A book that belongs in every seeker's home, Spiritual Literacy answers the universal question, "How can I live a spiritual life every day?" Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, who have been covering contemporary culture and the spiritual renaissance for more than twenty-five years, believe that we can read the texts of our lives and of the world around us for sacred meaning.  All we need is spiritual literacy.

To illustrate their point, the Brussats present more than 650 "readings" about daily life from present-day authors-spiritual teachers, essayists, novelists, filmmakers, poets, naturalists, and social activists.  This collection is unprecedented-an enthralling treasury of brief, "aha!" passages from such writers as Maya Angelou, Wendell Berry, Ram Dass, Annie Dillard, Clarissa Pinkola Est6s, Robert Fulghum, Eduardo Galeano, Thich Nhat Hanh, Barbara Kingsolver, Jonathan Kozol, Kathleen Norris, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Anne Tyler, and many more.  The Brussats add demonstrations of spiritual literacy based on their personal experiences and their interpretations of contemporary movies, songs, and television dramas.

These remarkable readings tutor us in the art of lingering with our experiences and seeing the world with fresh eyes.  They offer spiritual perspectives on things, places, nature, animals, leisure activities, creative pursuits, work, body, illness, death, relationships, and community.  Life's meaning and the presence of Spirit are found in the shape of a child's foot, in an encounter with a wild animal, in the memories evoked by a rocking chair, in the process of doing a hobby, or in the messages on a computer screen.

Woven throughout the book are references to the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy, the "letters" which, according to the Brussats, are needed to read the world.  These key spiritual practices are defined by an international wisdom school of teachers from all traditions.  Attention, beauty, devotion, hospitality, imagination, listening, play, silence, wonder, and other practices enable us to catch intimations of the Divine in the mundane and to appreciate the magic moments of grace in everyday life.

Spiritual literacy does not require that we become masters of certain religious texts or that we climb to a high rung on the ladder of enlightenment.  Indeed, it is the very opposite of such elitism.  At the end of each chapter, the Brussats invite their readers to practice spiritual literacy themselves through journal exercises, household projects, and rituals.

You will want to create a place in your home for this profound and revelatory resource, whether you plan to read it cover to cover or to dip into its riches from time to time.  It is one book you can share with children, family, colleagues, and friends as you explore together the bounties of the spiritual life.

FREDERIC and MARY ANN BRUSSAT have devoted their energies for three decades to identifying and reviewing resources for people on spiritual journeys.  Their projects have included the magazine Values & Visions and the Values & Visions Reviews Service, which provides book, movie, video, and audio reviews to magazines, the Odyssey cable TV channel, and the Ecunet computer network.  They currently direct the Values & Visions Circles, an international network of small groups.  They are the editors of the popular book of quotations and activities 100 Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive.  The Brussats live in New York City.

JACKET DESIGN BY EVAN GAFFNEY

JACKET PHOTOGRAPH BY WILLIAM GUION

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. COPYRIGHT @ 1996 SIMON & SCHUSTER INC.

DISTRIBUTED BY SIMON & SCHUSTER INC.