Craving the Divine: A Spiritual Guide for Today's Perplexed »

This compelling book, Craving the Divine, brings us a message of particular relevance today, namely, that a journey through the wilderness-be it emotional, existential, or geographical-can be a transformative and strengthening process, even though it may not seem so at the time. In chronicling the stories of survivors who have traveled through perilous and, at times, unexplored territory, Goldstein not only shows us how to face the challenges of being human, but also delivers a promise of meaning, direction, and hope in our lives.

Craving the Divine interweaves stories of contemporary men and women, whom the author has met through his work as a rabbi and law-enforcement chaplain, with those of biblical figures such as Cain, David and Bathsheba, Samson, and several prophets and mystics. Goldstein's words of comfort and inspiration will appeal to secular and religious readers alike.

About the Author:
Niles Elliot Goldstein is the founding rabbi of The New Shul, an innovative and independent congregation in New York City

Publishers Weekly

Covering a wide array of emotions and states of being-disorientation, panic, loneliness, yearning, anger, determination, surrender and emergence-Goldstein (Gonzo Judaism), founding rabbi of the New Shul in New York City, above all simply reminds readers that we are human. In his easygoing style, he uses an engaging mix of Bible tales, congregants' stories and personal anecdotes, as well as cultural references, to illustrate a sort of eight-step program for opening oneself spiritually. Some are extreme examples of life's pain-homelessness, suicide, terrorist bombings-and others all too common encounters with job loss, cancer and death. Each story is tempered with a corresponding example of hope, a reason to carry on. Goldstein comes across as neither smug nor cavalier, nor does he consider this a self-help book. Rather, he seeks to address not personal loss so much as "the phenomenon of being lost, of becoming a wanderer, a soul unable to find its way." As a seasoned extreme traveler himself, he knows what it is to wander, and readers of all spiritual persuasions will appreciate his gentle prodding as a fellow traveler on the journey. (Sept.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Introduction     1
Disorientation     7
Panic     31
Loneliness     56
Yearning     77
Anger     101
Determination     127
Surrender     151
Emergence     173
Conclusion     194
Acknowledgments     198