Christian Living
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Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution
Comedic actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson, cofounder of the media company SoulPancake, explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world.
The trauma that our struggling species has experienced in recent years-because of both the pandemic and societal tensions that threaten to overwhelm us-is not going away anytime soon. Existing political and economic systems are not enough to bring the change that the world needs. In this book, Rainn Wilson explores the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a "Soul Boom," to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level
For Wilson, this is a serious and essential pursuit, but he brings great humor and his own unique perspective to the conversation. He feels that, culturally, we've discounted spirituality-faith and the sacred-and we need profound healing and a unifying understanding of the world that the great spiritual traditions provide. Wilson's approach to spirituality-the non-physical, eternal aspects of ourselves-is relatable and applies to people of all beliefs, even the skeptics. Filled with genuine insight-not to mention enlightening Kung Fu and Star Trek references-Soul Boom delves into ancient wisdom to seek out practical, transformative answers to life's biggest questions.
The trauma that our struggling species has experienced in recent years-because of both the pandemic and societal tensions that threaten to overwhelm us-is not going away anytime soon. Existing political and economic systems are not enough to bring the change that the world needs. In this book, Rainn Wilson explores the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a "Soul Boom," to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level
For Wilson, this is a serious and essential pursuit, but he brings great humor and his own unique perspective to the conversation. He feels that, culturally, we've discounted spirituality-faith and the sacred-and we need profound healing and a unifying understanding of the world that the great spiritual traditions provide. Wilson's approach to spirituality-the non-physical, eternal aspects of ourselves-is relatable and applies to people of all beliefs, even the skeptics. Filled with genuine insight-not to mention enlightening Kung Fu and Star Trek references-Soul Boom delves into ancient wisdom to seek out practical, transformative answers to life's biggest questions.
Editorial Reviews
"It's fantastic. It's so great….I was so moved by this book."―Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer, "Office Ladies" podcast
"Serving up a delicious smorgasbord of existential philosophy, self-reflection, social science, and Star Trek, Rainn Wilson explores the missing role of spirituality in the modern world. It will light up your brain, warm your heart, and tickle your funny bone."―Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking
"This is the insightful exploration of spirituality that we desperately need right now. As we all seek answers amidst an unceasing news cycle of chaos and doom, Rainn Wilson's Soul Boom funnily but gently and lovingly opens a door to a deeper way to process all that is happening around us. The wisdom in and on these pages will fill your soul and touch your heart."―Lisa Ling, coauthor of Somewhere Inside and host of This Is Life
"Brilliant, humorous, and deeply wise, Rainn Wilson makes the case for spiritual revolution like no other. With humility that lands in the heart, Rainn invites us into a profound conversation on death and despair, God and transcendence, and love as a revolutionary force. The result: an electrifying manifesto on how to transform the world from the inside out. Let Soul Boom ignite and inspire you, as it has me!"―Valarie Kaur, activist and author of See No Stranger
"A gracious and compassionate (and altogether engaging) book, by someone who truly believes that it is possible to love God, neighbor, and world, and to relate to them and cherish them in ways at once richly spiritual and impeccably rational. He's right, of course: it is."―David Bentley Hart, author of The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss
"Rainn Wilson played one of the greatest comic characters of all time, but the crisis we are living through is no joke. That's why you should drop everything you are doing and read this remarkable book. It combines a seriousness of purpose, a depth of intellect and a warmth of spirit that is desperately needed today. It will lighten your load, fire your soul, and guide you on your way." ―Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith America and author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy
"A terrific book…makes spiritu...
"Serving up a delicious smorgasbord of existential philosophy, self-reflection, social science, and Star Trek, Rainn Wilson explores the missing role of spirituality in the modern world. It will light up your brain, warm your heart, and tickle your funny bone."―Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking
"This is the insightful exploration of spirituality that we desperately need right now. As we all seek answers amidst an unceasing news cycle of chaos and doom, Rainn Wilson's Soul Boom funnily but gently and lovingly opens a door to a deeper way to process all that is happening around us. The wisdom in and on these pages will fill your soul and touch your heart."―Lisa Ling, coauthor of Somewhere Inside and host of This Is Life
"Brilliant, humorous, and deeply wise, Rainn Wilson makes the case for spiritual revolution like no other. With humility that lands in the heart, Rainn invites us into a profound conversation on death and despair, God and transcendence, and love as a revolutionary force. The result: an electrifying manifesto on how to transform the world from the inside out. Let Soul Boom ignite and inspire you, as it has me!"―Valarie Kaur, activist and author of See No Stranger
"A gracious and compassionate (and altogether engaging) book, by someone who truly believes that it is possible to love God, neighbor, and world, and to relate to them and cherish them in ways at once richly spiritual and impeccably rational. He's right, of course: it is."―David Bentley Hart, author of The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss
"Rainn Wilson played one of the greatest comic characters of all time, but the crisis we are living through is no joke. That's why you should drop everything you are doing and read this remarkable book. It combines a seriousness of purpose, a depth of intellect and a warmth of spirit that is desperately needed today. It will lighten your load, fire your soul, and guide you on your way." ―Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith America and author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy
"A terrific book…makes spiritu...
Readers Top Reviews
Schnigglefritz
Rainn Wilson doesn't seem to believe in couching lofty thoughts in impenetrable vocabulary. This is a "down and dirty" book about essential issues in life! Just started the book, but am hooked already!
