Other books that might interest you

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  Queering Contemplation - Finding...

  Cassidy Hall

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  The world of contemplative Christianity has yielded to the same voices for far too long, many of whom are from centuries before our time, with lives unlike our own, and often from experiences disconnected from marginalization, oppression, and what it feels like to be an outsider. 
   
   
   
  Cassidy Hall, an LGBTQIA+ Christian contemplative scholar and podcast host, takes us on a journey to queer the contemplative tradition. 
   
   
   
  As queerness reawakened her own contemplative life, Hall discovered that queering and questioning the tradition allowed her to listen more closely to voices that are queer, marginalized, and oppressed. In showing us the way, she helps us envision what contemplative faith can look like, what spiritual spaces we can reclaim for welcome—and how queering contemplation, and lifting up queer contemplative voices, frees us to seek the infinite possibility of our own identity and engage our spiritual lives with open hearts and open hands. 
   
   
   
  Whether you're queer or want to queer your own perspectives, Hall throws open the doors of contemplative spirituality for all, bringing us to contemplation in very new, sometimes old, but always queer ways.

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  Sublimate

  J. M. Tolcher

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  The famous author Honoré de Balzac used to say after sex “there goes another novel!” 
  Taking it literally, J. M. Tolcher sets out to write an entire book without ejaculating—an experiment in sublimation, desire, and control.  
  In just over a month, he attempts to channel his libido into art, diving into the ancient alchemical process—nigredo, albedo, citrinitas, rubedo—in a relentless search for meaning. 
  But what begins as a test of discipline becomes something far more dangerous. Libido, after all, isn’t just about sex. It’s the unseen force shaping power structures, fueling authoritarianism, and dictating the fate of the world itself. 
  Where does repressed desire go? What happens when it’s not sublimated? And can a man truly master his own urges—or does libido always find a way? 
  Tolcher returns to form as Australia’s hottest underground writer with another chronicle as cerebral as it is carnal, as philosophical as it is depraved.

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  The Last Day Before Exile -...

  Selin Bucak

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  When we hear news stories about displaced people, people running away from war, living in exile, they're always accompanied by big numbers, presented as waves of immigrants. The Last Day Before Exile re-focuses the narrative to the human side, sharing some of the hardest moments of their lives, where they had to make the decision to stay or go.
  
  Tracing the steps of professionals who have moved from the Gaza Strip, Pakistan, Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan Turkey, and Ukraine, Selin Bucak shares stories of rebellion, fear, and, in some cases, victory.
  
  To truly understand what immigrants often have to go through at the hands of governments, legislation, and war, we need to put ourselves into the shoes of the people living in exile.

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  The Crusades - Holy Wars of the...

  Harris Ropes

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  The origins of the Crusades lie in a complex blend of religious fervor, political ambition, and cultural conflict that took shape in the late 11th century. At the heart of the movement was a passionate desire by Christian Europe to reclaim the Holy Land—particularly Jerusalem—from Muslim control. For centuries, Jerusalem had held sacred meaning for Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike. However, by the late 11th century, it was under the rule of the Seljuk Turks, who had taken control of large parts of the eastern Mediterranean, including important Christian pilgrimage routes. 
  The political climate of Europe during this period also played a significant role. Feudalism was the dominant system, and many nobles were constantly embroiled in local power struggles. At the same time, the Church had become the most powerful institution in Europe. It was in this context that Pope Urban II made a historic call to action in 1095 at the Council of Clermont. Responding to an appeal from Byzantine Emperor Alexios I for military assistance against the Seljuks, the pope called on Western Christians to take up arms and march to the East. His speech stirred a wave of religious enthusiasm, as he promised absolution of sins and eternal salvation to those who joined the cause. 
  This call ignited a massive response. Men from all walks of life—knights, peasants, and even children—began preparing for what would become known as the First Crusade. For many, the Crusades were not only a spiritual mission but also a chance for adventure, wealth, and social mobility. The idea of fighting in the name of God merged with more worldly motives, creating a powerful and often contradictory force.

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  Urban Transportation - Solutions...

  Lyric Vale

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  Urban transportation plays a pivotal role in shaping the way cities function, impacting everything from daily commuting to the overall economic and environmental health of urban areas. In modern society, cities are becoming increasingly crowded, with more people migrating to urban centers in search of opportunities, better infrastructure, and access to services. As populations swell, urban transportation systems have struggled to keep pace with demand, leading to issues such as congestion, pollution, and inefficiency. 
  Historically, urban transportation has evolved in response to changing needs and technological advancements. Early cities relied on walking and horse-drawn carriages, but with the rise of industrialization, motorized transport took over. Streetcars, buses, and eventually cars became the main modes of transport in urban environments. However, as cities expanded and the number of vehicles grew, so did the problems associated with these systems. Traffic congestion became a daily reality in many metropolitan areas, with commuters spending hours stuck in traffic, wasting time, and burning fuel. 
  Environmental concerns further compounded the issue. The increasing number of vehicles on the road, many of which run on fossil fuels, has significantly contributed to air pollution, climate change, and the depletion of natural resources. As cities continue to grow, the challenge of balancing transportation needs with environmental sustainability has become more urgent. In response, there has been a global push to shift toward more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive transportation systems.

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  Communism and the Conscience of...

  Fulton J. Sheen

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  For decades, this book has been recognized as the finest book ever written by a Catholic on the subject of communism. Dedicated to Our Lady in prayerful hope for the conversion of Russia, this is one of Fulton Sheen’s most forgotten yet most important books. In Communism and the Conscience of the West, Sheen explains the problems with society stemming from socialism and communism, which continue to infect universities and political discourse today. This timeless book exposes communism’s defects, its attitude toward the family, the decline of historical liberalism, and the rise of the antireligious spirit that pervades our world.  
  Readers will be impressed as Sheen diagnoses the issues facing our once peaceful cities, with history being put on trial, scrubbed, rewritten, and explained in terms of class hate. While communism destroys human freedom, Sheen illustrates how man is free as a result of two guarantees: one economic and the other spiritual. The economic enables man to call something his own which is outside of himself. The spiritual is the soul, which makes man independent of an earthly tyrant or a political dictator. In short, man’s soul is his own on the inside, as his property is his own on the outside.  
  Sheen carefully illustrates how even though we are living at a time when man has all the material conditions necessary for his happiness, “having lost the purpose of life which religion supplied, modern man became increasingly frustrated as his disappointed hedonism turned to pessimism. Thus man, who isolated himself from the religious community, now by reaction finds himself absorbed by the political community as despair becomes the dominant note of contemporary philosophy and literature.” For anyone seeking to understand one of the greatest threats to the Faith and our world, Communism and the Conscience of the West will be your guide.

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