Spiritual Innovators

Spiritual Innovators: Seventy-five Extraordinary People Who Changed the World in the Past Century 

Edited by Ira Rifkin et al.

Skylight Paths Publishing, Woodstock, VT    © 2002   264 pp.

Whether you're looking for a good refresher course on some global saints and mystics or some excellent reading lists, this book provides a brief synopsis of each, gives inspiring quotes from their teachings, a list of books they authored, and a list of books about them.

It is divided into 8 interesting sections:
1. They Shook Things Up
2. They Bore Witness with their Lives
3. Their Presence Changed the World
4. They Made Intellect a Spiritual Force
5. They Changed the World by Writing
6. They Showed Us Love in Action
7. They Brought Traditions Together
8. They Spoke from the Power of Silence

In addition to getting a good overview and book list, I learned things I didn't know. This would be a good book for someone relatively new to the mystics, who wanted to use these very brief synopses and book lists to choose where to begin a more in-depth exploration. It might also be a good one for a practitioner who wants to develop a good reading wish list.

-- reviewed by Sharry Lachman