Practical wisdom : the right way to do the right thing

 by Barry Schwartz. In this thoughtful consideration of an Aristotelian ideal, Schwartz and Sharpe delve deeply into what it means to practice wisdom. What makes this an engrossing (and socially significant) read is not the nod to the ancient Greeks but, rather, the numerous examples of people in all facets of American life who seek wisdom in their professional and personal choices. The authors consider how mandatory sentencing has removed the element of judgment from a judge's position, citing a heartbreaking example. As they further make the case for empathy and patience, they delve into health care, education, and the groundbreaking work being conducted in the extraordinarily successful Veterans Court in Buffalo. Repeatedly, by example, they stress the necessity of a human approach, without politics, to the issues of how we live and interact with each other. And through all of this, Schwartz and Sharpe demonstrate how relevant Aristotle is today. As surprising as it is convincing, this thoughtful work will long stay with readers, as will the many people who are profiled on its pages. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

A faith of their own : stability and change in the religiosity of America's adolescents

 by Lisa D. Pearce. Pearce (sociology, North Carolina-Chapel Hill) and Denton (sociology, Clemson) present the second book using data from the National Study of Youth and Religion. Denton wrote the first, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, with Christian Smith (CH, Dec'05, 43-2154). This newer analysis focuses on changes in religious identity, if any, as teens move into late adolescence. Pearce and Denton classify subjects as Abiders, Adapters, Assenters, Avoiders, or Atheists, based on content (belief), conduct (practice), and centrality (importance) of religiosity. The greatest stability emerged among Abiders and Atheists, those most confident and secure in their religious identity. Among others, the authors discerned small but significant change, usually a decrease in religious practice such as church attendance. At the same time, most respondents reported little change in belief. Many reported faith deepening, as it became more personalized than institutionalized. Pearce and Denton show how proper "scaffolding" (a support network allowing for increasing autonomy as adolescents mature) promotes positive reinforcement for religiosity. Most importantly, they argue that any unidimensional approach obscures the richness of adolescent spirituality. Primarily for social scientists, this work is important for readers at all levels who are attempting to understand the religious life of American adolescents. --Choice (Check Catalog)

The new sciences of religion : exploring spirituality from the outside in and bottom up

 by William Grassie. Based to a large extent on his own previously published articles, Grassie (founder, Metanexus Institute) presents an ambitious overview of contemporary work in the scientific study of religion, and attempts to show how current scientific understanding of the world can be compatible with--and even form the basis for--religious belief in what he calls "God-by-whatever-name," thereby closing the gap between science and religion. The early chapters focus on the function of the phenomenon of religion and its development as viewed from the perspectives of economics, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and medicine. The conclusion of the later chapters, that "religions are all partly right," will probably persuade neither the militant atheist nor fundamentalist apologist, but may establish a useful starting place for further dialogue among those whose minds are open. Ranging from Auguste Comte and Adam Smith to Clifford Geertz and Paul Ricouer, the book may attempt to cover too much (the index alone comprises 24 pages of three columns of reduced print). But the writing is clear, and the presentation balanced. --Choice (Check Catalog)

The wealth cure : putting money in its place

 by Hill  Harper. We are programmed to believe that money and acquisition are our keys to happiness, success, and well-being. But the national debt crisis has exposed how the detrimental effects of materialism and the pursuit of money have caused us to have unbalanced relationships with ourselves and others. Harper, an NAACP Award-winner, bestselling author, and star of CSI: NY, was forced to reevaluate his ideas about wealth after the shock of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Through a series of stories about family, friends, and his experience in coming to terms with his diagnosis, he takes the reader on a journey to examine the sources of true happiness while giving practical advice for getting one's financial house in order and achieving greater peace of mind and a commitment to higher goals. While most books on finance treat the subject as simply a set of rules to follow, Harper looks more deeply into how to build a healthy financial foundation while maintaining greater perspective on the values and relationships that are really important in life. --Booklist (Check Catalog)