Product Description

This New York Times bestseller (more than 200,000 hardcover copies sold) provides a path-breaking lifestyle handbook that shows how to add spirituality, depth, and meaning to modern-day life by nurturing the soul.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5191 in Books
• Published on: 1994-01-26
• Released on: 1994-01-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Amazon.com Review
Care of the Soul is considered to be one of the best primers for soul work ever written. Thomas Moore, an internationally renowned theologian and former Catholic monk, offers a philosophy for living that involves accepting our humanity rather than struggling to transcend it. By nurturing the soul in everyday life, Moore shows how to cultivate dignity, peace, and depth of character. For example, in addressing the importance of daily rituals he writes, "Ritual maintains the world's holiness. As in a dream a small object may assume significance, so in a life that is animated by ritual there are no insignificant things." This is the eloquence that helped reintroduce the sacred into everyday language and contemporary values.

From Publishers Weekly
Therapist and religious historian Moore's invigorating guide to a "soulful" life poses a radical challenge to contemporary psychotherapy.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Care of the Soul has struck a national nerve." -- --Colleen O'Connor, Dallas Morning News

"Thoughtful, eloquent, inspiring." -- --Alix Madrigal, San Francisco Chronicle

Customer Reviews

Soulful Wisdom
This is a creative book in which Thomas Moore synthesizes psychological,spiritual and religious knowledge and beliefs of his into a deeper description and analysis of the idea of a soul. Who among us, with the possible exception of theologians, has spent much time even thinking about what a soul is? We use words like soul, spirit, intuition, instinct, feelings, emotions, etc., all the time, but seldom do we take the time to develop meaning for these words that ring true, or resonate on the level of personal experience. Moore peppers the book with numerous case studies of clients he has counseled. These examples add a great deal of interest and insight into Moore's thinking. He leads us into an examination of soul - what it is, what it might be, what it represents. This journey can serve to expand and open new realms for readers.

He adds depth to the book's message by suggesting that care of the soul works both ways: we care for our soul by listening, nurturing and abiding it. We are also cared for by our soul in the ways that it guides our lives, most often subconsciously. Moore equates aspects of the soul to our psychological shadows and subconscious realm of suppressed and repressed feelings, emotions and desires. His approach offers a useful perspective for better understanding the role of our shadows and for coping with it - including simply accepting the mystery the soul delivers.

This analysis includes a look at the inseparability of our soul from the soul of all-that-is. In doing so, Moore draws the connection between care of the individual's soul and the destiny of the broader ecology.

At times, Moore seems to fall back on his theological training with the Catholic church. These sections feel a little awkward juxtaposed to the deeper spiritual nature of the book. At these times he slips into a bit of a lecturing, imploring tone that, in its certainty, seems out of place in comparison to his celebration of the mysteries of the soul throughout most of the rest of book.

Recommended reading for its creative exploration of these interesting ideas!

Enlightened Soul Care
I found the book to provide sound, every day recommendations for the care of my soul which has been neglected for many years. The book was recommended by a therapist and it is well worth the time to read it.

The best book for understanding depression & other nuerosis
The new paradigm Moore presents for psychology is extrordinary! He permits people self respect and an avenue for growth within depression or other mental disorders. Should be a must read for every one.