T.H. White's "The Once and Future King" is a retelling of the Arthurian legends. The novel is known for its witty prose, insightful characterizations, and exploration of themes of power, morality, and the human condition. It's a coming-of-age story that follows Arthur's journey from boyhood to kingship. White's work blends historical fiction with fantasy elements, creating a rich and engaging narrative. The book has had a lasting impact on literature and popular culture.
This book is a compilation of interviews from Krista Tippett's public radio program, now known as *On Being*. It delves into the relationship between science and the human spirit, featuring conversations with notable figures such as Freeman Dyson, Paul Davies, Parker Palmer, and Andrew Solomon. Tippett aims to dispel the myth of a clash between science and religion, highlighting the complexities and intersections between these realms. The book explores themes of free will, the nature of reality, and the role of mathematics in understanding the universe, all while maintaining a nuanced and respectful dialogue between different perspectives.
In this novella, Colm Tóibín presents a deeply personal and humanized account of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The story is set in the ancient town of Ephesus, where Mary lives in exile after her son's crucifixion. She is visited by followers of Jesus who seek to record her testament, but Mary's narrative diverges sharply from the traditional gospel accounts. She recounts her memories of Jesus' childhood, his miracles, and his eventual crucifixion, all while grappling with guilt, regret, and a profound sense of loss. Mary's voice is one of a strong-willed woman, filled with pain and bitterness, who does not accept the divinity of her son and questions the worth of his sacrifice. The book explores themes of motherhood, faith, and the human cost of religious zeal[1][3][4].
The Good Thief is Marie Howe's heralded debut collection of poems, selected by Margaret Atwood as a winner in the 1987 Open Competition of the National Poetry Series. The collection delves into themes of relationship, attachment, and loss, seeking personal transcendence through highly original and deeply authentic poetry. Many of the thirty-four poems appeared in prestigious journals such as The Atlantic, The American Poetry Review, Poetry, Ploughshares, The Agni Review, and The Partisan Review. The poems often incorporate Biblical references and everyday human experiences to explore complex emotional and spiritual themes.
In 'Speaking of Faith,' Krista Tippett chronicles her spiritual journey from her Oklahoma childhood to her studies at Yale Divinity School. The book reflects her experiences as a journalist, diplomat, and host of the public radio program 'Speaking of Faith' (later renamed 'On Being'). Tippett engages in deep conversations with figures like Elie Wiesel, Karen Armstrong, and Thich Nhat Hanh to explore complex subjects such as justice, science, fundamentalism, evil, love, and mystery within the context of spirituality. The book emphasizes the importance of inter-faith dialogue, the complexity of faith, and the need for a new 'language of virtue' that avoids partisan rhetoric and instead focuses on nourishing, edifying, and redemptive stories[1][3][5].
This book is a collection of Brother Lawrence's teachings, including his conversations and letters, which emphasize the importance of maintaining a constant awareness of God's presence. Brother Lawrence learned to find God in all his daily tasks, whether he was working in the kitchen or repairing sandals. He advocated for a simple and direct approach to living in God's presence, stressing that all work can be done as an act of love for God. The book includes his maxims and letters that provide practical advice on how to advance in the spiritual life and maintain a deep sense of God's presence in all activities.
In 'Black Like Me', John Howard Griffin recounts his daring experiment to understand the lives of African Americans in the segregated South. In 1959, Griffin, a white man, underwent medical treatment to darken his skin and traveled through the Deep South, experiencing firsthand the racism and segregation faced by Black people. His journey took him from New Orleans to Mississippi and Alabama, where he encountered severe racial prejudice and violence. The book highlights the stark contrast in treatment he received as a white man versus a Black man and emphasizes the need for tolerant dialogue to bridge the racial divide. Griffin's work was initially published in 'Sepia' magazine and later as a bestselling book, which became a significant contribution to the civil rights movement.
![[Unedited] Marie Howe with Krista Tippett](https://onbeing.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1500x1500_OnBeing_EpisodeArtwork.jpg?resize=320,320)
The moral life, Marie Howe says, is lived out in what we say as much as what we do. She became known for her poetry collection “What the Living Do,” about her brother’s death at 28 from AIDS. Now she has a new book, “Magdalene.” Poetry is her exuberant and open-hearted way into the words and the silences we live by. She works and plays with a Catholic upbringing, the universal drama of family, the ordinary rituals that sustain us — and how language, again and again, has a power to save us. This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Marie Howe — The Power of Words to Save Us.” Find more at onbeing.org.
On Being with Krista Tippett 
