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Barbara Brown Taylor is one of my favorite authors, but this slim, early book of hers didn't offer the candid, thought-provoking, wise voice I've loved in some of her other books. As Joseph Campbell once asked, what if the universe is not merely the product of God but also the manifestation of God.... Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest who left a position as a church pastor and is now a college professor. I link below to my rave reviews of her books An Altar in the World (in which "Taylor explores the ways she grounds herself in everyday life while connecting with deeper meaning") and Holy Envy (which I described as "a thought-provoking, accessible look at world religions"). The Luminous Web, published in 2000, is a slim (74-page) book, quite different from either of those titles. The proposed exploration of the intersection of science and religion within The Luminous Web was an irresistible premise. I just didn't feel as though the book ever delivered depth on the topic. The book contains many (for me, it feels like too many) quotes from scientists and religious thinkers. Understandably, because the interplay between science and religion is complex, centuries old, and ongoing, the author doesn't assert earth-shattering revelations that resolve the challenges of reconciling science and religion, nor does she resolve the layered push and pull between reason and faith. I appreciated Barbara Brown Taylor's aim to close the gap between the sacred and secular, and I respected how she leant deeply into the unknowing wonder at the heart of faith. But when I finished the book, I found myself with as many, if not more, questions as I had when I began. Because I find BBT so illuminating, so candid, so thought-provoking, and so fully presented in her own voice in her other books, I was left feeling dissatisfied here. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Barbara Brown Taylor is also the author of An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith, Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others, Learning to Walk in the Dark, and Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith.

The Anthropocene Reviewed is a collection of personal essays from John Green. For more collections of essays, you might check out my glowing Bossy reviews of This Is the Story of

Poet and essayist Ross Gay explores the experiences and explorations that have offered him meaning, depth In poet and essayist Ross Gay's Inciting Joy, he aims to explore the joy in our interactions with each Gay turns his thoughtful eye and sensitive mind to inspiration and fulfillment in essays with topics to some of the experiences Gay shared here--or to the arc of incitements in the book--as I did the essays I find Gay's essays most heartbreaking, beautiful, and penetrating when he digs into specifics of his

, complicated moments from his personal life that add heart to the dark humor in this collection of essays listen to my David Sedaris books, and I listened to his newest, Happy-Go-Lucky--his first book of new essays You can also find reviews of other books of essays I've reviewed here.

Imagined is a short (118 pages, if you're reading; 1 hour 22 minutes if you're listening) series of essays

In Jo Ann Beard's lovely essays and short stories, she writes honestly and beautifully about moments In the nine essays and short stories that make up Festival Days, the fantastic Jo Ann Beard explores Each of these is an essay except for two stories, "The Tomb of Wrestling" and "What You Seek Is Seeking The last, longest, and titular essay, "Festival Days," is far longer than the others. Beard is also the author of In Zanesville as well as a collection of autobiographical essays, The Boys

ICYMI: This five-star read--part memoir/part essay--is one of my favorite books of Ann Patchett's, and In This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, a book that's part memoir, part essay, Ann Patchett shares

While taking the reader through her children's health crises, Philpott considers the power of worry, of love, and of trying to let go and simply live. When you’re an adult who thinks your own churning mind is what keeps everything safe, it’s called anxious. In her newest memoir Bomb Shelter, Mary Laura Philpott explores her worries about and views of the world, and she ponders existential questions about life and death. Philpott considers her paralyzing fear of her children's health challenges and takes the reader through the emergence of her son's epilepsy and her daughter's asthma; she considers aspects of her parents' lives previously unknown to her; and she pieces together facts about her family that she had never recognized. As Philpott wonders with dread what else could go awry, she faces that she has subconsciously believed that the power of her active caring and worrying could possibly prevent future tragedies. As far as I can tell, the uncertain part is: every second we’re alive, until the last. Philpott faces the unwelcome yet freeing reality that so much is out of our control, and she considers whether appreciating the fragility of moments--and the beauty of this fragility--may be the key to staying sane as we enter the unknown events of the future. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Mary Laura Philpott is also the author of the memoir I Miss You When I Blink. I listened to Bomb Shelter as an audiobook.

