Krista Tippett is the creator and host of NPR’s Speaking of Faith, a weekly program devoted to discussions about religion, ethics, meaning and ideas. Tippett’s program strives to offer perspective on a national religious conversation dominated by the likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. Tippett now shares with readers some of the most poignant, provocative and thoughtful revelations derived from her conversational journey in Speaking of Faith.

Loosely organized, much like a conversation itself, the book immerses readers in Tippett’s musings regarding the state of modern religion, with compelling insights from philosophers, theologians, activists and scientists ranging from Karen Armstrong to Thich Nhat Hanh. In an effort to transform the way in which people talk about religion and thereby the way they think about religion Tippett encourages readers to reevaluate religious truths and explore the many facets of spirituality and essential human questions.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend came of age during an incredible era of social change one that saw the birth of the civil rights movement and the untimely deaths of three of the cause’s most prominent leaders. Now Townsend, a two-time Maryland lieutenant governor, offers readers a combination of touching memoir and powerful commentary about the state of American politics and religion in her new book, Failing America’s Faithful: How Today’s Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way. A staunch Democrat and member of one of the country’s most prominent Catholic families, Townsend admonishes the Catholic Church for losing sight of its commitment to social justice for our nation’s children and its poor. Townsend contends that the Catholic and evangelical leadership have chosen instead to focus their efforts and their preaching on highly divisive issues such as abortion and gay marriage. She asserts that fault for the deterioration of America’s religious landscape also lies with governmental leaders who espouse those same topics as the basis for their political platforms, while neglecting the primary needs of their constituents and their communities.

Townsend’s stirring call to action is juxtaposed with recollections of her experiences as a young girl, witnessing the work of such figures as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as her father, Robert Kennedy, and her uncle John F. Kennedy. Though she takes a tough stance on many issues, Townsend’s unwavering love for her country and for her church permeates every page of this book, as she encourages readers to thoroughly examine where our nation has been and consider carefully where we are headed.

Passover wins the prize for the Jewish holiday most likely to be celebrated. I suspect this is true because, at the bare minimum, celebrating can be accomplished by merely showing up for dinner. For those of us who actually provide the dinner the ritual Seder meal the maximum is usually required: weeks of planning, preparation, shopping, cleaning, cooking. Despite these efforts, however, just attending a Seder can be hard work, especially if no one understands what is going on, and the goal is simply to get at the food. Guidance is the answer and how-to books on Passover abound, but they usually read like reference books, giving dry entries on the history of the Seder. Marge Piercy’s new book, however, is a pleasure to read. Pesach for the Rest of Us: Making the Passover Seder Your Own is an extraordinary examination of what should be an extraordinary ritual event.

Just who is the rest of us? Piercy answers this right away: folks who are not Orthodox, and who are searching for mindful ways to connect with Passover. The book is organized into chapters that focus on key steps or elements of the Seder, such as the four questions, the four children, matzoh, wine and maror (bitter herbs). These are peppered with personal memories and musings, choice recipes, historical reference points and blessings. Readers can dip into this feast for quick, practical information, or savor it cover to cover to enjoy the poetic flow of Piercy’s prose. Either way, Seders everywhere will benefit. Piercy’s suggestions, insights and queries will motivate readers to create a Seder that is much more than a race to the meal. This unexpected treat from an acclaimed poet and novelist belongs on the table of everyone or, at least, the rest of us interested in making a Seder meaningful.

Joanna Brichetto tries to conduct mindful Seders every year.

Buddhist teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche believes that human happiness is an inside job, an achievable state reached through intimacy with the mind’s inner workings. Dubbed the happiest man on earth (a moniker he received after his brain activity was scientifically measured during meditation), he reveals the powerful effects of, and science behind, meditation in The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret &andamp; Science of Happiness. Nepal-born Mingyur Rinpoche belongs to a modern generation of young monks who have trained outside of Tibet and have cultivated a broader world perspective. His curiosity about Western advances in neuroscience and physics and their contributions to unraveling the mysteries of nature and the mind is likely traceable to his boyhood history of severe panic attacks. Through sustained meditation, Rinpoche overcame this anxiety and wanted to understand the outcome so he could help others achieve the same results. He has traveled widely in the West, pursuing his interest in neurology, cognitive study and physics and learning more about how Buddhist meditation can lead to a more joyful life.

