Every year from the more than 300 books we review on this website, we choose the best spiritual books. In addition to 50 books for adults, we also include the top 10 spiritual books for children.
These are the titles that have most impressed and inspired us. Since we only review books that we want to recommend for your spiritual journey, this selection really represents the best of the best. Through diverse approaches, drawing on the wisdom and practices of the world’s religions, these titles explore the search for meaning and purpose, wholeness and healing, engagement and community, contemplation, and social activism.
You are reading: Best spiritual books 2015
We congratulate the authors and publishers of these outstanding contributions to today’s spiritual renaissance. Click on the title link to read the full review.
The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Rise of Seniors in a Changing America by Ai-Jen Poo and Ariane Conrad A helpful and hopeful overview of the unfolding crisis around senior care.
the art of grace: on moving well through life by sarah l. kaufman a wise, comprehensive, and multidimensional examination of grace.
being taoist: wisdom for living a balanced life by eva wong a poetic and practical guide to the taoist art of living fully in the public, domestic, private, and spiritual sectors of life.
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin A comprehensive review of what it takes to change bad habits and strengthen good ones.
between darkness and daylight: accepting life’s contradictions by joan chittister an uplifting work on the art of reframing drawbacks and imperfections as spiritual teachers.
between the world and me by ta-nehisi caotes forcefully criticizes racist violence against the body and soul of black people.
Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina A seminal work on the emotional lives of elephants, wolves, and killer whales.
caravan of no despair: a memoir of loss and transformation by mirai starr a memoir about an interspiritual teacher’s experiences on the path of pain and surrender.
change history, change the future: a living economy for a living earth by david c. korten a moving vision of renewal for spiritually independent and progressive people of all kinds.
considering hate: violence, kindness, and justice in american culture and politics by kay whitlock and michael bronski a call for an ethic of interdependence and responsibility, an expansion of the commons, and a compassionate embrace of one’s neighbor to counteract hatred and violence.
Deep Violence: Military Violence, War Games, and the Social Life of Guns by Joanna Bourke An incisive and shocking look at the militarization of nearly every aspect of life in the United States.
DIY Magic: A Weird and Whimsical Guide to Creativity by Anthony Alvarado A comprehensive and playful overview of inspiring creativity with magic.
oriental light: awakening to presence in zen, quakerism, and christianity by steve smith a serious, subtle, wise, and spacious spiritual memoir that addresses the yearnings of seekers in this age of religious pluralism.
Enchanted Objects: Design, Human Desire, and the Internet of Things by David Rose An exciting depiction of a world transformed by objects with extraordinary powers.
a fearless heart: how the courage to be compassionate can transform our lives by thupten jinpa a comprehensive course in practicing compassion for ourselves and others.
happiness: poems by mary oliver poems about living and loving in the rest of the world.
finding god in verbs: creating a new sentence language by j. exercises and practices by brent bill and jennie isbel to help you establish a creative, meaningful, and flourishing prayer life.
for the love of the real: a story of life’s mystical secret by llewellyn vaughan-lee a celebration of sufism’s path of servitude based on an intimate relationship with the divine.
See Also: Jeffery Deaver – Book Series In Order
A God Who Could Be Real: Spirituality, Science, and the Future of Our Planet by Nancy Ellen Abrams An atheist’s spiritual journey to discover the practical dimensions of the divine.
grounded: finding god in the world a spiritual revolution by diana butler bass a beautiful explanation of a broad and inclusive concept of god that can be embraced by all seekers.
The Heart of the Matter: Studies in Jewish Mysticism and Theology by Arthur Green Essays by a seasoned Jewish scholar on Hasidic contributions to spirituality.
Inside the Miracle: Enduring Suffering, Approaching Wholeness by Mark Nepo An insightful memoir and conversation about cancer, healing, personal transformation, and falling in love with the world.
the lioness in winter: writing the life of an old woman by ann burack-weiss a useful book written by women writers that provides information about the last stage of life.
the listening life: embracing attention in a world of distraction by adam s. mchugh an earnest plea for churches to see themselves as listening communities.
Make Me One With All: Buddhist Meditations for Awakening from the Illusion of Separation by Lama Surya Das a book based on the Tibetan Buddhist master’s practice of mediation in everyday life as a way to achieve unity.
the nurturing farm: a family’s plan back to the land to farm the land, skills, and spirit by ben hewitt and penny hewitt the case of the farm as a way to connect with the world in a big way.
