BOOK OF THE MONTH
Book of the Month for 2024
Book of the Month
October
The Art of Power​
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Turning our conventional understanding of power on its head, world-renowned Zen master, spiritual leader, and national bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh reveals how true power comes from within. What we seek, we already have.​
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“The Art of Power is a bold and visionary work that reframes power, ambition, success, happiness, love, and peace.” — Spirituality & Practice
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“Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.” — New York Times
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Book of the Month
September
Think Your troubles Away​
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Have you wondered how you can use your mind to experience fewer problems and more joy? The majority of the difficulties people encounter are ones they have created by what they think-consciously or unconsciously. What has been created by one kind of thought can be changed by an opposite thought. In Think Your Troubles Away, Holmes helps each reader understand how the mind works, and the role of the subconscious in our everyday lives.​
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With short, easy-to-read yet profound chapters, Holmes shows us how to get from where we are to where we want to be-using the power of the mind. A small gem, Think Your Troubles Away is more timely now than when it was originally published.
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Book of the Month
August
Love & Law​
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The spiritual teacher and philosopher shares his lectures and lessons which express his belief in a creative law for the universe and his ideas which became the foundation of the Religious Science movement.
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Review from a reader:
This book opened my mind and changed how I thought about life... it really made a lasting impact on me. If you are discovering and learning that what you manifest in life is based upon the direction of your thoughts, then this book is a must read. It will reveal to you that your thoughts are LAW. They are a guiding priciple behind that which we manifest... I found the book very hard to put down, and truly consider it one of the best ever on the subject!
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Book of the Month
July
The Anatomy of Healing Prayer​
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Volume Two of The Holmes Papers, The Anatomy of Healing Prayer, follows closely on the private publication by Dr. George Bendall of Volume One, The Philosophy of Ernest Holmes, making available for the first time several intimate and impromptu talks delivered by Ernest Holmes in the privacy of his close, personal circle of friends and associates in the very last year or two of his life. As such, they not only represent his most heartfelt and uninhibited feelings on a score of subjects, but they also show us the place to which Dr. Holmes’ thinking had finally come after years of formulating and refining his Science of Mind philosophy as well as organizing and leading a substantial religious movement.
Book of the Month
June
Words That Heal Today​
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The founder of the United Church of Religious Science, an international religious movement, presents his basic spiritual tenets, showing readers how to get in touch with nature's forces and God's healing power.
Book of the Month
May
It's up to you​
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Do you have any control over your life? In It's Up to You, Ernest Holmes shows how to move from a life of "no" to a life of "yes." Readers will be able to choose their future, because what we experience tomorrow depends on what we think and do today. "It's up to you," Holmes writes-and then provides a step-by-step program to achieving all that life has to offer.
In It's Up to You, Holmes explains why our thoughts have power, and how we can use this power to positively affect our lives. This beloved work is a guidebook of inspiration and motivation-a galvanizing book that has changed countless lives. And now, with this new edition, it is set to change countless more.
Book of the Month
April
Your Spiritual Power​
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The works in this amazing collection of motivational writing include:
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—Immortality: Thoughts on what it truly means to be immortal, and ponderings on what experiences after death may be like.
—What Religious Science Teaches: Offering the student of life the best that the world has so far discovered, Holmes shows how the ideas of Religious Science have been developed by Taoism, Hindu scriptures, the Koran, the Talmud, and other great spiritual teachings of the world.
—Your invisible Power: Considered by Holmes to be one of his most powerful works, this short book expands on a selection of key topics presented in The Science of Mind, and is illustrated throughout.
—Pray and Prosper: An essay discussing Holmes’s understanding of prayer and its relationship to the infinite. Holmes contemplates the meaning of prayer, its objectives, and prayer’s relationship to internal spiritual enlightenment.
Additionally, this omnibus will include Holmes’s classic works Think Your Troubles Away, Living Without Fear, and Discover a Richer Life.
Book of the Month
March
To Bless the Space Between Us​
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"When we stand before crucial thresholds in our lives," observes Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue, "we have no rituals to protect, encourage, and guide us as we cross over into the unknown. For such crossings, we need to find new words."
On To Bless the Space Between Us, O'Donohue presents an adaptation of his thought-provoking book of the same title, providing comfort and insights to illuminate the passage of our life path.
Following seven rhythms of the human journey―Beginnings, Desires, Thresholds, Homecoming, States of the Heart, Callings, and Beyond Endings―more than 80 poetic and gracious invocations in this collection can be used as tools for self-transformation, as meditations for deeper contemplation, or as simple prayers for ourselves or our loved ones.
With blessings such as "For Love in a Time of Conflict," "For Belonging," "For Equilibrium," "On Meeting a Stranger," "In Praise of Earth," and many more, these lyrical selections "will invite you to awaken your own power to bless, and will suggest to you the secret world of healing and plenitude and providence that encircles, shelters, and guides your every breath and step."
Book of the Month
February
365 Science of Mind​
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This newly repackaged edition of one of Tarcher's bestselling Holmes backlist titles contains wisdom designed to help each reader experience the Science of Mind philosophy day by day.