If you’d told me years ago I’d be reading a book on spirituality from Dwight from The Office I’d have called you crazy. Of course that would have been before I knew anything about Rainn Wilson other than his hilarious character from The Office. I’ve since learned about his desire to explore life’s big questions and his SoulPancake project. Right from the start of Soul Boom Rainn admits he’s not an expert in spirituality and says you may very well not agree with all he says, in fact since he is pulling lessons from quite a few different religions/spiritual belief systems, he doesn’t expect readers to agree with it all and merely encourages you to keep an open mind, take what you want from the book and leave the rest. While he repeatedly discusses his own religion, Baháʼí Faith which focuses on unity and teaching the worth of all religions, he isn’t preachy about it, doesn’t insist his is the only way, and I definitely appreciate that. He tackles serious issues but does so in an entertaining, enjoyable, and thought provoking way. I’d like to thank Hachette Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.
Eddie
Rainn's work has given me alot of joy over the years so I picked it up and am diving in
Becki Bayless
Do I adore Rainn Wilson? Yes, I do. Do I think this is a very important topic? Absolutely. And is it still a very complex issue for me? *Sigh* Yes. I'm a "None", religiously. On my most enlightened days I'm "Spiritual but not Religious." More often I'm left-brained, data-driven, and annoyed by the hate that purports to be Christian love. And yet... There is some part of me that longs to believe in the message of this book... Some part that wants to believe that we are all divinely connected and that we have a sacred responsibility to our own selves and to our community and world to create the "kin-dom" of God here on earth. Author Rainn Wilson has presented a lofty goal here... To create a Soul Boom, a spiritual revolution. In fact, he believes that it is absolutely necessary to our survival. Normally I find this type of book to be long on inspiration and short on actionable steps, but Wilson goes farther than most in pointing out changes that must be made and offering alternative ideas that, while idealistic, have actual potential. Soul Boom begins with the premise that the purpose of faith is two fold- to grow and evolve in our inner selves, and to create a more open and just world. Wilson delves into a wide range of eastern and western faiths for wisdom and to note the commonalities of all faiths. Based on those commonalities, he toys with creating a new, more perfect faith, one that he admits is remarkably similar to his own Baha'i faith. As an agnostic, I found myself agreeing with Wilson's premises, yet wishing that they were envisioned humanistically, instead of continually chasing a religious structure. That's not Wilson's vision, though. As warm and as inviting as he is to atheists and atheism, he is a person of faith, and that friction will be felt by atheist and agnostic readers. He's given the reader much to think about, though. Sometimes I find that in books like these, there are a couple of minor paragraphs that are especially intriguing or revelatory. For me, I'll remember these short sections; 1) Andre Gregory's pleading with Wilson to resist cynicism, and 2) the character development exercises that Wilson used with teenagers at a Baha'i camp, and 3) the election methods that the Baha'i members use to elect their community leadership. Fans of The Office will find a few scattered nods to the beloved show, but Rainn is not Dwight, and this is not a book about the show... at *all*. Instead it is a thought provoking, inspiring call to spiritual growth and reformation, not just for ourselves, but for the entirety of humanity. My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. #SoulBoom
Kindle
A lot of us use humor to get through the day. Frankly it it better to be crying tears of laughter than the tears many of us want too. Considering the state of everything, the complete self-centeredness that seems to be a societal norm, the breakdown in almost everything in the world, the loss of rights for women, and many others. Laughter is the only medicine that America's health care might be prescribing soon for mental health issues. Though the deductible will still be very high. There are a lot of books coming out trying to help people with the feelings that life really isn't that great. Some ask that you don't give a double fudge sundae what others think. Some try to get you to find your inner Gorp, and buy some oddly scented candles. And this works until the next book in the series comes out. Rainn Wilson, actor, writer, comedian has a better thought. Maybe there are a lot of answers, people just have to find the question to make themselves happier. Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution is a look at different ways of thought from religion and esoteric thinking, to pop culture, and other unconventional places to raise our understanding of our spiritual thoughts. The book begins with a brief description of Wilson's upbringing, which sounded just awful. a child of the 60's his mother left early, leaving him with a father who was distant, and a stepmother who stepped up and took care of him. Wilson's father was a member of the Bahá'í Faith, which teaches that all religions have purpose and meaning, and that all people are united in a common love. Wilson returned to Bahá'í later as an adult after struggling with every addiction imaginable, with a lot of depression, and self loathing tossed in. This allowed Wilson to be more open to just about anything in spiritually, even the things that contradict itself. Wilson ranges across a lot of different ways of thinking, discussing high points and low points of different ways of thought. Plus the strong foundations of faith that can be found in both the television shows Kung Fu, and of course Star Trek. The book can be quite moving as well as quite humorous which can be difficult to pull off. Also there is a sense that this means a lot to Wilson, not some cash grab idea that seems so prevalent today. There is an empathy, a sense of both wonder, and oh that sounds right that comes right off the page. Wilson had a very rough childhood, and suffered quite a long time because of it. This book is as much for himself as it is for others. The writing is very friendly is the best way to put it. Ideas are discussed and even discussions on Davd Carradine are well done. Wilson is a bit of a nerd and that shows, but he is a nerd that cares, and that is always a good thing. Famous people love to write books on how we can make ourselves better, omitting the fact that they have daycare, chau...
