Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

In early 2008, religious historian/New York Times best-selling author Armstrong was awarded a substantial cash prize from the nonprofit TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) to promote an idea that could "make a difference" in people's lives. Late the following year, after seeking input from leading thinkers of various faiths, she unveiled the Charter for Compassion (www.charterforcompassion.org), a collaborative public project calling for the restoration of "compassion to the heart of religious and moral life." Here, she lays out 12 steps she feels are necessary to cultivating and expanding our capacity for compassion, e.g., "learn about compassion" and "love your enemies." Part religious exploration and part self-help tract, this timely and engaging work, gracefully read by the author herself, is a very important addition to all library collections. [The Knopf hc also received a starred review, LJ 1/11; the Anchor pb will be released in December 2011.—Ed.]—Beth Farrell, Cleveland State Univ. Law Lib.