Peaceful Neighbor: Discovering the Countercultural Mr. Rogers by Michael Long A celebration of Mr. Rogers’ advocacy of peace, justice, and compassion.
rain: a natural and cultural history by cynthia barnett a glorious exploration of rain and all its lessons, benefits and mysteries.
Reclaiming the Conversation: The Power of Talking in the Digital Age by Sherry Turkle Insightful insights into our overuse of smartphones and other devices that keep us from the treasures of face-to-face conversations and practicing empathy.
Reclaiming the Wild Soul: How Earth’s Landscapes Restore Us to Wholeness by Mary Reynolds Thompson A charming, lyrical tribute to the natural world and its role in our lives as a spiritual teacher.
the reason for flowers: their history, culture, biology and how they change our lives by stephen buchmann a seductive and lyrical journey through the varied, creative and wonderful world of flowers.
Replanting Ourselves in Beauty: Toward an Ecological Civilization by Jay McDaniel and Patricia Adams Farmer A moving collection of essays on beauty as a catalyst for environmental renewal.
the rise of robots: technology and the threat of a jobless future by martin ford a broad look at the acceleration of robotics technology.
seeds for unlimited life: zen teachings from the heart by zenkei blanche hartman insightful and insightful zen teachings.
shift to freedom: the science and practice of openhearted awareness by loch kelly a practice-packed book that charts a path to bring awareness, heart, and openness to a new synthesis.
Simply Open: A Guide to Experiencing God in Everyday Life by Greg Paul A tribute to the spiritual practice of openness as experienced through the senses.
The Smell of Rain on Dust: Pain and Praise by Martin Prechtel Insightful insights into pain and reframing it as beauty.
the soul of a pilgrim: eight practices for the inner journey by christine valters paintner ways to make an inner spiritual pilgrimage in our daily lives.
viewers by victor huseenot a bold and innovative graphic novel that celebrates the city of paris as a lark, a mystery and a quest for wayfarers and travellers.
See Also: Essential books to make the most of the Year of St. Joseph – Our Sunday Visitor
The Spiritual Child: The New Science of Parenting for Lifelong Health and Prosperity by Lisa Miller A preeminently wise, practical, and inspiring book for parents eager to support their children’s spiritual journeys.
the spirituality of aging: a seeker’s guide to aging by robert l. Weber and Carol Orsborn A Compelling Guide to the Challenging Spiritual Dimensions of Aging.
a step along the way: models of christian service by stephen j. Pope Uplifting Profiles of Six Spiritual Exemplars of the Christian Faith.
striking beauty: a philosophical look at asian martial arts by barry allen an elegant book on the beauty and philosophy of martial arts.
surprise: embrace the unpredictable and design the unexpected by tania luna and leeann renninger a lively and entertaining celebration of surprises.
a treasury of sufi wisdom: the path of unity edited by peter samsel with over 550 sayings from the koran, hadith and sufi writers.
Being a Man: A Guide to True Masculine Power by Robert Augustus masters a recast of conventional views on masculinity that opens the door to new possibilities for this beleaguered gender.
vital signs: the nature and nurturing of passion by gregg levoy an illuminating overview of the passion that comes when we truly come to life.
way of the bushman: spiritual teachings and practices of the kalahari jul’hoansi by bradford and hillarykeiney a spiritually stimulating summary of the key ideas and practices of one of the oldest cultures on earth.
dressing god: clothes, laughter, fire, and other overlooked ways of meeting god by lauren f. winner a playful and thoughtful excursion into some fresh images of god.
what we’re fighting for now is each other: dispatches from the front lines of climate justice by wen stephenson, reflections from a journalist, and interviews with over 100 environmental and climate activists.
children’s books
book by david miles a tribute to the benefits of a book.
butterfly park by ellie mackay an inspiring story about how a girl’s love of butterflies led to an experience of community.
changes: a child’s first collection of poetry charlotte zolotow poems about the seasons that bring delight and enchantment.
the day the crayons came home by drew daywalt and oliver jeffers, a delightful book for people of all ages that encourages respect and empathy for crayons.
Grandma in Blue with a Red Hat by Scott Menchin, a creative and colorful picture book about how a child is inspired by learning about art.
i am a bear by jean-francois dumont a reflection on the challenges of homelessness.
upside down mixed emotions box by brittany candau small color-coded storybooks in which five key emotions express what they are about.
just for today from san juan xxiii an exquisite decalogue for the daily life of the pope of the people.
look by edouard manseau, a playful book created to bring out the curious child in all of us.
the yes by sara bee a charming tale about the power of optimism and a positive attitude.
See Also: 8 Best Sites to Read Manga Online for Free