Wilson's bubbly personality comes through in these essays, and her show business experiences were interesting Casey Wilson, actress (Happy Endings), comedian (Saturday Night Live), and writer, shares essays and

This collection of previously published Sedaris works is a gold mine of discomforting, edgy, offbeat observations--with more heart than I expected. I loved this audiobook. I listened to this collection by David Sedaris as an audiobook. I prefer to take in my Sedaris books by listening to the author's snarky, silly, spot-on, sometimes gross, and often farcical takes on the world. Whether Sedaris is reliving specific, offbeat memories and mining them for poignancy and also laughs, or presenting his own distorted versions of morality plays, he does so with dark humor but also, frequently, with heart. The section of limericks centered around dogs and their rude behavior wasn't my favorite, but I sometimes suspect that despite his edgy moments and curious observations, Sedaris may tone down his reflections for the comfort of his audience, and this felt like an absurd vignette he simply couldn't resist. I was drawn in by the mix of tones represented here, and by the introspection and vulnerability Sedaris intermingles with the off-kilter, singular, sometimes excruciating moments he draws readers into. I hadn't read (or listened to) a good number of these selections, and I was repeatedly surprised and delighted with Sedaris's depth...then often cringed at an eccentric, discomforting observation that promptly followed. I enjoyed the roller coaster and was taken with this collection. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Sedaris is also the author of Me Talk Pretty One Day, Calypso, Naked, Holidays on Ice, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and many other books.

of the Witch; I'm listening to Ross Gay's charming, funny, observation-filled, introspective book of essays

The Book of Delights is a sunshiny set of thoughts and examinations, yet it's not overly earnest, and it's never corny. I just loved it. “I suppose I could spend time theorizing how it is that people are not bad to each other, but that's really not the point. The point is that in almost every instance of our lives, our social lives, we are, if we pay attention, in the midst of an almost constant, if subtle, caretaking. Holding open doors. Offering elbows at crosswalks. Letting someone else go first. Helping with the heavy bags. Reaching what's too high, or what's been dropped. Pulling someone back to their feet. Stopping at the car wreck, at the struck dog. That alternating merge, also known as the zipper. This caretaking is our default mode and it's always a lie that convinces us to act or believe otherwise. Always.” Ross Gay resolved to write about a joy or delight, large or small, every day for a year, beginning on his birthday, and he pulls together the highlights of these experiences as The Book of Delights. It's a sunshiny set of thoughts and examinations, yet it's not overly earnest, and it's never corny. I just loved it. He considers his process (he's not allowed to hoard or save delights for days that might light on the good stuff; he has to find or notice something new each day), reflects on human nature, recognizes the intense delights of food and love and friendship, shines a light on small moments, and considers everything in between. Some passages are just a few paragraphs, while others are pages long. I listened to this as an audiobook (which I highly recommend), and Gay's voice (both his writing style and his speaking voice) are immensely appealing. He's wonderfully joyful and mischievous. I found myself smiling repeatedly while going about daily tasks and it felt fitting that I listened to the author's many delights for hours while happily planting my spring garden. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? My BFF Neha mentioned that her book club read this book, and it wasn't on my radar before that. This was my first Ross Gay book, and I really like how his mind works, so I'm in for all of his books now.

tragedy; The Wreckage of My Presence, comedian and actress Casey Wilson's memoir-ish collection of essays Casey Wilson Casey Wilson, actress (Happy Endings), comedian (Saturday Night Live), and writer, shares essays

hometown; The Book of Delights, Ross Gay's joyful, playful, mischievous, and never cloyingly sweet book of essays