Why are we unhappy? Rinpoche relates the Buddha’s basic teaching that everyday life includes suffering. Luckily, he also reiterates the Buddha’s antidote: to meet, know and clearly see the antics of mind and behavior through sitting quietly and observing. The Joy of Living wittily blends scientific knowledge and Buddhist insight to explain what the mind actually is, how it functions and the effects of meditation on the human brain. If we meditate diligently, we can change how our brain cells communicate and alter negative behavior patterns. Although not an exhaustive text, The Joy of Living skillfully connects science and the spiritual, and offers non-intimidating meditation instruction.

Those familiar with the accessible wisdom of renowned Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh will enjoy Mingyur Rinpoche’s refreshing approach to meditation. For those of us who haven’t meditated, here is inspiration to simply sit down and for a change not think!

Finding Jesus in the media Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene lovers? Does the Bible Code reveal the date of the end of the world? Does the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy have anything to say about Christianity? Husband-and-wife writing team C. Marvin Pate and Sheryl L. Pate believe Jesus is being Crucified in the Media, and have set out to find the real Jesus amid today’s headlines. Using scholarly research techniques, the Pates examine such media-hype fodder as Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, the Jesus Seminar’s radical approach to color coding the words of Jesus, the apocryphal gospel such as the Gospel of Thomas, the James Ossuary and other headline-grabbing events. Mike Parker writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Getting to know God Author John Ortberg insists that God Himself is eager to reach out His hand and touch you. He quotes a passage by the writer Frederick Buechner: “There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room to recognize him or not.” Ortberg takes this as the thesis statement for his book, God Is Closer Than You Think. To Ortberg, God is not some unknowable, amorphous being. He is a heavenly Father who is deeply interested in everything about us. If we could just grasp that concept, he says, we could enjoy a vibrant, moment-by-moment relationship with him. Shot through with examples from life, the Bible and the great thinkers of history, God Is Closer Than You Think makes a convincing argument for pursuing intimacy with the Almighty. Mike Parker writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Lessons from a life well lived Perhaps the world’s largest neighborhood was the one invented by Fred Rogers. You, of course, know him as Mister Rogers, and for half a century his neighborhood was the kind of place you wished you had grown up in. But there was more to Fred Rogers than his cardigan sweater, blue boat shoes, perpetual smile and soothing voice. Behind the persona was a genuine person who actually believed everything he espoused on television.

In her book, The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers, Amy Hollingsworth reveals a highly educated, eloquent, complex man of simple faith and pleasant disposition. Fred Rogers, Hollingsworth writes, liked to take his time. He believed hurrying caused a child’s soul to become hard and resistant, while going slow nourished the soul. In our hurry-up world, Rogers’ message rang true for toddlers and mommies alike. Hollingsworth, who first met Rogers during a television interview and went on to become close friends with him, writes with a smooth familiarity that makes the reader feel that he is hearing about a mutual friend over a hot cup of coffee. The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers is a fitting tribute to a true pioneer in the field of children’s television.

Mike Parker writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Making business personal Few people have had the impact on the American business community that John C. Maxwell has had. The founder of the Maximum Impact leadership events, Maxwell writes with authority about the need for business people to embrace a new paradigm for success. To achieve success in any venture, whether professional or personal, it is imperative that you learn to work with people, he writes in his latest book, Winning With People: Discover the People Principles that Work for You Every Time. Here, Maxwell offers 25 “People Principles” that anyone can learn to help create win-win relationships. Each “People Principle” comes with discussion questions to help readers examine how well they relate to the people in their lives. The most important principle, the “Big Picture Principle,” is to recognize that the entire population of the world, with one minor exception, is composed of others. In other words, it all begins with a relationship.