Book of the Month
January
The Four Pivots​
We need a fundamental shift in our values--a pivot in how we think, act, work, and connect. Despite what we’ve been told, the most critical mainspring of social change isn’t coalition building or problem analysis. It’s healing: deep, whole, and systemic, inside and out.
Here, Shawn Ginwright, PhD, breaks down the common myths of social movements--a set of deeply ingrained beliefs that actually hold us back from healing and achieving sustainable systemic change. He shows us why these frames don’t work, proposing instead four revolutionary pivots for better activism and collective leadership:
Awareness: from lens to mirror
Connection: from transactional to transformative relationships
Vision: from problem-fixing to possibility-creating
Presence: from hustle to flow
Book of the Month for 2023
Book of the Month
December
The Essential Ernest Holmes​
Here, in one volume, is a selection of the core and essential writings by internationally renowned scholar, mystic, and author Ernest Holmes, providing readers with a library of the most important ideas in the religious psychology that Holmes defined.
The Essential Ernest Holmes comprises selections from classic works such as This Thing Called You, The Science of Mind textbook, and Creative Mind and Success-but also included are brilliant passages from some of Holmes's lesser-known works, such as The Voice Celestial, as well as a generous sampling from articles and lectures.
The book features remembrances of the beloved sage and teacher from the works of his contemporaries; a chronology of Holmes's life and work; and an accessible introduction by editor Jesse Jennings that frames Holmes's body of ideas for all readers.
Book of the Month
November
The Power of Now​
It's no wonder that The Power of Now has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over 30 foreign languages. Much more than simple principles and platitudes, the book takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light.
In the first chapter, Tolle introduces readers to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind. He awakens readers to their role as a creator of pain and shows them how to have a pain-free identity by living fully in the present. The journey is thrilling, and along the way, the author shows how to connect to the indestructible essence of our Being, "the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death."
Book of the Month
October
Navigating Polarities
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How do you do two seemingly opposite things at once? How can you be candid and diplomatic, provide structure and flexibility, keep things stable and lead change, and focus on organizational interests while simultaneously doing what's best for employees? Many approach these polarities with either/or thinking, but leaders, teams, and organizations that navigate them using a both/and mindset significantly outperform those who don't. The trick is knowing how.
Book of the Month
September
All About Love
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A New York Times bestseller and enduring classic, All About Love is the acclaimed first volume in feminist icon bell hooks' "Love Song to the Nation" trilogy. All About Love reveals what causes a polarized society, and how to heal the divisions that cause suffering. Here is the truth about love, and inspiration to help us instill caring, compassion, and strength in our homes, schools, and workplaces.
Book of the Month
August
Living From The Mountaintop
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The topic is Mysticism and it's nothing like you've ever read before. Living From the Mountaintop is an experiential journey that takes you from the myopic vision of your personal battles in life to the mountaintop view of the witness consciousness of your choices. Through the use of meditation and other contemplative tools you will be freed from whatever has you bound in life. This book will support you as you progress through opening the various energetic fields of your physical body uniting you with the Absolute.
Book of the Month
July
What's in the Way is the Way
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Mary O'Malley invites you on a journey back to yourself and to a trust-filled connection with life. On this journey, you will discover how to bring every part of yourself into your own heart to be healed so that you can know the joy of being fully here for life. This book is filled with teachings, stories and exercises that will guide you every step of the way.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
June
Care of the Soul
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In Care of the Soul, readers are presented with a revolutionary approach to thinking about daily life—everyday activities, events, problems, and creative opportunities—and a therapeutic lifestyle is proposed that focuses on looking more deeply into emotional problems and learning how to sense sacredness in ordinary things.
Basing his writing on the ancient model of “care of the soul”—which provided a religious context for viewing the everyday events of life—Moore brings “care of the soul” into the twenty-first century. Promising to deepen and broaden the readers’ perspectives on their life experiences, Moore draws on his own life as a therapist practicing “care of the soul,” as well as his studies of the world’s religions and his work in music and art, to create this inspirational guide that examines the connections between spirituality and the problems of individuals and society.
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Book of the Month
May
A Field Guide to Getting Lost
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Written as a series of autobiographical essays, A Field Guide to Getting Lost draws on emblematic moments and relationships in Rebecca Solnit's life to explore issues of uncertainty, trust, loss, memory, desire, and place. Solnit is interested in the stories we use to navigate our way through the world, and the places we traverse, from wilderness to cities, in finding ourselves, or losing ourselves. While deeply personal, her own stories link up to larger stories, from captivity narratives of early Americans to the use of the color blue in Renaissance painting, not to mention encounters with tortoises, monks, punk rockers, mountains, deserts, and the movie Vertigo. The result is a distinctive, stimulating voyage of discovery.
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Book of the Month
April
The Power of Vulnerability
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Is vulnerability the same as weakness? "In our culture," teaches Dr. Brené Brown, "we associate vulnerability with emotions we want to avoid such as fear, shame, and uncertainty. Yet we too often lose sight of the fact that vulnerability is also the birthplace of joy, belonging, creativity, authenticity, and love." On The Power of Vulnerability, Dr. Brown offers an invitation and a promise―that when we dare to drop the armor that protects us from feeling vulnerable, we open ourselves to the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives. Here she dispels the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and reveals that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage
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Join this engaging and heartfelt teacher on The Power of Vulnerability as she offers profound insights on leaning into the full spectrum of emotions―so we can show up, let ourselves be seen, and truly be all in.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
March
The Gifts of Imperfection
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Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can't keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn't everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?