I love Glennon's heart and her honesty, but many of these essays ended too soon for me. In often very short essays, she explores living genuinely despite others' criticisms; giving herself Many essays ended too soon for me; I often wanted her to take things a step further to share implications I admit to wanting Doyle to dig further in some of these essays, but I do love how much heart she has

01 With or Without You by Caroline Leavitt In Leavitt's novel, published by Algonquin Books late last summer, Simon and Stella have been together for twenty years, living through the ups and down and joys and stresses of a decades-long marriage. Simon has been hoping all along that his struggling music career would someday take off, but it didn't look as though his dreams would ever come true. But right before Simon gets a chance to go on tour, and just as he's letting his hopes soar that this might finally be his big break, Stella falls into a coma. He should stay, but will he go? And what happens to their long-held dynamic when Stella wakes up with new and artistic gifts of her own? In With or Without You, Leavitt explores what happens to a marriage when the people in it change, and their dreams along with them. 02 Untamed by Glennon Doyle Doyle, the bestselling author of Carry On, Warrior and Love Warrior, writes again about her life's ups and downs in Untamed, here sharing lessons she's learned about being true to herself, loving herself and caring for others, bringing up her children, finding love, and not listening to outside critics. In Untamed, Doyle focuses largely on how women can "take up space in the world;" feel and express a full gamut of emotions rather than keeping the peace; reject the myth of the ideal martyrdom of motherhood and sacrificing everything for family; and generally rely on their inner voices to guide them into living honest, genuine, and fulfilling lives. I feel as though readers may be in or out on this author; I enjoy glimpses into Glennon's love story with Abby Wambach and how she strives to make the world a better place. 03 City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert In City of Girls, Gilbert writes about a young woman's coming of age in 1940s New York City. Vivian, now an older woman, is writing letters to a younger woman about her own youthful indiscretions and adventures in her aunt Peg's rowdy theatre with its many colorful characters, creative opportunities, and unending potential for mischief. So far Gilbert's old New York detail is wonderful, and young Vivian's carousing is entertaining, sexy, and an interesting take on feminism for the time. I'm listening to this as an audiobook. I generally find Gilbert (who is good friends with Glennon Doyle, mentioned above) to be a really lovely writer, as in the case of the nonfiction Last American Man and the novel The Signature of All Things. She also wrote the polarizing Eat, Pray, Love, which like many other readers, I had mixed feelings about, and which probably warrants inclusion on a Titles That Might Break Your Book Club list--hmmm, stay tuned for that blog post. What are you reading early in this new year? I have a stack of books from the holidays and the library (With or Without You, I see you staring me down) to read, yet I started reading the e-book of Untamed and listening to the audiobook of City of Girls because they were available as I was crafting my household's recent library hold lists, and most importantly because I have a serious problem of hoarding books in all formats. As we are likely all aware by now. Which books are you reading and enjoying these days?

In essays that are sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, and that frequently make me laugh out loud I'm actually listening to it as an audiobook, and I adore hearing Thomas's voice take me through his essays

from a family's immigration, ethnicity, and familial ties; and letting go. 05 Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay This is a long essay (but a short book) illustrating the complex behind-the-scenes challenges and tragedies

The Books I'm Reading Now I'm reading Inciting Joy, Ross Gay's newest collection of essays about finding 01 Inciting Joy: Essays by Ross Gay In poet and essayist Ross Gay's Inciting Joy, he explores the joy Gay turns his thoughtful eye and sensitive mind to inspiration and fulfillment in essays with topics

Reading Now I'm listening to The Anthropocene Reviewed, John Green's collection of personal, thoughtful essays 01 The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green When people we love are The Anthropocene Reviewed is a collection of personal essays from author John Green (Turtles All the

Easygoing Rogen's book of essays and memories touches on his start as a boy doing standup in bars, his This is a collection of essays and recollections that comes from Rogen's heart, and Yearbook feels like

by Leah Angstman and Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long, as well as Jo Ann Beard's book of essays published tomorrow--courtesy of Wednesday Books and NetGalley. 03 Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard In the nine essays Beard is also the author of In Zanesville as well as a collection of autobiographical essays, The Boys

newest historical fiction novel by Geraldine Brooks; I'm listening to Happy-Go-Lucky, the newest book of essays listen to my David Sedaris books, and I'm listening to his newest, Happy-Go-Lucky--his first book of new essays

