Wisdom Walk: Nine Practices for Creating Peace and Balance from the World’s Spiritual Traditions - Bennet, Sage. New World Library, 2007. $14.95, paperback. ISBN-10: 1-57731-582-0. ISBN-13: 978-1-57731-582-7. www.newworldlibrary.com 204’.4 Spiritual life. Religions.

Spiritual teacher and retreat leader Sage Bennet offers an appealing look at a variety of spiritual practices in this walk through eight spiritual traditions. All but the last of the book’s nine chapters focus on a single tradition and a faith practice from that tradition, one that can benefit persons of other faiths.

Chapters begin with a brief examination of a particular religion or tradition, its beliefs about deity and the relationships between human individuals and the divine, worship practices, and beliefs about the soul and death. Then Bennet proceeds to the particular wisdom practice at hand.

From Hinduism, she presents creating a home altar. From Buddhism, there is meditation; from Islam, prayer; from Christianity, forgiveness; from Judaism, Sabbath-keeping; and so forth. This approach, in addition to providing thoughtful introductions to various faith practices, allows the reader an intriguing survey and comparison of eight faith traditions. The final chapter addresses the call to service that is common to all the traditions.

Bennet shares generously of her own faith journey. There is helpful appended material, including a bibliography. This would make a fine subject for a book group or for individuals working on their own to enrich their faith lives.

Monica Tenney, Media Review Editor
Maple Grove United Methodist Church
Columbus, Ohio