Industrial Revolution and all that followedbishop…none of these are jobs normally connected in our minds with a jovial twinkle. I was au fait with the east but it was mainly from the perspective of exploration – or even exploitationYet in David's case, we'd be totally wrong to assume. It was an education based on the virtues The current Bishop of Llandaff takes us by the solid, white, English, Christian middle classes and it completely ignored histories hand to show us episodes from his life as vicar of the perspective character-packed Yorkshire parish of Helmsley proving that tears of sorrow are equally shared with tears of other religionslaughter.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1586486063</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Pigliucci_How|title=How to be a Stoic|author=Trevor Hamilton Massimo Pigliucci|titlerating=Immortal Longings: F3.W5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=''Stoicism is about developing the tools to deal as effectively as humanly possible with the ensuing conflicts, does not demand perfection, and does not provide specific answers.H'' For many readers, living in an age of rules to make us happy and the inevitable failure to stick to them, this is an intensely reassuring sentence. Myers Pigliucci certainly makes Stoicism an appealing philosophy, one which can sit alongside religious faith but doesn't have to, one which doesn't demand Aristotelian heights of intelligence, beauty or riches in order to truly succeed in life, and the Victorian Search for Life After Deathone which recognises life's messy difficulties.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Pearce_Biblical|title=A Biblical Theology Behind Music, Praise, and Worship|author=Dr Mark Pearce

|genre=Biography Spirituality and Religion|summary=Music used in religions and worship itself goes back to the beginning of humankind. In this book musician and theological academic [[:Category:Dr Mark Pearce|Dr Mark Pearce]] explores its Biblical history in a Christian context as well as providing tips and suggestions for those involved in worship in the present day.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Iles_Thoughts|title=The Thoughts and Inner Journey of Dr. John Dee|author=Clair Iles|rating=3.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=Born [[:Category:Clair Iles|Clair Iles]] is, in 1843her own words, Frederic Myers began his career as a classical lecturer normal person who was educated at Cambridge Universitya normal comprehensive school. However, she's a normal person who hears dead people. Yes, but disliked teaching Clair is a spiritualist with ability to hear from those who have passed on. In the past they had generally been relatives or everyday folk. Imagine, then, her surprise when she felt she was hearing from Elizabethan court polymath John Dee. Over a period of time she could feel his dictated thoughts and soon gave it up ideas in favour her mind and this book of writing poetry the channelled words is the result.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Woodcock_Becoming|title=Becoming Reverend: A diary|author=Matt Woodcock|rating=4.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=[[:Category:Matt Woodcock|Matt Woodcock]] is enjoying life: successful journalist, happily married and a new dream home bought and essays heavily mortgaged. The only cloud on the horizon is their struggle to have children but they have faith in literaturethe IVF treatment as it's early days yet. Then comes the funny turn Matt has on the way to a story one day. This takes him by surprise but the resulting clergy collar comes as a total shock. Although his social circle included men such He's a normal bloke who always thought of himself as Gladstonemore pint than piety believing in a God who's happy for him to remain in the pews. Errrrm… whoops!}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Chaplin_Stone|title=The Stone Cradle|author=Patrice Chaplin|rating=5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=''The Stone Cradle'' is a remarkable book from the author Patrice Chaplin. It is a biography, Ruskin, Tennysonthe third in a series set in the Catalonian city of Girona. It is also an enduring love story and a journey into mystery and spirituality. The city has drawn artists, Browning writers and Prince Leopoldphilosophers for centuries. Rich in Kabbalistic thought through Azriel, the most intellectual famous student of Queen Victoria's sonsIsaac the Blind, his books (which are not so well remembered today) might have it has always been his sole claim to fame, a home for mysticism and secrets. The magnetism and resonance of the city has had a hold on Patrice Chaplin since she first visited it not been for his passionate curiosity about in the meaning fifties. The series of human lifebooks detail her journey and her encounters with the esoteric society that have protected its mysteries since ancient times. If it had 'The Stone Cradle' also gives a purposenew life and direction to the mysteries of Rennes le Chateau, he was convincedthe small French village, it could only be discovered made famous by the Da Vinci Code and the Holy Blood and The Holy Grail. Linking the two places through sacred geometry to the study mountain of human experiencesCanigou.}}{{Frontpage|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1845401239</amazonuk>Vonnegut_Sun|title=Sun Moon Star|author=Kurt Vonnegut and Ivan Chermayeff|rating=4.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=In his own delightfully imaginative way, Kurt Vonnegut tells the story of the birth of Christ in this unique and long out of print children's book. Told from the perspective of the new born infant in his first hours of birth, this charming little story feels different to other children's Christmas books whilst at the same time goes back to the basics in exploring the true nature of Christmas.