Epigrams appear at the beginning of each essay, setting a tone for what's to come.

from a family's immigration, ethnicity, and familial ties; and letting go. 05 Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay This is a long essay (but a short book) illustrating the complex behind-the-scenes challenges and tragedies

Origins of Our Discontents; and Wholehearted Faith, the late Rachel Held Evans's upcoming compilation of essays Wholehearted Faith is a posthumously published collection of Evans's essays, talks, and anecdotes, including

In essays that are sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, and that frequently made me laugh out loud I listened to this as an audiobook, and I adored hearing Thomas's voice take me through his essays.

In Ann Liang's young adult rom-com This Time It's Real, when seventeen-year-old Eliza's class essay about

Viva writes in a college admissions essay--which Charlotte secretly reads, and resents--that Charlotte's

Here are my six favorite reads of the past month: a bitingly funny, poignant book of essays; a candid , complicated moments from his personal life that add heart to the dark humor in this collection of essays listen to my David Sedaris books, and I listened to his newest, Happy-Go-Lucky--his first book of new essays

The Books I'm Reading Now I'm reading Congratulations, The Best Is Over, essays by R.

In essays that are sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, and that frequently made me laugh out loud I listened to this as an audiobook, and I adored hearing Thomas's voice take me through his essays.

category; one is a grandmother's story as told by a granddaughter, and David Sedaris's book includes essays , complicated moments from his personal life that add heart to the dark humor in this collection of essays listen to my David Sedaris books, and I listened to his newest, Happy-Go-Lucky--his first book of new essays

full review, check out Girl, Woman, Other. 02 Festival Days by Jo Ann Beard In Jo Ann Beard's lovely essays In the nine essays and short stories that make up Festival Days, the fantastic Jo Ann Beard explores

Liang In Ann Liang's light fiction rom-com This Time It's Real, when seventeen-year-old Eliza's class essay

from a family's immigration, ethnicity, and familial ties; and letting go. 05 Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay This is a long essay (but a short book) illustrating the complex behind-the-scenes challenges and tragedies

Wholehearted Faith is a posthumously published collection of some of Evans's essays, talks, and anecdotes

make for what is sure to be contagious fascination. 05 These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett “Any I have high hopes for Patchett's newest book, essays published just this week that explore friendship

Zauner's 2018 New Yorker essay mentioned the title of this book and led to this work.

shifts in time; and I'm also listening to Mary Laura Philpott's Bomb Shelter, her second memoir in essays

In essays that are sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, and that frequently made me laugh out loud I listened to this as an audiobook, and I adored hearing Thomas's voice take me through his essays.

space crew's adventures; Festival Days, Jo Ann Beard's fascinating collection of short stories and essays In the nine essays and short stories that make up Festival Days, the fantastic Jo Ann Beard explores

She really needs to be writing her college application essays, but she is doggedly determined to get

example, how colleges use early decision to fill gaps they anticipate having; what makes an application essay

This is officially a book of essays, but they're personal and are all drawn from Thomas's life, and the I listened to this as an audiobook, and I adored hearing Thomas's voice take me through his essays.

Orenstein offers additional resources, including her website's list of relevant books, websites, and essays

In essays that are sometimes heartbreaking, often inspiring, and that frequently made me laugh out loud I listened to this as an audiobook, and I adored hearing Thomas's voice take me through his essays.

Gay turns his thoughtful eye and sensitive mind to inspiration and fulfillment in essays with topics

In Ann Liang's young adult rom-com This Time It's Real, when seventeen-year-old Eliza's class essay about

In Ann Liang's young adult rom-com This Time It's Real, when seventeen-year-old Eliza's class essay about