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In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, Ph.D., a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares what she's learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living – a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
February
Words That Heal Today
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A treasured favorite among motivational and inspirational books, Words "That Heal is a compendium that focuses on the teachings of two spiritual masters, Jesus and the Apostle Paul. This book teaches you, through the words of Ernest Holmes, how to heal wounds based in anger, resentment, sadness, grief, and fear. Through the essential principles outlined in this book, you will learn that the true treasures of healing are divine and hidden within you
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
January
Living the Science of Mind
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This is Holmes' own "commentary" on his masterpiece, The Science of Mind. As such, it may be his most important book besides the textbook. These short pieces abound in counsel and guidance in metaphysics, spirituality, and healing. Here too is the history of New Thought and Religious Science; insights into the mystics; pointers on treatment; and analysis of our fears and insecurities.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Year - 2022
Ordinary Wonder
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Ordinary Wonder collects the transformational wisdom of renowned, Western-born Zen teacher Charlotte Joko Beck.
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Beck’s work was foundational in developing communities of Zen practice in the United States, and her work in the early years of the movement solidified the place of women in American Zen tradition. This collection carries the full weight of her significance, but also echoes the lightness of her teaching and way of being.
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Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
December
Community
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We need our neighbors and community to stay healthy, produce jobs, raise our children, and care for those on the margin. Institutions and professional services have reached their limit of their ability to help us.
The consumer society tells us that we are insufficient and that we must purchase what we need from specialists and systems outside the community. We have become consumers and clients, not citizens and neighbors. John McKnight and Peter Block show that we have the capacity to find real and sustainable satisfaction right in our neighborhood and community.
This book reports on voluntary, self-organizing structures that focus on gifts and value hospitality, the welcoming of strangers. It shows how to reweave our social fabric, especially in our neighborhoods. In this way we collectively have enough to create a future that works for all.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
November
What Happened to You
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What we experience in childhood shapes us forever―and that is especially true for young victims of trauma. It’s a lesson Oprah learned as a child being raised by an abusive grandmother. She developed 'a keen sense of when trouble was brewing'―when she would be subjected to 'whuppings' at times so brutal, the welts left behind would bleed through her clothing.
As a result of this and other abuse she suffered, Oprah has had a lifelong interest in understanding and overcoming the profound effects of early trauma―and helping others do the same. Now, she’s teamed up with neuroscientist and child trauma expert Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, on this essential book. Revealing, intimate, and educational, it’s a testament to the authors’ wish for readers to come to grips with, and let go of, the past―and to move forward into 'post-traumatic wisdom.'"
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
October
The Wisdom of Money
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For thousands of years, spiritual people have known that each individual’s outer life reflects his or her deeply held, inner beliefs. Money is no exception to this truth. Just as your previous experiences and attitudes determine your levels of happiness and success, they also determine the level of your prosperity. Your money situations are direct reflections of your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes. Now Dr. Alice Bandy has incorporated these timeless principles into practical ideas to start using today, along with powerful exercises that will transform your relationship to money.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
September
Seeing Good at Work
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Each chapter of Seeing Good at Work contains an application exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to move the concept of the chapter off the page and into your daily life. The application exercise usually involves a daily writing assignment or two. At the end of each chapter, you will find a short "Remind Yourself" statement that you can memorize and repeat to yourself throughout the week. These affirmative statements will bring the lessons of Seeing Good at Work more powerfully into your life.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
August
The Secret Wisdom of Nature
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In The Secret Wisdom of Nature, master storyteller and international sensation Peter Wohlleben takes readers on a thought-provoking exploration of the vast natural systems that make life on Earth possible. In this tour of an almost unfathomable world, Wohlleben describes the fascinating interplay between animals and plants and answers such questions as: How do they influence each other? Do lifeforms communicate across species boundaries? And what happens when this finely tuned system gets out of sync? By introducing us to the latest scientific discoveries and recounting his own insights from decades of observing nature, one of the world’s most famous foresters shows us how to recapture our sense of awe so we can see the world around us with completely new eyes.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
July
How to be an Adult in Relationships
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"Most people think of love as a feeling," says David Richo, "but love is not so much a feeling as a way of being present." In this book, Richo offers a fresh perspective on love and relationships—one that focuses not on finding an ideal mate, but on becoming a more loving and realistic person. Drawing on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, How to Be an Adult in Relationships explores five hallmarks of mindful loving and how they play a key role in our relationships throughout life.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
June
The Body Keeps the Score
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Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity.
Amazon will donate a small percentage to SCSL when you buy this book through
Book of the Month
May
Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm
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In these pages, Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the world who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr., explores the origins of our fears, illuminating a path to finding peace and freedom from anxiety and offering powerful tools to help us eradicate it from our lives.