“Ancient Wisdom and the Measure of Our Days is a treasure. Brancato provides his readers with the opportunity to reflect on the universal process of aging while in the company of sages from around the world. It is a loving and gentle text that all will find comfort in.” –Melinda Plastas, Ph.D., Bates College “This gem is long overdue and we thank Dr. Brancato for his gift.” —Rabbi Harry Sky, author of My Journey and Give me 2 Minutes of Your Time “The further I ventured into Brancato’s book, the more convinced I became that I will read it over and over again, learning something new each time.” —Kali Lightfoot, Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes The longer we live, the more likely we are to experience great losses in life such as the death of a partner, family member or friend, and the inevitable diminishment of our physical and mental functions. Combining 50 years of ongoing study of world religions with his own experiences of aging, Dr. Brancato relates the world views of sages and saints to the realities of change as we age: our shifting personal identities, the quandaries of how to live in unanticipated circumstances, and the incomprehensible nature of the Infinite. This significant, thought-provoking book offers counsel, solace and advice to those facing retirement, aging and loss. It is to be read slowly, reflected upon and read again.

Being a parent in the modern world is tough. We are often overwhelmed with fear about damaging our children, guilt about our imperfections, and confusion about our role. Harriet Connor knows these feelings well. But hers is not just another parenting book full of "shoulds and shouldn'ts" to make you feel worse. Rather, she invites you to step back and consider the bigger picture: What is the purpose of life and parenthood? What are our human limitations? How can we cope with our guilt and fear? What are our family's values and how do we pass them on? What is our family's structure and place within the wider community? When she was desperate for answers, Harriet Connor turned to the ancient wisdom of her ancestors--the Bible. She went looking for little pieces of grandmotherly advice, but what she found was a grand vision--a big picture--that made sense of both life and parenthood. Whether you are new to the Bible or have read it before, you will not regret taking time to reflect on its message, which has given comfort and guidance to generations of parents just like you.

Controversial evangelical Bible scholar, popular blogger and podcast host of The Bible for Normal People, and author of The Bible Tells Me So and The Sin of Certainty explains that the Bible is not an instruction manual or rule book but a powerful learning tool that nurtures our spiritual growth by refusing to provide us with easy answers but instead forces us to acquire wisdom. For many Christians, the Bible is a how-to manual filled with literal truths about belief that must be strictly followed. But the Bible is not static, Peter Enns argues. It does not hold easy answers to the perplexing questions and issues that confront us in our daily lives. Rather, the Bible is a dynamic instrument for study that not only offers an abundance of insights but provokes us to find our own answers to spiritual questions, cultivating God’s wisdom within us. “The Bible becomes a confusing mess when we expect it to function as a rulebook for faith. But when we allow the Bible to determine our expectations, we see that Wisdom, not answers, is the Bible’s true subject matter,” writes Enns. This distinction, he points out, is important because when we come to the Bible expecting it to be a textbook intended by God to give us unwavering certainty about our faith, we are actually creating problems for ourselves. The Bible, in other words, really isn’t the problem; having the wrong expectation is what interferes with our reading. Rather than considering the Bible as an ancient book weighed down with problems, flaws, and contradictions that must be defended by modern readers, Enns offers a vision of the holy scriptures as an inspired and empowering resource to help us better understand how to live as a person of faith today. How the Bible Actually Works makes clear that there is no one right way to read the Bible. Moving us beyond the damaging idea that “being right” is the most important measure of faith, Enns’s freeing approach to Bible study helps us to instead focus on pursuing enlightenment and building our relationship with God—which is exactly what the Bible was designed to do.

Sounds of Freedom: Reflections about the Liberating Vibrations of Everyday Life describes the ways that music, sound, vibration, and energy give us life and also provide the power to heal. The reflections cover a wide range of human experience, from expanding consciousness to dementia. Its verses may help in times of personal crisis and support living in harmony with the music of the spheres. “Always and especially now, Fred Brancato’s words resonate with wisdom and love! Fragile and strong! Brave and encouraging.” – Patricia Reis, author of Unsettled, a novel of historical fiction “This exquisite poem, a long necklace of pearls, of jewels, each a portal into an indeterminate space of exquisite form and mystery. Delicate, potent, vibrant and quietly thrilling, this is a work of brilliancy to be sipped and savored.” – Leah Chyten, author of Light Radiance Splendor and Soul of the Mountain