Mike Parker writes from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

For anyone facing a difficult situation or living through a crisis, a few words of sympathy and encouragement can work wonders lifting the gloom and offering hope that better days lie ahead. In his latest release, The Book of Courage, inspirational writer and speaker Hans Wilhelm has compiled hundreds of verbal pats-on-the-back into one attractive volume (small enough to stuff inside a stocking). Adorned with Wilhelm’s own bright and uplifting illustrations, these encouraging words offer advice on dealing with fear and worry and finding a sense of inner peace that can make coping with any situation more bearable. Quotations from such sources as the Psalms and Shakespeare are sprinkled throughout the text, reinforcing Wilhelm’s message that there’s always a way to endure when your world turns upside down.

Challenges for the mind, soul and heart are well and good, but as Eldredge observes in his own book, there are times when rest is needed. No better spiritual rest can be found than in the new collection Firstlight: The Early Inspirational Writings of Sue Monk Kidd. Gleaned from a lifetime of writing, this volume offers beauty, inspiration and comfort in elegant prose. The author of the best-selling novel The Secret Life of Bees, Kidd has selected devotional essays she wrote for Guideposts magazine to create observations on faith, compassion, grace, love and more. As Kidd says in her introduction, At the core of personal spiritual writing is a hunger for the wholeness, for self, for meaning. The question Who am I?’ reverberates quietly in these pages, as does a willingness to be known. . . . Such vulnerability creates what we might call a soulful being together’ between the reader and the author. A kind of communion born through the meeting of vulnerability and identification. Kidd’s offer of communion results in a work that is both peaceful and inspiring, that calms the spirit while offering its own gentle challenges challenges to love more deeply and more fully, and to accept the presence God offers in every moment of every day. Howard Shirley is the author of Acts for God: 38 Dramatic Sketches for Contemporary Services. He writes from Franklin, Tennessee.

Jim Palmer and John Eldredge both write about getting back to the heart of Christianity. In What Paul Meant, Garry Wills writes about getting back to its theological core. Wills is no apologist for the modern Christian church, nor are the members of that church his intended audience. Wills instead is writing for the postmodern skeptic, the soul who looks at the trappings of many traditional churches and dismisses the entire Christian faith as a result. But Wills, the author of the earlier book What Jesus Meant, is not so easy to dismiss. This time he defends the apostle Paul against the cynics who accuse him of misogyny and anti-Semitism. Wills is Professor Emeritus of History at Northwestern University, and his experienced scholarship shows throughout the book. By focusing primarily on seven of Paul’s letters (the only ones which modern scholarship can definitively attribute to Paul), Wills presents a picture of a man far more egalitarian in his views on women, faith and the nature of religion than his critics (and even centuries of followers) have assumed. In the end, Wills suggests, Paul never envisioned Christianity as a new religion, but rather saw Jesus as a fully Jewish Messiah who brings all people Jews and Gentiles alike into a single family of God, a family where, in Wills’ words, the only law is love. What Paul Meant is a fascinating read, worth examining by anyone with an open mind and an interest in Christianity and its most prolific early voice.

Howard Shirley is the author of Acts for God: 38 Dramatic Sketches for Contemporary Services. He writes from Franklin, Tennessee.

In matters of faith and the heart, Jim Palmer’s Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God (and the Unlikely People Who Help You) offers a welcome breath of fresh air. A former pastor who saw his own life turn upside down, Palmer took a roller coaster ride from driven evangelical pastor to discount store clerk (among other jobs), a process that might seem disastrous in our success-driven culture. But for Palmer it became an opportunity to wake up to a real and personal relationship with God. Palmer draws the reader toward a simpler faith, a life lived with Christ that sees the worth in every person and presents the possibility that a garage owner, a waitress or a checkout clerk can teach us as much about Christ as a preacher with a string of seminary degrees. For those who feel trapped by a culture that measures faith by outside appearances, Divine Nobodies will read like a blowtorch to the bars of a cage. Palmer’s call to a faith that is deep, personal and based purely on the love of Christ should resonate with readers.

Howard Shirley is the author of Acts for God: 38 Dramatic Sketches for Contemporary Services. He writes from Franklin, Tennessee.