From Publishers Weekly
Although many people may perceive the achievement of mystical union with the divine as an arduous feat, requiring fasting, pilgrimage and mortification of the flesh, spirituality diva Williamson says "thirty minutes each morning" of "quality time with God" will do the trick. The author of Illuminata aims her book of nonsectarian religious consolation squarely at harried professionals who are frazzled by overscheduling and fret over the disasters they hear about on the news. The path to serenity lies in becoming a "modern mystic" who sees that "everything connects to everything" and that "every issue [is] a spiritual one," from dry-cleaning mishaps to the Middle East peace process (which will be resolved when Israelis and Palestinians understand their essential oneness). Readers can even spiritually transcend their wait at the Department of Motor Vehicles, because "every person in line is someone we can bless." In Williamson's rapturous, liturgical prose, oceanic bliss is conveniently tapped into with prayer and by beaming positive mental energy to a universe karmically primed to beam it back. Although Williamson's insistence on the magical oneness of our desires and our external reality may strike some as wishful thinking, her message will continue to bring peace of mind to her many fans.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
The famed inspirational writer brings spiritual considerations down to earth. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Followers of Marianne Williamson and her work, A Course in Miracles, will enjoy this book, which applies her themes to the challenges of everyday life. For newcomers, she presents her ideas simply and consistently. Williamson reads with clarity and the earnestness of one who believes in the usefulness of what she has to say. Her conviction and hope for the future come through loudly and clearly. Illustrating her points with anecdotes that share the experiences of a wide range of people, she is easy to understand and to follow. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
What do your spiritual convictions have to do with traffic jams, job anxiety, reading the newspaper, or arguing with your spouse? Everything, according to Marianne Williamson. It is the way we live in our everyday world that determines the shape of who we are. So Buddhist or Muslim, Christian or Jew, it is the moment when our daughter doesn't make the basketball team, or our best friend lands our dream job, or our business instinct tells us to bury the guy across the boardroom table that tests and builds our living faith.

With an attitude of hope, a call to forgive, a celebration of miracles, and the promise of strength and grace, Williamson helps us find our sacred footing on ordinary ground.

No matter where we are or what we're doing, there is the opportunity to be happy, and to be holy. The large and small difficulties of our days challenge us to open our hearts and minds. And in this book of hours, Marianne Williamson teaches us to ride the currents that lurk in each of those moments of opening to a sea change of the soul.


About the Author
Marianne Williamson is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Illuminata, A Woman's Worth, and A Return to Love. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Currently, Marianne Williamson is the spiritual leader of The Church of Today, a Unity church in suburban Detroit.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Whether we like it or not, our hectic lives shape our spiritual being. Traffic jams, job tensions, marital difficulties test our faith daily. But, according to Marianne Willaimson, these everyday ups and downs also offer an opening to the soul. Everyday Grace is a call to mine our inner resources; to accept the opportunity to be happy and holy in the very moments it least seems possible. A celebration of miracles and sacred silence.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

What do your spiritual convictions have to do with traffic jams, job anxiety, reading the new spaper, or arguing with your spouse? Everything, according to Marianne Williamson. It is the way we live in our everyday world that determines the shape of who we are. So Buddhist or Muslim, Christian or Jew, it is the moments when our daughter doesn't make the basketball team, or our best friend lands our dream job, or our business instinct tells us to bury the guy across the boardroom table, that test and build our living faith. In these pages, Williamson teaches us to ride the currents of our everyday ups-and-downs; and she shows us how to find, in each of those moments, an opening to the soul.

For each of our souls is a storehouse of spiritual riches and mystical powers. Everyday Grace helps us mine our inner resources as we lay the foundation for a more graceful life: a life in which we stop blaming and judging; a life in which how we get there is as important as where we're going; a life in which we take time to savor sacred silence; a life in which miracles happen. Marianne Williamson walks us through a day in this life, helping us foster spirit in everything from grief, guilt, and jealousy, to boredom, anxiety, hopelessness, and happiness. And in five vivid, inspirational, and timely meditations, she writes with passion on imbuing our rituals, holidays, relationships, community, and Sabbaths with peace and purpose. Reclaiming those times and places we expect to be happy and holy; times and places we are often most disappointed not to see God in ourselves or in those we love most.

Once we harness the mystical power within us, we can change ourselves, our lives, and our world. From the mundane to the sublime, we can begin right here, right now. If we can show up at play, at work, and at worship with open hearts and open minds, we can begin to see the miracles going on all around us. And we can begin to work the magic of miracles ourselves. So close your eyes, take a deep breath, open this book, and let the magic begin.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Although many people may perceive the achievement of mystical union with the divine as an arduous feat, requiring fasting, pilgrimage and mortification of the flesh, spirituality diva Williamson says "thirty minutes each morning" of "quality time with God" will do the trick. The author of Illuminata aims her book of nonsectarian religious consolation squarely at harried professionals who are frazzled by overscheduling and fret over the disasters they hear about on the news. The path to serenity lies in becoming a "modern mystic" who sees that "everything connects to everything" and that "every issue [is] a spiritual one," from dry-cleaning mishaps to the Middle East peace process (which will be resolved when Israelis and Palestinians understand their essential oneness). Readers can even spiritually transcend their wait at the Department of Motor Vehicles, because "every person in line is someone we can bless." In Williamson's rapturous, liturgical prose, oceanic bliss is conveniently tapped into with prayer and by beaming positive mental energy to a universe karmically primed to beam it back. Although Williamson's insistence on the magical oneness of our desires and our external reality may strike some as wishful thinking, her message will continue to bring peace of mind to her many fans. (Nov. 11) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

An extremely timely program, this audio offers strategies for inner peace in a world full of turmoil. Williamson believes that the world can change fundamentally when individuals take responsibility for their own actions and thoughts. Each person must seek to eliminate from life anything that does not promote love. Seeking hope and offering forgiveness even in the midst of very bad situations can cause miracles to occur for both the individual and the world. Williamson's tactics include daily contact with one's God, constant vigilance to turn one's negative thoughts into positive affirmations and actions, and the elimination of sources of negativity. One of the most difficult concepts, and one that is not explored in-depth, is assuming that, at a spiritual level, all persons are "innocent," even those who do harm. The author does not tackle the question of evil, and this may confuse and anger some listeners. For those starting a search toward inner peace and Williamson's legion of fans, this work will be required listening. Recommended.-Kathleen A. Sullivan, Phoenix P.L. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile